Ukrainian Defense Minister Reznikov categorically rejects negotiations with Russian President Putin. After the rocket attack on Zaporizhia, Ukrainian President Zelenskyj threatens retaliation. All developments in the live blog.
6:30 a.m
Ukrainian defense minister rejects negotiations
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov categorically rejects negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. His President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said very clearly “that we will not negotiate with the current head of the Kremlin,” Resnikov told the “Bild” newspaper. Ukraine will only talk about “reparations, an international tribunal and responsibility for the war crimes committed by Kremlin personnel.”
At the same time, Reznikov was optimistic that the war in his country will end in the course of this year with the recapture of all Russian-occupied territories. “I am an optimist, I see the situation on the battlefield, I see the development of the support and I really see that there is a chance to end this war with our victory this year.” At the same time, he was convinced that the West would soon be delivering fighter jets to his country.
The defense minister reacted cautiously to the security promises made by Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the Bundestag yesterday for Ukraine after the end of the war. “Ukraine must receive real security guarantees,” Resnikov demanded. He recalled that his country had previously received such guarantees that it would give up its nuclear weapons. “That did not work.”
Yesterday in the Bundestag, Scholz reaffirmed the main features of his Ukraine policy: He emphasized Ukraine’s right to sovereignty and self-defense and announced that German support would continue indefinitely. At the same time, he held out the prospect of security commitments from the allies to Ukraine for the post-war period.
06:24 a.m
Selenskyj threatens retaliation after rocket hit
After the Russian rocket attack on the city of Zaporizhia that killed at least two, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced retaliation. “We will react militarily and legally to today’s brutal Russian rocket attack on Zaporizhia,” said Zelenskyy in his nightly video speech. “The occupier will inevitably feel our strength, the power of justice in the truest sense of the word.”
A multi-storey residential building in the southern Ukrainian city was hit by a rocket during the Russian air raid on Thursday night. Two residents were killed and eight people injured. According to official information, ten residents were still missing.
06:17 a.m
Scholz wants to talk to Biden about Ukraine
Chancellor Olaf Scholz is meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington today. For about an hour, the two want to talk in private, above all about Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, as a high-ranking representative of the US government said. Other issues could also be discussed, such as China’s joint challenge to the two countries, said National Security Council communications director John Kirby.
The meeting is to take place primarily in the Oval Office, the US President’s study. On the eve of the meeting, Kirby once again emphasized the close ties between the United States and Germany. Support for Ukraine has always been closely coordinated throughout Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. This also applies to the announcements to deliver armored personnel carriers and battle tanks to Ukraine. For example, Germany made an important contribution by supplying the Patriot and Iris-T air defense systems.
06:15 a.m
Thursday’s live blog to read
According to his own statements, Brazil’s President has once again announced international peace efforts. Ukraine reports repelling several Russian attacks in Bakhmut. Thursday’s live blog to read.