US and Ukrainian Presidents Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky discussed Washington's support for Kiev, new US sanctions against Russia and strengthening Ukraine's air defenses last night, Zelensky said, quoted by Reuters and BTA.
On the social network “Ex“ Zelensky thanked Biden for his support for Ukraine during the nearly three-year war with Russia and for the “vital role played by the US in uniting the international community“.
Zelensky said that he and Biden discussed new US sanctions against the Russian energy sector and the Russian “shadow fleet“ of tankers that “help (Russian President Vladimir) Putin finance the war“.
“He must feel the price of his war, seeing its direct impact on his pocket“, Zelensky wrote. “These measures deal a significant blow to the financial basis of the Russian military machine, disrupting its entire supply chain“, he added.
Furthermore, Zelensky thanked Britain for imposing sanctions on Russian oil companies, saying that London “puts another significant obstacle to Putin's ability to finance his aggression“.
Zelensky added that he and Biden discussed the need to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses “to protect life in Ukrainian cities and villages from Russian terror“. According to him, the US-supplied Patriot anti-aircraft missiles have proven their effectiveness.
“It is now clear that President Putin's war against Ukraine is a disaster for Russia. Because of the courage and determination of the Ukrainian people and because of the support of the United States, Russia has failed to achieve any of its strategic goals in Ukraine“, the White House said in a statement released after the conversation between Zelensky and Biden.
The Ukrainian battalion "Azov" intends to recruit English-speaking foreigners to its ranks, the British publication "Guardian" reports, quoted by BNR.
Their decision comes in anticipation of Donald Trump's term as president of the United States. Trump is likely to cut or reduce US military aid to Ukraine, which will complicate the situation on the front line.
The notorious battalion, which has nationalist roots and is often the target of Russian propaganda, is planning to form an international unit. Its goal will be to increase the number of soldiers just as the war enters its fourth year.
Foreigners who want to join the ranks of "Azov" will have to go through a selection process, including a psychological evaluation and a polygraph test to determine whether they are working undercover for Russian special forces. Their training will last two to three months, even for those with military experience. After that, they could join infantry units.
From the start of the war until December last year, 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died in the conflict. According to intelligence estimates, the number of Russians killed is about three times higher than the number of Ukrainians killed.