Will the American aid voted for this Saturday arrive in time to prevent a strategic victory by Russia at Chassir Yar, in eastern Ukraine? The Ukrainian president warns in all cases that the invader wishes to take control of this city for a symbolic date, in less than three weeks.
This Monday, the foreign ministers of the European Union are meeting to discuss increased military aid to Ukraine, particularly in terms of anti-aircraft defense, encouraged by the unblocking of the vote in the American Congress.
This morning we return to the highlights of the war in Ukraine spotted during the night of April 21 to 22, 2024.
Russia aims for important victory for May 9
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia will try to seize the strategic town of Chassiv Yar, west of Bakhmut occupied by the Russians and not far from Kramatorsk, an important Ukrainian railway junction to supply the front, by May 9. On this date, Russia will commemorate Victory Day, that of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany.
In Chasiv Yar, the situation in the region is deteriorating due to the shortage of Ukrainian ammunition and supplies. “They have to fight against Russian reconnaissance drones, which essentially guide the artillery. (…) I hope that we will be able to stay, that the weapons will arrive in time, that we will repel the enemy and that we will break the plans of the Russian Federation, ”said Volodymyr Zelensky in remarks made during an interview with NBC News and noted by the Ukrainian English-speaking media The Kyiv Independent (link in English).
The European Union comes together to help Ukraine
Foreign ministers from European Union member countries are meeting this Monday April 22 in the city of Luxembourg to discuss strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses in its war against Russia, Reuters reported, the agency Canadian-British press.
As Moscow has stepped up attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and other targets, EU governments are under pressure to provide Kiev with additional air defense systems. Ukraine demands more American-made Patriot systems.
In addition to the aid voted this weekend in the United States, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, and the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, urged the countries of the European Union to strengthen their own support to Kiev by providing it with more military equipment.
For the moment, Germany is the only European member country to have announced the additional shipment of Patriot systems. European defense ministers, as well as Ukrainian foreign and defense ministers, will also take part in discussions on the war in Ukraine.
This article is originally published on ouest-france.fr
