After Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also paid a visit to the front in eastern Ukraine. While Zelenskyy's visit to Avdiivka on Tuesday was clearly documented, the exact timing of Putin's visit to the areas occupied by his troops remained unclear.
Putin ordered the war of aggression against the neighboring country in February 2022. Later, in violation of international law, Russia annexed Ukrainian territories, including Cherson and Luhansk, but also Donetsk and Zaporizhia. In Cherson in southern Ukraine, Putin had the commander of the airborne troops, Colonel-General Mikhail Teplinsky, describe the situation to him, according to a statement. In Luhansk in the east, he met Colonel-General Alexander Lapin and other high-ranking officers.
Zelenskyj: Special thanks to medical staff
After his day at the front in eastern Ukraine and in the hinterland, Zelenskyj addressed a word of thanks to all paramedics and doctors in the country. "My special thanks go to our medical forces, all the doctors, nurses and brothers who bring our defenders back to life after being injured," said Zelenskyy yesterday in his evening video address. He had previously visited various hospitals and military hospitals in the Donetsk and Poltava regions.
After his visit to the front, Selenskyj reported on the situation in heavily contested Avdiivka. "It's hard to look at what Russian terrorists did to this city," he said, describing the city's destruction. "And I pay tribute to each and every one of our soldiers, all Ukrainians, who for 419 days stopped and gradually crushed this Russian evil."
Germany has delivered anti-aircraft system
Germany has handed over the promised Patriot air defense system to Ukraine to ward off Russian attacks. The weapon system had been delivered, the federal government announced on its website for armament aid to Ukraine. According to information from the German Press Agency, the operating teams trained by the USA and Germany recently demonstrated their skills with a joint exercise on the military premises of a NATO partner. Ukrainian anti-aircraft personnel received the finishing touches to successfully use Patriot to repel Russian airstrikes.
Patriot ("Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target") is one of the most modern air defense systems in the world. This can be used to combat enemy aircraft, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. At a distance of around 100 kilometers and up to an altitude of 30 kilometers, the defense missiles can hit targets in an imaginary bell around the position - depending on the guided missile used. Together with the USA, Germany had agreed to provide Ukraine with a modern air defense system to defend against Russian attacks, which are increasingly aimed at the country's civilian infrastructure.
Fighting in eastern Ukraine continues
During heavy fighting in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian artillerymen say they destroyed a Russian electronic warfare facility. In addition, two deployments of Russian soldiers and vehicles were fired upon, said the General Staff in Kiev without giving exact location information. The information could not be independently verified.
Russian military reported Ukrainian attacks in the Donetsk region. Among other things, the Ukrainian side used an air-to-ground missile that was specially developed to combat ground-based radar systems. No further information was given about the effects of this attack.
Switzerland: No transfer of weapons and ammunition
Despite criticism from Germany and other Western countries, Switzerland is sticking to its strict no to the transfer of arms and ammunition to Ukraine. After a meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in Berlin yesterday, Swiss President Alain Berset justified this with the neutrality of his country, which also does not belong to the EU or NATO. "You can't ask us to break our own laws," Berset said.
Swiss neutrality laws meant that the government could not provide military support to either side in a conflict. However, it must be looked at "how one should, must or can develop there," said Berset.
Report: Jäger is to become the new German ambassador to Ukraine
According to a media report, Martin Jäger is to become the new German ambassador to Ukraine. This was reported by the "Stuttgarter Zeitung" and "Stuttgarter Nachrichten", citing government circles in Berlin. Jäger should therefore succeed Anka Feldhusen in the summer. He is currently Ambassador to Iraq. Among other things, Jäger was spokesman for the then Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, chief lobbyist at the Daimler car company and ambassador to Afghanistan. The Foreign Office initially did not want to comment on the personnel.
What is important today
During his first visit to Portugal, Chancellor Scholz will talk to Prime Minister António Costa, among other things, about European and economic policy issues and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Portugal is one of the countries that, together with Germany, has supplied Leopard 2 main battle tanks to the war zone.
