Selensky complains about attempts to disrupt the summit – Critical situation at the dam
Published: Sunday, Jun 2nd 2024, 14:40
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Two weeks before the peace summit planned in Switzerland, Ukraine has complained about new massive Russian attacks on the country's energy infrastructure. According to the authorities, the hydroelectric power plant at a reservoir on the Dnipro River near Zaporizhia, which was damaged in a Russian missile attack, is in a "critical condition". Specialists are investigating the safety of the associated dam, said the military governor of Zaporizhia, Ivan Fedorov, on Ukrainian television. "At the moment, traffic from the left bank to the right bank is completely blocked."
The hydropower plant has been the target of Russian fire several times in recent months. A fire broke out during a massive missile attack at the end of March. The power plant was badly damaged and had to be shut down for a while. On Saturday night, missiles hit the plant again.
Russia has been waging a war of aggression against Ukraine for more than two years. In the process, Moscow has repeatedly targeted civilian targets such as cities and, in particular, energy supply facilities. Due to the power shortages, energy supplies have been rationed and electricity prices have recently been increased. Last year, the Kakhovka dam on the lower reaches of the Dnipro was destroyed in the war zone. The flood triggered a huge environmental disaster. Dozens of people died. Thousands lost their belongings.
Zelenskyi calls for participation in summit and criticizes China
At the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the constant Russian missile and drone attacks on the country's energy infrastructure and once again appealed for help. Ahead of the peace summit planned for June 15 and 16 in Switzerland, he also accused China of trying to interfere. China is working to "ensure that states do not take part in the peace summit", he said.
Russia had criticized the planned summit to end Moscow's war of aggression against Ukraine as not being expedient, which Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin had also made clear during his state visit to Beijing in May. China, which has itself presented a peace plan that has been criticized as vague, does not believe that the requirements for participation in the meeting have been met, according to Foreign Office spokesperson Mao Ning.
Selensky has now stated that more than 100 states and organizations have confirmed their participation in the summit. He emphasized that the meeting in Bürgenstock near Lucerne, to which Russia has not been invited, will primarily focus on the exchange of prisoners, food and nuclear security. A plan is to be presented to Russia after the summit.
At the Shangri-La Dialogue, Selensky called on the Asian region to take part in the summit. No country should allow itself to be intimidated by Russia. "Russia is now traveling to many countries around the world and threatening to blockade food, agricultural and chemical products, make energy more expensive or simply exert pressure so that other countries in the world do not attend the summit," said Selensky. The pressure on Moscow must be increased through diplomatic isolation of Russia and by strengthening the Ukrainian army in order to stop Putin.
At a meeting with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Singapore, Selensky pointed out that Russia's attempts to disrupt the summit could be thwarted if the respective heads of state from the participating countries also attended the summit. The Ukrainian thus indirectly criticized once again that US President Joe Biden was not travelling to Switzerland. Selensky had previously complained that this was playing into Putin's hands.
US Secretary of Defense pledges permanent aid to Ukraine
"The United States' support for Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression will never waver," Austin announced on the social network X after the meeting with Selenskyj. The US is committed to maintaining the strong support of a coalition of over 50 countries to help Ukraine defend its freedom.
Selensky, in turn, thanked Austin for the latest concessions in military aid. The limited strikes against Russian territory now permitted by the USA served as an effective defense against Moscow's attempts to further expand the combat zone. The Ukrainian armed forces are also under particularly heavy pressure in the Kharkiv region bordering Russia.
Russia is conducting air strikes from its positions on its own territory near Kharkiv against the region around Ukraine's second-largest city, largely without strong resistance. On Sunday, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported an advance in the Kharkiv region and the capture of another village in Donetsk, which is already largely occupied.
At the conference in the Southeast Asian economic hub, hundreds of ministers, military officials and experts from all over the world discussed current trouble spots and threats until Sunday. Topics such as artificial intelligence, cyber defense and future types of warfare were also discussed.
©Keystone/SDA
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