Zelenskyy: Russian aggression is approaching breaking – the nightly update without photos Zelenskyj: Russian aggression is approaching breaking – the nightly update without photos

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky assumes that Russia has little left to do in its war against Ukraine. Arms deliveries and other aid “are particularly important now that you feel that Russian aggression is approaching the point where it can break,” the 45-year-old said in his daily video address on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, Moscow has dismissed US allegations after a military drone crashed into the Black Sea and has leveled accusations against Washington itself. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin received moral support in Moscow from Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, who is taking a stand on Russia in the war.

Zelenskyj: Constant pressure on Russia necessary

Thanks to Western aid, Zelenskyy believes Russia’s attack is about to fail. But constant pressure on Russia is necessary, he demanded. In his video address, Zelenskyj also addressed the decisions taken on Wednesday at another meeting of the so-called Ramstein format. Arms deliveries to Kiev are coordinated through this format – named after the US air base at Ramstein in Rhineland-Palatinate, where several meetings with Ukraine take place. It was decided to supply ammunition and anti-aircraft weapons, he said. The number of reports of lack of ammunition on both sides had increased recently.

Military incident over the Black Sea draws circles

The crash of the US military drone over the Black Sea causes a lot of commotion. On Wednesday night, the Kremlin also spoke out about the affair, blaming Washington for the crash. “Perhaps those who have no rights should not have flown there, then everything would have been clean,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state television. The United States had previously made allegations that Russian fighter jets dumped fuel on the drone. According to the Pentagon, the drone was traveling in international airspace.

The military incident raised concerns around the world about an escalation of the war and the involvement of other states in the conflict. “Any incidents provoking a clash between the two superpowers, the two largest nuclear powers, lead to great risks,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on state television to these fears. Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry said Defense Ministers Sergei Shoigu and Lloyd Austin spoke on the phone at Washington’s request. Shoigu spoke of a provocation by the US military.

The current developments in the live ticker:

US Chief of Staff: Does not want armed conflict with Russia

US Chief of Staff Mark Milley stressed that the United States did not want an escalation after the incident over the Black Sea. “Incidents happen. And we clearly don’t want an armed conflict with Russia,” Milley said in Washington on Wednesday, answering the question of whether the incident was an act of war.

Ukraine: Zelenskyy fires three regional governors

Zelenskyi dismissed the governors of the Luhansk, Odessa and Khmelnytskyi regions. According to the decrees published on Wednesday, the dismissals of Serhiy Hajdaj, Maxym Marchenko and Serhiy Hamalij were at their own request. It is rumored that Hajdaj will soon become ambassador to Kazakhstan. The 47-year-old had been head of the administration of the difficult eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk since October 2019. After the Russian invasion over a year ago, it largely came under Moscow’s control. Marchenko, meanwhile, wants to return to the army, where he led a brigade as a colonel before being named governor.

Syrian ruler Assad supports Russia’s war against Ukraine

During his first visit to Moscow since the start of the war, Syrian ruler Assad Putin expressed his support. At the Kremlin on Wednesday, Assad said he wanted to take advantage of the moment to reiterate the Syrian position in support of the “special operation”, according to Interfax news agency. In Russia, the war against Ukraine is called a special operation.

Assad arrived in the Russian capital on Tuesday evening for an unannounced visit. After laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on the Kremlin Wall, he also met Putin for talks on Wednesday. He thanked Russia for its help after the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey in February. Putin and Assad previously met in September 2021, when the Syrian also traveled to Moscow.

What will be important on Thursday

Putin attends the annual meeting of the Union of Businessmen and Industrialists of Russia. The impact of the war and sanctions on the Russian economy will play an important role during the meeting. There is also speculation whether Putin is alluding to the country’s orientation towards a war and command economy. (sda/dpa)