Within three months, the Russia has taken control of about 20% of Ukrainian territory. This was stated by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, in his speech to the Luxembourg parliament, specifying that "2.603 settlements must be freed from Russian forces". According to the latest updates Russia would have under her control, in addition to Crimea, also the city of Sevastopol and some important areas of the regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kharkiv, kherson, Zaporizhia (Kiev is considering whether to close the nuclear plant) e Severodonetsk it would now be close to falling (80% already in the hands of Russian forces). Obviously, in the event of a Ukrainian counter-offensive, these territories could return to Kiev's control in the future, but with regard to Donbass and Crimea, the Kremlin has been clear, making it clear that it has no intention of negotiating on these territories.
The Ukrainian president also accused Moscow of deporting Ukrainian citizens to Russia, including "over 200 children" including "orphans, children with parents and children separated from their families". "Russia is also pursuing a criminal policy of deporting our people. Forcibly deports both adults and children. This is one of war crimes most despicable committed by Russia,” concluded Zelensky.
Putin-Zelensky meeting, Moscow does not rule it out
A face to face between the two presidents is not excluded "a priori". The Russian spokesman reiterated this Dmitry Peshkov, recalling that the meeting should serve to sign an agreement between the two countries, the work of which however has been interrupted for some time. "A priori, nobody rules out such a match, it has never been ruled out, but it has to be prepared," Peskov said. It makes sense that Putin and Zelensky would only meet to finalize a document. And work on the document was stopped a long time ago and hasn't been resumed since."
OnGrain exports from Black Sea ports, Peskov said, there is still no agreement, reiterating that Russia "does not prevent exports but it is Kiev that poses obstacles". “Indeed, we are potentially on the verge of a very, very deep food crisis, associated with the introduction of absolutely illegal restrictions, restrictions against one of the main world suppliers, that is, us – Peskov underlined – and associated with the actions of the Ukrainian authorities, which have undermined the approaches to the ports of the Black Sea and, consequently, do not allow grain to leave there, despite the fact that the Russian Federation does not prevent this at all".
Moscow points the finger at the US: "They add fuel to the fire"
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting between Russia and the United States. After the announcement by the American president, Joe Biden, to supply Kiev with "more advanced" missile systems to hit "strategic targets", Moscow replied "'Washington throws more fuel on the fire". These are the Himars missiles, with a range of 80 kilometers. These will be joined by British M270 long-range missile systems.
While as far as Europe is concerned, Moscow does not intend to "close the door," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding: "We have no intention of closing anything." Despite the go-ahead for the sixth package of European sanctions approved during the extraordinary European Council, even if Patriarch Kirill was removed from the blacklist.
