2023-06-19 18:44:41
Yesterday, 05:10
Amid the ongoing Ukrainian counter-offensive, President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Western partners for their continued military aid. In his evening video speech on Saturday, Selenski also explicitly mentioned Germany, which had just announced the delivery of 64 more Patriot-type guided missiles for air defense systems to the attacked country.
“Germany, thank you (…) for your continued strength in protecting lives from Russian rocket terror,” said Zelenski. However, the Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, had previously pointed out that his country needed more Western support to defend itself once morest Russia: “Western support is essential for our survival. But it’s not enough: you can imagine, we have two Iris-T systems, a couple of patriots,” Makeiev told the Berliner Zeitung, referring to the two air defense systems.
Although Kiev is well protected, elsewhere more anti-aircraft systems, armored vehicles and tanks are needed. The diplomat reiterated Ukraine’s demand for fighter jets and long-range ammunition.
Death toll following dam destruction continues to rise
About a week and a half following the destruction of the important Kakhovka dam, the number of fatalities in the southern Ukrainian region of Cherson continued to rise. The Ukrainian authorities are now reporting 16 deaths as a result of the devastating floods, and the Russian occupiers on the other side of the Dnipro River 29. Dozens of residents are still missing. Ukraine accuses Russia of deliberately blowing up the dam, and many international experts also believe this is likely. Moscow denies that.
African delegation calls on Moscow to negotiate with Kiev
During a visit to St. Petersburg, Russia, representatives of several African countries called on Russia to start negotiations with Ukraine. “We would like to encourage you to start negotiations with Ukraine,” said the head of the African Union and President of the Comoros, Azali Assoumani, according to the Interfax agency at a meeting with Kremlin chief Putin. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said: “We are convinced that the time has come for both sides to start negotiations and end this war.”
According to the delegation, which also includes representatives from Egypt, Senegal, Zambia, the Republic of Congo and Uganda, it has drawn up a ten-point plan as part of its peace initiative. According to the state news agency Tass, Putin spoke of a “balanced approach by the African friends in the Ukraine crisis”. After almost 16 months of Russian war of aggression, the hope of success is extremely slim. Before their visit to St. Petersburg, the delegation visited the Ukrainian President in Kiev on Friday.
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