Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, in an interview with The Globe and Mail, said that “it is now that steps should be taken to deter Russia from invading Ukraine, because later it will be too late”
He believes that the U.S., Canada and Britain could send more of their instructors to Ukraine and provide defence equipment. In his view, this would help deter Russian aggression.
“You (Canadians) have a training programme with us in Ukraine. I think we can expand it. Instead of having 50 (military) instructors here, send 500 instructors”, – Reznikov suggested.
The foreign military should be deployed closer to the front line, as today they are more than 1,000 kilometres away from the Russian border – in Yavoriv, the Ukrainian minister said.
“It would be good if Canadian instructors … were deployed in Kharkiv, Mariupol, Kramatorsk, Odessa and Snake Island. There should be three flags flying in these areas – the Canadian flag, the US flag and the British flag. It would also be a good sign for Russians – that you’re here”, – he said.
Also, Reznikov does not rule out that the number of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border will grow.