How big will the Ukrainian counter-offensive be? As the conflict bogs down around the front line in eastern Ukraine, the leader of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, Yevgeni Prigozhin, on the front line, said Moscow must prepare to repel a Ukrainian force from 200,000 to 400,000 men, as part of the counter-attack planned by Kiev, and expected in the coming days. A way of asserting his interests in Moscow, while the man regularly asks Vladimir Putin for more resources.
The Ukrainian soldiers, who have received heavy tanks and long-range guns from their Western allies in recent weeks, promise to launch a new major offensive as soon as the weather permits. The Russians had wanted to regain the initiative this winter by relaunching their assault in the east, but so far their advances have been limited and their losses heavy. Focus on the conflict.
Ukraine received Patriot systems
The Ukrainian army has received the first American Patriot air defense systems, supposed to help Kiev protect its skies against salvoes of Russian missiles, Defense Minister Oleksiï Reznikov announced on Wednesday. “Today our beautiful Ukrainian skies become safer as Patriot air defense systems have arrived in Ukraine,” the Ukrainian minister tweeted, thanking the United States, Germany and the Netherlands for “having kept his word”. Timely help: According to a leaked intelligence document, the anti-aircraft defense has been in particularly bad shape in recent weeks.
Patriot Air Defense System
© / afp.com/Gal ROMA, Eléonore HUGHES, Anibal MAIZ CACERES
Zelensky in Avdiivka, new hot spot of the war
The Ukrainian president visited Avdiivka, in the Donetsk region on Tuesday, one of the hottest points on the front, shortly after Vladimir Putin made a rare visit to the occupied Ukrainian territories, at a time when Kiev says it is preparing a large offensive. Volodymyr Zelensky met Ukrainian soldiers and presented them with decorations.
An official video also shows him in a destroyed area of the city of Avdiivka, which for months has been the prey of intense shelling by the Russian army which is trying, in vain, to encircle it. “I have the honor to be here today, to thank you for your service, for the defense of our land,” he told the military. Volodymyr Zelensky also visited a military hospital in the region.
After criticizing US aid, Lula reaffirms his position against the Russian invasion
Under the fire of American criticism for “echoing Russian and Chinese propaganda”, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva clearly condemned on Tuesday the “violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine” by Russia . On Monday, the United States took offense at the statements of Brazilian diplomacy. The latter had accused America of “encouraging war”. Before ordering him to “talk about peace”.
Unlike several Western powers, Brazil has never imposed financial sanctions on Russia or agreed to supply ammunition to Kiev and is trying to position itself, like China, as a mediator. Tuesday during a lunch in honor of Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, visiting Brasília, Lula reiterated this position while making it clear that he did not support the war. “While condemning the violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, my government defends a negotiated political solution to the conflict.”
Russia calls for union against ‘Western blackmail’
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, on tour in Latin America, said Tuesday in Caracas that it was necessary to “unite forces” to counter “blackmail” Western. “It is necessary to join forces to counter blackmail attempts and illegal unilateral pressure from the West,” said Sergei Lavrov during a press conference with his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil. After Brazil, Venezuela is the second leg of Sergei Lavrov’s tour of Latin America. He must also go to Cuba and Nicaragua.
For the Russian minister, the invasion of Ukraine was done under international law. “We will resolve the situation in Ukraine and other conflicts in the world through the principles of the United Nations Charter on the sovereign equity of States, on the principle of the indivisibility of security,” he said. declared, while the UN has condemned the war in Ukraine no less than four times.
Moscow warns US ambassador against ‘subversive activity’ in Russia
Moscow warned US Ambassador Lynne Tracy on Tuesday against any “subversive activity” in Russia, according to a statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry after the diplomat’s summons. “It was particularly noted that any action by the US side aimed at inciting discord and enmity in Russian society, as well as using the diplomatic mission to conceal subversive activity, will be severely suppressed,” it said. Russian diplomacy in this communiqué.
FSB says it prevented ‘sabotage’ of energy infrastructure
The Russian security services (FSB) announced on Wednesday the arrest of a Russian-Ukrainian citizen, suspected of having wanted to “sabotage” an “energy infrastructure site” on the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. In recent months, while several attacks attributed to Kiev have deeply affected territories controlled by Moscow, the Russian authorities are agitating the terrorist threat and have toughened their legislation against “terrorism” or “sabotage”.
Hungary extends ban on agri-food products from Ukraine
Hungary, which had already announced the ban on imports of Ukrainian cereals accused of destabilizing the national market, will also apply the measure to dozens of agri-food products from this Wednesday. According to a decree published in the night in the Official Journal, can no longer be sold on Hungarian soil, in addition to cereals and oilseeds, flour, honey, wine, bread, meat and vegetables from Kiev. These restrictions are in effect until June 30.
Since the suspension of customs duties decided by the European Union in May 2022 to avoid a food crisis, neighboring European states have seen corn, wheat or sunflowers from Ukraine accumulate on their soil due to logistical problems, which drove down local prices. In response, several countries, including Poland and Hungary, banned the import of Ukrainian grain.