- US adviser: Prisoner deal doesn't affect Ukraine war
The large-scale prisoner exchange between Russia and several Western countries is not expected to have a direct impact on the situation in Ukraine, according to US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. He sees no connection between the negotiations over detainees and possible diplomatic efforts to end the war in the country attacked by Russia. "From our perspective, these are running on separate tracks," Sullivan replied in Washington to a journalist's question about whether successful negotiations could also promote talks about the war situation with the Ukrainians.
Regarding one topic, it's about practical questions of exchange, explained the National Security Advisor of US President Joe Biden. "The other is a much more complex question, which the Ukrainians will lead." As soon as Ukraine is ready for diplomatic steps, the USA will coordinate closely with all its allies to support the country.
However, the Russian opposition figure Dmitri Gudkov believes that the exchange is a first step towards negotiations also about peace in Ukraine. Both sides are now tired of the war, he says. They have shown each other through the calm of the negotiating process and keeping quiet that they stick to agreements. This is an important test of trust.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian leadership is trying to put its war-torn country on a healthy economic and financial footing. Ukraine must be future-proof, emphasized President Volodymyr Zelensky in his evening video address. "And this will now, in this year, given the existing challenges and threats, guarantee our greater capabilities."
The prerequisites for this future-proofing include deepened relations with foreign partners and long-term security agreements, such as those concluded by Kyiv in recent months, especially with Western partners. "Of course, the main task is to secure the defense forces, the state budget, and social stability of Ukraine," Zelensky added.
Heavy fighting continues in eastern Ukraine, where Russian troops are trying to break through Ukrainian defense lines. Zelensky praised the deployment of Ukrainian units in the Donbass area, which have repeatedly repelled attacks by Russian units in Torezk, Kupyansk, Kurakhove, and Pokrovsk. "The occupiers are suffering losses, we are working further," the Ukrainian special units fighting in Torezk reported.
Army Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi admitted minor territorial losses, for which Russian units paid a "comparatively excessive price" with heavy losses. "The enemy is deploying its assault brigades to break through, for example, in Pokrovsk," he described the situation. There are also heavy fights in Kupyansk. "But we are holding our positions," Syrskyi added. His statements could not be independently verified.
Spokesman: Putin deals with the war in Ukraine daily
Russian President Vladimir Putin spends many hours daily in contact with his military on the course of the war, according to his spokesman Dmitry Peskov. "This is work that is not seen every day on camera, work that is not written about in newspapers," Peskov said in a radio interview cited by the state agency TASS.
Putin reportedly attends to the progress of the special operation, as the war against Ukraine is termed in Kremlin parlance, every day of the week. He also frequently telephones front commanders and ordinary soldiers at the front. This is said to be "a constant practice".
As for potential discussions on resolving the conflict, there is "no acceptable agenda for Russia" yet, making participation in any summits pointless. Nevertheless, Moscow remains open to political and diplomatic methods to resolve the Ukraine conflict. Moscow has annexed the occupied territories in Ukraine and considers them an integral part of Russian territory.
Russian military reports attack on Ukrainian airport
The Russian military reported an attack on a Ukrainian military airport near Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine yesterday evening. The airport, where Ukrainian pilots were reportedly being trained by English-speaking instructors, was damaged. Amidst reports in Western media about the arrival of the first F-16 fighter jets from the U.S. in Ukraine, Russia appears keen to neutralize this threat.
There has been no comment from Ukraine on the alleged attack or the reports of F-16 arrivals. The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium have pledged around 60 of these jets to Ukraine. Their armament is reportedly to be supplied by the United States.
Joe Biden's National Security Advisor, discussing the prisoner exchange between Russia and Western countries, mentioned that the topic of detainee negotiations is separate from diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Later in the text, Russian opposition figure Dmitri Gudkov suggested that the exchange could be a first step towards negotiations for peace in Ukraine.
In relation to the economic recovery of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the importance of deepening relations with foreign partners and securing long-term security agreements, such as those recently concluded with Western partners, to future-proof the country.
