Long before February 24, US intelligence services had very concrete information about the planned invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops. Their leadership has been warned - but leaves the population in the dark. President Zelenskyy explains why.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy justified the decision not to openly prepare for war before February 24 by saying that his country should not be panicked. From autumn 2021, the United States would have warned him more and more urgently about a Russian invasion ordered by President Vladimir Putin, Zelenskyj told the US newspaper "Washington Post". His leadership wanted to avoid an economic collapse and keep the population in the country.
If he had said then that his countrymen should hoard money and food, "I would have lost $7 billion every month since last October," said the president. "And if Russia then attacks, they would have captured us in three days." Selenskyj justified himself: "In general, our inner feeling was correct: If we sow chaos among the people before the invasion, the Russians will eat us up. Because in the chaos, people flee the country." Keeping the people in Ukraine was the key to defending the country.
Critics say Zelenskyy has not prepared Ukraine better for the invasion, despite warnings. In the long article, the "Washington Post" traces how US President Joe Biden's leadership came to the conclusion in autumn 2021 that Russia would attack the neighboring country in any case. The findings were based on satellite images, intercepted messages and contacts. The corresponding secret service findings were then gradually shared with the allies, Ukraine and the public.
