Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has condemned the deadly Russian artillery raid on the city of Kherson in the south of the country. While fierce fighting continues to rage on the fronts, China's highest foreign politician is exploring the chances of a peace plan by his state and party leaders in Moscow this Wednesday.
"This Russian attack had no military purpose," said Zelenskyj in his nightly video speech on Tuesday. "Just like thousands of similar Russian attacks that are a real message from Russia to the world." At least six people were killed and twelve injured in the artillery raid on a residential area and a bus station in Kherson.
Zelenskyj: Those responsible will be found
"The terrorist state is trying to show the world that terror is to be expected by shelling streets, houses, schools, pharmacies and hospitals, churches, bus stops, markets and power plants with rockets," Zelensky said. However, he is confident that the attacker will be put in his place. Namely "by all together - Ukrainians and the world".
In the end, Ukrainian intelligence and the army would find those responsible for the attacks on Kherson and other cities. "And beyond that, we will prove that only humanity, only the UN Charter and only the right of every people to live a free and safe life from terror and insane aggressions like those of Russia are worth considering."
Shortly before, the Ukrainian general staff had reported that the situation on the various front sections of the country was relatively stable. Once again, the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the east of the country were heavily contested. "We are doing everything we can to repel enemy attacks there - constant intensive attacks that Russia does not stop, although it suffers great losses there," said Zelenskyy.
Meeting between Sergei Lavrov and Wang Yi
On the eve of the anniversary of Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine, senior Chinese foreign policy maker Wang Yi will meet with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday. In addition to relations between the two countries, the conflict in Ukraine is certainly on the agenda. In Moscow, Wang wants to sound out Russia's positions on the peace initiative launched by its head of state Xi Jinping to end the Ukraine war. The Chinese foreign policy expert had already exchanged views with the head of the National Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, in Moscow on Tuesday.
Xi wants to present the position paper on the anniversary on Friday (February 24), of which only the basics are known so far. Among other things, it is about "respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity," according to the foreign office in Beijing. Ukraine is demanding the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory, including Crimea, as a prerequisite for talks with Moscow.
Zelenskyy continues "diplomatic marathon".
The day after US President Joe Biden's surprise visit to Kiev, Zelensky continued his "diplomatic marathon" that has now lasted for almost a year. He met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday, who promised Ukraine continued military, financial and civilian support to her country. Among other things, Kiev is to receive additional air defense systems.
In addition, Zelenskyj also received a delegation from the US Congress, as he announced in the evening. "This is a very important signal for our country, the entire region and the world," he said. "Yesterday President Biden was in Kiev, today there are representatives of Congress, namely members of the Republican Party."
What is important today
Almost a year after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the UN General Assembly meets on Wednesday for a debate that could last until Thursday. In the end, a resolution is to be adopted that, among other things, calls on Russia to withdraw and emphasizes Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Against the background of the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, US President Biden will meet representatives of several Eastern European NATO countries in Warsaw on the second day of his visit to Poland. The group in the so-called "Bucharest 9" format includes Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - i.e. the states along NATO's eastern flank.
