Ukraine reports heavy Russian attacks on the eastern city of Soledar
According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, there are almost no intact walls left in the eastern Ukrainian city of Soledar. Despite the difficult situation, Zelenskyy assured in his daily video message: “Even if the occupiers have now concentrated their greatest efforts on Soledar, the result of this hard and prolonged battle will be the liberation of our entire Donbass.” The resistance of the Ukrainian soldiers in Soledar provides time for the entire army, according to the head of state. “The battle for the Donbass continues.”
Deputy Defense Minister Maljar had previously reported that the Russians continued to carry out heavy attacks on Soledar. “After a failed attempt to capture Soledar in the Donetsk region, the enemy regrouped, changed tactics and launched another violent attack,” Maljar wrote on Telegram. On the Russian side, it is mainly members of the infamous mercenary group Wagner who are deployed.
Soledar and neighboring Bakhmut are part of the Ukrainian defensive wall for the conurbation between Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. From the Russian point of view, the conquest of this area would be an important step towards the conquest of the entire Donbass – one of the Kremlin’s war objectives.
Current developments also in the live ticker:
Scholz defends his course for arms deliveries in Ukraine
German Chancellor Scholz defended his course on arms deliveries to Ukraine. During a Berlin SPD election campaign, he refuted accusations that he was too hesitant about it. “Germany is way ahead in supporting Ukraine,” Scholz said. This applies not only to financial and humanitarian aid, but also to arms deliveries.
Scholz had agreed with US President Joe Biden on Thursday to supply Western-style armored personnel carriers to Ukraine for the first time. Ukraine has been demanding these tanks for months. Politicians from the Greens and FDP are now demanding that Scholz follow suit and also provide the more powerful Leopard 2 main battle tanks.
Association of Reservists: Delivery of Leopard “the next logical step”
The chairman of the reservist association of the German Armed Forces, Patrick Sensburg, also advocated the delivery of Leopard tanks to Ukraine. “As an infantry fighting vehicle, the marten offers the ability to move soldiers quickly from one place to another,” he told the editorial network Germany (RND) in view of the federal government’s decision to deliver martens. “It is most effective in combination – ideally, of course, with the Leopard main battle tank. Therefore, main battle tank support is the next logical step.” It is also conceivable to supply battle tanks of a different type from another country.
Biden adviser: Ukraine aid for 2023 “hard” assured
The US government believes financial aid to Ukraine is safe despite a change in majority in Congress. With the new budget, financial support for Kiev is “solid” for almost all of 2023, Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on the sidelines of a visit to Mexico. The new budget reserves 45 billion dollars (42 billion euros) for aid to Ukraine, although the government has only requested 37 billion.
Biden signed the new budget law at the end of December, which provides for billions in aid to Ukraine, and thus implemented it. The new budget finances government affairs until September 2023. The decision came shortly before the majority change in Congress: last week, the Republicans took control of the House of Representatives.
Russian ombudswoman wants to meet Ukrainian colleague
According to information from Moscow, the human rights commissioner of the Russian government, Tatyana Moskalkova, wants to meet her Ukrainian colleague Dmytro Lubinets in Turkey this week. “I confirm that I am planning such a meeting,” Moskalkova told reporters, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency. The talks are taking place on the sidelines of a summit in which human rights officials from different countries will participate from Thursday to Saturday. Initially, no confirmation came from Kiev.
That will be important on Tuesday
Top representatives of the EU and NATO want to sign a statement on the further expansion of defense cooperation tomorrow morning (11.00 am). The aim is to take more coordinated action against common security threats against the backdrop of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and China’s power politics. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
