Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said that in his eyes the Russian government was secretly preparing for defeat.
The Ukrainian president said that, in his eyes, the Russian government was secretly preparing for defeat. “In their minds, they’ve already lost this war,” he said in his video diary. “We have to put pressure on them every day so that the feeling of defeat becomes flight, mistakes and defeats.”
More than 14 months after the start of the war of aggression, Russia has recently made partially dismal assessments of its own situation at the front. For example, Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin spoke of an army “escape” northwest of the embattled city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. The Ministry of Defense in Moscow, on the other hand, emphasized that there were only strategic regroupings.
Ukraine posts territorial gains in Bakhmut
Ukraine reports territorial gains around Bakhmut. A video released by the Kiev Armed Forces shows an attack on a Russian position. Two kilometers were advanced in one week. There are still no clear indications of a major Ukrainian counter-offensive.
However, two explosions were reported in Russian-controlled Luhansk on Friday. Moscow blamed the Ukrainian missiles. They broke into the administrative buildings of two companies that no longer exist.
According to Ukraine, Russia remains focused on operations in the industrial east of the country, as illustrated by the devastation of the town of Marinka in the Donetsk region.
Is Zelenskyy coming to Germany?
Volodymyr Zelenskyy is traveling abroad again, in Rome on Saturday he will meet Italian President Giorgio Mattarella.
Due to the strict secrecy of the details of the trip, it is not clear whether Zelenskyy will be able to remain in Germany after his commitments in Rome. The Berlin police have been preparing for the arrival of the official guest from Kiev for several days – the fact that these plans have recently become public has caused inconvenience.
Should the trip take place, Zelenskyy may be received by Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Germany over the weekend. On Sunday night, he will also receive the Charlemagne Prize in Aachen on behalf of the Ukrainian people.