Авторы публикации
The detentions, indictments, and searches of top officials and major businessmen of Ukraine that took place this week are mainly related to the redistribution of economic spheres of influence and the political struggle within the country. If we consider the cases (searches, allegations of corruption) of the Ukrainian "oligarchs" P. Fuks and D. Firtash, they may relate to the redistribution of the gas market in Ukraine, which today is gradually coming under the monopoly control of one of the foreign companies and issues of financing the anti-presidential opposition. After all, D. Firtash and P. Fuks could support the opponents of the authorities (we are talking about the mayor of Kyiv V. Klitschko, and ex-president P. Poroshenko). Also, both "oligarchs" created a systemic problem for the Office of the President of Ukraine and Western partners.
In the case of the head of the Supreme Court (SC) V. Knyazev, who was exposed to a large bribe in the amount of $ 2.7 million, allegedly in the interests of a prominent businessman Konstantin Zhivago, there is also a coincidence of interests between the Office of the President and Western partners (taking into account the fact that the case is being NABU and SAP), regarding ensuring control over the judicial system of Ukraine and reducing the influence of Ukrainian "oligarchs" on it. The judicial system in the country remains highly corrupt, which creates serious barriers to investors and the international integration of the Ukrainian economy. It is noteworthy that V. Knyazev was appointed to his position in October 2021, already under the power of V. Zelensky, and passed all the selections provided for by the new judicial reform. But at the same time, V. Knyazev was also closely connected with the team of P. Poroshenko and the curators of the judiciary of the times of V. Yanukovych. V. Knyazev and his entourage (as previously the head of the OASK P. Vovk) tried to influence the formation of the High Qualifications Commission of Judges of Ukraine as members of the High Council of Justice (HCJ). In addition, the head of the Armed Forces has likely crossed a certain “red line”, if information about a bribe from structures associated with K. Zhivago, who is declared one of the main targets of the anti-oligarchic campaign of power, is confirmed. In addition, earlier the Supreme Court declared illegal the decision of the Verkhovna Rada to remove from participation in the plenary sessions of the non-factional people's deputy Geo Leros - another public enemy of the government team, and some other "opposition" decisions.
The detention and indictment of the mayor of Odesa, G. Trukhanov, falls into a series of removals from the office of other mayors of Ukrainian cities (mayor of Poltava A. Mamai and mayor of Chernihiv V. Atroshenko) on anti-corruption charges. That can also be seen as an element of the struggle between the President's team and strong regional elites. Now the cities are run by representatives of the Servants of the People, which strengthens the position of power at the regional level.
Opinion polls, open and closed, show that Ukrainians today see corruption (about 70%) and poverty (about 50%) as the main problem inside the country (except for the war). It is precisely these problems that the government should deal with in the first place.
The number of able-bodied Ukrainians has decreased by 5.5 million people or 30% since the beginning of the invasion. This is more than in Germany after World War II. Before the invasion, Ukraine had 17.4 million able-bodied inhabitants. Since the outbreak of the war, 1 million people have been mobilized, and 4.6 million people are abroad (including 3.2 million women of working age). 1.3 million able-bodied people remained in the uncontrolled territory. The situation may be one of the reasons for the slowdown in the recovery of Ukraine. The longer the war lasts, the more people will adapt to life abroad and will not want to return to Ukraine.
The Russian Federation continues the tactics of missile terror. So, on the night of May 16, Ukraine was subjected to another rocket attack, 25 missiles of various types were fired on its territory by the Russian Federation - 6 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, 9 Caliber missiles, and 10 Iskander and S-400 missiles. In addition, the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine with six drones of the Shahed-136/131 type and carried out aerial reconnaissance with three operational-tactical drones - Orlan-10, and SuperCam. The main blow was directed at Kyiv, which was already subjected to the eighth rocket attack since the beginning of the month. The Ukrainian Air Command says all missiles and drones were shot down that night.
