Military situation:
When places in the war zone in eastern Ukraine were shelled, people were again injured or killed. In the Kharkiv region, the authorities said three people were killed and five wounded by Russian attacks on Thursday. According to the authorities, two people died and eight were injured in the towns of Kramatorsk and Avdiivka in the Donetsk region. Russian attacks only hit civilian targets, said the region’s governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko.
Since Russia took control of the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk, the focus of fighting has shifted to neighboring Donetsk. The Russian army is particularly targeting the cities of Kramatorsk and Slowjansk. At the meeting with the Duma faction leaders, Putin said that all the goals of the “military operation” would be achieved – “without a doubt”.
Political situation:
Ukrainian President Selenskyj demanded further arms deliveries from the West in the war against Russia. “The greater the defense assistance to Ukraine now, the sooner the war will end with our victory and the less the losses of all countries in the world will be,” he said in a video message. The partners have accurate information about Ukraine’s needs. “This applies to both air defense and modern artillery.”
Kremlin chief Putin again accused the West of wanting to fight “to the last Ukrainian”. “This is a tragedy for the Ukrainian people.” Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak sharply denied this. Putin’s mantra of “war to the last Ukrainian” is further evidence of Russia’s planned “genocide” of the Ukrainians, Podoljak wrote on Twitter. Putin uses “primitive propaganda”.
The demand by the CDU and CSU to deliver 200 Fuchs armored personnel carriers to Ukraine at short notice did not find a majority in the Bundestag. On Friday night, Parliament voted against a corresponding motion for a resolution by the Union faction. Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) had already warned in the run-up to the vote that the Bundeswehr would be “looted”. “We support Ukraine with everything that is possible and responsible. But we have to ensure Germany’s ability to defend itself,” she told the German Press Agency.
The Bundestag had previously decided on measures to accelerate procurement in order to quickly improve the Bundeswehr’s equipment. The law passed on Thursday evening will initially make it possible to award orders more quickly for three and a half years. In this way, various orders can be placed together and joint projects with other EU countries can be implemented more easily.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi called for the end of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine at the start of the G20 foreign ministers’ consultations on the island of Bali. “Our responsibility is to end the war as soon as possible. And to build bridges and not walls,” said the politician.
Shortly before, she had cautiously greeted the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on his arrival at the luxury hotel Mulia in the seaside resort of Nusa Dua.
Outlook: That will be important on Friday
The war in Ukraine is likely to be one of the most important topics at the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Bali. For the first time since the beginning of the war, Russia’s Foreign Minister Lavrov is present at such a conference. The Ukraine war and the energy crisis will also occupy the Federal Council.
In view of the throttling of Russian gas supplies, the state chamber wants to advise on the increased use of coal-fired power plants for electricity production. The Bundestag will also decide this Friday on Germany’s approval of Sweden and Finland joining NATO. The move by Sweden and Finland is a direct response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Also Read: Ukraine Update July 7 – Massive Attacks in Donetsk, Putin Threatens West – What Happened Today
