(PatrioticPost.com)- Ukraine is working to build its army by an impressive 100,000 soldiers as NATO allies are doing their best to support the country in the wake of a possible upcoming invasion by neighboring Russia.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, said the build-up of troops would occur over the next three years. When he signed a decree that initiated the move, the president said the move was “not because war is coming soon,” but instead so there “will be peace in Ukraine.”
When speaking to the lower house of parliament, known as Rada, Zelenskyy said:
“We must protect those who protect us.”
The president also said that more than 80 international organizations and countries have pledged their support of Ukraine in the standoff with Russia, and he’s spoken representatives from all these organizations and countries.
Ukraine had been considering bolstering the number of military troops it has since back in 2014. That came about following Russia’s seizure of Crimea, which sparked much conflict in the eastern region of Donbass.
Ukraine bolstered its troops who are “combat ready” from only 6,000 all the way to 150,000. Now, it seems like the country wants to bolster troops even more to be prepared for whatever action comes their way. This would help Ukraine be able to defend itself, rather than relying so heavily on assistance from other countries.
Zelenskyy’s website noted that the decree he just signed would create 20 additional brigades, ensure that all troops are paid a salary that equals at least triple what the nation’s minimum wage is, and provide personnel with better housing options.
At the same time, the president assured lawmakers around the world that Ukraine was willing to play a key role in trying to use diplomacy so that war never happens.
On Tuesday, he said “nobody is deciding Ukraine’s destiny behind our backs.”
The president also said he expected that the group called Normandy Format would meet in the near future to try to resolve all tensions that currently involve Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France.
Other nations have also pledged their ongoing support to Ukraine. Mateusz Morawiecki, the prime minister of Poland, announced Tuesday that his country would give Ukraine the “Thunder” anti-aircraft missile system to help in its potential fight against Russia. They’d also be providing arms and gas supplies, humanitarian aid, economic aid, surveillance drones, general ammunition and unmanned aerial vehicles.
According to Reuters, the Polish prime minister said:
“We have the feeling of living at the foot of a volcano.”
Both Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, and Mark Rutte, the prime minister of the Netherlands, will be traveling to Ukraine later this week.
That follows on the back of Boris Johnson, the prime minister of Britain, who traveled to Kyiv on Tuesday. He’s also expected to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone in the near future.
Unfortunately, there is one NATO nation that has pledged its support for Russia — Hungary. Many of that country’s allies in the EU have criticized that decision.
