The Russian army, which continues to invade Ukraine, is intensifying its offensive to the eastern part such as Mariupol ahead of the "Victory Day" on the 9th of this month, which President Putin attaches great importance to.
In response, Western countries have announced that the EU-European Union will ban oil imports from Russia later this year, and US President Joe Biden will also discuss further sanctions with G7 leaders this week. I made it.
Russia's defense minister, Shoig, who continues to invade Ukraine, emphasized the results of the war at a defense ministry meeting held on the 4th, saying that he is expanding the territory in eastern Luhansk and Donetsk Oblasts, and about Mariupol's key point Already seized and claimed that a peaceful civil life had been established.
President Putin is said to have a desire to impress the public with the results of the military invasion toward "Victory Day" on the 9th of this month when the former Soviet Union defeated Nazi Germany in World War II. It seems that it is trying to expand.
However, a senior Pentagon official said on the 4th that the Russian army was very slow and stagnant overall due to the fierce resistance of the Ukrainian side.
In Mariupol, hundreds of civilians are still believed to be left behind at the Azovstal ironworks surrounded by Russian troops, but the commander of Ukraine's "Azov Battalion" posted a video on Telegram on the 4th. "The enemy has invaded the premises of the steelworks and has already entered the second day, and a fierce, bloody battle is taking place."
Ukrainian President Zelensky revealed in a video message that 344 people were rescued from Mariupol and the suburbs on the 4th, while continuing negotiations to rescue women and children left in steelworks and elsewhere. I am supposed to be.
Against this backdrop, the EU's executive body, the European Commission, announced additional sanctions against Russia on the 4th, including a ban on oil imports from Russia by the end of the year.
"We are always ready to impose additional sanctions," US President Joe Biden told reporters yesterday, saying he would discuss further sanctions with G7 leaders this week.
We would like to continue military assistance to Ukraine and to keep pace with additional economic sanctions on Russia to increase pressure.