Zelenskyy says defenses are holding firm against Russia’s summer push
By Hanna Arhirova, Associated Press
Kyiv, Ukraine (AP) – The Ukrainian forces retain the concerted summer push of Russia to break the defenses along the parts of the front line, said the president of Ukraine, Volodyr Zelenskyy.
“They don’t move forward. It’s very difficult for our guys there. And it’s difficult everywhere,” Zelenskyy told journalists on Thursday in embargoes until Friday. “It’s also very difficult for Russians – and it’s good for us.”
With the war now in its fourth year after the invasion of Russia in February 2022 of its neighbor, the effort is to empty resources on both sides, although Russia has more resources and people to maintain its fight. Ukraine requests additional support from Western partners.
Russia has claimed the capture of certain villages and hamlets in recent weeks, but no stronger defensive urban area has come across its troops.
Russian sabotage and recognition groups have repeatedly tried to stage minor incursions near Pokrovsk in the Eastern region of Donetsk to film symbolic images, as raising a Russian flag, but Ukrainian forces have rejected these efforts, said Zelenskyy.
“This has occurred five to seven times recently, sometimes with only two or six people. Once, they tried to hold a position with 12 people – and all were eliminated by our defenders,” said Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy has described the situation in the northeast border region of Sumy as “much better” than in recent months, noting the progress of the Ukrainian forces in the last six weeks.
Ukraine wants 10 patriotic missile systems
Russia has also intensified its bombing of Ukrainian cities, the second largest city that Kharkiv struck with a powerful glide bomb for a second consecutive day on Friday. Seven people were injured, officials said. Thursday, 42 were injured.
Joyce Msuya, United Nations humanitarian leader, told the Security Council on Friday that Ukraine’s humanitarian situation “deteriorates” due to the widening of Russian attacks against civil zones across the country.
“There is no security location in Ukraine, she said.
Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is working with international partners to obtain 10 American -made air defense systems, which can shoot missiles, with three already confirmed from Germany and Norway.
The Trump administration will sell systems, he said, but Ukraine’s task is to find funding for 10. Each system costs more than a billion dollars.
Ukraine also seeks to obtain a license to manufacture Patriot itself.
Kremlin does not say a meeting at the top in sight
The Ukrainian leader expressed little hope of progress in direct talks between delegations of Russia and Ukraine, although he said that the Kremlin envoys had started to discuss the possibility of a summit of leaders with Ukraine.
“We need an end of war, which probably starts with a meeting of leaders. It will not work otherwise with (the Russians),” said Zelenskyy.
The Kremlin, however, remained against higher level talks before a complete potential peace agreement was fleshed out.
“A high-level meeting can and must put an end to the regulations and seal the terms and agreements that have not yet been drawn up by experts,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. “It is impossible to act differently.”
Zelenskyy says that the protests on the Anti-Greffe Street were “legitimate”
In domestic policy, Zelenskyy said that public demonstrations against changes earlier this week at Ukraine’s anti-corruption law were “legitimate”. Changes have threatened the independence of anti-grafting dogs and have also attracted warmer warming from European Union and international rights groups, which has prompted Zelenskyy to propose new legislation to restore the independence of anti-graft agencies.
“It is very important that society speaks. I respect the opinion of society,” said Zelenskyy. “People asked for changes. We answered. “
The demonstrators gathered for the third day Thursday evening, but attracted a smaller crowd.
He said that these agencies were to be “really independent”, adding that “the most important thing in this war is the unity of our state. It is essential not to lose unity ”.
However, the risk remains now that the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian Parliament, will not be able to approve the new bill, which could bring even greater crowds in the streets. Zelenskyy expressed his confidence that he would spend a vote scheduled for July 31.
“The most important thing right now is that the bill exists. It has been recorded. I think it will receive enough votes. I want it to happen,” he said.
Farnoush Amiri in New York contributed.
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