The Russian invasion. The outside world's response

Ursula von der Leyen/an elderly woman in Kyiv. TT 

 

The Russian invasion. The outside world's response  

Concerns within the EU: "Ukraine is told that everything is possible"

 

High-ranking EU diplomats warn against giving Ukraine unrealistic expectations of a quick entry into the union, writes the Financial Times. 

 

- No political leader wants to be on the wrong side of history [...] No one wants to be blamed for not doing enough. So they tell them that anything is possible, an EU source told the newspaper.  

 

In the days, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy receives the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the European Council Charles Michel.  

 

While some EU countries in Central and Eastern Europe have praised Ukraine's demands for membership, other countries are worried about how the large, relatively poor and mainly agriculturally dependent country can be integrated into the cooperation.  

 

One of the key issues for Ukrainian membership is the issue of corruption. Ahead of the summit, Zelenskyy promises social, legal and political "reforms" for increased transparency and efficiency, according to Reuters.  

 

 

Russian invasionUkraine's response  

Anti-corruption surcharge against oligarchs and ex-ministers  

 

Several coordinated raids linked to suspected corruption have taken place in Ukraine on Wednesday, writes AFP. 

 

A residence belonging to the oligarch Igor Kolomoiskyj has been searched, as well as the home of former interior minister Arsen Avakov. 

 

In January, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi promised to crack down on corruption within the state apparatus. A long line of top politicians were forced out, including ministers. 

 

Ukrainian soldiers in eastern Ukraine. Andriy Dubchak / AP  

 

The Russian InvasionThe Battles  

Sources: Spain to send tanks to Ukraine  

 

Spain plans to send four to six German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, writes El País.  

 

The number is determined by the condition of the tanks and how many other countries will contribute to Ukraine, government sources told the newspaper. 

 

At the same time, the Financial Times writes today that Italy will join forces with France to send the advanced SAMP-T air defense system to Ukraine.  

 

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said yesterday that it expects to receive 120-140 tanks from 12 Western countries in a first wave of support. 

 

Russian soldier in Donetsk/Bachmut has been heavily bombed. TT  

 

The Russian InvasionThe Battles  

Bachmut is under heavy pressure – paratroopers are said to have joined the Wagner group  

 

The fighting near the town of Bachmut in Donetsk intensifies. An adviser within the Russian-appointed occupation regime in eastern Ukraine states that the disputed city is "operationally surrounded", writes Reuters. The Russian forces are now said to be fighting to take control of the road connecting Bachmut with nearby Chasiv Yar. The information is not confirmed. 

 

A Belarusian volunteer fighting on the side of Ukraine stated yesterday that Russia is constantly shelling the city with artillery. CNN writes, citing Ukrainian information, that Russian airborne forces with paratroopers have joined the paramilitary Wagner Group in the area. 

 

- They are not as willing to die as the men of the Wagner group. Therefore, they act with greater caution. They are still dying, just not in the same numbers, says Maksym Zhorin, former commander of the Ukrainian Azov Battalion, on Telegram.  

 

The think tank ISW writes in its latest report that it is not expected that Bachmut will fall soon, but that Ukrainian forces may choose to withdraw rather than risk heavy losses.