Ukraine president urges no ‘panic’ over Russia tensions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticised what he said was too much “panic” weighing on the economy.

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Zelenskyy said: “I don’t consider the situation now more tense than before. There is a feeling abroad that there is war here. That’s not the case.”

The attempts by the Ukrainian leader to tamp down tensions come as some Western allies – spearheaded by the United States – have warned of a potentially imminent invasion by Moscow.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the US and NATO of ignoring Russia’s central security demand of permanently blocking Ukraine from the alliance.

He added Russia would “carefully study” the responses from the West “after which it will decide on further actions”.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov restated that Russia did not want a war with Ukraine, an apparent reply to Washington’s warning that a February invasion was possible.