Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn has said it is unlikely that there could be any military threat from Russia and has said he is against whipping up militaristic sentiments in Ukraine.
He expressed this viewpoint at a press conference
during his trip to Chernivtsi region when asked to comment on the
Russian Duma’s passing a bill at first reading allowing the president
to make decisions on the deployment of Russia’s armed forces outside
the country.
The Ukrainian speaker believes there will be no
military threat from Russia, as firstly, the country’s leadership has
enough common sense, and secondly, everybody clearly understands what
the reaction of the world community would be.
At the same time, the speaker said that due to the
political confrontation in Ukraine and the inept management of the
armed forces, the Ukrainian army has recently faced the worst problems
over the years of the country’s independence.
In addition, Lytvyn said that the budget for the next year should take into account the army’s needs.
“This should not be the budget designed for the
elections, or for certain political forces: This should be a budget for
the country, for its rapid, civilized development,” the speaker said.
