Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the West of becoming “an involved party” in the conflict through its massive arms transfers to the Ukrainian army.
“They are sending tens of billions of dollars worth of weapons to Ukraine. That is really a participation,” Putin said in an interview with the Russian state broadcaster Rossiya-1 on Sunday.
“That means they are involved, albeit indirectly, in the crimes of the Kiev regime,” the president said. He reiterated that the Western countries “have only one goal: “the destruction of the Russian Federation”.
Intense battles
Meanwhile, intense fighting continues at the front in the Donbas in eastern Ukraine. Both parties provide contradictory information about developments in and around the town of Bachmoet. Russian sources claim control of the nearby village of Jahidne, but the Ukrainian General Staff insists the attacks have been repelled.
The capture of Jahidne would clear the way for the Russians to Khromove, through which the supplies of Ukrainian troops in Bachmut run.
Counteroffensive
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army is preparing for a counteroffensive in the spring, military intelligence vice chief Vadim Skibitski confirmed to the newspapers of the German regional media group ‘Funke’ on Sunday. According to him, the precise timing will depend, among other things, on Western arms deliveries.
“We are trying to drive a wedge in the Russian front in the south, between Crimea and the Russian mainland,” Skibitski said of the military strategy. “It is possible that we will also destroy weapons depots or military equipment on Russian territory. For example, around the city of Belgorod, from where attacks on Ukraine will be launched.”
Also reconquering Crimea
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed on Sunday that his country would retake Crimea from the Russians. “This is our country, our people, our history,” Zelensky said in a statement.
In 2020, the president had already declared February 26 as a day of resistance against the Russian occupation of the Black Sea peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014. Zelensky immediately got backing from the US State Department. A spokesman again made it clear that Washington will never recognize the annexation.
“Putin will eventually be killed by his inner circle,” Zelensky says in a new documentary. How should we interpret that statement? Roger Housen analyzes (+)
ANALYSIS. “Ukraine has from late spring through summer to push back the Russians. No more, no less” (+)
LOOK. 1 year of war: Russia expert and former colonel look ahead
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss a thing of the stars.