7:31pm
Hungary: ‘Kiev irresponsible in blaming Russia’
The Hungarian government believes that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is setting “a bad example” by claiming that the missile that killed two people in a Polish village near the border with Ukraine is Russian. “In such a situation, world leaders express themselves responsibly,” Gergely Gulyas, chief cabinet of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, told the press. But “the Ukrainian president, by accusing the Russians right away, made a mistake, he set a bad example”, he added, welcoming on the contrary the cautious attitude of Poland and the United States.
7:28 pm
Zelensky to China: “Don’t choose to stay with Russia”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeals to China not to “choose to be with Russia”.
7:27pm
Pentagon: ‘Striking power lines is a war crime’
“Attacking Ukraine’s power lines is a war crime.” Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and joint chief of staff Mark Milley said this at a press conference at the end of the contact group. “The Russians will continue to wage war throughout the winter and we will continue to support Kiev,” they added.
7:27pm
Pentagon: “Russia has lost operationally, strategically and tactically”
Russia “embarked on a tremendous strategic blunder” by invading Ukraine. This was stated by the head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, underlining that Russia “has lost strategically, operationally and tactically”.
7:26pm
Austin: ‘We will not accept the invasion of Russia as a new normal’
“We will not accept Russia’s imperialist attack as a new normal. We will continue to help the Ukrainian people defend her freedom ”. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a press conference after the contact group meeting.
7:24 pm
Pentagon: “The missile belongs to Kiev, it has the right to defend itself”
“Ukraine has every right to defend itself against Russia.” Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said at a press conference after the contact group reiterating the US National Security Council’s assessment that there is currently nothing to contradict Poland’s preliminary investigation into the missiles that hit the their territory. “These are Ukrainian defense missiles, however Moscow is ultimately responsible for all of this”, underlined the US defense secretary. “Russia’s cruelty that continues to bomb civilian and strategic targets only increases our commitment to support Kiev,” he added.
6:36pm
Usa: “The missile was Ukrainian, but the responsibility lies with Russia”
At the moment the United States has not collected any evidence that “contradicts President Duda’s preliminary assessment that the missile that exploded in Poland was Ukrainian”. This was stated by the spokeswoman for the US National Security Council, Adrienne Watson, underlining however that beyond the conclusions of the investigation “it is clear that ultimately responsible for this tragic incident is Russia, which launched a volley of missiles against the ‘Ukraine intended to hit civilian infrastructure”. “Ukraine had – and has – every right to defend itself,” she added.
6.15pm
Zelensky: “The missile that fell in Poland is not ours, there is no doubt”
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is convinced that the rocket that fell in Poland yesterday is Russian. “I have no doubt that it was not our rocket,” he told reporters in Kiev, as reported by Interfax Ukraine and relaunched by international media. The leader said he has received reports from the command of the armed forces and the air force, and “he can only trust them”. Zelensky also believes that Ukraine should have been allowed to inspect the crash site. “Can we not say the final conclusions? Do we have the right to be part of the investigation team? Sure,” he said.
5:17 pm
Ukraine extends martial law until February 2023
The Ukrainian parliament has approved a new extension of martial law and the mobilization of the armed forces until February 2023, the month in which the first anniversary of the military offensive launched by Russia will be celebrated. The measures, approved by a large majority, were introduced for the first time on February 24, shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the order to invade Ukraine, and will be in force until February 19, according to what UNIAN news agency reports. It will be the fifth extension, the third in a row of 90 days, of martial law.
5:13 pm
US sources: “Ukraine told us it had attempted to intercept a Russian missile near Poland”
The Ukrainian military has revealed to the United States and allies that it attempted to intercept a Russian missile in the same time slot and close to the site of yesterday’s missile attack in Poland. An American source told CNN, according to which it is not clear whether this missile is the same one that hit Poland.