KYIV: Russia launched a uncommon drone and missile assault on western Ukraine in a single day, officers stated Thursday (Aug 21), hanging targets together with a US-owned electronics plant and injecting additional uncertainty into the efforts to end the war.
The aerial assault on part of Ukraine that has largely prevented such centered assaults was certainly one of Russia’s largest this 12 months and got here amid Moscow’s objections to key elements of proposals that would finish the preventing following Russia’s February 2022 invasion of its neighbour.
US President Donald Trump mentioned the struggle with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska final week earlier than internet hosting the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the White Home.
In a social media publish on Thursday, Trump criticised his predecessor, Joe Biden, for not offering Ukraine with extra weaponry it must “combat again.”
“It is extremely arduous, if not unimaginable, to win a struggle with out attacking an invaders nation,” Trump stated. “It’s like an incredible staff in sports activities that has a improbable defence, however just isn’t allowed to play offensive. There is no such thing as a probability of profitable! It’s like that with Ukraine and Russia.”
MULTIPLE ATTACKS ON UKRAINE THIS WEEK
Russia has fired almost 1,000 long-range drones and missiles at Ukraine since Monday’s White Home talks, based on Ukrainian tallies.
European international locations are discussing how they’ll deploy navy property to discourage any postwar Russian assault on Ukraine. However the Kremlin gained’t settle for the deployment of any troops from NATO international locations, and Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov stated Wednesday that making safety preparations for Ukraine with out Moscow is pointless.
Putin is able to meet with Zelenskyy to debate peace phrases, Lavrov stated Thursday, however solely after key points have been labored out by senior officers in what may very well be a protracted negotiating course of as a result of the 2 sides stay far aside.
Ukrainian and European leaders have accused Putin of stalling within the peace efforts within the hopes that his larger military, which has been making sluggish advances, can seize extra Ukrainian land.
“AS IF NOTHING WERE CHANGING AT ALL”
Russia launched 574 drones and 40 ballistic and cruise missiles in a single day, the Ukrainian Air Power stated. The assault largely focused western areas of the nation the place a lot of the navy help offered by Ukraine’s Western allies is believed to be delivered and saved. The strikes killed no less than one particular person and injured 15 others, based on officers.
Zelenskyy condemned the assault amid the push for peace, saying it was carried out “as if nothing had been altering in any respect.”
A US electronics plant close to the Hungarian border was struck, based on Andy Hunder, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine. The Flex manufacturing unit is among the largest American investments in Ukraine, Hunder instructed The Related Press.
In the meanwhile of impression, 600 evening shift employees had been on the premises, and 6 had been injured, Hunder stated. Russian assaults on Ukraine because it launched its invasion have broken property belonging to greater than half of the chamber’s roughly 600 members, he added
“RUSSIA IS NOT LOOKING FOR PEACE”
“The message is obvious: Russia just isn’t in search of peace. Russia is attacking American enterprise in Ukraine, humiliating American enterprise,” Hunder stated.
Russia’s Defence Ministry stated the strikes focused “enterprises of the Ukrainian military-industrial advanced.” It claimed the assault hit drone factories, storage depots and missile launch websites, in addition to areas the place Ukrainian troops had been gathered. Russia has repeatedly denied focusing on civilian areas of Ukraine.
Within the western metropolis of Lviv, one particular person was killed and three had been injured because the assault broken 26 residential buildings, a kindergarten and administrative buildings, regional head Maksym Kozytskyi wrote on Telegram. The regional prosecutor’s workplace stated three Russian cruise missiles with cluster munitions struck town.
Moscow has proven no indicators of pursuing significant negotiations to finish the struggle, Zelenskyy stated. He urged the worldwide group to reply with stronger stress on Moscow, together with harder sanctions and tariffs.
In feedback Wednesday that had been embargoed till Thursday, Zelenskyy stated plans for safety ensures will grow to be clearer by the top of subsequent week. He stated he then expects to be prepared to carry direct talks with Putin for the primary time for the reason that full-scale invasion.
The talks may be performed in a trilateral format alongside Trump, Zelenskyy stated.
A venue for the assembly is being mentioned, and Switzerland, Austria and Turkey are potentialities, Zelenskyy added.
Ukraine, in the meantime, has stored up its assaults with domestically produced long-range drones on infrastructure inside Russia that helps Moscow’s struggle effort. Amongst different targets, it has hit oil refineries, and Russian wholesale gasoline costs have reached document highs in current days.
