This is the state of affairs on Saturday, April 8, 2023:
Diplomacy
Secret documents detailing plans by the United States and NATO to prepare Ukraine for a spring offensive against Russia leaked on Twitter and Telegram. Ukrainian presidential official Mykhailo Podolyak said the leaked documents contained “fictitious information” designed to cast doubts on the planned operation. Meeting with his Turkish counterpart in Ankara, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said all negotiations for peace in Ukraine should aim at a “new world order” and take “Russia’s interests” into account. Russian investigators have accused Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich of espionage, the Russian news agency Interfax reported citing an unknown source. Ukraine has rejected a proposal by Brazilian President Lula da Silva that Kiev give up Crimea to end the war with Russia. Moscow invaded and annexed Crimea in 2014.
To fight
Russia has seized the west bank of the Bakhmutka River, endangering a key Ukrainian supply route in its bid to secure control of the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut, the British defense ministry said. Ukraine described the situation in Bakhmut as “difficult”, but said it was holding out despite Russia’s numerical superiority. According to the Ukrainian military, Russia is focusing its offensive on the eastern towns and villages of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka, using air-to-air missiles, missile launchers and weaponized drones to launch multiple attacks.
Economy
The Russian ruble fell to its lowest level in a year against the dollar and euro amid a currency crisis in Moscow and the sale of Western businesses in Russia.
Weapons
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal plans to visit Canada in the coming weeks to search for munitions and armored vehicles, the Globe and Mail reported. (TagsToTranslate)News