According to authorities, the Russian Federation has applied a new tactic of rockets attacking Ukraine of considerable density (the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period). It was a complex attack in different directions simultaneously with the use of UAVs, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. With this shelling, the Russian Federation tried to achieve several goals. 1. Demonstrate inefficiency, disable, and destroy the Ukrainian air defense systems supplied by the allies the Patriot air defense system (of which there are two in Ukraine according to the official version). In the US, it is reported that during the night attack, the Russian Federation most likely damaged one of the Patriot systems (the system is in working order), but did not destroy it, as they say in the Russian Federation. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine denied information about the defeat of the Patriot air defense system. 2. The rocket attack took place on the eve of a visit to Ukraine by the Special Representative of the PRC for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui and could be both an attempt to put pressure on the leadership of Ukraine in terms of peace negotiations, as well as an attempt to demonstrate the “military power” of the Russian Federation to the Chinese representative.
At the front, the Russian army is trying to advance in the Bakhmut, Liman, Avdiivsky, and Maryinsky directions. There were also attempts to attack settlements in the Kupiansk direction. The main efforts of the Russian Federation were concentrated in the area of the city of Bakhmut, where Ukrainian troops occupy the smaller, western part of the city. At the same time, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are taking local counter-offensive actions. Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine A. Malyar said that in a few days, the Ukrainian army liberated 20 square kilometers in the vicinity of the city of Bakhmut, while Russian troops continue to advance deep into the city itself. Deliveries of long-range British missiles are already having an impact on the nature of hostilities. Ukraine began to strike at the Russian rear in Lugansk and Donetsk.
The main purpose of V. Zelensky’s visit to Europe was to speed up the allocation of military and financial assistance, intensify Ukraine’s entry into NATO, and demonstrate to European partners that Ukraine will not accept any compromises with the Russian Federation under the current conditions. So is the statement of the President of Ukraine V. Zelensky at a meeting in the Vatican with the Pope that "We do not need mediators, we need a just world." “We want justice, we demand it. Victory is not only territories; it is a tribunal" demonstrates that Ukraine refuses to make any compromises with the Russian Federation until the liberation of all the occupied territories. And any mediation efforts of the Pope and other parties (countries) are not relevant today. That is, in the process of a peaceful settlement, Ukraine insists on the previously declared positions (reaching the borders of 1991, compensation, and punishment of those responsible for the war). The Ukrainian authorities will likely adhere to this position for several months (for the period of the counteroffensive). Most likely, this means that the negotiation process is postponed until at least autumn. It cannot be ruled out that the uncompromisingness of this statement means an increase in the stakes of the initial position of the Ukrainian side.
Recently, calls for the resumption of negotiations between Ukraine and the Russian Federation have been updated. This is because some of the elites in the world are considering such a possibility (negotiations with the Russian Federation or China), as well as the formation of certain agreements with them, which may imply concessions from Ukraine (territorial or in terms of sovereignty). And in this regard, Ukraine, with the help of elements of “shuttle diplomacy”, is trying to form its agenda (most likely, Ukraine’s actions are coordinated with the United States), promoting the peace initiatives of President V. Zelensky (which actually provide for the surrender of the Russian Federation), among the main representatives of peace supporters (in first of all, these are China, Germany, France, the Vatican). In contrast to this, in parallel, one can observe the significant activity of Chinese diplomats in Europe. This may be because the PRC leadership, understanding the intention of Ukraine and the United States, is going to maintain its influence in Europe and defend the position of the main negotiator. The results of the visit to Ukraine by China's Special Representative for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui are not yet clear. The unexpected peace initiatives of the President of South Africa and the readiness to receive him in Kyiv is a sign of the desire of many countries to participate in a peace settlement, which has a positive effect on their reputation. And on the other hand, this demonstrates the hope of the Ukrainian leadership that communication with countries that put forward peace initiatives will allow them to change their position in their favor.
