The day of the war at a glance: Kremlin: Western aid is slowing down the advance – Putin demands that the Azovstal fighters give up

The day of the war at a glance
Kremlin: Western aid slows advance – Putin demands surrender of Azovstal fighters

In its attack on Ukraine, Russia apparently loses several generals. A Kremlin spokesman explains that US secret services are said to have played a major role in this – and thus delaying the end of the military operation. But there should be no doubt about the outcome of the war. The situation is different with the Russian commitment to a ceasefire for the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol. Russian soldiers did not allow civilians to be evacuated, Ukrainian troops say. Meanwhile, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj are settling their dispute. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko is surprised at the long duration of the war – and expresses cautious criticism of Russia. The 71st day of the war at a glance.

Moscow: Western aid is slowing down Russia

Despite Western intelligence support for Ukraine, Russia believes in victory. “Our military is aware that the United States, Britain and NATO as a whole are constantly providing information and other data to the Ukrainian armed forces,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Interfax. Like the western arms deliveries, this “does not contribute to a quick conclusion of the operation,” added President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman. However, this support cannot prevent Russia from achieving the goals it has set itself.

With his statements, Peskov reacted to a report by the New York Times, according to which Ukraine is using American intelligence information to kill Russian generals.

Putin demands surrender of Azovstal fighters

Russian President Vladimir Putin is urging Ukraine to order the fighters holed up at the Azovstal Steel Plant to surrender. According to a statement by the Presidential Office in Moscow, Russia is ready to allow the trapped civilians on the Mariupol site to safely evacuate. Putin informed Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in a telephone call.

Ukraine had previously accused Moscow of violating the agreed ceasefire. Russian soldiers did not allow civilians to be evacuated, Svyatoslav Palamar, a commander of Ukraine’s Azov regiment, said in a Telegram video.

Baerbock travels to Kyiv – Zelenskyj also invites Steinmeier and Scholz

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the phone. This was confirmed by a spokeswoman for the President. People involved in the process also said that Selenskyj had invited both Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Kyiv. The Ukrainian President had previously left Steinmeier’s request for talks unanswered for weeks.

The conversation and the invitation ended a week-long tug-of-war over Steinmeier’s visit to Kyiv, which had been canceled by the Ukraine. First, however, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will travel to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. This was announced by Chancellor Scholz. It is the first trip by a member of the federal government to the country since the Russian invasion.

Putin apologizes to Israel for Hitler comparison

Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologized to Israel for his Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s comparison with Hitler. This was announced by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett after a phone call with Putin. Bennett accepted the apology and “thank you for clarifying the President’s attitude toward the Jewish people and Holocaust remembrance.”

In an interview, Lavrov claimed that there were neo-Nazis in the Ukrainian government. Referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Lavrov added: “I could be wrong, but Hitler also had Jewish blood.”

Lukashenko surprised at how long the war lasted

The Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko is surprised at the duration of the Russian war effort. “To be honest, I didn’t think this operation would drag on for so long. But I’m not in deep enough to say if it’s going according to plan, as the Russians say,” Lukashenko said in an interview the US news agency AP. “I reiterate, I feel this operation is dragging on.” Asked about a Russian nuclear strike against Ukraine, Lukashenko said: “The use of nuclear weapons is unacceptable not only because they [die Ukrainer] right next to us because unlike the United States we are not overseas, but it is also unacceptable because it could destroy our planet,” Lukashenko said.

Ukraine reports counter-offensives in the Kharkiv region

Ukrainian forces have apparently begun to launch counter-offensives near Kharkiv and the Russian-held city of Izyum. This is what Ukrainian Chief of General Staff Valeriy Zalushnyi told the newspaper “Kyiv Independent“. He added that fierce fighting continues near the cities of Popasna, Kreminna and Torske in the Luhansk region.

Donor conference collects six billion euros

An international donor conference for Ukraine in Warsaw made pledges of more than six billion euros. That’s what Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said at the end of the event organized jointly with Sweden. According to Morawiecki, the money “will be used to support Ukraine and all those who help Ukraine”. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged a further 200 million euros in Ukraine aid. The money should benefit Ukrainian internally displaced persons. Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced an additional 125 million euros in humanitarian aid from Germany. In addition, EU Council President Charles Michel promised Kyiv a “European Marshall Plan” for post-war reconstruction.

Gazprom wants to use Nord Stream 2 to supply Russia

The Russian energy giant Gazprom wants to use parts of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which has been put on hold, to supply its own population for the time being. Because the Baltic Sea pipeline is not currently being used, Gazprom has decided to “use the surplus Russian onshore gas transport capacities for the development of gas supply in the regions of north-western Russia,” the company said. The notification also contains a warning to Berlin: If Germany decides to put Nord Stream 2 into operation after all, in the near future at most the first strand of the route laid under water can be connected. The second line can no longer be used before 2028.

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