Global Courant 2023-05-22 07:29:19
As the war enters its 453rd day, we review key developments.
This is the state of affairs on Monday, May 22, 2023.
To fight
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has clarified previous comments on the situation in Bakhmut by saying that “as of today” it was not occupied by Russia. Earlier, he told reporters there was “nothing left” of the eastern city and that the Russians had “destroyed everything”. Russia has claimed to have completely taken Bakhmut in Ukraine, with President Putin congratulating his troops and the mercenary Wagner Group on taking the largely destroyed eastern city.
Colonel General Oleksandr Syrsky, the commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, has said Ukrainian troops were approaching a “tactical encirclement” of Bakhmut, according to the Kyiv Independent. The commander previously visited the front line.
A Russian-installed official in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhia region has said Kiev hit the Russian-occupied port city of Berdyansk with UK-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Kiev said it hit a Russian headquarters there, but did not say what weapons it used. President Zelensky has likened the “total destruction” of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut to the destruction of Hiroshima during World War II after it was hit by a US nuclear bomb. The White House estimates that the Russian military has suffered 100,000 casualties in the past five months, including the deaths of 20,000 Russian soldiers.
Diplomacy
The three-day G7 summit has ended in Japan, with leaders pledging more support for Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the summit in person. The G7 meeting has resulted in “unwavering unity” in supporting Ukraine to fend off Russia’s war, and Zelenskyy’s presence has sent “a strong message” to the world, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said after the three-day peak. Tens of thousands of Moldovans have gathered in the capital Chisinau to support their pro-Western government move to Europe amid what officials say are Russian attempts to destabilize their country. Canada will support Ukraine as long and as much as necessary in its conflict with Russia, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at the G7 summit.
Weapons
US President Joe Biden has confirmed a new $375 million military aid package for Ukraine, saying the US would provide ammunition, artillery, armored vehicles and training. The new commitment came days after Washington agreed to allow training on US-made F-16 fighter jets, laying the groundwork for their eventual transfer to Ukraine.
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