It was also important for President V. Zelensky to strengthen military and financial support from Western countries. Thus, in Germany, Italy and France, V. Zelensky achieved public assurances of political, financial, humanitarian, and military support for Ukraine from the allies, “as long as it is necessary” (as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said). But it does not seem that the leaders of European countries support Ukraine's accession to NATO (the terms and guarantees were not announced). Ukraine has received two large aid packages from the United States ($1.2 billion) and from Germany (2.7 billion euros) and is also counting on assistance from Italy (1 billion euros).
The UK is now the main curator of arms supplies to Ukraine. This is probably due to a certain pressure from the Republican Party (dominated in the House of Representatives of the US Congress), which US President D. Biden is now facing.
The position of Great Britain gives a "green light" to other allied countries for the supply of new types of weapons to Ukraine (as it used to be with tanks). So, France, following Britain, plans to transfer long-range missiles to Ukraine. In general, the United States and NATO demonstrate cautious tactics and dose the supply of weapons to Ukraine. By keeping the level of warfare at an average level, they adjust it based on the balance of the parties on the battlefield - not allowing anyone to win quickly.
Ukraine has long insisted on receiving combat aircraft F-16 fighters. Great Britain has not yet promised such deliveries. But there is some progress regarding the future formation of an “aircraft coalition” for Ukraine. So, Britain and the Netherlands intend to organize an "international coalition", the purpose of which is to ensure the supply of American F-16 fighters to Ukraine. British Prime Minister R. Sunak confirmed that in the summer Ukrainian pilots will begin to be trained in the basic skills of operating modern Western aircraft, including the F-16. French President Emmanuel Macron also noted that France is ready to train Ukrainian pilots, and training "can start right now."
Military situation
Combat action.
The situation in the Kharkiv region: In the Kupiansk direction, the RF Armed Forces tried to advance near the settlement. Masyutivka and the village of Synkivka, Novoselivka, and the eastern outskirts of Stelmahivka.
In Donbas: The RF Armed Forces are trying to attack in the Limansky, Bakhmutsky, Avdiivsky, and Maryinsky directions. The main battles are taking place in the areas of the cities of Kreminna, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Maryinka. Attacks of the RF Armed Forces repulsed in the area of settlements Bilogorivka in the Lugansk region. In the Donetsk region attacks were repelled - in the areas of the settlements of Ivanivske, Grigorivka, Bogdanivka, Khromove, and Bila Gora
The situation in the South: without significant changes.
Black Sea-Azov direction: without significant changes.
Russian missile attack on Ukraine.
On the night of May 16, Ukraine was subjected to another rocket attack from the Russian Federation, 25 missiles of various types were fired on its territory - 6 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, 9 Caliber missiles, and 10 Iskander and S-400 missiles. The Ukrainian Air Command says all missiles were shot down. The interception of six Kinzhal missiles was not confirmed by any data or evidence from independent sources. In addition, the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine with six drones of the Shahed-136/131 type and carried out aerial reconnaissance with three drones of the operational-tactical level - Orlan-10, SuperCam - they were also destroyed. Since the beginning of the month, Kyiv has been subjected to the eighth rocket attack from outside. Rocket fragments fell in different districts of the capital - in Obolonsky, Shevchenkivskyi, Solomyansky, and Darnitsky districts - including the Kyiv Zoo. The greatest damage was recorded in the Solomyansky district - there was a fire in non-residential premises and several cars, and there are three victims.
The head of the Kyiv military administration, Serhii Popko, said that: “The enemy carried out a complex attack in different directions simultaneously with the use of UAVs, cruise missiles and, probably, ballistic missiles. It was exceptional in its density - the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period ... Many enemy targets in the airspace of Kyiv were detected and destroyed.
Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said that the Russians were trying to destroy Western air defense installations. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation claims that it hit a Patriot air defense system in Kyiv with a Kinzhal missile. Ukraine does not confirm this and claims that all "Daggers" were shot down. CNN, citing officials in the United States, reports that during the night attack, the Russian Federation most likely damaged one of the Patriot systems, but did not destroy it. Now the United States is assessing the severity of the damage - whether the system will be able to be repaired in Ukraine or whether it will need to be returned abroad. Biden National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US " cannot confirm " the damage to the Patriot air defense system after the Russian strike on Kyiv.
