US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has intimated his conviction that Ukraine can win the war against its border neighbour, Russia.
He could not say how long the conflict would last, but insisted that Ukraine’s defeat was not inevitable. Mr. Blinken praised the “extraordinary resilience” of the Ukrainian people.
“If it’s the intention of Moscow to try somehow to topple the government and install its own puppet regime, 45 million Ukrainians are going to reject that one way or the other.”
US Secretary of State
According to the Secretary, the war has already not gone as Russian President, Vladimir Putin, might have planned. He averred stiff resistance by Ukrainian forces continue to hamper Russian advances across the country on the ninth day of the invasion.
In the south, Russian forces have captured areas along the Black Sea coast, and the port city of Mariupol remained surrounded. But the Governor of Mykolaiv said Russian troops have been driven out of the city. Ukraine’s second city of Kharkiv, in the north, also remained under siege.
Mr. Blinken made these revelations after meeting his European Union counterparts in Brussels at the start of a six-day trip in Europe.
He said the international community is committed to doing everything it could to help Ukraine and also to put “excruciating pressure on Russia to end this war of choice that Vladimir Putin started.”
When asked if he is convinced Ukraine could win the war against Russia, he said: “Over time, absolutely.”
“I can’t tell you how long this will go on. I can’t tell you how long it will take. But the idea that Russia can subjugate to its will 45 million people who are ardently fighting for their future and their freedom, that does not involve Russia having its thumb on Ukraine, that tells you a lot.”
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken
Mr Blinken also spoke about how concerned he was about the escalation of the war.
“It’s something we care about and are focused on because the only thing worse than a war which is contained to Ukraine is one that escalates even further and goes beyond it.”
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken
He signalled that Russian forces are using “increasingly brutal” methods against civilians in Ukraine, and that there has been tremendous human suffering as a result.
“We’re seeing Russia go after critical infrastructure that’s denying Ukrainians water, denying them electricity, denying them heat,” he said.
“Those methods are, unfortunately, tragically, part of the Russian playbook under President Putin. And I think we’re likely to see more of that.”
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken
Additionally, in responding to a question on whether the US would seek a change in Moscow’s leadership to bring an end to the invasion, he replied: “We don’t seek that, and in any event it’s not up to us. The Russian people need to decide their leadership.”
“What I would say to the Russian people is: How in the world is this war of aggression… advancing your interests, your needs?” Blinken asked.
What is the lastest development?
Russia’s Defence Ministry has announced a ceasefire to allow civilians in the besieged port city of Mariupol and the town of Volnovakha to evacuate. Mariupol’s Mayor, Vadim Boychenko says evacuations will begin at 0900 GMT.
The city of 450,000 people on the Azov Sea, which has suffered intense shelling, has been without electricity, food, water and heating for days in the depth of winter. Mariupol’s Mayor said the invasion by Russian troops have blockaded the city, as Moscow and Kyiv are set to hold new talks over the weekend.
Firing of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
A fire at Europe’s biggest nuclear power station at Zaporizhzhia has been put out, with Ukraine accusing Russia of “nuclear terror” in shelling the plant.
As it is, Russian troops are in control of the site of the reactors, which generate a fifth of Ukraine’s electricity, after firefighters said they were prevented from reaching the blaze for hours.
According to the United Nations, over one million Ukrainians have fled since the week the Russian invasion began. UN officials are warning that “at this rate” the exodus could become “the biggest refugee crisis this century”.
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