The peace initiative of the African states is given little chance.
(Photo: AP)
Kyiv, St. Petersburg Amid the ongoing Ukrainian counter-offensive, President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Western partners for their continued military aid. In his evening video speech on Saturday, Selenski also explicitly mentioned Germany, which had just announced the delivery of 64 more Patriot-type guided missiles for air defense systems to the attacked country.
In the heavily flooded southern Ukrainian region of Cherson, the number of deaths continued to rise a week and a half after the devastating dam destruction. In St. Petersburg, Russia, an African delegation met with the head of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, to present their peace initiative for Ukraine, which was not accompanied by particularly high hopes.
Selenski thanks Germany – Ambassador Makeiev calls for more weapons
“Germany, thank you (…) for your continued strength in protecting lives from Russian rocket terror,” Zelenski said. However, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, had previously pointed out that his country needed more Western support to defend itself against Russia: “Western support is essential for our survival. But it’s not enough: you can imagine, we have two Iris-T systems, a couple of patriots,” Makeiev told the Berliner Zeitung, referring to the two air defense systems.
Although Kiev is well protected, elsewhere more anti-aircraft systems, armored vehicles and tanks are needed. The diplomat reiterated Ukraine’s demand for fighter jets and long-range ammunition.
Death toll after dam destruction continues to rise
About a week and a half after the destruction of the important Kakhovka dam, the number of fatalities in the southern Ukrainian region of Cherson continues to rise. The Ukrainian authorities are now reporting 16 dead as a result of the devastating floods, and the Russian occupiers on the other side of the Dnipro River 29. Dozens of residents are still missing.
Ukraine accuses Russia of deliberately blowing up the dam, and many international experts also believe this is likely. Moscow denies that.
African delegation calls on Moscow to negotiate with Kiev
During a visit to St. Petersburg, Russia, representatives of several African countries called on Russia to start negotiations with Ukraine. “We would like to encourage you to start negotiations with Ukraine,” said the head of the African Union and President of the Comoros, Azali Assoumani, according to the Interfax agency at a meeting with Kremlin chief Putin. South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa said: “We are convinced that the time has come for both sides to start negotiations and end this war.”
According to the delegation, which also includes representatives from Egypt, Senegal, Zambia, the Republic of Congo and Uganda, it has drawn up a ten-point plan as part of its peace initiative. According to the state news agency Tass, Putin spoke of a “balanced approach by the African friends in the Ukraine crisis”. However, after almost 16 months of Russian war of aggression, the hope of success is extremely slim. Before their visit to St. Petersburg, the delegation visited Ukrainian President Zelensky in Kiev on Friday.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned of a false peace in Ukraine. “We all want this war to end. But for a peace to be lasting, it has to be fair,” Stoltenberg told Welt am Sonntag.
“Peace cannot mean freezing the conflict and accepting a deal dictated by Russia. Only Ukraine alone can define the conditions that are acceptable,” stressed the NATO Secretary General. “The more occupied territory Ukraine can liberate, the better cards it has at the negotiating table to achieve a just and lasting peace,” he added.
This is how the Handelsblatt reports on the Ukraine war:
What will be important on Sunday
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in China this Sunday for a two-day visit – his first trip to the People’s Republic. China’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine is one of the reasons for disputes between the two countries.
More: All developments in the Ukraine war in our news blog