War in Ukraine
Zelensky is courting US military aid and long-range missiles
The situation is getting worse in the embattled city of Avdiivka.
© AP
The Inspector General of the Bundeswehr and US representatives are in Kiev to talk about new aid for Ukraine. There is debate in the USA about releasing billions more for Ukraine’s fight against the Russian war of aggression.
At a meeting with representatives from Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj called for additional US billions in aid to strengthen Kiev’s defense power. “I am convinced that Congress will make the decision To support Ukraine with the necessary help. “This will strengthen our defense,” said Zelensky in Kiev. He published a video of the conversation with representatives of the US House of Representatives on the social network Ukraine fought against the Russian war of aggression.
Renewed desire for tactical missiles
“We must not back down in our fight against the aggressor,” said Zelensky. Ukraine is dependent on allies like the USA. What is needed is an expansion of air defense with US Patriot systems and cooperation in the production of modern drones and electronic warfare equipment. In his evening video message, Zelensky also spoke of the need for long-range weapons – “especially ATACMS with a range of 300 kilometers, on which unfortunately there is still no decision.”
Zelenskyj once again thanked the USA for the help it has provided so far. The challenges remain great. There are more and more voices in Europe warning against an expansion of Russian aggression, he said. “We cannot allow war and Russian evil to spread. Putin will only be sobered up when he is confronted with strength.” Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin began his war of aggression against Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Russian drone attacks at night
According to Ukrainian information, Russia again attacked targets in Ukraine with Shahed drones on Saturday night. In an attack on the city of Kharkiv, civilian infrastructure was also hit, wrote the mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, on his Telegram channel. Terekhov wrote that gasoline caught fire at a gas station and 14 private houses burned. Meanwhile, in the Black Sea region of Odessa in the south, a 44-year-old man was injured in the arm by shrapnel, according to military governor Oleh Kiper.
Bundeswehr Inspector General meets new commander-in-chief
In Kiev, the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, Carsten Breuer, met the newly appointed commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, Olexander Syrskyj, for discussions about further German weapons aid. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umjerov said Syrskyj informed his German colleagues about the situation at the front and thanked them for Germany’s help in strengthening the Ukrainian army. “The needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in terms of armament, ammunition and anti-aircraft systems were discussed,” Umyerov wrote.
Syrskyj had previously taken over the post from the previous highest military officer, Valeriy Saluschnyj. Expectations of the new commander-in-chief are high. The advisor in the presidential office, Mykhailo Podoljak, said on Ukrainian television that Syrskyj had to take stock because of the million soldiers mobilized for the war, only around 300,000 were deployed. It must be clarified who is deployed where. Only then can it be said how many recruits are still needed, said Podoljak. Many soldiers are therefore far removed from war. It also needs to be clarified how those who have already been in combat operations for almost 24 months can be replaced by rotation.
Zelensky expects his new top military to achieve success in the fight against the Russian invasion after the major offensive under Saluzhny last year fell well short of expectations. “We cannot be in a state of stagnation in 2024,” Podoljak said.