05/21/2023
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 01:48 Ukrainian Air Force: Can win war with F16 +++
According to Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Colonel Yuri Ignat, Ukraine could win the war with the help of F-16 fighter jets. As he explains in an interview with the Ukrainian television station Espreso TV, the fighter jets would protect areas that are beyond the range of anti-aircraft missiles. “By deploying F-16s, our ground forces can quickly liberate occupied Ukrainian territories by targeting enemy command posts, military groups and logistical supply chains,” he adds. Ukraine has not yet received a commitment to the desired delivery of F-16 jets. According to government circles, however, US President Joe Biden has advocated training Ukrainian pilots on these jets. Russia has warned Western countries about a possible delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
+++ 00:52 Putin congratulates Wagner fighters on taking Bachmut +++
According to the Interfax news agency, Russian President Putin congratulated the Wagner troops on taking the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. As several Russian agencies report, Putin now wants to honor all those who have worked particularly hard for the intake with an award. The Russian Ministry of Defense had previously confirmed the capture of the city. Mercenary boss Prigozhin already had full control over Bakhmut on Saturday afternoon. Ukraine, on the other hand, rejected Prigozhin’s statements as untrue.
+++ 00:17 Bakhmut also completely conquered according to the Russian government +++
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian troops have gained full control of the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut after months of bitter fighting. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that the conquest was complete. The Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin had previously announced their conquest. Ukraine, on the other hand, rejected Prigozhin’s statements as untrue, but described the situation of its own troops in Bakhmut as critical. The city, which was fought over at great cost, has a high symbolic value for both sides, while its strategic importance is considered limited.
+++ 22:38 Selenskyj and Biden meet bilaterally in Hiroshima +++
US President Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart Zelenskyj also want to hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan. The conversation is scheduled for Sunday afternoon (local time), a US representative said. Selenskyj first wants to seek further help from the G7 countries and then also from host countries such as India, which have so far been neutral in the war with Russia.
+++ 22:02 Ukrainian secret service: Russia has been actively preparing for aggression since 2007 +++
Since 2007 Russia has started to prepare for aggression against Ukraine, said the head of the main intelligence service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Major General Kyrylo Budanov. “Russia has been actively preparing for aggression against Ukraine since 2007. In 2014, they took advantage of the moment favorable to them.” And Budanov further: “The war between us was inevitable.”
You can read all previous developments here.