Selenskyj: Situation near Kharkiv partially stabilized – night at a glance
Published: Thursday, May 16th 2024, 04:00
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According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, the situation in the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine, which has been massively attacked by Russian troops, has partially stabilized. "The occupier who invaded the Kharkiv region will be destroyed by all available means," said Zelenskyi in his evening video message broadcast in Kiev on Wednesday. "Artillery, drones and our infantry are working quite accurately." The situation had been partially stabilized.
The situation in the Kharkiv region is extremely tense due to the Russian territorial gains of recent weeks. The Ukrainian General Staff spoke of intense fighting. Nevertheless, Western military experts have now also noted a slowdown in Russian attacks.
Selenskyj canceled all trips abroad due to the difficult situation - and described in his video message that the defensive activities of Ukrainian troops were continuing, particularly in the city of Vovchansk near the Russian border. At the same time, the armed forces were also concentrating on other directions, including the city of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region and in the Donetsk region around the city of Pokrovsk.
The Ukrainian president once again emphasized that his country must be equipped with all the means to repel the enemy. "The world has the strength, it has the weapons, it has the ability to force Russia to make peace - a just peace," said Selensky. Everything must be done to ensure that the Russian offensive and Moscow's attempt to escalate the war fail.
Ukraine conference: More than 50 commitments - but not yet from China
Ukraine is also pinning its hopes on a first high-level conference in Switzerland, at which a path to peace is to be explored. One month before the conference, more than 50 countries have already confirmed their participation, but one particularly important one is missing: "China has not yet registered," admitted Swiss President Viola Amherd on Wednesday after a meeting with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin. However, she added: "We assume that there will be changes to the list of participants right up to the last minute."
Switzerland has invited around 160 countries to meet on June 15 and 16 to discuss possible ways to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine. Russia, which attacked Ukraine a good two years ago, has not received an invitation. The initiative for the conference came from President Zelensky, who insists on the implementation of his peace plan. His core demand is a Russian troop withdrawal from all occupied territories in Ukraine. Moscow rejected the plan as unrealistic.
It is now considered crucial for the success of the conference that not only Ukraine's Western allies are present, but also influential states that are friends of Russia - above all China, Moscow's most important ally. However, the G20 states India, Brazil and South Africa also continue to have close ties with Moscow. Around half of the pledges come from non-European countries, according to Switzerland.
Scholz has already announced his participation and also promoted the conference during his visit to Beijing in April. However, he only agreed with Chinese President Xi Jinping to remain in contact about the meeting near Lucerne.
Russian President Putin travels to China
Putin will be in Beijing on Thursday and Friday to meet Xi. "Of course this is a meeting that we are following closely," said Scholz. He would like the talks to bring Putin closer to the realization "that he must move, that he must withdraw troops and open up the possibility of a just peace that is not a dictated peace".
Xi Jinping has invited the Kremlin leader to visit Beijing and the northern Chinese industrial city of Harbin. It is Putin's first trip abroad since he began his fifth term in office just over a week ago. The 71-year-old was received with military honors in Beijing on Thursday night.
The talks will also focus on the war in Ukraine. Putin will be accompanied by the newly appointed Defense Minister Andrei Beloussov and his predecessor Sergei Shoigu, who will also be responsible for armaments issues as Secretary of the National Security Council.
The two nuclear powers are closely intertwined economically. Russia is affected by far-reaching sanctions imposed by the West as a result of its war of aggression in Ukraine and needs China as a trading partner. Beijing may be neutral in the conflict externally, but it is in fact backing Moscow. Previous proposals from China to resolve the war in Ukraine have not yet borne fruit. The Chinese government has also not yet condemned the attack.
Kremlin chief: Russia's General Staff has proven itself in war
Before his departure, Putin had emphasized that there would be no structural changes in the General Staff under its chief Valery Gerasimov, who is responsible for the combat operations in Ukraine. "This block of combat work has proven itself, it functions rhythmically, runs successfully, and no changes are planned here."
Putin had explained that he had appointed the economic expert and civil servant Beloussov as minister because the country's arms expenditure had increased dramatically. An economist is needed to ensure that it is properly distributed and used. Beloussov is also supposed to push through innovations and modernization in the military. Putin called for efforts in the arms industry to be doubled and tripled in order to be permanently superior to Ukraine in the war.
©Keystone/SDA
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