Situation at a glance: US adviser: Prisoner deal does not affect Ukraine war

According to US security adviser Jake Sullivan, the large-scale prisoner exchange between Russia and several Western countries has no direct impact on the situation in Ukraine. He sees no connection between the negotiations about the prisoners and possible diplomatic efforts to end the war in the country attacked by Russia. “From our point of view, these are going in separate directions,” Sullivan replied in Washington when asked by a journalist whether the successful negotiations could also promote talks about the war situation with the Ukrainians.

One issue concerns the practical issues of the exchange, explained US President Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor. “The other is a much more complex issue where the Ukrainians will take the lead.” As soon as Ukraine is ready to take diplomatic steps, the US will coordinate closely with all its allies to support the country.

The opposition figure Dmitri Gudkov, who fled from Russia, believes that the exchange is a first step towards negotiations on peace in Ukraine. Both sides are now fed up with the war. By keeping the negotiation process calm and keeping quiet, they have shown each other that they are sticking to agreements. This is an important test of trust.

Selenskyj wants to make Ukraine fit for the future

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government is trying to put its war-torn country on a sound economic and financial footing. Ukraine must be fit for the future, stressed President Volodymyr Zelenskyj in his evening video address. “And that will guarantee our greater capabilities now, this year, in view of the existing challenges and threats.”

The prerequisites for this future viability include deepening relations with foreign partners and long-term security agreements, such as those that Kyiv has concluded in recent months, especially with Western partners. “Of course, the main task is to secure Ukraine’s defense forces, state budget and social stability,” Zelensky added.

Heavy fighting in eastern Ukraine

Meanwhile, heavy fighting continues in eastern Ukraine, with Russian troops attempting to break through Ukrainian defense lines. Zelensky praised the efforts of Ukrainian units in the Donbass area, which had repelled repeated attacks by Russian units near Toretsk, Kupiansk, Kurakhove and Pokrovsk. “The occupiers are suffering losses, we are continuing to work,” said the Ukrainian special forces fighting near Toretsk.

Army Chief Olexander Syrskyj admitted to minor territorial losses, for which Russian units paid a “relatively excessive price” with heavy losses. “The enemy is using its assault brigades to break through at Pokrovsk, for example,” he described the situation. There are also heavy battles at Kupiansk. “But we are holding our positions,” Syrskyj added. His statements could not be independently verified.

Speaker: Putin deals with war in Ukraine on a daily basis

According to his spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin spends many hours a day in contact with his military on the course of the war. “This is work that you don’t see every day on camera, work that you don’t read about in the newspapers,” Peskov said in a radio interview quoted by the state agency Tass.

Putin is reportedly monitoring the progress of the special operation, as the Kremlin calls the war of aggression against Ukraine, every day of the week. Putin also frequently speaks on the phone with front-line commanders and ordinary soldiers at the front. This is “a constant practice.”

There is still “no agenda acceptable to Russia” for possible talks on resolving the conflict, so participating in possible summits just for the sake of participating would be pointless. Nevertheless, Moscow remains open to political and diplomatic methods for resolving the Ukraine conflict. Moscow has annexed the occupied territories in Ukraine and considers them to be an integral part of Russian territory.

Moscow reports attack on Ukrainian airport

Yesterday evening, the Russian military reported an attack on a Ukrainian military airfield near Mykolaiv in the south of the country. The airfield, where Ukrainian pilots had been training “with English-speaking instructors,” was damaged. In view of the reports in Western media about the arrival of the first American-made F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine, the Russian side is clearly trying to neutralize this threat as much as possible.

There was no comment from the Ukrainian side on the alleged attack or on the reports about the arrival of the F-16. The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Belgium have promised Ukraine around 60 of these jets. According to US media reports, their weapons will be supplied by the United States.