Russia claims the success of its recent offensive in eastern Ukraine. “Currently, the fights are progressing successfully in the areas [de Bakhmout et de Vouhledar]”, said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. The latter warned the West against increasing its aid to Ukraine which could “lead to an unpredictable level of escalation” in the conflict. such a context, the Ukrainian president is expected in the United Kingdom, Wednesday, February 8, and is expected in Brussels the next day.
Ukrainian President arrives UK
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the UK on Wednesday for his second overseas visit since the start of the Russian invasion nearly a year ago, the British government announced, which has pledged to train Ukrainian fighter pilots. Volodymyr Zelensky will meet British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, address parliament and visit Ukrainian troops in training during the visit, Downing Street said in a statement. He must also meet with King Charles III.
This is the first time that Volodymyr Zelensky has left Ukrainian territory since his visit to Washington on December 21 for a few hours. He was then received at the White House by President Joe Biden and spoke before the US Congress, whose elected officials from both chambers gave him a standing ovation. His visit to the United Kingdom comes as the Ukrainian president, expected according to European sources on Thursday in Brussels, is asking for a reinforcement and an acceleration of Western military aid.
Biden reaffirms US support
Joe Biden assured Congress on Tuesday that the United States will support Ukraine “as long as it takes” in the face of the Russian invasion, making the ambassador from kyiv, present in the gallery, applaud. “She not only represents her nation, but the courage of her people,” the US president told her. With NATO, the United States “faced the aggression led by Putin and stood by the side of the Ukrainian people”, he said again to parliamentarians almost a year after the start of the war.
Brussels hopes to welcome Zelensky
A week after welcoming the representatives of the European institutions to kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to be in Brussels on Thursday for a summit with EU leaders, the scope of which would be essentially symbolic. Given by some as “probable”, the arrival of the Ukrainian leader is far from certain.
European Council President Charles Michel said on Monday evening that he had invited Volodymyr Zelensky “to participate in person at a future summit”. “It could be this Thursday,” the Council was told. But “nothing is closed”. For his first trip abroad since the beginning of the invasion of his country by Russia almost a year ago, Volodymyr Zelensky had chosen Washington where he was welcomed as a hero in December. Charles Michel wanted to invite him to Brussels. But the initiative, so soon after the EU chiefs’ trip to Kyiv, is irritating in some capitals. Diplomats suspect him of wanting to show off in relation to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, with whom relations are bad.
Washington approves sale of Himars to Poland
The United States announced on Tuesday that it had approved the sale of 18 Himars rocket launcher systems to Poland, a NATO member country bordering Ukraine, for 10 billion dollars. “The planned sale will enhance Poland’s military goals in terms of renewing its capabilities while enhancing interoperability with the United States and other allies,” the US Defense and Security Cooperation Agency said. (DSCA) in a press release.
“Poland intends to use this defense equipment to modernize its armed forces and expand its ability to strengthen its internal security and deter regional threats,” she added. The Himars system (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System), manufactured by the American giant Lockheed Martin, is a rocket launcher mounted on light armored vehicles, with which the American army has equipped the Ukrainian forces in particular. It can be equipped with six missiles with a range of about 80 km, or a single tactical missile with a range of 300 km called ATACMS (Army tactical missile system).
At least 100 Leopard 1 tanks will soon be delivered
Ukraine will receive “in the coming months” at least 100 Leopard 1 A5 tanks, old models of armored combat, the defense ministers of Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark announced on Tuesday. These tanks, of German manufacture, older than the Leopard 2, will be “refurbished from industrial stocks”, explain the three countries in a joint press release. This announcement comes as German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius makes a surprise visit to kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in the evening, “thanked” the three countries for “their relevant support”, after an interview with Boris Pistorius, for whom this is the first trip to Ukraine since his mid- January. In addition to the delivery of Leopard 1s, Berlin, Copenhagen and The Hague promise training for Ukrainian soldiers in the handling of these tanks, as well as the supply of spare parts and ammunition. The three countries indicate that their initiative is “open to other partners”. They thus mention Belgium which has “indicated an interest in participating”.