Combat map.
Domestic policy.
Corruption scandals.
This week it was possible to observe a whole galaxy of corruption scandals and revelations.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Economic Security Bureau (BEB) announced the suspicion of businessman Dmitry Firtash (but not personally - D. Firtash is in Vienna) and 8 of his top managers from RGC, E-energy, and regional gas companies. It is known that the extradition of D. Firtash is sought by the United States, at the same time, thanks to financial injections, the Ukrainian oligarch was able to join the British establishment. He was allowed to buy the asset of the British Ministry of Defense and was not even asked about the source of the funds. According to sources, law enforcers exposed a scheme according to which structures controlled by D. Firtash bought fuel from his own company, but in fact, received 30% of the volumes. The artificial deficit was covered by state gas, and the money ended up in D. Firtash's pockets. According to preliminary data, over seven years, such a scheme caused damage to the country's budget by 18 billion hryvnias. According to the materials of the investigation, officials of Firtash's regional gas companies plundered more than 70% of the funds provided for the purchase of gas. Based on the collected evidence, D. Firtash, two heads of RGC LLC, the head of E-energy LLC and five heads of regional gas companies were informed of suspicion under part 3 of article 27, part 5 of article 191, and part 3 of article 27, part 3 of article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (appropriation, embezzlement or possession of property by abuse of official position, committed on an especially large scale by an organized group, legalization (laundering) of property obtained by criminal means). Last year, the court arrested and transferred to the management of ARMA the corporate rights of 26 regional and city operators of gas distribution systems that belonged to D. Firtash.
NABU and SAP exposed the head of the Supreme Court Vsevolod Knyazev on a large bribe of $2.7 million. Law enforcement officers are also checking other facts about receiving bribes from judges of the Supreme Court. In a video published by NABU, it is said that bureau detectives recorded contacts between the owner of the Finance and Credit group, Konstantin Zhivago, with one of the owners of a lawyer association, which was used to cover up criminal activities. It was about an agreement on a bribe to judges "for making the decision necessary for this businessman." To initiate a criminal case against the head of the Supreme Court, the consent of the High Council of Justice is required, and the anti-corruption departments sent a corresponding appeal there. During the meeting of the plenum of the Supreme Court on May 16, its members expressed no confidence in V. Knyazev, he also lost the post of head of the Supreme Court but remains a judge until the decision of the High Council of Justice.
The SBU announced that they exposed the schemes under the sanction’s oligarch Pavel Fuks. According to the investigation, since 2018, he has illegally seized the assets of Ukrainian companies for more than 100 billion hryvnias. Investigators also suspect P. Fuchs and two top managers of holding tax evasion and mandatory payments, they were informed of the suspicion, and the company's property was arrested. P. Fuchs himself called the suspicion from the SBU and the Office of the Prosecutor General in large-scale financial fraud slander. " The statement of the SBU is unfounded and is associated solely with the personal economic interest of individuals in the leadership of the SBU and other structures. Such actions are nothing more than slander and an attempt to damage my business reputation for motives that have nothing to do with protecting the interests of the state and national security of Ukraine " - said P. Fuchs.
The mayor of Odessa, Gennady Trukhanov, was arrested in connection with the case of the Krayan plant. We are talking about the case of embezzlement of more than 92 million hryvnias when buying the administrative building of the bankrupt Krayan plant. VAKS partially satisfied the petition and applied to the accused a preventive measure in the form of detention for a period of 60 days with the alternative of making bail of UAH 13.420 million. The next day it became known that this pledge was made for him by the deputy of the pro-mayor faction "Trust Deeds" Dmitry Tantsura. The defender of G. Trukhanov announced a complaint to the Appeal Chamber of the VAKS regarding the decision. Over the past year, the mayor of Poltava (A. Mamai), and the mayor of Chernihiv (V. Atroshenko) have been removed from the management of their cities in connection with anti-corruption charges, these cities are now controlled by representatives of the Servants of the People.
