Vladimir Putin accuses the West of “creating a real cult of Nazism”
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Wagner’s boss has warned that Russian forces are heading for the “worst-case scenario” near Bakhmut as swathes of hard-won territory are being lost.
“The situation on the flanks is developing according to the worst-case scenario,” Yevgeny Prigozhin said in an audio message.
“All the territories that were taken with the blood and lives of our comrades for many months, advancing tens or hundreds of meters a day, are now being thrown away practically without a fight by those who should take our flanks,” has added
The leader of the Russian mercenary group argued that it is the job of regular Russian forces to protect Wagner’s flanks near Bakhmut, the town at the center of the longest and bloodiest battle of the war.
Russia’s defense ministry earlier said its paratroopers were supporting an advance west of the city and had pinned down Ukrainian army units on the flanks.
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Wagner’s boss, Prigozhin, says the situation on the Russian flanks near Bakhmut is bad
The head of Russia’s mercenary group Wagner said Thursday that the flanks of his forces were under pressure near the Ukrainian town of Bakhmut, causing his men to lose ground they had captured at great cost.
Yevgeny Prigozhin has argued that it is the job of regular Russian forces to protect Wagner’s flanks near Bakhmut, the town at the center of the longest and bloodiest battle of the war.
“The situation on the flanks is developing according to the worst-case scenario,” Prigozhin said in an audio message.
“All the territories that were taken with the blood and lives of our comrades for many months, advancing tens or hundreds of meters a day, are now being thrown away practically without a fight by those who should hold our flanks.”
Russia’s defense ministry earlier said its paratroopers were supporting an advance west of the city and had pinned down Ukrainian army units on the flanks.
Prigozhin said his fighters were 625 meters (680 yards) from the western outskirts of the city.
(AP)
Maryam Zakir-HussainMay 12, 2023 07:40
Russia’s Medvedev: We will respond to the “oppression” of Russians abroad
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday that Moscow will respond to what he called “oppression” of Russian companies and residents abroad with the principle of “an eye for an eye”, TASS news agency reported.
“If Russian companies and citizens are oppressed and discriminated against in this or that country, its residents have no reason to expect different treatment in Russia,” TASS said.
(SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)
Maryam Zakir-HussainMay 12, 2023 2:49 p.m
Belgium to support Ukraine using taxes on frozen Russian assets
Belgium will use 92 million euros ($101 million) it has received in taxes on frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, its government said on Friday.
Half of the amount will be used to deliver military goods, such as armored vehicles, weapons and ammunition. The other half is earmarked for humanitarian support, the future reconstruction of Ukraine and the strengthening of Belgium’s diplomatic presence in the country, the government said.
Maryam Zakir-HussainMay 12, 2023 2:26 p.m
China to send special envoy to Ukraine and Russia as part of peace efforts
China will send a special envoy to Ukraine and Russia next week to help reach a political agreement on the Ukraine crisis, Beijing officials said.
Li Hui, China’s special representative for Eurasian affairs and former ambassador to Moscow, will also visit Poland, France and Germany, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin confirmed.
China says it remains neutral on Russia’s war in Ukraine, but has said it has a “no-holds-barred” relationship with Moscow and blames the US and NATO for sparking the conflict.
Beijing has presented a peace plan for Ukraine that has been largely rejected by the country’s supporters, who say a resolution can only come when Russia ends its attacks and withdraws its troops from Ukrainian territory.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last month, setting the stage for the diplomatic push.
“The Chinese representative’s visit to relevant countries expresses China’s commitment to promoting peace and negotiations,” Wang said at a daily briefing.
China wants to avoid an “escalation of the situation,” Wang said.
Mr. Li’s visits will begin next week, but his detailed schedule has not been made public.
Beijing has previously avoided involvement in conflicts between other countries, but appears to be trying to assert itself as a global diplomatic force after hosting talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March that led to them restoring diplomatic ties after a gap of seven years.
China has friendly relations with Moscow, as well as economic leverage as the largest buyer of Russian oil and gas, after the United States and its allies cut off most purchases.
Beijing, which sees Moscow as a diplomatic partner to oppose US dominance of world affairs, has refused to criticize the invasion and has used its status as one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to deflect diplomatic attacks on Russia.
Wang also confirmed that top Communist Party diplomat Wang Yi and US national security adviser Jake Sullivan held talks on Wednesday and Thursday in Vienna, Austria.
The Chinese foreign ministry official said the two sides had “sincere, in-depth, substantive and constructive discussions” on stabilizing and improving bilateral relations.
