聽Mykhailo Podolyak, a political adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, receives questions from a member of the media after a meeting with Russian negotiators in Istanbul, Turkey March 29, 2022. REUTERS FILE PHOTO
KYIV 鈥� Russia鈥檚 mobilization was a predictable step that will prove extremely unpopular and underscores that the war is not going according to Moscow鈥檚 plan, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said on Wednesday.
Podolyak said in a text message to Reuters that Russian President Vladimir Putin was trying to shift the blame for starting an 鈥渦nprovoked war鈥� and Russia鈥檚 worsening economic situation onto the West.
Putin on Wednesday ordered Russia鈥檚 first mobilization since World War Two, warning the West that if it continued what he called its 鈥渘uclear blackmail鈥� then Moscow would respond with the might of all its vast arsenal.
It significantly escalates the conflict over Ukraine and comes as Russia battles a Ukrainian counter-offensive that has forced its troops to retreat and surrender some occupied territory.
鈥淎bsolutely predictable appeal, which looks more like an attempt to justify their own failure,鈥� Podolyak wrote, giving the first reaction by Ukraine鈥檚 presidential office.
鈥淭he war is clearly not going according to Russia鈥檚 scenario and therefore required Putin to make extremely unpopular decisions to mobilize and severely restrict the rights of people.鈥�
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