Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his satisfaction with the results of his visit to Washington and his talks with US President Joe Biden. There the Ukrainian president had been promised a new package of military aid for the defense of his country in the Russian war of aggression, including the long-awaited Patriot anti-aircraft missiles. Russian President Vladimir Putin sees this as just a prolongation of the conflict. The Kremlin chief also indicated a willingness to talk, but without going into the withdrawal from Ukraine demanded by Kyiv as a precondition. Friday is day 303 of the war.
Zelenskyj is pleased with "good results"
"I'm returning from Washington with good results," Ukraine's president said in his daily video address on Thursday. The US is planning to send a Patriot air defense system to Ukraine as part of a new $1.85 billion military aid package, and new ammunition has also been promised. Zelenskyy emphasized that the Patriot anti-aircraft weapons could now protect the state and the people alike.
Putin: Patriot deliveries prolong conflict in Ukraine
Kremlin chief Putin has criticized the planned US deliveries of Patriot anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. "It only means a prolongation of the conflict," said the 70-year-old on Thursday in Yekaterinburg. At the same time, he described the weapons as old and was optimistic that Russia could overcome the anti-aircraft defenses. Patriot anti-aircraft defenses don't work as well as Russia's S-300, Putin said. Russia will "crack" the Patriots.
USA: Draft budget with billions in aid for Ukraine
Shortly before the deadline on Friday, the US Senate approved a draft budget that, among other things, provides for billions in aid for Ukraine. The planned budget is said to have a total volume of 1.7 trillion US dollars (1.6 trillion euros). Aid of 44.9 billion US dollars is planned for Ukraine. Approval by the House of Representatives, the second chamber of Parliament, was considered likely.
Estonia decides on further military aid for Ukraine
Estonia will also continue to provide military aid to Ukraine in the fight against Russia. The government of the Baltic EU and NATO state decided on Thursday to deliver drones, personal protective equipment and winter uniforms to the attacked country. "Ukraine continues to need our help and support to confront Russian aggression," said Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur.
Melnyk: Berlin should form a "European tank alliance".
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Melnyk has again demanded that the federal government deliver battle tanks and armored personnel carriers for the defense against Russia. He wished that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) "finally reconsidered the restraint, for example, with the Leopard battle tank and the Marder infantry fighting vehicle," said the former ambassador of Ukraine in Germany to the editorial network Germany (RND). "If the federal government does not want to go it alone with the delivery, then Germany could pursue a leading role on the continent, forge a European tank alliance."
Putin: Moscow is not shying away from negotiations
Almost ten months after the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine, Kremlin chief Putin indicated a willingness to negotiate. "All armed conflicts end in negotiations, and unlike Ukraine, Russia has never backed down," he said in Yekaterinburg on Thursday. In addition, the Ukrainian leadership has excluded itself from talks. "The sooner Kyiv realizes that talks are necessary, the better."
In contrast to Kyiv, Moscow wants to negotiate the current status on the fronts and regards the conquered areas - which it has already annexed in violation of international law - as Russian territory. However, Kyiv does not want to start negotiations until all Russian soldiers have withdrawn from Ukraine, including Crimea, which Russia had already annexed in 2014.
Russian Chief of Staff: Situation at the front stable
Despite several defeats in the war of aggression against Ukraine, the military leadership in Moscow considers its own positions in the occupied territories to be solid after the most recent mobilization. "Taking into account the measures taken to increase the combat effectiveness of the troops, the situation along the front line has stabilized," said Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov. Moscow's main efforts are therefore aimed at the "liberation" of the Donetsk region in the east of the country.
USA: Tens of thousands of "Wagner" mercenaries stationed in Ukraine
According to the US government, tens of thousands of mercenaries from the Russian "Wagner" combat group are stationed in Ukraine. It is estimated that 50,000 mercenaries are currently deployed in Ukraine, said White House communications director John Kirby. In September, Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin publicly admitted for the first time that he had founded the notorious mercenary group. He formed the unit in 2014 for use on the Russian side in the Ukrainian Donbass. Putin has always denied that the mercenary group was formed at the behest of the Kremlin and used to support the Russian army.
Report: Russian division involved in Bucha massacre
After months of research into the massacre in the Kiev suburb of Bucha, the New York Times made serious allegations against a unit of the Russian army. The US newspaper on Thursday published a video with the background and the results of its investigation, according to which paratroopers from the 234th Airborne Division are to blame for the deaths of dozens of civilians on Jablunska Street in Bucha. According to Ukrainian sources, more than 460 bodies were found in Bucha in April after the Russian military withdrew. Russia denies responsibility for the crimes and claims that footage of the dead was fabricated.
That's going to be important today
The focus today remains on the situation in Donetsk Oblast in eastern Ukraine, where several suburbs of the industrial city of Donetsk and the small industrial town of Bakhmut are fiercely contested. Russian troops continued their attacks on Bakhmut on Thursday. The attackers had advanced to the edge of the frontline town several times, the general staff in Kyiv said. However, the attackers were repeatedly repelled.
