Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Accuses Russia Of Eyeing Other Countries: We're First, Who's Next?

Presiden Ukraina Volodymyr Zelensky. (Wikimedia Commons/President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - Russia's invasion of Ukraine has not yet ended. However, Russia is said to be attacking other countries, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He warned that Russia's invasion of his country was only the beginning. This came after a Russian general said his country wanted complete control of southern Ukraine.

"All nations that, like us, believe in the victory of life over death, must fight alongside us. They must help us, for we are first in line. And who will be next?" Zelensky said in the video Friday night.

As quoted by Russian news agencies, Deputy commander of the central military district Rustam Minnekayev said complete control of southern Ukraine would give Moscow access to Transnistria, the part of Russian-occupied Moldova in the west.

If that happened, the entire Ukrainian coastline would be captured and Russian troops would be able to move hundreds of miles west from their current positions, past Mykolaiv and Odesa, major cities on the Ukrainian coast.

The statement is one of the most detailed pieces of information about Moscow's ambitions in Ukraine and indicates it has no plans to stop its attacks there any time soon.

Ukraine's defense ministry said on Twitter Minnekayev's comments showed Russia was no longer hiding its intentions.

Moscow, the Ministry of Defense said, is now "acknowledging that the goal of the 'second phase' war is not victory over the mythical Nazis, but simply occupying eastern and southern regions of Ukraine. Imperialism as it is."

Moldova's foreign ministry said it had summoned the Russian ambassador on Friday to express "deep concern" about the general's comments. Moldova is neutral, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The country last month volunteered to join the European Union, reaffirming its Westward intentions accelerated by the Russian invasion.

US State Department spokeswoman Jalina Porter said Washington fully supports Moldova's sovereignty.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment when asked whether Russia had expanded its operations and how Moscow saw the political future in southern Ukraine.