“Ukraine clearly believes that it can win, as does everyone here,” the Pentagon chief declared. “We will continue to move heaven and earth to be able to satisfy” Ukraine’s wishes, added the official, who visited kyiv on Sunday with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
From now on, he indicated at the end of the conclave, this type of meeting will be held monthly, in order to assess Ukraine’s defense needs.
Ukrainian forces managed to repel the offensive launched by Russia on February 24 against the capital, kyiv, but Kremlin troops are now advancing slowly in the south and in the Donbas region (east), partially controlled by pro-Russian separatists since 2014.
Turn
The United States, the United Kingdom, France and the Czech Republic initially refused to supply offensive weapons to kyiv, but have now changed their position, urged by Eastern European countries, especially Poland. Even the German government of Olaf Scholz, whose country is highly dependent on Russian gas, announced that it will send Gepard-type tanks, specialized in anti-aircraft defense.
Longer term, “we want to see Russia weakened to the point where it can’t do things like invade Ukraine,” Austin said Monday.
Meanwhile, negotiations between Russia and Ukraine seem more deadlocked than ever.
United Nations Secretary General António Guterres visited Moscow on Tuesday, on his first trip to the Russian capital since the conflict began.
“I proposed the creation of a contact group that brings together Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations to look for the possibilities of opening humanitarian corridors,” Guterres said at a press conference with the head of Russian diplomacy, Sergey Lavrov.
“It is urgent” to create these “really safe and effective” civilian evacuation corridors, he added.
fighting
Russian forces continue to bombard the large Azovstal metallurgical complex, where the last remaining fighters have barricaded themselves in Mariupol, a port located in southeastern Ukraine on the Sea of Azov. According to kyiv, some 100,000 civilians are trapped in that town that serves as a bridge between the Russian-controlled territories in the east and south of Ukraine.
In Donbas, the situation is complicated for the Ukrainian troops.
“On the moral plane, the situation is complicated. It’s not all pink,” said Irina Ribakova, a press officer with the Ukrainian 93rd Brigade.
Several towns such as Izium and Kreminna fell in the last two weeks and the Russian Army continues to gain ground, pocket by pocket, while the Ukrainians strive to limit that advance.
Both in Donbas and in the south, “the enemy is carrying out shelling against positions of our troops along the entire front line with mortars, artillery and multiple rocket launchers,” the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said yesterday.
In the Lugansk region – part, along with Donetsk, of Donbas – the city of Popsana remains under attack. Three dead people were recently found there in the rubble of a residential building, Governor Sergiy Gaidai said yesterday. And in Donetsk, at least two civilians were killed and six wounded in various municipalities, said its governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko.
In the south, two Russian missiles hit the city of Zaporizhia yesterday morning, causing at least one death and one injury, the regional administration reported (see separate note).
The city – where many civilians who fled Mariupol and towns in Donbas took refuge – is now preparing for an attack by Russian forces from the coast, according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.
Source: Ambito
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
