Russia has stepped up its campaign south of the eastern city of Izim to penetrate deeper into Ukraine’s Donetsk region, according to the British Ministry of Defense. An intelligence source said on Twitter that the operation was aimed at gaining control of the area around Donetsk as well as the northern city of Severodonetsk. News from Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Kiev on Saturday without prior announcement after the European Commission agreed to Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. This is his second visit after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to Johnson’s office, the United Kingdom will train 10,000 Ukrainian troops every four months. “We have discussed how to move forward towards victory,” said Ukrainian President Zelensky.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called a series of economic sanctions against Russia by the United States and its allies “stupid” and “insane.” He said their motives would not succeed.
Russia claims that mercenaries and military experts from 64 countries have joined the war in Ukraine. About 2,000 of them were killed. Meanwhile, Ukraine is planning to hold peace talks with Russia again in August after several rounds of ceasefire talks.
