Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Germany early on Sunday, in a determined effort to garner crucial support against Russia’s invasion.
This visit follows his recent diplomatic engagements in Italy, where he sought endorsement for Kyiv’s peace plan from Pope Francis and received assurances of comprehensive military and financial backing, as well as support for Ukraine’s aspirations to join the European Union.
“Already in Berlin,” tweeted Zelensky, highlighting the urgency of his mission to rally key allies against the ongoing aggression faced by Ukraine.
As Ukrainian troops make advances in the eastern city of Bakhmut, Deputy Defense Minister, Hanna Malyar, noted that the situation in the city center remains complex, underscoring the challenges they face on the ground.
Reports from the Russian news outlet Kommersant added to the dynamic nature of the conflict, suggesting that two Russian fighter jets and two military helicopters had been downed near the Ukrainian border on Saturday—a potential significant blow for Kyiv if verified.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that Ukrainian aircraft had targeted two industrial sites in the Russian-held city of Luhansk using Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles supplied by Britain.
Amidst these escalating tensions, a sense of cultural unity and shared struggle prevailed as the Eurovision song contest unfolded in Britain.
While Ukraine’s representatives, the electro-pop duo Tvorchi, took the stage, Russian missiles struck the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil—an unfortunate reminder of the conflict’s far-reaching impact.
Meanwhile, according to the Financial Times, the Group of Seven industrial powers and the European Union have reportedly taken steps to ban Russian gas imports along routes where Moscow has disrupted supplies.
British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, also vowed to use international summits in the coming week to rally additional support for Ukraine.
Germany, demonstrating its commitment to its Eastern European neighbor, announced a substantial military aid package of 2.7 billion euros ($3.0 billion), the largest such contribution since Russia’s invasion.
The German government further pledged ongoing support for Kyiv until the crisis is resolved.
In the midst of these developments, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, urged expedited delivery of ammunition to Ukraine, emphasizing the urgent need for 1,000 artillery shells per day in the Bakhmut area alone.
On the other hand, South Africa, facing diplomatic challenges after facing allegations of supplying weapons to Moscow, reaffirmed its position of being “actively non-aligned” in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The country’s presidential security adviser has continued to dispel any notion of involvement in the bid to preserve South Africa’s diplomatic standing.
Also, within Russia, the head of the federal crime agency proposed the return of key sectors of the economy to state ownership to bolster Moscow’s war efforts in Ukraine, indicating a potential shift in economic policy as the conflict persists.
