Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Russia to engage in serious and honest talks on a peace settlement. Meanwhile, fighting continues in many places. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin accused the Russian military of many tactical errors.
Struggle to rescue civilians from hotspots near Kyiv
After rescuing at least 50,000 civilians from combat zones north and northwest of the capital Kyiv, the Ukrainian authorities are now trying to evacuate the most vulnerable hotspots. “The occupying forces do not allow us to continue the evacuation from the hotspots,” said Oleksiy Kuleba, head of the Kyiv region’s humanitarian staff, on Saturday night on Facebook. “But despite the enemy’s cynicism, we continue to do everything we can to protect the lives of our people.”
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In consultation with the Russian side, so-called escape corridors have repeatedly been opened in recent days, allowing civilians to leave embattled cities and towns. However, the agreements were not always kept, and civilians repeatedly came under fire.
US Secretary of Defense: Russians make military mistakes
According to US Secretary of Defense Austin, the Russian military made tactical mistakes in the Ukraine war. There have been a “series of missteps,” Austin said in an interview with US broadcaster CNN on Friday during his trip to Bulgaria. Russia’s army suffered setbacks in Ukraine. “They had imagined that they would move fast and take the capital very quickly, but they weren’t able to do that,” Austin said. Also, the Russians did not use tactical intelligence well. The Pentagon keeps saying that the Russian military is making little progress in Ukraine.
Heavy fighting at Cherson Airport
The Chernobayevka airport near Cherson in southern Ukraine is still the focus of bitter fighting, according to the Ukrainian account. “We met them there again,” wrote Oleksiy Arestovich, adviser to President Zelenskyy’s office chief, on Facebook on Saturday, referring to the Russian troops. The Ukrainian armed forces have already ambushed the Russian military at this airport six times and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy there. This could not be verified independently.
More on the Ukraine war at Tagesspiegel Plus:
Zelenskyj demands honest negotiations from Moscow
“Meaningful negotiations on peace and security for Ukraine, honest negotiations and without delays are the only chance for Russia to lessen the damage caused by its own mistakes,” Zelenskyy said in a video address late Friday evening. If Ukraine’s territorial integrity is not restored, Russia will suffer “serious losses”.
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“It’s time to establish territorial unity and justice for Ukraine,” he said. “Otherwise Russia will suffer such losses that it will take several generations to get back on its feet.” Zelenskyy reiterated his call for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a peace solution.
Ukrainian parliament leader emphasizes red lines for negotiations
The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine as well as its state independence are and will remain the so-called red lines for Kyiv in the current peace negotiations with Russia. These are “unchangeable,” stressed Parliament Speaker Stefanchuk in an article on the Supreme Rada’s website. Therefore, there can only be one result: “This is our victory.” On the way there, the important points are tackled “step by step”. “We are moving in the right direction,” wrote Stefantschuk.
EU Commission warns of famine in Ukraine
In view of the fighting in Ukraine, the EU Commission is warning of starvation in the country. “People in the besieged cities are exposed to apocalyptic conditions – no food, no water, no medical care and no way out,” said EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic of “Welt am Sonntag”. The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine is already critical, but could get worse.
What does the day bring?
Peace rallies and demonstrations against the war in Ukraine are planned in several cities in Germany. US Secretary of Defense Austin is continuing his visit to Bulgaria and wants to talk to Prime Minister Kiril Petkov about the situation in Ukraine, among other things. (dpa)
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