Russian invasionRussian reactions

  

 

Russian invasionRussian reactions  

Putin makes rare visit to Belarus - first time in over three years: "Wondering why"  

 

Vladimir Putin is making a rare visit to Belarus and leader Aleksandr Lukashenko on Monday. It is his first visit to the country in over three years, writes Bloomberg.  

 

The BBC's Russia editor Steve Rosenberg notes that all previous meetings between Putin and Lukashenko in 2021 and 2022 – a total of twelve – have been held in Russia. 

 

"The pattern is broken. I wonder why," he writes on Twitter.  

 

During the meeting, the countries state that the leaders will, among other things, discuss the economy and "the military-political situation around our countries". Lukashenko is one of the few leaders in the world who supports the Russian invasion. So far, however, Belarus has not participated with its own soldiers in the war. 

 

Gerasimov on the left. Mikhail Metzel / AP 

 

The Russian InvasionThe Battles

Source: US kept top Russian general's frontline visit a secret  

 

Early in the Russian invasion, the US received information that Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov visited one of the front lines, but chose not to tell Ukraine. This is stated by American sources for the New York Times.  

 

The decision to keep his position secret was based on American concerns that the situation would escalate and move towards a larger war between the United States and Russia if Gerasimov were killed. Ukraine nevertheless knew about the visit and carried out the attack despite American calls to desist.  

 

Several Russians are said to have been killed, but Gerasimov was not one of them. Ukrainian sources early stated that he had been killed, while later reports suggested that he had been injured by shrapnel. Gerasimov was seen as recently as yesterday during a meeting with President Putin.  

 

 

An empty and subdued Kyiv. Felipe Dana / AP  

 

The Russian InvasionThe Battles  

Electricity back in large parts of Ukraine after attacks 

 

Ukraine has managed to restore the electricity supply to almost six million people after Friday's widespread attacks on critical infrastructure, President Zelensky announced according to Reuters. 

 

- We still have problems with heat supply, and major problems with access to water, he adds.  

 

Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klytchko says that a quarter of the capital still lacks heat but that public transport has started. Volodymyr Zelensky. Screenshot from the speech 

" Power plant in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Michael Sohn / AP  

Russian invasionVictims of war 

"Ridiculous" large energy bill for Europe: 10,400 billion 

 

Europe's energy costs have increased by approximately 1,000 billion dollars in the wake of Russia's war in Ukraine, which is equivalent to 10,400 billion kroner. And the deepest crisis in decades has only just begun, writes Bloomberg. 

 

- When you add everything together - rescue packages, subsidies - it's a ridiculously large sum, says Martin Devenish, director of the consulting company S-RM. 

 

Bloomberg's calculation is based on market data and is in line with the think tank Bruegel's estimate earlier this month. About half of the EU's member states have a debt that exceeds 60 percent of GDP, the news agency notes.

 

Russian invasionUkraine's response 

 

Ukraine publishes speech that Fifa does not want to show at the final: "Peace must be champion"  

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine publishes the speech of President Volodymyr Zelenskyi that Fifa does not want to show before the World Cup final. In a final plea, the country urges Fifa to still show the video clip before kick-off.  

 

In the clip, Zelenskyy says that the World Cup is a good opportunity for countries to settle "on the green field, not on the red battlefield".  

 

- The war must fail and peace must become the champion, says Zelensky in the clip. 

 

He continues: 

 

- Please support Ukraine and our work to restore peace [...] Let's watch the final and the end of the war together. 

 

Earlier this week, CNN reported that Ukraine asked to show a speech before kick-off at the World Cup final, but that Fifa said no. Shortly after the final began, the Ukrainian government tweeted the message: "Regardless of who wins, Fifa has already lost.