Ukrainian Army Chief of Staff Valery Zaluzhny confirmed on May 13 that Russia has been using Kh-22 supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles to target Ukrainian civilian infrastructure recently.
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Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile system near the city of Sloviansk, Donetsk region AFP |
Zaluzhni made the allegation during a phone call with U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley, according to the website. Kyiv independent. Zaluzhny said that the Russian military fires 10-14 cruise missiles per day at civilian infrastructure.
Zaluzny also said that the Russian army fired 12 cruise missiles at the Kremenchuk oil refinery in central Ukraine, two of which were shot down by the US-made Stinger air defense system. According to Zaluzni, Russia switched to cruise missiles because it did not want to use the aircraft after suffering heavy losses.
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The Russian Defense Ministry announced on May 13 that it had attacked the Kremenchuk refinery, destroying its production capacity and many of its fuel tanks, Reuters reported. There is no word yet on Russia’s response to the alleged targeting of civilian infrastructure. Moscow has previously denied that Russian military operations in Ukraine targeted civilian targets.
see more: Fight until afternoon of May 9: Ukraine says Russia fired missile in Odessa
‘The next few weeks will be very difficult’
Also on May 13, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that Ukraine was entering a new protracted phase of the war with Russian forces and that “the next few weeks will very difficult.” Kyiv independent.
Minister Reznikov stressed that no one can predict when a breakthrough will occur in Ukraine’s favor, but it will take a long time for Ukraine to obtain Western-supplied heavy weapons against Russian forces.
Minister Reznikov’s warning came against the backdrop of Russian troops’ focus on advancing in eastern Ukraine. According to CNN, two battlefields are emerging in Ukraine, with Russian troops trying to control the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and Ukrainian troops trying to delay and disperse the enemy’s attack.
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see more: Fight till 13.5 noon: Two battlefields in Ukraine revealed
US Defense Secretary Proposes Ceasefire
According to Agence France-Presse, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asked Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to immediately implement a ceasefire in Ukraine in a May 13 phone call.
“Secretary Austin recommended an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and stressed the importance of maintaining lines of communication,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
According to Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, this is the first dialogue between the defense ministers of the United States and Russia since February 18. Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24.
see more: Pentagon says Russian military ‘dodging’ dialogue
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UK seeks to buy Soviet and Russian weapons for Ukraine
British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace recently revealed that British foreign and defence officials are actively seeking to buy Soviet and Russian-made weapons around the world to supply Ukraine.
Mr. Wallace made the revelation while speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C., on May 11 (US time), RT reported. Wallace believes that Russian officials are trying to do the same, as Moscow’s Ukrainian military operation has run out of weapons as today’s operation enters its 79th day.
Wallace explained that Soviet-made weapons are Ukraine’s best option against Russian forces, because Ukrainian troops are used to them.
see more: Britain seeks to buy Soviet-made and Russian-made weapons to supply Ukraine
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UK and US defence ministers discuss ways to support Ukraine
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said on May 13 that he and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed the next steps to support Ukraine, including military aid. “We will remain united and determined to give Ukraine what it needs to counter” Russian military action, he said.
Also on May 13, foreign ministers from the G7 countries, including the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, met in Germany to support continued arms and aid deliveries to Kyiv, Reuters reported.
On the same day, the EU High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Borrell announced that the EU will continue to provide Ukraine with military assistance worth 500 million euros, including heavy weapons such as tanks and artillery. The new aid package brings total EU aid to Ukraine to about 2 billion euros, he said. Borrell also said he believed the EU would reach an agreement on a proposed Russian oil embargo in the coming days.
See also: EU formally proposes blanket ban on Russian oil imports
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Russia changes stance on Ukraine’s bid to join EU
Dmitry Polyanskiy, deputy head of Russia’s permanent mission to the United Nations, said Moscow had not previously been concerned about Ukraine’s accession to the European Union (EU), but now its position has changed. unknown news.
Mr Poliansky explained that the catalyst that led Moscow to change its stance was Brussels’ behavior since Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine at the end of February. Moscow believes that the EU has fully sided with the EU. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is led by the United States.
see more: Russia changes stance on Ukraine’s bid to join EU
Turkey opposes Finland and Sweden joining NATO
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday his country was unlikely to support Finland and Sweden in joining NATO, calling the Nordic countries “home to many terrorist groups”.
“We are monitoring developments in Sweden and Finland, but we do not have a positive view,” Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul, according to Reuters. Erdogan also said that NATO has accepted Greece as a member of the alliance in the past. it’s wrong.
“As Turkey, we don’t want to repeat the same mistakes. Also, the Scandinavian country is a hostel for terrorist groups,” Erdogan said.
Turkey has officially supported NATO’s expansion since it joined NATO 70 years ago. According to Reuters, any decision on NATO expansion must be agreed upon by all member states.
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Meanwhile, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde said on May 13 that Sweden still wants the support of all NATO members if it applies to join. Ms Linde also stressed that Sweden and Finland have strong support from important countries with which Turkey is interested in maintaining good relations.
Lind added that she would discuss the situation at an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Berlin later this week. Sweden and Finland were both invited to that meeting. Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Havestow said he will meet his Turkish counterpart in Berlin on Wednesday, May 14, Reuters reported.