For Vololymyr Zelensky, the Maidan Square revolution was the Ukrainians’ “first counter-offensive” against Russia. In the decade of the uprising that led to the overthrow of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych by pro-European demonstrators, the Ukrainian head of state received a visit from the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in Kiev, in a gesture of solidarity from Brussels, 21 months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. And he took the opportunity to leave a request to the leaders of the 27 not to give Russia “an additional victory”, and in December did not approve the start of formal negotiations on EU enlargement.
‘We will follow the seven recommendations [feitas à Ucrânia pela Comissão Europeia] and I already see a positive response, and I hope so [os líderes da UE] do not give victory to the Russian Federation,” Zelensky urged at a press conference in the Ukrainian capital. The president had previously met Charles Michel together with Maia Sandu, the president of Moldova, who, like Ukraine, was given the status of a candidate to join the community bloc in mid-2022. Earlier this month, the European Commission recommended opening formal negotiations on the two countries’ accession to the EU. The final decision will be taken by the heads of state or government of the 27 countries. the European Council of 14 and 15 December.
Blockades could emerge at next month’s summit, especially from Hungary, which is skeptical of the expansion. Asked about this possibility, Zelensky said that “anyone can be an elephant in the room,” adding that he “trusts the EU” for this approval, which will “preserve the unity of the European continent.”
Charles Michel himself admitted that the December European Council will be “challenging”, but promised that he will do everything he can “to convince the 27 colleagues” of the “duty” to make progress towards the accession of Ukraine to the EU. The President of the European Council welcomed Kiev’s efforts to meet Brussels’ demands and recalled that the EU must also reform itself “to be ready for enlargement by 2030”.
Also in Kiev, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius was on a surprise visit in which he reaffirmed Berlin’s support for Ukraine and announced new military aid of 1.3 billion euros to Kiev, including four new systems of Iris – T SLM anti-aircraft guns. and artillery ammunition, which Ukraine urgently needs.
“I am here again, first and foremost to pledge additional support, but also to express our solidarity and our deep ties, as well as our admiration for the courageous struggle taking place here,” Pistorius said as he laid flowers at the Maidan. Square in the center of Kiev.
The Maidan Square uprising began on November 21, 2013, with a protest against then pro-Russian head of state Viktor Yanukovych for refusing to sign the Association Agreement with the European Union. Yanukovych preferred to remain under the influence of Russian head of state Vladimir Putin, which provoked demonstrations that were violently suppressed by the police. More than a hundred demonstrators died as a result of the protests.
In February 2014, street pressure forced Yanukovych to flee to Russia. Moscow responded with a military operation that resulted in the annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and the activation of separatist militias in the ‘Independent Republics of Eastern Ukraine’, where a war began between groups loyal to Moscow and the Ukrainian army for control over territory.
More than ten thousand civilians died
More than 10,000 civilians have been killed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, with almost half of the most recent deaths occurring far from the front lines, the UN Office for Human Rights said yesterday. But the United Nations mission in Ukraine, which has dozens of observers across the country, admits the figures are likely to be “significantly higher”.
Fighting continues on the ground and during the night a Russian drone and missile operation hit a hospital and a mining building, killing two and wounding eight in the Donetsk region. The Ukrainian air force also reported intercepting nine of 10 drones launched by Russia, as well as an Iskander cruise missile. Moscow also fired four guided missiles, according to Kiev.
On the other hand, Russian Defense Minister Serguei Shoigu said yesterday that his forces are repelling “all Ukrainian landing operations” on the occupied bank of the Dnieper River, where Kiev announced advances.
Kiev launched a counter-offensive in June, but the Ukrainian army only managed to recapture a few villages in the south and east. Last week, Ukraine claimed to have taken positions on the left bank of the Dnieper, citing “heavy fighting” and “strong resistance” from Russia. with agencies
Source: DN
