THIRTY THOUSAND troops have been killed in Ukraine, claims Kyiv amid fears Putin is making gains in the Donbas - while West ups efforts to break grain blockade and 'avert global food crisis'
- Russia has lost 30,000 troops in Vladimir Putin's war, Ukraine has claimed
- The West is also working to break the Russian blockade on Ukrainian ports
- By releasing millions of tons of grain it's hoped a food crisis will be averted
- The PM spoke with President Zelensky on Saturday about the blockade
- Zelensky added they talked about 'strengthening defence support for Ukraine
%20(3).png)
The West is also working to break the Russian blockade on Ukrainian ports in order to stop a global food crisis by releasing millions of tons of grain.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke on Saturday morning with President Volodymyr Zelensky about international efforts to put a stop to the 'despicable blockade' of Odesa, Ukraine's major southern port on the Black Sea.
Zelensky said they spoke on the phone about 'strengthening defence support for Ukraine, intensifying work on security guarantees and supplying fuel'.
He added: 'We must work together to prevent a food crisis and unblock Ukrainian ports.'
The conversation between the leaders comes after Mr Johnson revealed this week that the West was supporting the Ukrainians to demine the Black Sea and reopen international shipping lanes.
Ukraine was known as the 'breadbasket of Europe' and was one of the world's largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil.
But the Russian invasion and Moscow's mining of the access to the southern ports has halted much of that flow, endangering world food supplies.
It came as Ukraine has admitted it may have to retreat from its last post in the Luhansk region as Russian forces continue their relentless march.
Putin's forces - now into their fourth month of the invasion - have concentrated on the east of the country in recent weeks.
Ukrainian soldiers leaving Luhansk will be a blow to the country, due to its symbolic significance in the war.
Putin wants both Luhansk and Donetsk regions in full and their capture was one of his earliest objectives in the deranged despot's so-called 'special military operation'.
Damaged buildings and tanks on the road in Lyman, which Russian forces have captured most of
Towed Russian artillery and self-propelled artillery batteries deployed along tree lines north of Lyman
Russian howitzers in firing positions north of Lyman on Friday. Lyman is a railway hub west of Severodonetsk
Ukraine has admitted it may have to retreat from its last post in the Luhansk region as Russian forces continue their relentless attacks in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine. Russian troops have entered Severodonetsk, the largest Donbas city still held by Ukraine, after trying to trap Ukrainian forces there for days
This morning Boris Johnson offered fresh support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
Zelensky (pictured via video link at the World Economic Forum on May 23) said he spoke on the phone with the PM about 'strengthening defence support for Ukraine, intensifying work on security guarantees and supplying fuel'
Giving details of the phone call between Johnson and Zelensky, a No 10 spokeswoman said: 'The leaders spoke about Putin's despicable blockade of Odesa, Ukraine's biggest shipping port.
'The Prime Minister outlined to President Zelensky the intensive work taking place with international partners to find ways to resume the export of grain from Ukraine to avert a global food crisis.
'He said that the UK would work with G7 partners to push for urgent progress.
'The leaders agreed next steps and the imperative for Russia to relax its blockade and allow safe shipping lanes.'
In an interview with Bloomberg on Friday, the Prime Minister said the Royal Navy would not be able to play any part in minesweeping the Black Sea, as the Montreux Convention restricts the movement of warships through the Turkish Straits.
But he said efforts were being made to aid Kyiv in finding solutions to the problem.
He said: 'I think there is an absolutely appalling situation, which is when so much of the world is facing food price inflation, if not actual shortages of food, caused by what's going on in Ukraine, caused by Putin's war of choice.
'He decided to invade Ukraine, he had no reason to do it and it is he who is making it difficult to get 25 million tons of grain from those Black Sea ports, particularly from Odesa.
'Twenty-five million tons is equivalent to the entire grain consumption of the poorest countries in the world, and we've got to get it out.'
Relatives, friends and comrades attend a funeral ceremony for Ukrainian serviceman Svyatoslav Khomenko in Kyiv, May 28
Ilona attends the funeral of her husband, Ukrainian serviceman Svyatoslav Khomenko, in Kyiv, May 28
Russia has suggested the blockade could be relaxed in return for international sanctions being eased but Mr Johnson said president Vladimir Putin was 'completely not to be trusted'.
The Prime Minister said the UK was looking to work with international partners to 'help the Ukrainians to demine the approaches to the harbour' in Odesa.
But he added: 'That will be something they have to do themselves.'
Downing Street confirmed that Mr Johnson and Mr Zelensky also spoke about the 'equipment' Kyiv's defenders need to battle against the 'barbaric' Russian onslaught in the Donbas.
In a tweet, Mr Zelensky confirmed they discussed 'strengthening defence support'.
The Kremlin's forces are making slow but steady gains in Ukraine's eastern industrial heartlands amid fears Russia will subject the same devastation to towns and cities in the region as was delivered on the battered southern port of Mariupol.
The fighting in Donbas is focused on two key cities: Sievierodonetsk and nearby Lysychansk.
Ukrainian people inspecting and taking photos of destroyed tanks at the area between the villages of Dmitrivka, Zabuchia, which is 27 kilometers from the center of Kyiv, Ukraine on May 27
A building torn apart after heavy Russian shelling in Mariupol, southeastern Ukraine, on May 27
Heavy machines work by a destroyed building in Mariupol, Ukraine on May 27
Burnt-out cars and truck littered the ground around buildings destroyed by Russian shells
They are the last areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk, one of two provinces that make up the Donbas and where Russia-backed separatists have already controlled some territory for eight years.
The governor of Luhansk, Serhiy Haidai, has warned that Ukrainian soldiers may have to retreat from Severodonetsk to avoid being surrounded.
Kyiv has warned the West that unless its troops are supplied with more advanced weapons, it will not be able to halt the Russian advance.
A Downing Street spokesman, detailing the rest of the conversation, said: 'The Prime Minister spoke about the importance of the international community continuing to work and act together, so that Ukraine succeeds and Putin fails.
'He also emphasised that countries have a duty to support Ukraine, both now and in the long-term, so that it is never in the position to be attacked again.'
Alleged war criminal Vladimir Putin has besieged Mariupol since the start of the war on February 24
Russia has stepped up its attacks in the Donbas region in the east of of Ukraine, an area that is more pro-separatist than the rest of the country
Luhansk's governor, Serhiy Gaidai, said Russian troops had entered Severodonetsk, the largest Donbas city still held by Ukraine, after trying to trap Ukrainian forces there for days, though adding that Russian forces would not be able to capture the Luhansk region 'as analysts have predicted'.
'We will have enough strength and resources to defend ourselves. However, it is possible that in order not to be surrounded we will have to retreat,' Gaidai said on Telegram.
Gaidai said 90 per cent of buildings in Severodonetsk were damaged with 14 high-rises destroyed in the latest shelling.
Russia's separatist proxies said they controlled Lyman, a railway hub west of Severodonetsk. Ukraine said Russia had captured most of Lyman but that its forces were blocking an advance to Sloviansk, to the southwest.
Ukraine's military said it had repelled eight attacks in Donetsk and Luhansk on Friday, destroying tanks and armoured vehicles.
President Zelensky said Ukraine was doing 'everything' to defend Donbas and protecting the country 'as much as our current defence resources allow'.
A view from damaged sites amid Russian attacks in Mariupol, Ukraine on May 27
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.