{"id":31439,"date":"2022-02-14T19:49:09","date_gmt":"2022-02-14T18:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/?p=31439"},"modified":"2022-02-14T20:30:48","modified_gmt":"2022-02-14T19:30:48","slug":"were-prepared-for-war-says-albanian-living-in-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/were-prepared-for-war-says-albanian-living-in-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"We\u2019re prepared for war, says Albanian living in Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"

The main theme discussed on Today<\/a>, a daily show on Euronews Albania, was Albania\u2019s role in the tensions between Russia and Ukraine.<\/p>\n

The president of the Union of Albanians in Ukraine, Aleksander Dermentli called on the Albanian state for assistance in case of the outbreak of war.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are prepared for war, and we\u2019ve received some advice. I spoke to Albanian friends and military and we have a plan in case of a war outbreak\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wrote a letter to the foreign ministry. We need help. We want at least for children to be evacuated and we plan to come to Albania if a war erupts\u201d, he added.<\/p>\n

The United States raised the alarm that the Russian troops lined at the border can lead to the invasion of Ukraine. Washington maintains that the invasion could happen \u201cat any moment\u201d.<\/p>\n

Russia amassed over 130,000 troops at the Ukraine border, but Moscow dismissed allegations that it plans to invade Ukraine.<\/p>\n

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An aerial image shows around 100,000 Russian troops at the Ukraine border \/ Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to the former commander of the Albanian naval forces, this figure is not enough to invade Ukraine.<\/p>\n

\u201c110,000 troops are not enough to invade Ukraine\u201d, said on Today former commander Artur Mecollari.<\/p>\n

According to him, to invade the country would require at least 300,000 troops.<\/p>\n

Mecollari drew a comparison with the 2003 Iraq invasion, where the United States and its allies deployed some 310,000 troops to carry out the incursion.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe territory of Iraq is somewhat smaller than Ukraine and has a similar population number\u201d, he added.<\/p>\n

Albanian President Ilir Meta convened on Monday the National Security Council as tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalate.<\/p>\n

Albania said it supports Ukraine\u2019s sovereignty and territorial integrity.<\/p>\n

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President Ilir Meta convened the National Security Council<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An official statement released by the President\u2019s Office said the meeting was to discuss the continuation of reforms in the area of security and defense, but also to enhance capacities against cyberattacks.<\/p>\n

\u201cPresident Meta and the members of the National Security Council confirmed that Albania, as a NATO member as well as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, stands with Ukraine in the protection of its sovereignty and territorial integrity and it urges parties to choose dialogue and peaceful means to resolve the current crisis\u201d, the statement read.<\/p>\n

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