War against Ukraine
Russia calls Zelensky’s Davos appearance unrealistic and attacks with missiles and drones
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj during talks in Davos
© DPA
Moscow sharply criticized Zelensky’s appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos and the talks there to end the war in Ukraine. The next attacks followed that night.
Russia has responded with sharp criticism to the talks about a peace solution in the Ukraine reacts at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Without Russian participation, such negotiations would be “pointless and harmful,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in Moscow on Tuesday. “The ‘Principles of Peace for Ukraine’ that the organizers are trying to elaborate are a priori not viable because they are based on the absurd and unacceptable ‘Formula of (Volodymyr) Zelensky’.” The Ukrainian president’s formula also contained a ban on peace negotiations with Russia, she complained.
Zelensky had called for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, the punishment of those responsible for the war and Russian reparations. This is unrealistic, said Sakharova.
Meanwhile, the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, which has been ongoing for almost two years, continues unabated. According to official reports, at least three people were injured in a Russian attack with attack drones on the port city of Odessa on the Black Sea on Wednesday night. There were air alerts in many regions of the country. Explosions were reportedly heard in the southern regions of Mykolaiv and Kherson. 17 people were injured in a Russian rocket attack in Kharkiv on Tuesday evening.
According to its own statements, Russia again fended off Ukrainian attacks in the border area during the night.
Military administration: Injured after Russian shelling of Odessa
According to the regional military administration of Odessa, Russia attacked the Ukrainian port city of the same name on the Black Sea with attack drones. The military administration said on Telegram that residential buildings were damaged and at least three people were injured in the attack that night. A 62-year-old man suffered a shrapnel wound, and two women born in 1955 and 1995 were also wounded. Around 130 civilians also had to be evacuated from damaged apartments, it said. The information could not initially be independently verified.
Many injured after Russian rocket attack on Kharkiv
At least 17 people were injured in a Russian rocket attack on Kharkiv. “Two women are seriously injured,” said the military governor of the Kharkiv region, Oleh Synjehubov, on his Telegram channel late Tuesday evening. Twelve other people were taken to hospital. Accordingly, two repurposed S-300 anti-aircraft missiles landed in the city center of the city with over a million inhabitants. Mayor Ihor Terekhov complained that the rockets hit a place where there are many residential buildings. The authorities also speak of damage to civil infrastructure.
Russia: Ukrainian missiles and drones repelled over Belgorod
Russia claims to have repelled several Ukrainian projectiles over the Belgorod border region on Wednesday night. The Ministry of Defense in Moscow announced on Telegram in the early hours of the morning that there were seven missiles and four drones. This information could not be independently verified either. Initially nothing was known about the damage or injuries. On Tuesday night, the Russian Air Force had already repelled several projectiles over Belgorod and the Voronezh region.
Putin warns Ukraine that its statehood will end
Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously rejected Ukraine’s peace formula on Tuesday and called on Kiev to make territorial concessions.
Putin said that no one could force Russia to give up the territories it has conquered so far. “Everyone understands that this is not possible.” The Kremlin chief once again described Ukraine’s counteroffensive to retake territory as a failure.
Putin accused the Ukrainian armed forces of shelling Russian border regions, such as the Belgorod region, in order to distract from their own failure. In addition, the Western sponsors who give money, weapons and ammunition should be shown that Ukraine is capable of responding to Russian attacks. Ukrainian statehood is threatened with an “irreparable blow” as a result of the actions of the leadership in Kiev, Putin said on Tuesday at a meeting with representatives of local authorities broadcast on state television.
Zelensky continues to appeal for international help
Previously, during his appearance at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos, President Zelensky had warned urgently against a “freeze” of Russia’s war against his country. At the same time, he reiterated hopes that Ukraine would join NATO. In courting additional billions and arms deliveries, Zelensky received support from the EU and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Zelensky meets with Polish President Duda in Davos
Poland’s President Andrzej Duda, whom Zelensky met in Davos that evening, also promised further support. Duda announced that the new Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk would travel to Ukraine. He will visit Kiev “in a few days” to discuss details of further cooperation. Another topic of the conversation with Duda was the coordination between the two countries before the NATO summit in Washington, Zelensky said on his Telegram channel. Ukraine is supported by Poland in its desire to join the military alliance.
Macron promises Ukraine support agreements and more weapons
French President Emmanuel Macron also promised Ukraine a support agreement, similar to the one Great Britain signed with the country attacked by Russia a few days ago. France is planning a similar agreement with Ukraine and he will travel to Ukraine in this context in February, Macron said on Tuesday evening in Paris. France will continue to support Ukraine militarily, including with the delivery of 40 more Scalp cruise missiles, hundreds of bombs and Caesar howitzers. Russia must not win the war launched against Ukraine, said Macron.
Scholz and Biden make a phone call about Ukraine
According to their governments, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and US President Joe Biden also spoke on the phone to discuss, among other things, ongoing support for Ukraine. A federal government spokesman said on Tuesday that it was agreed that it was necessary to continue to support the country attacked by Russia financially, militarily and humanitarianally.
What will be important on Wednesday
Fighting continues in the war zone regardless of the winter conditions. According to the military, the Ukrainian armed forces are concentrating their efforts primarily on fortifying defenses to ward off Russian attacks.