Moscow deplores exclusion from talks and shoots – Night at a glance
Published: Wednesday, Jan 17th 2024, 05:20
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Russia has reacted with harsh criticism to the talks on a peace solution in Ukraine at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Without Russian participation, such negotiations would be "pointless and harmful", said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in Moscow on Tuesday. "The 'peace principles for Ukraine', which the organizers are trying to work out, are a priori not viable because they are based on the absurd and unacceptable 'formula of (Volodymyr) Zelenskyi'." The Ukrainian president's formula also contains a ban on peace negotiations with Russia, she complained.
Zelenskyi had demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, the punishment of those responsible for the war and Russian reparations. This is unrealistic, said Zakharova.
Meanwhile, the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, which has been going on for almost two years, continues unabated. According to official reports, at least three people were injured in a Russian attack with attack drones on the port city of Odessa on the Black Sea on Wednesday night. There was an air alert in many regions of the country. Explosions were reportedly heard in the southern regions of Mykolaiv and Kherson. On Tuesday evening, 17 people had already been injured in a Russian missile attack in Kharkiv.
According to Russia, it once again repelled Ukrainian attacks in the border region during the night.
Military administration: Injured after Russian shelling of Odessa
According to the regional military administration of Odessa, Russia attacked the Ukrainian port city of the same name on the Black Sea with attack drones. During the attack at night, residential buildings were damaged and at least three people were injured, the military administration announced on Telegram. A 62-year-old man suffered a shrapnel wound and two women, born in 1955 and 1995, were also wounded. Around 130 civilians also had to be evacuated from damaged homes, it added. The information could not initially be independently verified.
Many injured after Russian missile attack on Kharkiv
At least 17 people had already been injured in a Russian missile attack on Kharkiv. "Two women are seriously injured," announced the military governor of the Kharkiv region, Oleh Synyehubov, on his Telegram channel late on Tuesday evening. Twelve other people were hospitalized. According to the report, two converted S-300 anti-aircraft missiles hit the city center of the metropolis. The missiles hit a place where there are many residential buildings, complained Mayor Ihor Terekhov. The authorities also reported damage to civilian infrastructure.
Russia: Ukrainian missiles and drones fended off over Belgorod
Meanwhile, Russia claims to have once again repelled several Ukrainian missiles over the Belgorod border region on Wednesday night. Seven missiles and four drones were involved, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow announced on Telegram in the early hours of the morning. This information could not be independently verified either. There was initially no information about damage or casualties. The Russian air force had already repelled several missiles over Belgorod and the Voronezh region on Tuesday night.
Putin warns Ukraine of the end of its statehood
Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously rejected Ukraine's peace formula on Tuesday and called on Kiev to make territorial concessions.
Nobody can force Russia to give up the territories it has conquered so far, Putin said. "Everyone understands that this is not possible." The Kremlin leader once again described Ukraine's counter-offensive to recapture territories as a failure.
Putin accused the Ukrainian armed forces of firing on Russian border regions, most recently the Belgorod region, in order to distract attention from their own failure. In addition, the Western sponsors, who provide money, weapons and ammunition, are to be shown that Ukraine is capable of responding to the Russian attacks. Ukrainian statehood is threatened with an "irreparable blow" by the actions of the leadership in Kiev, Putin said on Tuesday at a meeting with representatives of local authorities, which was broadcast on state television.
Selenskyj continues to appeal for international aid
Earlier, during his appearance at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort town of Davos, President Zelensky warned urgently against a "freeze" in the Russian war against his country. At the same time, he reiterated his hopes that Ukraine would join Nato. Selensky received support from the EU and from Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in his campaign for additional billions and arms deliveries.
Selenskyj meets with Poland's President Duda in Davos
Poland's President Andrzej Duda, whom Selenskyj met in Davos in the evening, also promised further support. Duda announced a trip to Ukraine by the new Polish head of government Donald Tusk. Tusk will visit Kiev "in a few days" to discuss details of further cooperation. Another topic of the conversation with Duda was the coordination between the two countries ahead of the NATO summit in Washington, Selensky announced on his Telegram channel. Ukraine is supported by Poland in its bid to join the military alliance.
Macron promises Ukraine support agreement and more weapons
French President Emmanuel Macron also held out the prospect of a support agreement with Ukraine, similar to the one the UK signed with the country attacked by Russia a few days ago. France is planning a similar agreement with Ukraine and he will travel to Ukraine in February in this context, Macron said in Paris on Tuesday evening. France will continue to provide Ukraine with military support, including the delivery of 40 additional Scalp cruise missiles, hundreds of bombs and Caesar howitzers. Russia must not win the war launched against Ukraine, said Macron.
Scholz and Biden talk on the phone about Ukraine
According to their governments, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and US President Joe Biden also spoke on the phone to discuss, among other things, the ongoing support for Ukraine. They agreed that it was necessary to continue providing financial, military and humanitarian support to the country attacked by Russia, a spokesperson for the German government said on Tuesday.
What will be important on Wednesday
Fighting continues in the war zone despite the wintry conditions. According to military sources, the Ukrainian armed forces are concentrating their efforts primarily on fortifying defenses in order to fend off Russian attacks.
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