The latest news on the war between Russia and Ukraine | Wilnesh News

Ukrainian President Zelensky said in an evening speech that Russia’s defeat in the war was a matter of life and death for democracy.

“We have to be resilient to all challenges, we have to defeat Putin in the long term and not be in a position where doubts about Western power help this madman,” the president said wednesday night.

“Putin must lose — This is a matter of life and death for the democratic world. When he fails, the democratic world will have better prospects for generations to come,” he added.

Zelensky said he had earlier met with U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and that officials from both sides “had a very meaningful and very concrete conversation about defense cooperation and the common political outcomes that we have to achieve.”

According to Reuters, Sullivan said during a trip to Kyiv that a major US aid package worth $50 billion that Republicans have blocked for months will “arrive in Ukraine.”

— Holly Elliot

According to reports, an explosion occurred overnight in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. City officials said that at least 12 people were injured in the missile attack.

Missile fragments fell on a kindergarten in part of the city, and several industrial and residential buildings were damaged in other parts of the capital. Falling missile fragments shot down by Ukrainian air defenses set cars on fire in another area. Fires were reported at a substation and a two-story non-residential building in the Podolski district due to falling missile fragments.

“The number of victims increased to ten. Two of them were hospitalized. Others were treated by medical staff at the scene. In particular, six people were injured in the Shevchenkiv district of the capital. Four people were injured in Svyatoshensk.” Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram.

Chief of the Kiev Regional Military Administration Serhiy Popko The number of injured people was said to have risen to 12.

He said official information from the Ukrainian Air Force showed that Russia fired ballistic and cruise missiles at the city, but all 31 missiles were shot down over the city. He posted photos on his Telegram account showing burned cars, craters in the ground and damaged buildings. CNBC was unable to verify all of the information in the official’s post.

— Holly Elliot

A fire broke out in an industrial building in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Wednesday following Russian shelling, killing at least five people and injuring many others. Oleh Syniehubov, Director of the State Administration of the Kharkiv Region, shared the following data: telegraph.

CNBC could not independently verify the report.

Pictures released through Getty Images show the aftermath of the missile attack.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that he discussed Ukraine’s peace plan and bilateral relations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a post on social media platform

“It is very important for us to see India participating in the first peace summit that is currently being prepared in Switzerland,” he said.

Zelensky said Ukraine is keen to develop trade and economic relations with India.

“Ukraine is interested in strengthening trade and economic ties with India, especially in agricultural exports, aviation cooperation and trade in pharmaceuticals and industrial products,” he said.

Just hours after Russian media reported the incident Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Modi discuss UkraineAs well as their own trading relations remained close throughout the war.

——Sophie Kidlin

Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told CNBC that Ukraine’s victory over Russia in the war has become a matter of credibility for the United States.

“The success of Ukraine is now about the credibility of the United States. If the United States stops its support for Ukraine, I think America’s allies around the world will take notice and start hedging,” he told CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick on Tuesday.

Aid to Ukraine has become a hotly contested topic among U.S. lawmakers in recent months, with a plan to provide the country worth about $61 billion currently on hold in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Read the full story here.

——Sophie Kidlin

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Wednesday that Russia shot down 419 Ukrainian drones and 67 missiles during last weekend’s presidential election.

Shoigu said at the ministry meeting that “419 drones and 67 missiles were shot down during the election campaign.” According to Interfax news agency. Shoigu provided no evidence to support his claims.

“To prevent terrorist attacks, the Russian military has strengthened the security of government and social facilities and strengthened its air defense system,” Shoigu said.

Shoigu accused Ukraine of trying to disrupt the vote by targeting locations where voting would take place from Friday to Sunday. Russian media reported that Ukrainian drones have repeatedly attacked polling stations in some occupied areas of Ukraine. Including Kherson and Zaporozhye.

Russia announced in September 2022 that it would annex these regions, as well as Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. It has since worked to “Russify” the regions, including issuing Russian passports and holding elections there. Ukraine and its allies say such moves are illegal.

— Holly Elliot

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned on Tuesday that Ukraine’s survival was at risk amid an ongoing funding impasse in the U.S. Congress. He said providing additional aid to Ukraine was a matter of “honor” for the United States.

“Today, Ukraine’s survival is at risk, and America’s security is at risk. They don’t have a day to waste, and we don’t have a day to waste,” Austin said at a news conference after the Ukrainian leaders’ meeting. express. The Defense Contact Group met on Tuesday at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, with representatives from Ukraine and about 50 allied countries in attendance.

“I leave here today determined to ensure the unimpeded flow of U.S. security assistance and munitions. This is about Ukraine’s survival and sovereignty. This is about American honor and security. Make no mistake, Putin is watching. The world is watching. “We’re watching, history is watching,” Austin said. “

Poland’s foreign minister called on the United States to take action in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, warning that Ukraine’s success in its war with Russia now bears on U.S. credibility.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told CNBC on Tuesday: “If the US supplementary agreement is adopted, we will not be at a disadvantage and I once again call on Speaker Johnson to put it to a vote. Let democracy go smoothly It’s natural.”

— Holly Elliot

The Kremlin on Wednesday criticized the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to ban Russians from participating in the opening ceremony parade of this summer’s Paris Olympics.

“We have a negative view on this. Of course, it is a violation of the idea of ​​Olympism, it is a violation of the interests of athletes, Olympians. Of course, it absolutely goes against the entire ideology of the Olympic movement. This is not something the IOC It looks good,” Peskov told reporters. Interfax reported on Wednesday.

The International Olympic Committee announced on Tuesday that Russian and Belarusian athletes participating in the Olympics as neutral athletes from late July to early August will not be allowed to participate in the opening ceremonies of the games.

in a statementThe International Olympic Committee said it “will provide them with the opportunity to experience the event” but did not provide further details. It said it had not yet made a decision on participating in the closing ceremony.

— Min Madison