posted on 12/23/2022 5:00 am
(Source: AFP)
The culmination of the aid package the United States promised to Ukraine during the meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the strength of the Patriot air defense system was downgraded yesterday by Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a press conference, the Kremlin chief assured that his army would find a way to avoid American missiles.
“The Patriot system is pretty old. It doesn’t work like our S300. Those who oppose us say it is a defensive weapon. Well, let’s take that into account. There will always be an antidote. So the people who do it they do it for free. It has no other purpose than prolonging the conflict,” Putin said, adding: “We will strive to end this (the war). And of course, the sooner the better.”
For the Russian government, Biden, upon receiving the Ukrainian leader at the White House, demonstrates that he has no intention of “listening to Russia” and that Washington is waging “an indirect war” against Russia in Ukraine. On his first trip abroad since the conflict began ten months ago, Zelenskyy was treated like a hero in the US capital, where he also delivered an acclaimed speech before Congress. The democratic leader pledged support for Ukraine “as long as necessary”.
signs replaced
According to the spokesman for the Russian Council Presidency, Dmitry Peskov, there were no “real appeals for peace” at the meeting. And not even “warnings” from the USA to Zelenskyy about “constant bombing of residential buildings in populated areas of Donbass”. This region of eastern Ukraine is partially controlled by proRussian separatists and is frequently bombed by Ukrainian forces. “This shows that the United States is de facto and indirectly continuing its line of war with Russia,” Peskov noted.
Also on Wednesday, when Putin’s spokesman learned about the aid package for Zelenskyy, Putin’s spokesman warned that the supply of US arms to Kyiv “leads to an intensification of the conflict and does not bode well for Ukraine”. In recent months, Russian troops have suffered several military setbacks and have been driven out of the Kharkiv region (northeast) and the city of Kherson (south).
The American leader (R) welcomes the Ukrainian at the White House: Alliance (Photo: AFP)
Since October, Moscow has changed its strategy, opting for massive bombing of basic Ukrainian infrastructure. The offensive deprived millions of people of electricity, water and heat. Those power outages have hit Kyiv, where the energy situation was described as “difficult” by the capital’s military administration chief Serhiy Popko yesterday.
For Zelenskyy, the Patriot airinterceptor missile battery could “significantly” strengthen defenses against this type of attack. Before deploying the system, however, Ukrainian security forces must undergo training.
reinforced troops
Despite saying he wants an end to the conflict, Vladimir Putin attended a meeting to set the Russian army’s priorities for 2023. He promised to strengthen military capabilities, including nuclear ones. It also announced the entry into service of new Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles “early January” and an increase in army strength to 1.5 million troops.
At the meeting, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu assured that Russian troops will fight “the combined forces of the West.” He also revealed plans to establish bases for his fleet in Mariupol and Berdyansk, occupied cities in southern Ukraine. Without giving further details, the minister’s office reported that he went to the “front” of the battle to inspect the Russian positions and the condition of personnel and materiel.
For his part, Russian Chief of Staff Valeri Gerasimov confirmed yesterday that the goal of Russian forces in Ukraine is to take control of the entire Donetsk province in the east. According to him, there is a “stabilization” of the approximately 815 km long front line.
On his return from the US, the Ukrainian President met with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda at RzeszowJasionka Airport in the southeast of the country shortly after the Capitol Hill speech. Zelensky himself publicized the meeting on social media.
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