British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday that the West should support the Ukrainians in their ambition to reclaim all the lands occupied by Russia since it declared war on Ukraine last February.
This coincides with the intensification of battles in the last strongholds of the Ukrainian forces in the city of Severodonetsk in the Donbass region, and the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the city of Mykolaiv to inspect the southern front.
Speaking to reporters after returning from an unannounced visit to Kiev, Johnson said that he believes it is very important to go to Ukraine at this critical time, explaining that Britain supports the Ukrainians in their ambition, especially at a time when the world is tired of following the war in this. Country.
He added that it "would be a disaster if Putin wins this war," stressing the need to help the Ukrainians expel the Russians and make sure that Kyiv is not encouraged to accept a meager peace, as he put it.
Ukraine is a democracy
On the other hand, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told dpa that it is absolutely necessary to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that he will continue to do so.
He added that the goal is "for Ukraine to be a democratic, sovereign and independent", noting that arms shipments to Kiev will arrive on time to make a "real difference" in the Donbass region (south of the country).
And Andrey Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president's office, announced that 48 percent of the Kyiv plan related to sanctions against Russia had been implemented.
He stressed that there is no progress so far on imposing sanctions in the energy and transportation sectors, and that Kyiv is awaiting designation of Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.
The director of Zelensky's office also accused the Kremlin of continuing to blackmail Europe by reducing the flow of gas to Germany by 60%, and to Italy by 15%.
On the ground, the Ukrainian armed forces said that the Ukrainian President discussed with the regional command of Mykolaiv - during a visit to the city - the important issues experienced by the southern fronts.
This is Zelensky's third visit outside Kyiv since the beginning of the war, after visiting the cities of Kharkiv and Zaporozhye.
The head of the Ukrainian President's office confirmed that Zelensky discussed during the visit the threats to Mykolaiv from land and sea, from the unrecognized "Trans-Nistria", and the situation on the island of Zmenyi.
He explained that the meeting discussed logistical support and defense needs as well as the agricultural situation and the restoration of water supply in the province.
On the other hand, Al-Jazeera correspondent in the Donbas region reported - citing military sources - that the Ukrainian forces repelled several Russian attempts to control the industrial zone in the city of Severodonetsk, where about 500 civilians and Ukrainian soldiers are holed up.
The governor of Lugansk region, Sergey Gaidai, described the situation in Severodonetsk as "difficult", noting that Russian forces had repeatedly bombed the bridges connecting the city, and that it was impossible to get civilians out of the city's nitrogen plant in light of the dangerous situation.
The representative of the Lugansk separatists also announced that there is still no agreement to open a humanitarian corridor from the Azot plant due to Ukraine's refusal to cease fire.
He added - via his Telegram channel - that the Ukrainian sites in the neighboring Lyschansk region must be destroyed first in order to evacuate civilians from the factory.
In a related context, the American newspaper Politico quoted military officials in Washington that the Pentagon is considering sending 4 additional missile launchers to Ukraine.
And the Ukrainian Southern Operations Command announced that its air defenses had shot down two Russian cruise missiles over the Odessa region (southern of the country) last night.
sink a ship
In a remarkable field development announced by the Ukrainian side, without the Russian side commenting on its confirmation or denial;
The Ukrainian Navy announced that its forces bombed and sank a Russian ship in the Black Sea.
She said the ship was on its way to the Russian-occupied Snake Island, south of Odessa.
According to the Ukrainian version, the Russian ship - which bears the name "Vassily Bek" - was carrying soldiers, weapons and ammunition to the island.
Ukraine said its forces had delivered a successful strike, the first of its kind, with anti-ship missiles supplied by Denmark to Ukraine.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced the destruction of 4 US-made artillery units in the Donetsk region with high-precision missiles.
It said its missiles destroyed oil refining facilities and fuel tanks supplying Ukrainian military equipment in Donbas.
It added that its forces had shot down a Ukrainian Su-25 fighter and a Mi-24 helicopter in Donbass.