(new: Selenskyj before UN Security Council, country appeal, rocket attacks, Johnson in Kyiv)
Kyiv/MOSKAU (dpa-AFX) – Six months after the Russian attack on Ukraine, both sides are confident of victory – despite thousands of deaths, devastation and an extensive military stalemate at the front. On Wednesday, Ukraine’s Independence Day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated the goal of taking back all Russian-occupied territories. The USA announced further arms aid worth three billion euros. Chancellor Olaf Scholz also confirmed his support for Ukraine. Along with more than 50 other countries, Germany and the US called on Moscow to end the war.
Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24 and now occupies around a fifth of the country. According to the British government, more than 80,000 Russian soldiers are said to have been killed, wounded or deserted. Moscow itself has not given any figures for this for a long time. Ukraine recently spoke of 9,000 soldiers killed in its own ranks, but observers also assume higher numbers here. In general, many of the statements made by the warring parties can hardly be verified independently.
Russia defends attack on Ukraine
Moscow’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu justified Russia’s actions with Ukraine’s rejection of the Minsk peace plan for Donbass. “All goals are being achieved,” Shoigu said, according to Interfax, about the war Moscow described as a “military operation.” Experts note that Russian troops are making slow progress. In the evening, Ukraine reported that several regions had been fired at with Russian rockets.
“We will fight to the end”
In a video clip marking the 31st anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union, Zelenskyy said: “We will fight to the end.” The 44-year-old ruled out concessions and compromises. He called Russian soldiers “murderers, rapists and looters”. The war united Ukraine. In a video appearance before the UN Security Council, Zelenskyy warned that if Russia is not stopped now, “Russian killers” are likely to end up in other countries.
Six months after the start of the war, UN Secretary-General António Guterres came to a bitter conclusion. “Despite progress on the humanitarian front, there are no signs of an end to the fighting in Ukraine – and there are new areas of potentially dangerous escalation,” he said. “Today marks a sad and tragic milestone.”
Weapons from Germany and the USA
Chancellor Scholz only announced another armaments package worth 500 million euros on Tuesday, including three more Iris-T anti-aircraft systems, a dozen armored recovery vehicles and 20 pick-up-mounted rocket launchers. For its part, the US government provided further military aid for three billion dollars (around three billion euros). “This will allow Ukraine to acquire air defense systems, artillery systems and ammunition, unmanned air defense systems and radars in order to be able to defend itself in the long term,” said President Joe Biden. The US is determined to support the Ukrainian people in their struggle to defend their sovereignty.
Multiple demands for the end of the war
More than 50 countries – including the USA, all EU countries and Great Britain – condemned the war of aggression. “We call on the Russian Federation to end its total disregard for its obligations under international law, including the United Nations Charter, international humanitarian law and international human rights law,” said Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UN, Serhiy Kislizia, in New York on behalf of the states involved . Pope Francis also expressed hope that the fighting would end.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: “Ukraine must prevail, and Ukraine will prevail.” NATO will provide support for as long as necessary. Chancellor Scholz said in a video message: “Dear Ukrainians, your country will banish the shadow of war because it is strong and courageous and because it has friends in Europe and all over the world. We are proud to count ourselves among these friends may, today and in our common European future.”
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised Ukraine help with reconstruction. Outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Kyiv on the anniversary of independence. He assured Britain would remain with Ukraine. “And you can and will win.”/vsr/DP/he