Two disasters in Kharkiv – Zelensky urges peace summit
Published: Sunday, May 26th 2024, 17:00
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Following the Russian attack on a DIY store in Kharkiv that left at least 16 people dead, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has desperately called on the leaders of the USA and China to attend a peace summit in Switzerland. The bomb attack on the DIY store on Saturday, after which several people were still missing, was the second catastrophe in just a few days for the city of millions in eastern Ukraine. On Thursday, Russian missiles destroyed one of the country's largest printing plants in Kharkiv, killing seven people.
Selenskyj published a video on Sunday that had been filmed in the ruins of the printing plant. He appealed to US President Joe Biden and China's head of state Xi Jinping: "We don't want the UN Charter to be burned like these books here, and I hope you don't want that either," he said. Both should therefore come to the peace conference, which is to take place in Switzerland on June 15/16. The USA is likely to be represented there, but probably not by Biden. As a close ally of Moscow, China is sceptical about the meeting because it is taking place without Russia and is only intended to mobilize support for Ukraine.
Deaths still suspected in the destroyed DIY store
Around 200 people were in the DIY store when it was hit. A fire broke out, which could only be extinguished on Sunday morning. According to Kharkiv's military governor Oleh Synjehubov, the death toll had risen to 16 by Sunday, but more bodies were believed to be buried under the rubble. Dozens of people are also in hospital, some with serious injuries.
EU Council President Charles Michel condemned the attack as repugnant. He said it was criminal to terrorize civilians. "Together we can stop Russia's brutal attacks. We urgently need to make progress on a comprehensive air defense," wrote the Belgian politician on X.
The EU foreign ministers want to meet in Brussels on Monday and discuss the situation in Ukraine once again. One of Kiev's main demands is further assistance with air defense
Ukraine fears further attack on the border
Kharkiv is repeatedly the target of Russian attacks due to its proximity to the border. According to Zelenskyi, Moscow is preparing another attack. While Ukraine is still fending off the latest Russian ground offensive in the Kharkiv region, Russia is gathering new units a few kilometers to the north in order to launch another attack further northwest, the president said.
According to military experts, a Russian offensive in the Sumy region in the north of Ukraine is possible. Russia's aim in such an operation would be to exploit its personnel and material superiority, overstretch the Ukrainian defense lines and thus achieve the collapse of the front - or at least conquer more territory.
According to Selenskyj, the preparations for attacks and the ongoing "terrorist" shelling of cities in Ukraine show that Russia - contrary to its rhetoric - is not ready for negotiations on a real peace. At best, the Kremlin is seeking a ceasefire, which will then be broken again by Russian missiles.
The German government is currently trying to organize additional Patriot air defence systems for Ukraine. Germany itself has announced that it will supply a third system. However, six to seven more are urgently needed. In addition to Germany, six other EU countries have these US-designed systems. Berlin has also delivered four Iris-T SLM air defense complexes to Kiev.
Scholz maintains restrictions on German weapons
However, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz is currently sticking to his no to the use of German weapons against Russian territory. At a public discussion at the Democracy Festival in Berlin, when asked when he would allow the Ukrainian armed forces to fire on Russian territory with these weapons, he said: "We have clear rules agreed with Ukraine for the arms deliveries we have made so far. And they work. At least that's my thesis."
Zelensky has repeatedly emphasized in the past that this ban gives Russia an advantage in the war because it can gather military forces near the border with impunity. The airstrikes on Kharkiv are also carried out from Russian soil. Russian aircraft still release their glide bombs over the Belgorod region and are therefore protected from Western weapons.
©Keystone/SDA
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