Photo: AP Photo/Emilio MorenattWhile Zelensky is calling on Ukrainians to resist the occupiers, Western allies are considering how to increase Ukraine's defense power in the long term. During that time, a high-ranking Russian general stated as the goal of the "second phase of the special operation" the "complete control" not only of the Donbass, but also of the south of Ukraine
"Everyone must defend themselves against the occupation at every opportunity," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenka said in one of his daily video addresses on Saturday night. Residents of areas that fall under Russian control should "make them as much trouble as possible."
Meeting at "Ramstein"
As fighting in eastern Ukraine heats up, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has invited the defense ministers and chiefs of the armed forces of 40 allied countries to come to Germany on Tuesday at the US base Ramstein. The only topic: the defense of Ukraine.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the US wants to start talks with its allies about the long-term defense of Ukraine. First of all, says Kirby, the Ukrainian army should be modernized and strengthened. Western allies should examine how their defense industries can help Ukraine in the long term.
The meeting will be held under the auspices of NATO.
If an agreement is reached, Ukraine would not formally join NATO, but its defense forces and military technology would be firmly tied to the Western military alliance, the West's political influence on Kiev, which Ukraine mostly aspires to, would be unquestionable.
Changing Russian strategy
On the other hand, an announcement comes from Moscow that the target of the Russian military offensive is not only the east, but also the south of Ukraine. Western commentators speak of a "change of strategy".
The goal of the "second phase" of the "special operation" is "complete control" of Donbass and southern Ukraine, General Rustam Minekayev, commander-in-chief of the Russian troops of the Central Military Base, told the TASS news agency.
Complete control of southern Ukraine would mean Russian occupation of the coast of both the Azov and Black seas. After the destruction of the port city of Mariupol, it could be the turn of Odessa. Without access to the sea, the economy of Ukraine would be castrated.
Minekayev stated that Russian troops would thus have access to and Transnistria, a pro-Russian area within neutral Moldova, where, according to the Russian general, "elements of oppression of the population whose mother tongue is Russian are also observed."
Under the pretext that the Ukrainian authorities are oppressing the Russian population in Donetsk and Luhansk, Russia militarily helped the pro-Russian local forces to de facto secede, in order to formally recognize the self-proclaimed independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics the day before the invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
Russia's military offensive in eastern Ukraine aims to expand its territory and secure a land corridor between Donbass and Crimea.
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