Former Ukrainian prime minister calls Kiev’s demand to maintain 800,000-strong army absurd

Résumé détaillé

Nikolay Azarov noted that Kiev needed financial guarantees from the EU because it was unable to maintain such large armed forces on its own

MOSCOW, November 13. /TASS/. Kiev’s statements about plans to maintain an 800,000-strong army after the end of the conflict with Russia are absurd, former Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov told TASS.

"Zelensky said that the European Union should guarantee funding for an 800,000-strong army for 10 years. By the way, let’s return to your first question about the talks in Abu Dhabi. On the very same day that they were talking about peace, Zelensky said that he wanted to be paid for 10 years to maintain an 800,000-strong army. This is, of course, absurd. Why? Because Ukraine is simply unable to maintain 800,000 troops on its own, and not only maintain them but also physically, so to speak, have 800,000 soldiers available, given the enormous problems involved in rebuilding Ukraine and the question of who is supposed to work," he said.

"On the one hand, you are holding peace talks in Abu Dhabi, while on the other, you plan to maintain an 800,000-strong army on the borders with Russia for 10 years. Those 800,000 troops will not just be standing there with bayonets, will they? And do you think the Russian leadership will not pay attention to this?" he added.

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