Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, leader of the 2004 Orange Revolution, said today that Russian President Vladimir Putin is "crossing many red lines" in Ukraine, which puts Europe "in danger."

Putin's strategy is to attack the westernmost city. With the war, many embassies have moved there, and he intends to target foreigners as well. They are missiles aimed at the whole world, that is the strong message he is sending," he said today in an interview with the Italian daily "Republica",

"Putin is a barbarian and fascist who has encouraged the elimination of the elderly, women and children. (...). Some think he is crazy, I don't think so. He has a rational and cynical mind. Behind his behavior there is a dark core, something that comes from the darkest Middle Ages," he said.

According to Tymoshenko, Putin's mission "is to conquer Ukraine."

"So this is the moment of truth: let him do it or stop him. But victory does not depend only on Ukraine. The leaders of democratic countries must be united against him," she emphasized, recalling that in 2008, when she was prime minister, Putin attacked Georgia.

According to Tymoshenko, "Putin wants to return to the old borders, not those of the Soviet Union, but those of the Russian empire."

"He wants to increase the territory and Ukraine is only the first step. He wants possession and control of an important part of what we call the United States of Europe," which "in the future could become a prison," he stressed.

The Russian invasion was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending arms to Ukraine and strengthening economic and political sanctions on Moscow.

Source: Lusa