In general, the activation of all the listed anti-corruption cases is mainly related to the political struggle and the redistribution of economic spheres of influence. If we consider the cases (searches, allegations of corruption) of the Ukrainian "oligarchs" P. Fuchs and D. Firtash, they may be related to the redistribution of the Ukrainian gas market, which today is gradually coming under monopoly control of one of the American companies and financing issues anti-presidential opposition. D. Firtash and P. Fuchs could support the opponents of the government (we are talking about the mayor of Kyiv V. Klitschko and ex-president P. Poroshenko). Also, both "oligarchs" created a systemic problem for the Office of the President of Ukraine and Western partners.
In the case of the head of the Supreme Court (SC) V. Knyazev, who was exposed to a large bribe in the amount of $ 2.7 million, allegedly in the interests of a prominent businessman Konstantin Zhivago, there is also a coincidence of interests of the Office of the President and Western partners (taking into account the fact that the case is being conducted by NABU and SAP), regarding ensuring control over the judicial system of Ukraine and reducing the influence of Ukrainian "oligarchs" on it. The judicial system in the country remains extremely corrupt, which creates serious barriers for Western investors and the integration of the Ukrainian economy into the West. It is noteworthy that V. Knyazev was appointed to his position in October 2021, already under the power of V. Zelensky, and passed all the selections provided for by the new judicial reform. But at the same time, V. Knyazev was also closely connected with the team of P. Poroshenko and the curators of the judiciary of the times of V. Yanukovych. V. Knyazev and his entourage (as previously the head of the OASK P. Vovk) tried to influence the formation of the High Qualifications Commission of Judges of Ukraine as members of the High Council of Justice (HCJ). But it is also likely that the head of the Armed Forces has crossed a certain “red line”, if information about a bribe from structures associated with K. Zhivago, who is declared one of the main targets of the anti-oligarchic company, is confirmed. In addition, earlier the Supreme Court declared illegal the decision of the Verkhovna Rada to remove from participation in the plenary sessions of the non-factional people's deputy Geo Leros - another public enemy of the government team.
The detention and indictment of the mayor of Odesa, G. Trukhanov, falls into a series of removals from the office of other mayors of Ukrainian cities (mayor of Poltava A. Mamai and mayor of Chernihiv V. Atroshenko) on anti-corruption charges. That can also be seen as an element of the struggle between the President's team and strong regional elites. Now the cities are run by representatives of the Servants of the People, which strengthens the position of power at the regional level.
The situation with additional payments to the military in the rear in the amount of 30 thousand hryvnias.
Finance Minister Sergei Marchenko said that additional payments to the Ukrainian military in the rear of 30,000 hryvnias would not be returned. According to him, a working group has been set up at the parliamentary level, where a variant is being developed on how this issue can be resolved. According to the Minister of Finance, the presence of such payments from the military in the rear affects "their motivation." " There is room for compromise. What is proposed by the amendment to the law does not suit absolutely anyone, because it removes motivation. Some heads of law enforcement agencies said that after they normalized the pay system, their units had more motivation to fight, and not sit in the rear. Motivation should be sought precisely in this, because not every one of the millionth army is on the front line, as many people think, "S. Marchenko said.
Recall the decision of Verkhovna Rada on the return of surcharges of 30 thousand UAH. The Ukrainian military in the rear complicates negotiations between Ukraine and the IMF. On April 10, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the general draft law No. 8312 (On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Improving the Legal Regulation of Issues Related to the Implementation of Measures of the Legal Regime of Martial Law). It is noteworthy that for the adoption of amendment 48 D. Razumkov, which returned the allowance of 30 thousand hryvnias. military, along with the EU faction and other parliamentary associations, 146 deputies from the Servants of the People voted, which accounted for a significant share of the votes (254 in total), in which the head of the Servants of the People faction D. Arakhamia played a role, having connections both with the team of P. Poroshenko and with power steering. And now a serious conflict is growing between D. Arakhamia and the authorities. Immediately after the adoption of the relevant amendment, the authorities accused D. Razumkov of populism because there was no money in the budget for these payments. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also opposed the return of allowances.
