05/21/2023
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 07:17 ISW: Wagner victory in Bachmut without meaning +++
After assessment According to the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia’s claimed victory over the city of Bakhmut is “purely symbolic”, even if the explanation is correct. The last blocks of flats there are neither tactically nor operationally important. Strategically, their capture is also insignificant, “since it will not enable the exhausted Wagner or conventional Russian forces to create a meaningful stepping stone for further offensive operations.” According to ISW, the ongoing Ukrainian counterattacks north, west and southwest of Bakhmut are likely to complicate any further Russian advance beyond Bakhmut in the near future.
Wagner chief Prigozhin had announced that his troops would establish a line of defense in Bakhmut by May 25 and then hand over the city to the Russian army. The ISW does not consider this plan to be plausible: “It is unlikely that the Wagner troops will be able to successfully carry out a controlled retreat from Bakhmut within five days in contact with the Ukrainian armed forces without the preparations of the Russian Ministry of Defense for the planned Ukrainian counterattacks It is unlikely that Wagner troops will be able to mount sufficient defenses or consolidate recent gains at Bakhmut to prevent Ukrainian counterattacks by May 25, even if Prigozhin’s announcement of Wagner troops’ withdrawal is true.”
+++ 06:49 Scholz sees growing support from emerging countries for Ukraine +++
Chancellor Scholz and French President Macron see growing support for Ukraine from emerging countries. He knows from the talks at the G7 summit that “almost all” of those who abstained from condemning Russia at the United Nations (UN) now know exactly what is happening and that Russia is leaving Ukraine for imperialist motives attacked, says Scholz on the sidelines of the G7 summit. Macron had already described the talks between Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and heads of state and government of emerging countries such as India and Brazil on Saturday as a “turning point”.
+++ 06:20 Macron: This war is not only European +++
According to French President Emmanuel Macron, the G7 summit in Hiroshima could be a good opportunity to convince big emerging economies like India and Brazil that Russia should invade Ukraine. “This war is not just European,” says Macron. “It is an opportunity to discuss, exchange ideas and convince the partners of the enlarged G7.” Macron said India, Brazil, Indonesia and some other countries may not have had the opportunity to engage directly with Ukraine.
+++ 04:13 Selenskyj gives speech at G7 summit +++
As announced by the Japanese government, Ukrainian President Zelenskyj will give a speech today at 7.15 p.m. local time (12.50 p.m. German time) at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan. Zelenskyj had traveled to Japan to attend the summit and meet with various heads of state and government there.
+++ 01:48 Ukrainian Air Force: Can win war with F-16 +++
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 awards. 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, says 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.” Budanov continued: “The war between us was inevitable.”
You can read all previous developments here.