Relations between China and the United States are at an all-time low and plummeted in February after the US shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that had flown over Canada and the United States.
The incident led to the postponement of a visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Beijing that has not yet been rescheduled.
Maryam Zakir-HussainMay 12, 2023 1:55 p.m
UK gives Ukraine new missiles as boost for Zelensky counter-offensive
The UK has supplied Ukraine with Storm Shadow stealth cruise missiles, giving Volodymyr Zelensky’s government the ability to carry out long-range strikes against Russian forces.
The missiles, with a range of 155 miles, will provide a vital boost to Ukrainian forces as they launch their much-publicized spring offensive. They have a shorter range than the 185-mile US Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which President Zelensky has repeatedly called for, but will allow Ukrainian forces to carry out strikes not only on occupied territories but inside Russia.
Leaked Pentagon documents revealed, based on wiretapping, that Ukraine’s president complained in late February to the country’s army chief, General Valery Zaluzhny, that Ukraine “has no missiles long-range capable of reaching the deployment of Russian troops in Russia.”
Our world affairs editor Kim Sengupta reports:
Maryam Zakir-HussainMay 12, 2023 1:25 p.m
Russia says it repelled increased Ukrainian attacks in the east
Russia’s defense ministry said on Friday that its forces had repelled a wave of attempted Ukrainian attacks against its positions in eastern Ukraine and indicated that its forces had retreated somewhat in an area for tactical reasons.
The ministry said in a statement that Ukraine had deployed more than a thousand soldiers and up to 40 tanks in 26 attempted attacks across a front line of more than 95 kilometers. He said the attacks had taken place in the direction of the city of Soledar, which is controlled by Moscow forces.
“All attacks by Ukrainian army units were repelled,” the ministry said. “No breakthrough was allowed in the defensive lines of the Russian forces.”
The same statement did indicate, however, that Russian forces had pulled back in one area of the front, occupying what it described as “more favorable positions” near the Berkhivka reservoir northwest of Bakhmut.
The shattered city of Bakhmut has been the focus of fierce fighting for months.
The defense ministry said Russian assault units, a reference to Wagner’s mercenary fighters, were continuing to fight west of Bakhmut, supported by paratroopers.
Ukrainian attempts to counterattack Bakhmut’s flanks were being repulsed, he added.
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said earlier Friday that Ukrainian forces had advanced about 2 kilometers around Bakhmut this week and had not relinquished any positions there during that time.
Reuters was unable to verify the situation on the battlefield.
(AP)
Maryam Zakir-HussainMay 12, 2023 12:56 p.m
Sunak was “disappointed” by Eurovision’s decision to block Zelensky from the competition
Rishi Sunak is “disappointed” by the European Broadcasting Union’s decision, Downing Street has said, after it was reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was blocked from heading to Eurovision.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister believes it would be appropriate for President Zelensky to address the event and we are disappointed by the European Broadcasting Union’s decision.
“The values and freedoms that President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine are fighting for are not political, they are fundamental, and Eurovision itself recognized this last year when it correctly suspended Russia from the competition.”
There are no plans to step in and ask broadcasters to change their minds, Downing Street suggested.
(son PA)
Maryam Zakir-HussainMay 12, 2023 12:31 p.m
Kremlin says on upcoming visit of China’s envoy to Ukraine, no meeting with Putin yet arranged
The Kremlin said on Friday that a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Chinese special envoy Li Hui, who will tour European countries next week to discuss Ukraine, had not yet been arranged.
“There is no such meeting on the calendar yet. All this will be resolved through diplomatic channels,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Maryam Zakir-HussainMay 12, 2023 12:10 p.m
Russia says Ukraine launched an attack in the direction of Soledar
Russia’s defense ministry said on Friday that Ukrainian forces carried out “offensive operations” yesterday along the entire line of contact near Soledar, the ministry’s official news outlet Zvezda reported.
More than a thousand soldiers and up to 40 tanks were used in the assault, he said, adding that the attacks were repulsed.
Maryam Zakir-HussainMay 12, 2023 11:41 am
The Kremlin says it has no knowledge of the Vatican’s peacekeeping mission in Ukraine
The Kremlin said on Friday it was not aware of a Vatican peacekeeping mission to Ukraine after diplomatic sources told Reuters that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will meet Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday.
The Pope has said that the Holy See is involved in a peace mission to try to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow had no information about the initiative, but said that information could be shared with it in the future.
Maryam Zakir-HussainMay 12, 2023 11:01 am