Thus, in practice, additional payments to the Ukrainian military in the rear of 30,000 hryvnias will not be returned, even though there is potential funding for additional payments to the military, the draft budget of the country has already been agreed upon with the IMF and these costs are not included there. In any case, the situation with additional payments to the military in the amount of 30 thousand UAH. acts as a kind of "hello" from the opposition to the President's team and creates an additional internal information crisis, which will be difficult for the authorities to stop.
The situation around Ukraine.
Peace negotiations.
This week, V. Zelensky made a big trip around Europe, visited Italy, Germany, France, and Great Britain, and held meetings with the leaders of these countries.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is on a visit to Italy and the Vatican on May 13. He held meetings with President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister George Meloni, and then met with the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, in the Vatican. On May 14, Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and on the evening of the same day he arrived in France, where he met with French President Empress Macron.
In general, the visit of V. Zelensky to Europe is associated with several goals:
- to demonstrate to European partners the invariance of the position that in the present conditions, Ukraine will not accept any compromises with the Russian Federation.
- get support for the peace plan of V. Zelensky, which provides for the surrender of the Russian Federation.
- strengthen military and financial support from Western countries.
Recently, calls for the resumption of negotiations between Ukraine and the Russian Federation have been updated. This is because some of the elites in the world are considering such a possibility (negotiations with the Russian Federation or China), as well as the formation of certain agreements with them, which may imply concessions from Ukraine (territorial or in terms of sovereignty). And in this regard, Ukraine, with the help of elements of "shuttle diplomacy", is trying to form its agenda (most likely, Ukraine's actions in concert with the United States), promoting the peace initiatives of President V. Zelensky among the main representatives of the supporters of peace (primarily China, Germany, France, Vatican).
During a visit to Italy, Volodymyr Zelenskyy made several statements about negotiations with Russia. According to him, Ukraine now does not need intermediaries to end the war. So, the Ukrainian leader answered the question about the possible role of China or the Vatican in establishing peace. " There is no point in the attempts of certain countries or influential personalities to become a mediator between Ukraine and Russia to end the war, but our state is interested in proposals that can achieve a just peace, primarily based on the Ukrainian peace formula," the OP website quotes the president. At the same time, he invited the Pope of Rome to participate in the development of a " plan of action for a just world in Ukraine." Recall that earlier The Pope said that the Vatican is involved in a " secret peacekeeping mission in Ukraine." The purpose of the mission is " to try to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine ".
At a press conference in Berlin, Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine is preparing to hold a "Peace Summit." The war is taking place on our territory, so any peace plan will be based on Ukraine's proposals. This is our clear plan, this is our formula for peace," Zelensky said. About other peace initiatives, the president said: " Everything should be based on our plan. We are not just ready to hear the initiative of any country - we are interested in participating in the first Peace Summit as much as possible ... But we understand that war is coming and something is changing. We are ready for discussions, and any proposals, but only on our platform."
During his visit to France, V. Zelensky received assurances that Ukraine would receive political, financial, humanitarian, and military support from France for Ukraine as long as necessary. France is ready to participate in the post-war restoration and reconstruction of Ukraine. The countries will continue to work together to develop mechanisms to compensate for the losses and damage caused by Russian aggression. France supports Ukraine's aspirations to become a member of the EU and NATO. He expects the early start of negotiations on accession to the EU and the decision of the Alliance summit in Vilnius. Both countries, Ukraine and France, call on the Russian Federation to withdraw the occupying troops from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
In general, President V. Zelensky made it clear that Ukraine refuses to make any compromises with the Russian Federation until all the occupied territories are liberated. And any mediation efforts of the Pope and other countries are not relevant today. This position will likely be relevant for several months (during the period of the Ukrainian counteroffensive). It is also important that Ukraine received two large aid packages from the United States ($1.2 billion) and from Germany (2.7 billion euros), as well as from Italy (1 billion euros).
