In a recent development, Russian troops have declared that they have successfully gained “full control” of the strategic city of Avdiivka, located on the frontline in eastern Ukraine. This comes as a significant piece of news as Avdiivka holds a key position in the ongoing conflict. The official confirmation came from the Russian Defense Ministry, with Minister Sergei Shoigu informing President Vladimir Putin about the capture of the city on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelensky has defended the decision to withdraw from Avdiivka. Speaking in Munich, he argued that it was the only viable choice in order to safeguard the lives of his soldiers, after years of ongoing battles for the control of this strategic industrial city. Avdiivka is situated just a few kilometers from Donetsk, and has been a battleground since 2014 when separatists initiated a war to separate the eastern region of the country from Ukraine.
The Russian forces have been trying to seize control of the city since October. In recent days, the Russian air force has escalated its efforts, intensively bombarding Ukrainian positions in the area. Despite the withdrawal, Zelensky refuses to label it as a defeat, emphasizing that his army put up a strong resistance for a prolonged period.
“Guiding Trump around the front line”
Zelensky has expressed concerns that a lack of weapons could potentially favor Russia. He voiced his fears that Putin might “destroy his country if Ukraine is left to fend for itself.” According to the Ukrainian president, the country’s soldiers are running out of ammunition due to the absence of crucial American aid. This is mainly because a support package of 60 billion dollars (around 55 billion euros) is currently being blocked by the supporters of ex-president Donald Trump in the House of Representatives.
In an interesting turn of events, Zelensky expressed his willingness to give Trump a tour of the front lines. He stated, “If Mr. Trump comes, I am willing to go to the front lines with him. There he can discover what a war means on the ground,”.
Zelensky recently had a telephone conversation with US President Biden, discussing the latest state of affairs. He conveyed his optimism that Congress will make a “wise decision” regarding the aid package.
German arms manufacturer produces ammunition in Ukraine
In a related development, it has been announced that German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall has entered into a deal with a Ukrainian company to produce artillery ammunition in the country, which has been at war with Russia for nearly two years. This development was announced on the sidelines of the Munich security conference.
Due to security reasons, details such as the name of the Ukrainian company, the location of the factory, and the start date of production have been kept under wraps. The company will be primarily German-owned with a 51 percent stake, and according to Rheinmetall director Armin Papperger, it will make a “significant contribution to Ukraine’s defense capabilities and enhance Europe’s security,”.
