(new: l-Embargo, Selenskyj, Biden, Scholz)
Kyiv/BRSSEL (dpa-AFX) – Ukraine is expecting a major Russian attack on the center of its defense forces in Donbass in the east of the country. On the 96th day of the war, fighting was reported again in the city of Sieverodonetsk. In the south of the country, Ukraine reported an offensive of its own. In Brussels, meanwhile, the EU heads of state and government tried to agree on further sanctions against Russia – because of the blockade of Hungary, however, a complete European oil embargo was off the table for the time being.
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj demanded a quick package of sanctions from the summit participants via video link. He accuses Russia of a war of annihilation. The attacked country had also asked the West for multiple rocket launchers. US President Joe Biden said his country would not send missile systems with a range to Russia to Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz assured Ukraine of continued support – and pointed to a warning from the Russian President Wladimir Putin unimpressed.
According to Ukraine, Russia is preparing a major attack on Sloviansk
The Sloviansk-Kramatorsk region is the largest metropolitan area in the Donbass still under Kiev control. The high command of the armed forces in the east of the country is also stationed here. Russian troops moved new units to Sloviansk to attack the area from both Izyum and the recently captured small town of Lyman, the Ukrainian General Staff situation report said.
In addition, the Sievjerodonetsk-Lyssychansk area remains the focus of Russian attack efforts in Donbass. In Sievjerodonetsk, Russian units have already established themselves in the north-east and south-east of the city. Here, too, further units from Russia are to be transferred to provide support.
Ukrainian authorities report on offensive in the south of the country
According to the Ukrainian military, it continued its offensive on the border between the Mykolaiv and Cherson regions in southern Ukraine. “The situation in the south is dynamic and tense,” said the high command of the Ukrainian military district South on Monday night. Russia is assembling reserves and trying to fortify the front lines in the Kherson region.
According to the Russian military, it fired on a shipyard in Mykolaiv. In the past 24 hours, air, rocket and artillery attacks have also destroyed dozens of command posts and command posts in eastern Ukraine’s Donbass region, telecommunications centers and numerous troop concentrations. This information could not be independently verified.
EU summit: Complete oil embargo against Russia off the table for the time being
The plans for a complete European oil embargo against Russia are off the table for the time being because of the blockade of Hungary. At a summit meeting in Brussels on Monday evening, it became apparent that the 27 EU states would only agree – if at all – on a limited ban on Russian oil imports. According to this, only oil deliveries by sea would be prevented for the time being, while the delivery of oil from Russia by pipeline would continue to be possible. Hungary could thus continue to obtain oil from Russia via the huge Druzhba pipeline.
The Russian state-owned company Gazprom announced that it would no longer supply gas to the Netherlands from Tuesday because the gas importer does not want to pay its bills in rubles. However, major consequences for companies and households are not expected. Energy supplies had previously been stopped for Poland, Bulgaria and Finland.
Zelenskyj calls for a quick package of sanctions from the EU
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on EU leaders to quickly impose further sanctions on Russia. “Why can Russia still earn almost a billion euros a day selling energy?” asked Zelenskyj, who was on video at the special EU summit in Brussels. However, he thanked the representatives of EU countries for discussing compromises.
Biden: No missile systems for Ukraine with a range to Russia
US President Joe Biden made it clear that the US government does not want to supply Ukraine with missile systems that have a range to Russia. In response to a question from reporters in Washington, he said that no missile systems would be sent to Ukraine that could hit Russian territory.
The television channel CNN reported a few days ago, citing officials, that the US government is considering sending advanced long-range multiple rocket launchers to Ukraine. The US-made MLRS and HIMARS artillery systems could fire projectiles up to 300 kilometers. Ukraine asked for these types of weapons, it said.
Scholz does not want to be intimidated by Putin
In a phone call with Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron over the weekend, Putin warned the West against delivering heavy weapons to Ukraine. Scholz was unimpressed by this on Monday. You shouldn’t be afraid, said the SPD politician in an interview with the ARD “Tagesthemen”. “And that’s why we will continue with what we started.” In addition to further arms deliveries to Ukraine, this also included better equipment for the armed forces About the planned 100 billion program. Germany will “support Ukraine for as long as it is necessary,” emphasized Scholz./tr/DP/he