Russia’s war in Ukraine is entering its second year with no end in sight – #Russias #war #Ukraine #entering #year #sight
KYIV, Feb 24 (Reuters) – Ukraine’s war entered its second year on Friday, with no end in sight to the Russia-initiated conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people, destroyed cities and towns and forced millions to flee. the cold war brought a chill to global relations.
Russia President Vladimir Putin on February 24 last year, it ordered a large-scale intervention in its neighbor with the aim of quickly seizing the capital Kiev and ousting the pro-European government, but these hopes were dashed by fierce defenses as well as military failed due to blunders. Moscow.
Ukraine succeeded in counterattacking in late 2022 to recapture most of the territory it had lost early on, and Moscow’s “special military The war, which he called “operation”, turned into one of the trench battles, which led to an increase in losses on both sides. Russia every year of Ukraine controlling about a fifth.
Putin has signaled his desire to double down on the conflict that has led to harsh Western sanctions against his country and Ukraine With President Volodymyr Zelenskiy maintaining a tough stance on any potential negotiations, the prospects for peace look bleak.
Latest Updates CategoryTechnology Article banning TikTok from employees’ phones citing securityArticle with galleryGalleryEuropeCategoryMoldova Russia of Ukraine On Transnistria conspiracy rejects his report on the plan, Moscow promises a response, picture article
See 2 more stories
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Thursday cast it as an existential struggle against a hostile West, echoing the Kremlin’s increasingly hawkish narrative of Europe’s worst conflict since World War II.
“Using Ukraine, the collective West is trying to divide Russia and deprive it of its independence. These attempts are doomed to failure,” Shoigu said.
Ukraine and its United States and Europe including allies, rejecting such arguments, the occupation from Moscow free they regard it as an unjustified land occupation aimed at subjugating a sovereign state.
According to the White House, USA President Joe Biden to mark the anniversary and announce new sanctions against those helping Russia’s war effort with G7 leaders and Zelensky will meet virtually on Friday.
Europe While trying to stop Russian hydrocarbon exports, Moscow is softening the blow of the sanctions by finding willing buyers in China and India.
“Russia its economy and governance system have proven to be much stronger than the West assumed,” he said Putin this week.
NEW RUSSIAN RULES
Which adds to the tension Putin on Thursday announced plans to deploy new Sarmat multi-warhead intercontinental ballistic missiles this year. At the beginning of this week, he was in Russia USAhas stopped participating in the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) on nuclear arms control.
Ukraine and its Western partners have stopped military they refused the nuclear negotiations as a way to avoid the campaign.
Some of the heaviest fighting in recent months has been in and around the eastern city of Bachmut, and more recently in Wuhledar further south.
Although independent military experts question the strategic importance of the sites, there are thousands, if not hundreds, of them soldier perished has been Both sides seem determined not to back down.
CONTINUOUS EXPLOSIONS
A remote continuous Thursday near the Ukrainian tank park near Bakhmut, which has become a key Russian target explosion their voices were heard.
Tank operator Junior Sergeant Oleh Slavin told Reuters: “If we give up Bakhmut, everything else will become more complicated. We cannot refuse it under any circumstances. We will endure it.”
“We are still in place and trying to retake all the territory.”
In the daily evening statement of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, it is reported that Russia’s activity in the east and south is increasing as the anniversary approaches. Russian forces also shelled at least 25 towns and villages in three northern regions — Chernihiv, Sumy and Kharkiv — along the Russian border, the statement said.
Some USA and Western officials estimate Russian military losses at approx 200.000 dead or wounded, and in November the top US general on each side 10More than 0,000 soldiers were killed or wounded, he said.
Battlefield casualties cannot be independently verified, but front-line soldiers and military officials have acknowledged that the death toll has risen in recent weeks.
Thousands of civilians perished and Ukrainian prosecutors reported thousands of war crimes allegations. Moscow denies targeting civilians or committing atrocities.
Ukraine, for the most part, was able to hold its own in the war despite a much smaller army, because tens of billions dollars increasingly sophisticated military equipment worth US, Europe and sent beyond its borders.
Zelensky played a key role in the arms flow, hosted Biden in Kiev on Monday and addressed world leaders in person and online.
However, maintaining this level of support may not be easy, despite continued promises of support in Washington.
Fears of more Russian missile and drone attacks on Kiev to mark Friday’s anniversary have kept the capital on edge in recent days, with some schools switching to online classes this week as a precaution.
THE ROLE OF CHINA
After Putin welcomed “new frontiers” in relations with Beijing on Thursday and Chinese leader Xi Jinping trip The United States is concerned about further alignment between China and Russia after signaling that it would.
Washington has said China is considering providing weapons for Russia’s war in Ukraine, a conflict led by Russia and China on one side and Ukraine and the United States on the other. NATO may turn into a conflict between the military alliance.
But Xi is also expected to give a “peace speech” on Friday, although some analysts are skeptical that Beijing’s efforts to act as a peacemaker will go beyond rhetoric.
Zelensky He said he had only heard “general things” about China’s proposals through Ukrainian diplomats.
“The more countries, especially the societies of those countries – big, influential states – think about how to end the war in Ukraine with a just peace, respecting our sovereignty, the sooner it will happen,” Zelensky said at a press conference. Thursday.
Reporting by Max Hunder and Dan Peleschuk in Kyiv; Added by Yiming Woo near Bachmouth report; Written by Mike Collett-White; Edited by Andrew Heavens and Grant McCool
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
2023-02-24 02:29:22
Source – reuters
Translation“24 HOURS”