At the same time, in parallel, one can observe a significant activity of Chinese diplomats in Europe. This may be because the PRC leadership, understanding the intention of Ukraine and the United States, is going to maintain its influence in Europe and defend the position of the main negotiator. It is known that China's Special Representative for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui will soon visit five countries (Ukraine, Russia, Poland, France, and Germany) to " promote peace negotiations " in the full-scale war unleashed by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. We can note the tour of the Shanghai Komsomol member of the Vice-Chairman of the PRC Han Zheng: Great Britain - the Netherlands - Portugal. Simultaneous tour of the head of parliament, one of the members of the Xi Jinping group, Zhao Leji, through Asia to the former Spanish colony of Morocco and further to Senegal. There will also be a European tour by Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang - France-Germany-Norway. And the closed tour of Wang Yi, head of the Office of the Commission of the CPC Central Committee for Foreign Affairs, probably through Moscow to Vienna. The results of the visit to Ukraine by China's Special Representative for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui are not yet clear.
Military assistance to Ukraine. Prospects for a counteroffensive.
The UK is now the main curator of arms supplies to Ukraine. This is probably due to a certain pressure from the Republican Party (dominated in the House of Representatives of the US Congress), which US President D. Biden is now facing.
Defense Minister Wallace said that there would be military assistance from Britain so that the West would not be tempted to force Ukraine to make concessions.
London has already announced that additional long-range missiles will be delivered to Storm Shadow. Also, the UK will send more than 200 attack drones with a range of more than 200 kilometers to Ukraine, The Guardian writes, citing the government. It is specified that "all this will be delivered in the coming months." " Today, the Prime Minister will confirm the UK's continued delivery of hundreds of air defense missiles and additional unmanned aerial systems, including hundreds of new long-range attack drones with a range of more than 200 km," British authorities said in a statement.
As a rule, the position of Great Britain gives a "green light" to other allied countries for the supply of new types of weapons to Ukraine (as it used to be with tanks). So, France, following Britain, plans to transfer long-range missiles to Ukraine. In general, the United States and NATO demonstrate cautious tactics and dose the supply of weapons to Ukraine. By keeping the level of warfare at an average level, they adjust it based on the balance of the parties on the battlefield - not allowing anyone to win quickly.
Ukraine has long insisted on receiving combat aircraft F-16 fighters. Great Britain has not yet promised such deliveries. But there is some progress regarding the future formation of an “aircraft coalition” for Ukraine. So Great Britain and the Netherlands intend to organize an "international coalition", the purpose of which is to ensure the supply of American F-16 fighters to Ukraine. British Prime Minister R. Sunak confirmed that in the summer Ukrainian pilots will begin to be trained in the basic skills of operating modern Western aircraft, including the F-16. French President Emmanuel Macron also noted that France is ready to train Ukrainian pilots, and training "can start right now."
Italy promises to allocate another €1 billion to Ukraine and supports an early accession to the EU.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed the allocation of a large-scale military aid package to Ukraine. "Germany is providing a new military assistance package worth 2.7 billion euros, including further Leopard-1 battle tanks, Marder infantry fighting vehicles, and Iris-T air defense systems," the chancellor wrote.
Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that Russia has an extremely negative attitude towards the supply of Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles by the UK to Kyiv. And the Russian military will have to give an "adequate answer" to this. Dmitry Peskov also said that this would not affect the course of the "special operation". Earlier, the Russian military department stated that British Storm Shadow missiles were already used in Lugansk last week.
Ruslan Bortnik, Oksana Krasovskaya, Andrey Timchenko
for the Ukrainian Institute of Politics
