Image Credit:President Of Ukraine
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged that the Israel-Gaza war is diverting international attention from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He suggested that Russia's intention is to weaken the focus on Ukraine, as they continue their full-scale invasion of the country since February 2022. Despite recent concerns about a stalemate in the conflict, Zelensky denied this and emphasized that Ukraine was not in a static position. He admitted that Russia's control of the skies necessitated the urgent acquisition of US-made F-16 warplanes and advanced anti-aircraft defenses.
The situation has raised concerns about war fatigue among Western allies supporting Ukraine, with some capitals becoming reluctant to provide advanced weapons and funds. Zelensky clarified that there was no pressure from EU or US leaders to negotiate with Russia at this time. He pointed out that, despite past discussions of a stalemate, Ukraine has achieved major military victories in different regions.
In response, Moscow rejected the notion of a stalemate, insisting that all their war goals must be achieved, while President Putin's spokesman asserted that talking about Kyiv's victory on the battlefield was absurd. The UK defense intelligence reported significant losses for Russia in its assaults on the town of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, further highlighting the ongoing turmoil in the region, although these claims remain unverified.
