Update on the situation at the end of the day
- At least 18 dead in Russian attacks on Tuesday
Eighteen people were killed and 130 others injured in Russian attacks on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced. Shortly before, the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Andriy Kostin, spoke of 19 deaths. According to the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, Valery Zaluzhny, Russia targeted Ukraine with 41 missiles, 21 of which were shot down. Ukraine is urgently demanding more air defense resources from its Western allies and has set a goal of regaining control of the skies over its territory by 2024.
- The Turkish parliament ratifies Sweden's membership in NATO
The Turkish parliament ratified Sweden's membership in NATO on Tuesday evening. The Swedish candidacy, which only requires the green light from Viktor Orban's Hungary, was approved by Turkish MPs with 287 votes in favor and 55 against. Sweden, which is poised to become the 32nd member country of the Atlantic Alliance, announced its candidacy in May 2022, at the same time as Finland, which joined in April 2023.
- Lithuania buys German Leopard 2 tank battalion
As part of strengthening its military capabilities in the context of the war between Russia and Ukraine, Lithuania announced on Tuesday that it intends to purchase a battalion of German Leopard 2 tanks.
- Washington asks its allies to supply Ukraine with equipment
The United States organizes the monthly meeting of about fifty countries that support Ukraine, but cannot agree on the supply of the ammunition and missiles Ukraine needs to repel the Russian invasion.
- Moscow accuses France of using “mercenaries” in Ukraine; Paris denounces “gross manipulation”.
A French pro-Russian association published a list of names of 13 “French mercenaries”. The broadcaster Rybar, which is close to the Russian army, also has doubts about this list.
- For the Kremlin, Zelensky is in a “very difficult situation”
“The Europeans realize that they have thrown their money out the window,” Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies on Tuesday.