Ukraine: French, Italian and German Heads of State to kyiv

The three men simultaneously boarded a special train to kyiv, Italian and German media reported.

I think we are at a time when we, the European Union, need to send clear political signals regarding Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in a context where they have been fighting heroically for months.said the French president, when asked about a possible trip to kyiv the previous day.

This trip is a first for the leaders of the three major European Union countries, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February.

The three men are scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss, in addition to military support, Ukraine’s request to join the European Union. France, Germany and Italy are in favor of it, but in a more or less distant perspective.

Ukraine expects from the European summit of June 23-24 the decision of the Twenty-Seven on its official application for membership, the beginning of a negotiation process that could take several years.

Request an additional weapon

Its president should also reiterate his request for new deliveries of heavy weapons, which are important, he assured, to counter Russia’s air force.

We are with you, we are with youMr Zelensky told Czech lawmakers in Prague at a teleconference, citing an appeal made by a Czechoslovak radio presenter in 1968 as the Soviet occupiers tried to shut down the radio.

Today, as the citizens of Ukraine are fighting for their freedom against the Russian aggression, we use these words to address all countries in Europe and the democratic world.He added. Ukraine must get everything it needs to achieve successhis hammer.

On Wednesday night, Mr. Zelensky said his thanks to the United States for the new tranche of military aid announced to him by his American counterpart Joe Biden last night on the phone.

The United States has announced a new reinforcement of our defense, a new tranche of aid of one billion dollarsMr. Zelensky confirmed in his daily video message on Wednesday night.

I would like to express my gratitude for this support, it is especially important for our defense in the Donbass the region of eastern Ukraine epicenter of the current Russian attack.

U.S. assistance included additional artillery and ammunition.

On Wednesday, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin on Wednesday called on his allies to intensified delivery of arms to the Ukrainians.

Ukraine is faced with an important moment on the battlefieldsaid the U.S. Secretary of Defense, at a meeting at the headquarters ofNATO in Brussels from the countries of contact group created by the United States to help Ukraine. So we must intensify our common commitment at Double your effort so that he can defend himselfHe added.

Mr Zelensky said he also spoke with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who tweeted his support for Ukraine until the final victory.

The Battle of the Donbass

And it passes through Donbass, in eastern Ukraine, which has been the subject of intense fighting for several days between Russian and Ukrainian forces.

Since their abortive offensive in kyiv in March, Russian and pro-Russian separatist forces, which have partially controlled this industrial region since 2014, have set themselves the goal of full control.

The enemy focused its main strike forces in the north of the region [de Lougansk] and trying to attack in nine directions simultaneouslysaid the Commander -in -Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Wednesday night.

The fighting concentrated for several days in Lyssychantsk and Sievierodonetsk, two major cities in Donbass. Ukrainian authorities have admitted in recent days that their troops have been driven out of the city center of Sievierodonetsk, and there are only complex communication channels with them after the destruction of all bridges in Lysychansk.

Sievierodonetsk is a strategic element in our defense system in the Luhansk region. The city cannot be considered otherwisecommemoration of the Ukrainian commander-in-chief on Wednesday night.

Ukrainian forces are notably buried in the Azot chemical plant, which symbolizes this city of about 100,000 inhabitants before the war, with more than 500 civilians inside, according to Sievierodonetsk mayor Oleksandre Striouk.

Moscow on Tuesday proposed a humanitarian corridor which would allow the evacuation of these civilians to Russian -controlled territories, but this has not been confirmed by kyiv.

Russia on Wednesday accused Kyiv forces of obstructing the operation.

On the diplomatic front, at a time when the United States and Europe are rallying around Ukraine, Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed on Wednesday his closeness to his old friend Vladimir Putin, at risk of breaking relations between Beijing and the West.