Ukraine vowed on Tuesday, the thousandth day of the Russian invasion, not to “ Never » submit to Russia, which has once again raised the specter of resorting to nuclear weapons and promised to win this war. However, kyiv may have to wait until after Putin to restore its integrity, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, admitting that his country will have to “ maybe » accept for a time the loss of occupied territories.
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This symbolic thousandth day comes at a vital moment for kyiv: its army is retreating on the battlefield, uncertainty weighs on the sustainability of American support with the return of Donald Trump in power in the United States in January, while Moscow is in a position of strength. The outgoing American administration of Joe Biden gave the Ukrainians a boost by finally authorizing them, after a year of procrastination, to strike Russian soil with American long-range missiles, a red line for Moscow. President Vladimir Putin responded Tuesday, signing the decree formalizing his new nuclear doctrine which expands the possibility of using atomic weapons in the event of a “massive” air assault carried out by a non-nuclear country, but supported by a nuclear power. . Clear references to Ukraine and the United States.
Putin raises nuclear threat
“ It was necessary to adapt our foundations (from the nuclear doctrine) to the current situation », Coldly noted Dmitri Peskov, spokesperson for the Russian presidency, also promising Moscow’s victory in Ukraine. “ The military operation will continue (until the achievement of) the set objectives “, he said.
This new nuclear doctrine was announced, but its adoption came two days after the authorization for the use of American long-range missiles. Moscow also promised a response “ appropriate » to such shots.
After nearly three years of conflict which has left tens, if not hundreds of thousands, dead in total, kyiv does not intend to give in. “ Ukraine will never submit to the occupiers », Underlined Ukrainian diplomacy in a press release, judging that international security requires “ the restoration of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine “.
Putin does not “ won’t stop itself »
“ Putin is focused on winning. It won’t stop on its own. The more time he has, the more conditions deteriorate », insisted Volodymyr Zelensky in a video speech broadcast to the European Parliament and received a long standing ovation by MEPs. This is the “ best time ” For ” push harder » against Russia, said the Ukrainian head of state. “ Putin remains smaller than the United States of Europe. I urge you not to forget this and not to forget everything that Europe is capable of doing “, he continued.
According to him, Russia will not have “ real motivation to engage in meaningful negotiations without fire in its ammunition depots on Russian territory (…), without destruction of Russian air bases, without loss of its missile and drone production capabilities and without its assets being confiscated “. In passing, Volodymyr Zelensky scratched “ some European leaders who are thinking about elections » national rather than Ukraine.
A war that is becoming international
kyiv recalls that Moscow took advantage of this war to build a military alliance with North Korea and Iran, a global threat that destabilizes Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East “. North Korea, according to kyiv and the West, supplies Russia with missiles, munitions and now also at least 10,000 soldiers. Iran is accused of delivering attack drones and ballistic missiles.
Also readNorth Korean soldiers in Russia, the start of a globalization of the Ukrainian conflict
The Russian army again claimed Tuesday the conquest of a village, near Kurakhové, one of the sectors of the East where it is advancing the furthest. It is also at the gates of the cities of Pokrovsk (east) and Koupiansk (north-east). In addition, a Russian strike killed ten people during the night from Monday to Tuesday, including a child, in the Sumy region (north-east), according to a latest report. The day before, ten people were killed by a missile in Odessa (south).
At the same time, Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January leaves Ukraine and Europeans fearing that he will force concessions from kyiv, offering a military and geopolitical victory to Vladimir Putin.
Also readA thousand days of war in Ukraine: UN Security Council meeting