This Saturday, one day after the war between Ukraine and Russia turned one year old, President Volodimir Zelensky continued to harvest weapons from European countries. Poland announced that it had already sent four Leopard 2 heavy tanks to Ukraine and promised another 60 tanks “very soon”. Poles PT-91. Sweden indicated that it will deliver “approximately” ten Leopards and Germany announced the shipment of another four, in addition to the fourteen already planned to reinforce the Ukrainian resistance. In this way, perhaps the war enters its deadliest stage after the winter.
Emboldened, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov has vowed a general counter-offensive as fierce fighting rages in the east over the strategic city of Bakhmut. Zelensky declared that Ukraine’s victory will be “inevitable” if Western countries maintain their support. All of his allies know that without that help, defeat would be inevitable. But that does not guarantee a victory at all, but a resistance with advances and setbacks. ANDn a year a total of 150,000 deaths are already estimated, adding the two sides and a long war is still expected.
From the Russian side, the former president and number two on the Security Council, Dmitri Medvedev, said he was sure of “victory” and proclaimed that Russian troops are willing to reach “up to the borders of Poland.”
More US sanctions
The United States announced new sanctions against Russia, targeting sectors such as banking and the defense industry, to limit Moscow’s access to strategic technology. However, the president Joe Biden on Friday ruled out providing Ukraine with F16 fighter jets for now, noting in an interview with ABC News that Zelensky “doesn’t need F16s now.”. The truth is that it does need them but the US fears the Russian reaction.
The EU approved its tenth round of sanctions, which provide for “restrictions against individuals or entities that support war, spread propaganda or supply Russia with drones.” So far, the sanctions have done little harm to Russia, which has begun to trade more heavily with other countries. And the G7 of the world’s most advanced economies threatened “heavy costs” to countries that help Russia evade sanctions.
The UN General Assembly approved on Thursday by 141 votes in favor, 7 against and 32 abstentions a resolution demanding that Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces” from Ukraine. China, which abstained, on Friday put forward a 12-point proposal for a “political solution” urging dialogue and warning against the use of nuclear weapons. “I think [en ese plan] there is respect for our territorial integrity (…). We must work with China on that point,” said Zelenski, ready to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Russian Foreign Ministry indicated that it “appreciates” China’s efforts, but insisted on the need to recognize its control over the regions annexed ukrainians.