‘Heroic defense of the Donbas’ holds Russia back
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday the Russians are trying to procure more troops and equipment to overcome unexpectedly tough resistance as “the absolutely heroic defense of the Donbas continues.”
While waiting for the longer-range rocket launchers and training promised by the United States and U.K, the Ukrainian army kept Russian forces from making any significant advances in that eastern region over the past day, Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address.
Speaking at a Financial Times Global Boardroom conference earlier in the day, Zelenskyy appealed for more of the type of weapons that could counter Russia’s missile strikes. “We are inferior in terms of equipment, and therefore we are not capable of advancing,” he said. “We are going to suffer more losses. And people are my priority.”
Zelenskyy also said sanctions have failed to deter Russia’s invasion and a stalemate in the war is “not an option for us.” He rejected talk of Ukraine yielding Crimea or the Donbas as part of any peace deal and chastised Western governments that might grow impatient because of the economic impact of the war.
“They are supporting Ukraine but also checking what can be done to weaken sanctions so business doesn’t suffer,” Zelenskyy said.
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Latest developments:
►The World Bank predicted Tuesday that the global economy will expand 2.9% this year, down from its 4.1% forecast in January and an even bigger dip from the 5.7% growth in 2021. The agency cited the war in Ukraine, the prospect of widespread food shortages and inflation as reasons for the downgrade.
►The U.S. military has begun training Ukrainian forces on the sophisticated rocket systems the Biden administration agreed last week to provide to better fend off the Russian attacks. About three weeks of training are expected to be required.
►Russia says it has opened a land route between Russia and occupied Crimea through the temporarily occupied southern oblasts of Ukraine. A land connection was a key goal of the invasion.
►Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Tuesday lost an appeal contesting the decision by penitentiary officials to label him as “inclined to commit crimes of a terrorist or extremist nature.”
►The International Skating Union extended the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions until further notice, ISU Director General Fredi Schmid said Tuesday.
US officials sail away with $325M, Russian-owned superyacht
U.S. authorities took command of a $325 million, Russian-owned superyacht and sailed it out of Fiji’s Lautoka harbor Tuesday after the South Pacific nation’s Supreme Court lifted a stay that had delayed the seizure. Fiji Chief Justice Kamal Kumar ruled that the chances of defense lawyers mounting a successful appeal were “nil to very slim.” He said the 348-foot yacht Amadea “sailed into Fiji waters without any permit and most probably to evade prosecution by the United States.”
The FBI has linked the yacht – featuring a lobster tank, swimming pool and helipad – to Russian…
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