Pentagon concerned for Zelensky safety: official

The United States continues to be concerned about Volodymyr Zelensky's safety, a senior American defense official said Thursday.

"Obviously, we remain concerned about his safety, of course. We do. And we are in touch with him," the official told reporters.

The United States had offered to evacuate the Ukrainian president on February 24 "to avoid being captured or killed by advancing Russian forces."

Citing US and Ukrainian officials, The Washington Post claimed Zelensky refused to leave the country, vowing to remain in charge of his government despite "grave personal risks."

Adam B. Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, revealed that the US was "ready to assist him in any way," adding that the US has made him aware "not only of the threat of Russian invasion, now a reality, but also the threat to him personally."

Russia has for months been warning of the threat posed against it by NATO's attempts to expand eastward, which happened simultaneously with an increase in NATO military activity along Russia's borders, and batches of lethal weapons being sent to Ukraine, prompting Russia to request security guarantees from the West. Washington failed to provide the guarantees.