Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits wounded soldiers
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Russian President Vladimir Putin is “not ready to negotiate” and will seek a “complete victory” in Ukraine, a think tank has claimed. The Institute for the Study of War’s latest report on the fighting in Ukraine claims Putin still wants to take complete control of the country. It says Putin hasn’t changed his objectives and none of the “failures of his major military efforts” have convinced him to come to the negotiating table.
In its report, the ISW said: “The war will protract as long as Putin believes that he can impose his will on Ukraine by fighting or by breaking the Ukrainians’ will to fight following their abandonment by the West.”
But, it adds that “there is reason to expect that Ukrainian forces can, in fact, make gains through counteroffensives.”
The ISW’s claims come as Russia continues its onslaught on Ukrainian cities.
Journalist Nataliya Vasilyeva reported on Monday that two cities in southern Ukraine were hit with powerful explosions injuring several people.
In occupied Mariupol, the Russia-appointed police chief was among those injured after his car blew up
Vadym Boychenko, the city’s Ukrainian mayor in exile, said the attack was from resistance in Mariupol.
Meanwhile, in Melitopol, exiled mayor Ivan Fedorov reported that an attack hit a building that served as army barracks for the Russian forces. Local authorities said shelling caused the explosion, not a bomb.
Russia, meanwhile, has angered Western leaders after announcing it will station nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus.
A NATO spokesperson condemned Putin’s move, saying: “NATO is vigilant, and we are closely monitoring the situation.
“We have not seen any changes in Russia’s nuclear posture that would lead us to adjust our own.
“Russia’s reference to NATO’s nuclear sharing is totally misleading.
“NATO allies act with full respect of their international commitments.
“Russia has consistently broken its arms control commitments, most recently suspending its participation in the New START Treaty.”
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