EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv on Tuesday morning. Germany’s top politician wants to celebrate Europe Day with President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Ukrainian capital. Political talks are also planned. Among other things, they are said to be dealing with the supply of munitions and further financial aid for a defensive war against Russia and preparations for EU accession negotiations with Ukraine.
“Ukraine is part of our European family,” van der Leyen said upon arrival. His presence in Kiev on Europe Day is symbolic, but it also shows that the EU is already working hand in hand with Ukraine in many areas.
Selenskyj signed a decree the day before, according to which Europe Day should be celebrated in Ukraine in the future. It marks the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. It was proposed on May 9, 1950 by then French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman to make a new war between European nations unthinkable. Schuman’s proposal is considered the birth of what is now known as the European Union.
All Improvements in Live Ticker:
08:35 – Russia fails due to lack of water in eastern Ukraine
According to British findings, Russian-occupied areas of eastern Ukraine are at risk of water shortages. “Water shortages are increasing in Russian-controlled Donetsk from the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022,” British intelligence said in their daily report on Tuesday. They rely on statements from those in power in the Donetsk People’s Republic. For example, the Chiversky-Donets Canal, the main supply to the region, is still largely in Ukrainian hands.
“Russian forces may have attempted to secure the canal to alleviate water shortages in Donetsk,” London said. However, a massive Russian artillery barrage in the battle for the city of Pakmut is also believed to have damaged the canal and other water infrastructure that runs through the western city of Chasiv Yar. According to the British ministry, Russia is undermining its own efforts to address self-inflicted water shortages.
London suspects Russia is “probably building a pipeline”. “However, it is highly unlikely that this will fully compensate for limited access to water in the occupied territories.”
07:00 – The AP and the New York Times won Pulitzer Prizes for their coverage of Ukraine
The Associated Press (AP) received a special honor when it announced the 2023 Pulitzer Prizes. The AP won a prestigious media award in the public service category in New York Monday (local time) for weeks of coverage in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, after other journalists left. The Pulitzer Prize is considered the highest honor in American journalism and the most important “public service” award category.
05:12 – Russia airstrikes in Kiev
According to the Kiev military administration, a renewed series of Russian airstrikes on the capital was repelled by air defense systems overnight. “Anti-aircraft systems are operating on the outskirts of Kiev,” the administration said on the Telegram news app. Earlier in the day, Russia launched drone strikes over Kiev.
04:32 – Inspector General – “Ukraine is fighting for all of us”
The Inspector General of the German Armed Forces, Carsten Breuer, prioritizes continued military support for Ukraine in defense against Russian aggressors. “The fight to the death justifies restrictions on training and material availability with us. Our priority is to support the brave Ukrainian armed forces in their fight against the Russian aggressor,” the highest-ranking German soldier said after a visit to the Ukrainian capital, Kiev. The general reiterated: “Ukraine is fighting for all of us.”
Breuer was in Ukraine last week, meeting with Army chief Valery Salushny and Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov. According to a news release, Reznikov thanked the weapons received so far from Germany, including modern anti-aircraft systems, self-propelled howitzers and the Leopard 2 main battle tank. During the visit, Breuer was also briefed on the situation in the front areas in Ukraine. For weeks, the West has been closely watching how Ukraine prepares for large-scale counterattacks with Western-provided weapons systems.
4:05 am – Wagner Boss: Advance only slowly
According to their boss Yevgeny Brigosh, the Russian mercenary group Wagner’s troops could only make slow progress in the heavily contested Bagmut. “Today the groups have advanced a maximum of 130 meters… Fierce fighting is taking place, but the groups are still advancing,” Prigozhin said in an audio message on social media. However, so far no ammunition has arrived from Moscow. “According to preliminary data, we are gradually getting ammunition. We have not (yet) seen them in action.
01:01 – Long-term US military aid in the billions
The United States plans to provide a total of $1.2 billion in additional long-term military aid to Ukraine. US officials said. The aid package is expected to be officially announced this Tuesday to support Ukraine in its defense against Russia. According to information, the main objective is to strengthen air defense through drones and missiles, including surface-to-air missiles.
Unlike U.S. equipment, weapons and ammunition, which is routinely sent to Ukraine from Pentagon stockpiles, it is to be delivered over months or years to meet Ukraine’s long-term security needs.
10:48 PM – Rain delays Kiev’s attack
Fresh rain has delayed Kiev’s expected offensive, according to Russian occupation officials in southern Ukraine. “Unstable wet weather has resumed. The ground should be ten to twelve centimeters dry so that technology can roll on it,” Yevgeny Politsky, executive head of the Moscow-controlled region of Zaporizhia, said on Russian television on Monday. Nevertheless, he warned that a counterattack “could start at any moment.”
Last Friday, Russian authorities began evacuating towns near the front in the Zaporizhia region. The city of Enerhodar, where the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant is located, was also affected. Baliski spoke about the temporary resettlement of residents for the safety of the people.
9:35 pm – Russia wants to expand its military facilities in Kyrgyzstan
According to Russia, it wants to expand its military installations in Kyrgyzstan. In a statement released by the Kremlin on Monday after talks between Kyrgyz President Sadir Dzabarov and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two leaders stressed the importance of “strengthening the Kyrgyz armed forces and expanding Russian military facilities on Kyrgyz territory.” Moscow.
The two countries plan to deepen their “military and technical cooperation” and deepen their economic and cultural ties to achieve “a new level of integration”.
In the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan, home to nearly seven million Muslims, Russia maintains a military base and, among other things, an airfield and naval facility on the Issyk-Kul mountain lake.
19:51 – The Belarusian ruler arrived in Moscow for a working visit
Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Russia on an unannounced visit a day before a planned major military parade in Moscow. In a video released by Belarusian state news agency Belda, the 68-year-old was greeted at Moscow airport by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.
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