Is Russia headed for a breakthrough on Ukraine’s eastern front? “Currently, the fights evolve successfully in the zones” of Bakhmout and Vougledar, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday, February 7, according to a statement issued after a meeting with army and ministry officials. He cited the recent conquests of seven localities including Soledar, a neighboring town of Bakhmout and which the Ukrainian forces ceded in January. On Saturday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that the situation was “complicated” at the front, especially in Bakhmout which he had earlier sworn to defend “as long as possible”.
Zelensky soon in Brussels? The President of Ukraine was invited to participate in “a future summit” of the Twenty-Seven, announced a spokesman for the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, without further details. “For security reasons, no additional information will be disclosed”, Barend Leyts said on Twitter. The Ukrainian president could even go to Brussels on Thursday for the summit of EU heads of state and government and an intervention before MEPs.
The French Senate wants to strengthen aid to Ukraine. With a right-wing majority, the Senate is expected to vote on Tuesday on a motion for a resolution reaffirming its support for Ukraine and calling on the government to strengthen the aid provided, “especially arms deliveries”. However, the text is not binding. It was placed on the agenda at the request of the President LR of the Senate, Gérard Larcher.
Macron and Meloni welcome the shipment of arms. The French President announced on Monday its agreement with the Italian Prime Minister on military support for Ukraine, despite rather strained relations between the two leaders, particularly on the issue of migrants. Emmanuel Macron and Giorgia Meloni spoke by telephone tobefore the European summit on Thursday and Friday in Brussels. “The two leaders have expressed their determination to continue this support over the long term”said the Elysée.
The UN fears a “wider war”. While the “escalation risks” in Ukraine are increasing, the world is heading “Eyes wide open” towards “a wider war”Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General, said Monday in a particularly somber speech presenting his priorities for 2023.