case
UPDATE ON THE SITUATION – Ukraine’s president assured the BBC on Thursday that his army needed extra time to launch a major counter-offensive against Russian forces.
By Le Figaro with AFP
Published on 05/11/2023 at 14:45, updated on 05/12/2023 at 00:46
This content is not accessible to all.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a press conference with the President of the European Commission on May 9, 2023 in Kiev. SERGEI SUPINSKY / AFP
Kiev, which needs time for a counter-offensive, London, which will supply long-range missiles to Kiev, Pretoria, which has supplied weapons to Russia, the Kremlin, which promises to respond to the transfer of confiscated Russian funds … Figaro draws this Thursday, May 11, a summary of the war situation in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy admits that Kiev needs time for a counteroffensive
In an interview with the BBC on Thursday, May 11, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy assured that his army still needs time to prepare a widely anticipated counter-offensive against Russian forces. “With (what we have) we can move forward and be successful. But we would lose a lot of people. I think that’s unacceptable. So we have to wait. We need a little more time,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, according to the BBC.
This content is not accessible to all.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said in late April that “preparations are coming to an end”. “The equipment was promised, prepared and partially delivered. In the broadest sense, we’re ready,” he said during a press conference. “If God wills it, the weather and the decision of the commanders, we will do it.” However, he added that the powerful Abrams tanks promised by the United States “will not have time to take part in this counter-offensive” and that theirs Delivery to Ukraine is not expected until the end of 2023.
The US ambassador accuses Pretoria of having supplied weapons to Russia
At a meeting with local media on Thursday, the US ambassador in Pretoria accused South Africa of providing military support to Russia despite its declared neutrality in the conflict with Ukraine. According to Reuben Brigety, the United States is convinced that “weapons and ammunition” were loaded aboard a Russian freighter that was docked near Cape Town in early December “before leaving for Russia.” “Russian arming is extremely serious and we do not believe that this issue has been resolved. We want South Africa to start practicing its non-aligned policy,” he added during the meeting.
” ALSO READ – South Africa Won’t Leave ICC, ANC Communications ‘Error’
When President Cyril Ramaphosa was asked about the case in Parliament, he said matters relating to that ship, the Lady R, would be “under review”, adding that “we will be able to discuss it in due course”. . His spokesman Vincent Magwenya said that “no evidence has been presented to support allegations of arms sales from South Africa to Russia,” adding that the matter was under further investigation. In the evening, the presidency issued a statement reiterating this lack of evidence and deploring that “the ambassador’s statements undermine the spirit of cooperation and partnership between the two countries.” The United States on Thursday welcomed the South African government’s promise to launch an investigation. “That would be a welcome move,” US State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said at a news conference.
London supplies long-range missiles to Kiev
The UK will become the first country to supply long-range missiles to Ukraine in response to Russia’s “continued aggression”, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announced on Thursday. “The UK is supplying Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles,” the minister told parliament, as these cruise missiles have a range of more than 250 kilometers, more than any other weapon western countries have supplied to Kiev. “The donation of these weapon systems gives Ukraine the best chance to defend itself against the ongoing brutality of Russia,” he added. These missiles “will allow Ukraine to repel Russian forces stationed on Ukraine’s sovereign territory.”
” ALSO READ – How Ukraine is preparing its counter-offensive
Wagner boss accuses Zelenskyy of “dishonesty”.
Commenting on Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s interview with the BBC, the head of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, on Thursday accused the Ukrainian president of being “dishonest” in his comments to the BBC because the Ukrainian counter-offensive is “in full swing”. may be. . “In the direction of (Bakhmout), units of the Ukrainian armed forces are penetrating the flanks and, unfortunately, succeeding in some places,” said Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose men are on the front lines in this battle. “The plan of the Ukrainian army is indeed (…), all units that have been trained and received weapons, tanks and everything necessary are already in full combat,” he said, adding.
This content is not accessible to all.
The Kremlin promises retaliation over the transfer of confiscated Russian funds
The Kremlin said Thursday it would respond, citing the possibility of a legal challenge to the US judiciary’s transfer of seized Russian funds to help rebuild Ukraine. “We have to see if they (the Americans, editor’s note) try to legally support this. “It is an attack on something sacred to the United States: the right to property,” said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
This content is not accessible to all.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on May 6, 2023 in Moscow. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV
The OSCE condemns Belarus’ repression
Belarusian opponents of the Russian invasion of Ukraine are being targeted by President Lukashenko’s regime. This is according to a report by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which identified around 30 cases in which people face heavy penalties, including the death penalty. Since February 2022, the already massive repression has been directed “particularly against those who express their opposition to the war or their support for the Ukrainian people,” writes the International Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in a document seen on Thursday Report by AFP.
This content is not accessible to all.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at the Kremlin in Moscow, April 6, 2023. MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV
Eurovision: Volodymyr Zelenskyy is not allowed to speak in the final
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not be able to speak via video message at the final of the Eurovision Song Contest, the organizer of the song contest announced on Thursday. “Mr Zelensky’s request to address the audience at the Eurovision Song Contest, while made with laudable intentions, regrettably cannot be granted as it would be against the rules of the event,” said the European Broadcasting Union ( EBU) organizing the competition. “One of the pillars of the competition is the non-political nature of the event. This policy prohibits political or similar statements during the competition,” the EBU explained.
The competition is being held in Liverpool this year as the UK has offered to host the Eurovision Song Contest in place of Ukraine, who were victorious last year and as such should have organized the event but had to abandon it due to the Russian invasion. The final, which will take place on Saturday and will feature 26 countries, will pay a strong tribute to Ukraine as 11 Ukrainian artists will be present on stage, including Kalush Orchestra, last year’s winner, the EBU said.
As with the 2022 edition, Russia was excluded from the competition.
This content is not accessible to all.