The Ukrainian President sees Russia weakened after the Wagner revolt.
(Photo: dpa)
Moscow, Kyiv In the opinion of the leadership in Kiev, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is now causing more and more damage in Russia itself. It is evident “that the war is returning to its home port,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his evening video message on Sunday.
It was unclear whether he was referring to Russia’s economic problems or the weekend’s brief uprising by the Wagner mercenaries. “The longer Russian aggression lasts, the more damage it will do to Russia itself,” Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian head of state also warned of security risks around the Russian-controlled Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe. “Unfortunately, the attention of the world public to the existing Russian threat at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant is still insufficient,” complained Zelensky.
Ukraine’s western partners have received all available intelligence information about Russia’s plans for the nuclear power plant. “We have to take very concrete measures, all together in the world, to prevent any radiation incidents,” he warned, referring to a possible sabotage of the facility by the Russian occupiers.
With a view to the NATO summit in Vilnius in two weeks, Ukraine is “doing everything we can to ensure that the summit has real content,” Zelenskiy continued. Decisions in favor of Ukraine at the meeting are the only possible positive decisions for security in Europe and for the Alliance as a whole. Despite forecasts to the contrary, Kiev is still hoping for an invitation to join the defense alliance.
Air raids on port city of Odessa, alarm in Kiev
The southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa was attacked on Monday night with rockets and so-called kamikaze drones. Several explosions could be heard in the city, the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform reported.
Fresh Russian attacks have hit the Ukrainian port city of Odessa.
(Photo: dpa)
No further information was given. Air alerts were also sounded in the capital Kiev and other regions of the country. Shortly before, the Ukrainian Air Force had warned of possible Russian attacks with cruise missiles launched from ships in the Black Sea.
Lithuania demands strengthening of NATO’s eastern flank after Wagner revolt
After the uprising of the Russian private army Wagner against the leadership in Moscow, Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda calls for a further strengthening of NATO’s eastern flank. If Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin ends up in exile in Belarus with unclear intentions, the security of the eastern border must be increased, said the head of state of the Baltic EU and NATO country on Sunday. Lithuania borders Belarus and the Russian Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad.
After his failed uprising at the weekend, Prigozhin was allowed to go to Belarus with impunity, the Kremlin said. On Sunday, however, it was still unclear whether Prigozhin was already on his way to the neighboring country, which is closely allied with Russia, or whether he had already arrived there. Many experts see Russian President Vladimir Putin as weakened despite his success in the power struggle. The Kremlin was silent on Sunday about the events.
China supports Russia’s quest for national stability
China says it supports Russian efforts to maintain national stability. After the Wagner revolt, a brief statement from the Beijing Foreign Ministry on Sunday evening said: “This is Russia’s internal affair.” As a “friendly neighbor” and strategic cooperation partner, “China supports Russia in maintaining national stability and achieving development and prosperity “.
This is how the Handelsblatt reports on the Ukraine war:
What will be important on Monday
The foreign ministers of the EU countries want to exchange views on the power struggle in Russia and possible effects on the war in Ukraine on Monday in Luxembourg. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is also said to be connected via video.
Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius travels to Lithuania on Monday to watch a Bundeswehr exercise with the Lithuanian army. Together with Pistorius, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the Ambassadors of the North Atlantic Council, Lithuanian President Nauseda and Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas will observe the Griffin Storm maneuver.
More: All developments in the Ukraine war in our news blog