Feb 17, 2024 at 4:27 PM Update: an hour ago
Even though the Ukrainian army has withdrawn from the heavily besieged Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, the Russians have gained nothing. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this on Saturday in response to the news of the withdrawal.
Soldiers had to withdraw from the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka to save lives, Zelensky said at the Munich security conference he is attending. “Saving our people is our most important task.”
Zelensky emphasized that, in his view, Russia has gained nothing from this. “We decided to withdraw, but that does not mean that Russia has conquered anything.” The president pointed to the long battle fought for Avdiivka, which Zelensky said testifies to the strong resistance to the Russian invasion.
Zelensky also appealed to allies not to slacken military support. “Unfortunately, Ukraine is kept in an artificial condition of weapons shortages,” he said. Zelensky was probably referring, among other things, to the stalled talks in the United States, where a support package is being blocked by Republicans.
According to Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin can only continue his war in Ukraine due to an imbalance in armaments.
Zelensky stated that more long-range weapons and artillery are needed to drive Russian forces out of Ukraine. Western allies should supply such weapons. “Don’t ask Ukraine when the war will be over. Ask yourself why Putin is still able to continue.”
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A victory now suits Putin very well
Avdiivka is a gateway to the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk. The Russians have been trying to take the city since October. Troops bombarded the city from three sides with artillery attacks to force a Ukrainian withdrawal.
The city has now been almost completely destroyed. Fighting has been going on since 2014, when separatists launched a war to separate the east of the country from Ukraine.
The fall of Avdiivka marks a rare victory for Russia. It marks the biggest change in the more than 1,000 kilometer long front line since Russian troops took the nearby city of Bakhmut in May 2023, writes BBC News. Russia will hold presidential elections next month and a victory would suit President Vladimir Putin well.
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2024-02-17 15:27:52
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