Ukraine update: Biden promises new military aid to Ukraine

The essentials in brief:

• US announces new arms shipment
• Scholz: Probably not a fast fighter jet delivery to Ukraine
• South Korea pledges demining equipment to Ukraine
• Russia reports complete Bakhmut conquest – Kiev denies
• Wanted list outraged the Hague Criminal Court

US President Joe Biden has announced new military aid to Ukraine worth $375 million. The package includes ammunition, artillery and armored vehicles, said Biden at the conclusion of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan.

He assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a meeting on the sidelines of the summit that the United States was doing everything in its power to strengthen Ukraine’s defense against Russia. “Together with the entire G7, we stand behind Ukraine and I promise we will not turn our backs,” Biden told Zelenskyy. Russian President Vladimir Putin will not break this determination.

Pilot training on F-16 fighter jets?

At the meeting, Biden stressed the US’ willingness to help Ukraine build its long-term defense against Russian aggression and deterrence capabilities, the presidential office said. In addition, Biden has support for a joint effort with allies and partner countries to train Ukrainian pilots on modern Western F-16 fighter jets.

Biden said Zelenskyy had given him “unconditional assurances” that Ukraine would not use western-supplied F-16 jets to invade Russian territory. Zelenskyy said he was confident that Ukraine would receive F-16s from the West.

“A long-term project”

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced his country will begin training Ukrainian fighter pilots in the summer. However, Great Britain, like Germany, does not have the F-16 fighter jets desired by Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in Hiroshima that he sees the commitment of some Western countries to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets primarily as a political signal to Russia that the West will support Ukraine in the long term. He does not expect modern fighter jets to be delivered to Ukraine in the near future. “What is connected with the training of pilots is a long-term project,” Scholz said on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima. The USA has not yet finally decided “what will be at the end of the training”.

The project is initially a message to those who attacked Ukraine: Russia should not count on support for Ukraine decreasing as the war progresses, stressed the Chancellor. “The message remains: Russia must withdraw troops.”

During the summit of the seven leading democratic economies, the United States gave the green light for the training of fighter jet pilots. The project is supported by Great Britain, France, Belgium, Denmark and Portugal. Only at a later date will it be decided when and how many aircraft will be delivered and who will make them available. It’s all about American-made F-16 aircraft. Germany has so far shown no willingness to participate in the training.

Scholz emphasized that the Federal Republic is already doing a lot for Ukraine. Next to the USA, Germany is the biggest supporter of the country attacked by Russia in terms of financial, humanitarian and military aid. The Chancellor described the presence of the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj in Hiroshima as “very important”.

South Korea pledges demining equipment to Ukraine

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has pledged further aid to Ukraine. Yoon met his Ukrainian colleague Volodymyr Zelenskyj on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan on Sunday. Yoon promised the rapid delivery of goods that Ukraine needs, including mine clearance equipment and ambulances for the military, South Korean media report, citing the presidential office in Seoul.

It was the first meeting between the two presidents since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. South Korea participates in financial sanctions against Russia and provides humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Despite corresponding requests from Kiev, the East Asian country is not sending any weapons of war there.

According to the Presidential Office in Seoul, when he met Yoon, Selenskyj thanked him for his support to date. Both sides had agreed to work together to rebuild Ukraine after the war. South Korea stands behind the Ukrainians until peace is restored, Yoon assured.

Russia reports Bakhmut conquest – Kiev denies

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated his country’s troops on allegedly taking the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut completely. The Ministry of Defense in Moscow and the head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, had previously announced the conquest.

“That’s not true,” a spokesman for the Ukrainian armed forces stressed on Saturday. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maljar told Telegram on Sunday that Ukrainian forces had surrounded the besieged city along the flanks and continued to control a private sector of Bakhmut.

On the sidelines of the meeting with US President Joe Biden in Hiroshima, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not confirm Bakhmut’s case either. When asked by a reporter whether Bakhmut was under Russian control, he said, “I don’t think so.” Zelenskyy emphasized that the city was almost completely destroyed. There are no more buildings there and “a lot of dead Russians”. He further said: “It is a tragedy. Today, Bachmut is only in our hearts.”

Bakhmut is the scene of the longest and heaviest fighting since the Russian invasion 15 months ago. The city has a high symbolic value for both sides, while the strategic importance is considered limited.

Pope entrusts Cardinal Zuppi with peace mission

With a view to the Ukraine war, Pope Francis commissioned the Italian Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi with a peace mission. The head of the Catholic Church asked Zuppi “to help reduce tensions in the conflict in Ukraine,” a Vatican spokesman said. Francis has the hope that Zuppi’s mission “Paths to Peace” can initiate. The timetable and “modalities” of the mission are still under consideration.

Zuppi has been the President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference since last year. The 67-year-old comes from the Catholic community of Sant’Egidio, which specializes in diplomacy and peace efforts. A week ago, the Pope received the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj for a private audience at the Vatican.

Wanted list outraged the Hague Criminal Court

The International Criminal Court (ICC) reacted with sharp criticism to the appearance of its chief prosecutor on a Russian wanted list. “The ICC considers these measures unacceptable,” said the Hague-based court. “The court will not be swayed in exercising its rightful mandate to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes.”

A picture of the British ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan appeared in the database of the Russian Interior Ministry on Friday. No information was provided on the alleged crime for which Khan appeared on the wanted list. Khan issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin in March. The ICC accuses Putin of war crimes in connection with the alleged kidnapping of thousands of Ukrainian children from war zones.

“Fair Russia” supports Putin’s re-election

“Fair Russia” was the first Russian party to nominate Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin for re-election. At a party conference, leader Sergey Mironov announced that his party would not have its own candidate in the presidential election in March 2024 and would support Putin. In view of the war in Ukraine, the 70-year-old needs the “support of the whole people”.

So far, Putin, who has been in power for more than 20 years, has not yet officially declared his candidacy. However, most observers assume that he will compete again. There are no other applicants in sight.

wa/ack/kle/se/haz/qu (afp, dpa, rtr)

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