A Ukrainian official invited President Joe Biden to visit Kyiv next week due to Russia’s ongoing invasion of the country, saying “you shouldn’t be afraid – if you’re brave.”
Ihor Zhovka, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s top diplomatic adviser, asked the US commander in chief to personally visit Ukraine when he travels to Brussels for the NATO summit next week.
He explained that the Ukrainian president was “disappointed” with the US and NATO over the decision to impose a no-fly zone over Ukrainian airspace, and asked Biden to help Ukraine acquire fighter jets and missile defense systems.
“If NATO cannot provide us with a humanitarian no-fly zone, please provide us with fighter jets, please provide us with anti-missile air defense systems,” Zhovka said in an interview with CNN, according to Mediaite. “So, my president will continue to do so. He spoke about this in the US Congress. He talks about it every day.”
Ukrainian President Zelensky’s chief diplomatic adviser, Igor Zhovkva (pictured), invited President Joe Biden to visit Kyiv next week amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of the country, saying “you shouldn’t be afraid – if you’re brave.”
Zhovka asked Biden (left) to personally visit Zelensky (right) when he travels to Brussels for the NATO summit next week. He explained that the Ukrainian president was “disappointed” with the US and NATO over the decision to impose a no-fly zone over Ukrainian airspace, and asked Biden to help them acquire fighter jets and missile defense systems.
Zhovka also noted that the leaders of three other countries visited Kyiv and met with Zelensky.
“Well, you know, just this week, three prime ministers of three friendly countries – Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia – personally visited Kyiv and met with President Zelensky in person,” he replied.
‘So why [doesn’t] Did President Biden come to Ukraine to meet with the president?”
Asked about the dangers of Biden’s trip to Kyiv, Zhovka said: “Well, it’s definitely dangerous when you have a war against my country, a war in Europe.”
It is unclear whether Biden will accept Zhovka and Zelensky’s invitation, as Ukraine is due to receive a new batch of US weapons in the coming days, including Javelin and Stinger missiles.
“In the near future (weapons) will be on the territory of our country. We are talking about days,” Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, confirmed in a TV interview on Saturday.
Ukraine’s allies have brought in planes loaded with weapons to bolster their military forces against a Russian invasion. Russia has criticized such supplies from NATO member countries.
It’s unclear whether Biden will accept Zhovka and Zelensky’s invitation as Ukraine is due to receive a new shipment of US weapons within days, including Javelin and Stinger missiles (pictured: a residential area destroyed by a Russian missile strike in Kyiv, as seen on Saturday )
Ukraine’s allies have brought in planes loaded with weapons to bolster their military forces against a Russian invasion. Smoke rose over Kiev on Saturday
Ukraine and the West argue that the Russian invasion is stalling in part because of fierce Ukrainian resistance, poor planning, and low morale among Russian troops.
US intelligence estimates that 7,000 Russian troops, including four generals, were killed after the February 24 Russian invasion, and between 14,000 and 21,000 troops were injured in the fighting.
The Moscow Defense Ministry says less than 500 soldiers died.
The Ukrainian military has also suffered heavy casualties, likely far in excess of the 1,300 troops Kyiv has confirmed were killed.
According to the Ukrainian military, Russia lost 466 tanks, 115 helicopters, 914 vehicles, 95 aircraft, 213 artillery systems, 44 anti-aircraft guns and 60 fuel tanks. Russia did not respond to Kyiv’s latest assessments, and this information could not be independently verified.
These estimates come after Russia first used its latest hypersonic missile in an attack on Ukraine, a military spokesman said.
Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry, said that Kinzhal hypersonic missiles destroyed an underground warehouse of missiles and aviation ammunition of Ukrainian troops in the west of the Ivano-Frankivsk region.
Konashenkov also said that Russian forces used the Bastion anti-ship missile system to strike Ukrainian military installations near the Black Sea port of Odessa.
Ukrainian soldiers (above) guard a bridge in front of a damaged Russian army vehicle Saturday on a road leading east of Kyiv.
Ukrainians on Saturday inspect a building in Kyiv, partially damaged by Russian missiles
The World Health Organization said it had confirmed 43 attacks on hospitals and medical facilities that left 12 people dead and 34 injured.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Thursday that US officials are evaluating potential war crimes and that there would be “massive consequences” if Russia’s deliberate targeting of civilians is confirmed.
UN political chief Deputy Secretary General Rosemary DiCarlo also called for an investigation into civilian casualties, reminding the UN Security Council that international humanitarian law prohibits direct attacks on civilians.
She said that many of the daily shelling of Ukrainian cities is reportedly indiscriminate and involves the use of “explosive weapons with a wide area of effect.” DiCarlo said the destruction in Mariupol and Kharkiv “raises serious concerns for the fate of millions of residents of Kyiv and other cities facing increased attacks.”
Hundreds of civilians are reported to have taken refuge in a large pillared theater in the city center when it was hit by Russian aircraft on Wednesday. On Friday, their fate was still uncertain, and reports of whether anyone escaped from the wreckage are conflicting.
Officials say communications in the city have been disrupted and movement has been hampered by shelling and fighting.