Ukraine news: According to the Kremlin, Putin in Cherson and Luhansk

The essentials in brief:

• Kremlin: Putin visits Kherson and Luhansk
• Washington modernizes Turkish fighter jet fleet
• US rejects accusations of prolonging the war in Ukraine
• Criticism of the Swiss attitude to the Ukraine war

According to official information, Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited military headquarters in occupied parts of the Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Luhansk. In Cherson, Putin took part in a command meeting, the Presidential Office in Moscow said. Commanders of the airborne troops and the army group “Dnieper” as well as other high-ranking officers informed Putin about the situation in the southern Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Zaporizhia annexed by Russia.

The Kremlin chief also visited the headquarters of the National Guard in the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk, which was also illegally annexed by Russia last year. It was not announced when the troop visits took place.

US to modernize Turkish Air Force

The US is accommodating with Turkey’s desire to modernize its air force, but remains against the sale of new F-16 fighter jets. The chairmen of the US congressional committees have given the green light for a renewal of the existing Turkish F-16 jets, it said in Washington. President Joe Biden will approve the modernization of the Turkish F-16.

On the other hand, Congress remains opposed to Turkey’s request to buy billions of dollars worth of new F-16s. Approval for modernization follows Ankara’s yes to Finland joining the NATO military alliance. According to observers, the political détente between Turkey and Greece also played a role.

First a yes to Sweden joining NATO

Congress circles also said that in order to be able to buy new F-16s, Ankara still had to agree to Sweden joining NATO. In addition, Turkey must refrain from a threatened invasion of Kurdish areas in northern Syria and comply with the sanctions against Russia.

After decades of military non-alignment, in May 2022 Sweden, under the impression of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, applied together with Finland for NATO membership. While neighboring Finland was able to join on April 4 with the approval of all member countries, Sweden is still waiting for the green light from Turkey and Hungary.

“Brazil parrots propaganda”

The United States has sharply denied Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s accusation that it is prolonging the Ukraine war. “In this case, Brazil is parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda without even looking at the facts,” US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. Lula’s comments on the Ukraine war are “deeply problematic”.

During a visit to China at the weekend, the Brazilian President called on the United States to end military support for Ukraine. The United States must “stop promoting war and start talking about peace,” said the left-wing politician.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauricio Vieira reiterated his country’s interest in a peaceful solution and criticized the international sanctions against Russia. Such measures would have a negative impact on the economies of developing countries in particular, Vieira said during a visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to the capital Brasilia. As one of the world’s leading agricultural producers, the country depends on fertilizers from Russia.

Criticism of Swiss neutrality

Prior to a visit by Federal President Alain Berset to Berlin, SPD foreign policy expert Michael Roth accused Switzerland of playing into the hands of Russia by adopting a neutral stance in the Ukraine war. “Anyone who wants to be neutral in such a criminal war of aggression indirectly benefits the Russian aggressor,” Roth told the editorial network Germany. In this respect he was “very disappointed” in Switzerland.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz receives Berset this Tuesday at the Chancellery. According to the German side, one of the topics should be the Russian war of aggression. Switzerland’s no to passing on ammunition manufactured there to the Ukraine should be discussed. Switzerland justifies this with its neutrality. Those who order war material there sign an obligation not to pass it on to warring parties. The government rejected a request from Germany, Denmark and Spain for an exception.

jj/fab/se/wa (afp, rtr, dpa)

This article will be continuously updated on the day of its publication. Reports from the combat zones cannot be independently verified.