Day 362 since the beginning of the war: US President Biden surprisingly arrives in Kiev and assures Ukraine of additional support. Arms deliveries to Russia could well have consequences for China. All information in the news blog.
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Biden announces new military aid to Ukraine
12:15 p.m.: Shortly before the first anniversary of the Russian attack on Ukraine, US President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Kiev. As reported by AFP journalists, Biden met his Ukrainian colleague Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday. The US President assured Zelenskyy of his country’s “unwavering” support and announced further arms deliveries, the White House said. Read more about it here.
China’s top diplomat holds talks in Moscow
10:33 am: China’s top diplomat Wang Yi wants to hold talks in Moscow on Monday about a possible peace settlement for Ukraine. That’s what a diplomatic source familiar with the process said. The Russian newspaper Kommersant had previously reported that Wang had already arrived. The Chinese Foreign Ministry declined to comment, as did the Russian Foreign Ministry.
At the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Wang Yi announced that China would present a proposal for possible peace talks. He had held numerous talks with European governments and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Munich. He in turn warned Beijing against providing military support to Russia in the war. Wang Yi is expected to meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban in Budapest on Monday afternoon.
China has not yet condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022 or called it an “invasion” – although Wang Yi himself has repeatedly pointed out the necessary territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. A former foreign minister, he is now director of the office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee – making him the country’s top diplomat.
Japan is planning a special switch for February 24th
10.30 a.m.: The Japanese G7 Presidency has scheduled a special meeting of the heads of state and government of the most important western industrialized countries for the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24th. This was announced by Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The G7 includes Japan, the US, Canada, Italy, France, the UK and Germany.
London: Offensive failure puts pressure on Kremlin
9.57 a.m.: According to British intelligence experts, a failure of the Russian offensive in Ukraine could increase tensions in the Russian leadership. This emerged from the daily intelligence update on the Ukraine war from the Ministry of Defense in London on Monday.
Accordingly, Russia is still on the offensive on several front sections, including in the eastern Ukrainian cities of Bakhmut and Wuhledar – sometimes with high losses. According to the British, two elite Russian units had been wiped out in Wuhledar to such an extent that they were no longer operational.
The Russian military is under pressure to present achievements on the anniversary of the start of the war on February 24, the statement said. If the spring offensive does not achieve anything, this will probably increase tensions in the Russian leadership.
Research Institute: War costs Germany more than 100 billion euros
9 clock: The President of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), Marcel Fratzscher, expects the Ukraine war to continue to increase costs for the German economy and high growth losses. “The Ukraine war and the associated explosion in energy costs cost Germany almost 2.5 percent or 100 billion euros in economic output in 2022. These costs will continue to grow in the coming years,” said Fratzscher of the “Rheinische Post” (Monday ).
