Ukraine president says Russia, oligarch planning coup for subsequent week – Nationwide

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday claimed that his nation’s intelligence service has uncovered plans for a Russia-backed coup d’etat within the nation set for subsequent week that allegedly entails one in every of Ukraine‘s richest oligarchs.

Each the oligarch and the Russian authorities rejected the allegations. In Nantucket, Massachusetts, the place he’s spending a vacation weekend, U.S. President Joe Biden expressed concern on the coup discuss and renewed U.S. help for Ukraine’s sovereignty and self-government.

At a information convention in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, Zelenskyy mentioned he obtained data {that a} coup was being deliberate for subsequent Wednesday or Thursday. He didn’t give many particulars to again up his allegation however pointed to a suspected function of Ukraine’s richest oligarch, Rinat Akhmetov.

The president mentioned that Ukrainian intelligence has audio recordings of an alleged assembly between Russian and Ukrainian officers discussing a plan for a coup allegedly funded by Akhmetov, whose fortune is estimated at $7.5 billion.

Zelenskyy refused to reveal additional particulars concerning the alleged coup, saying solely that he doesn’t plan to flee the nation.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the allegations in feedback to journalists in Moscow on Friday.

“Russia had no plans to get entangled,” Peskov mentioned. “Russia by no means does such issues in any respect.”

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Akhmetov referred to as Zelenskyy’s allegations “an absolute lie.”

“I’m outraged by the unfold of this lie, it doesn’t matter what the President’s motives are,” Akhmetov mentioned in an announcement, relayed to the Related Press by his spokeswoman Anna Terekhova.

Requested concerning the alleged coup plans, the U.S. State Division’s prime official for European and Eurasian affairs, Karen Donfried, mentioned: “We’re in contact with the Ukrainian authorities to debate this additional, and we’re working to acquire extra data.”

Biden advised U.S. reporters he anticipated to speak to Putin and Zelenskyy, “most likely.”

Volodymyr Fesenko, a Kyiv-based political analyst and head of the Penta Heart assume tank, advised the AP that Zelenskyy focused Akhmetov after a “correct data battle” was waged in opposition to the president over the past two months on TV channels the oligarch owns.

A mass protest in entrance of the president’s workplace can also be being deliberate for Dec. 1.

The analyst pointed to nice discontent amongst Ukrainian oligarchs, together with Akhmetov, over a legislation pushed by Zelenskyy that limits their affect on politics.

Fesenko referred to as Zelenskyy’s reference to Akhmetov in reference to the alleged coup “a pre-emptive sign” for the oligarch to not get in concerned in “dangerous political ventures, cross the `pink traces’ and negotiate with Moscow.”

In current weeks, Ukrainian and Western officers have expressed concern {that a} Russian navy buildup close to Ukraine may sign plans by Moscow to invade its ex-Soviet neighbour. The Kremlin insists it has no such intention and has accused Ukraine and its Western backers of constructing the claims to cowl up their very own allegedly aggressive designs.

Zelenskyy mentioned Ukraine has full management of its borders and is prepared for any escalation of the battle with Russia. However he famous that the media are engaged in fearmongering over the potential for such a battle.

He additionally mentioned that the pinnacle of his workplace, Andriy Yermak, will quickly keep up a correspondence with the Russian authorities on the request of the European Council President Charles Michel and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

“They need contacts between our administration and the Russian administration. I believe that within the close to future Yermak will contact them. We’re completely not in opposition to” this, Zelenskyy mentioned.