Ukraine declared its readiness for Belarus to enter the war, and there are still conflicting reports about controlling the strategic city of Solidar (eastern Ukraine), and Kyiv expected to receive tanks and long-range missiles within two months to seal "victory."
The spokeswoman for the Southern Operations Command of the Ukrainian army, Natalia Hominyuk, questioned the reality of the maneuvers that will be conducted by Russian and Belarusian forces near the borders with her country.
Hominyuk confirmed - in an interview with Al-Jazeera - that the Ukrainian army is ready to defend any potential aggression that could come from Belarus, as she put it.
For his part, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force Command said that most of the Russian ballistic missiles were launched from the territory of Belarus, and that the Ukrainian forces are strengthening their defense capabilities on the borders with Belarus in anticipation of any developments.
These statements coincided with the announcement by the Belarusian Ministry of Defense of a visit by a Russian military committee led by the commander of the ground forces, Oleg Salyukov, to Belarus.
The Ministry of Defense said that the Russian committee inspected the joint forces there, days before the launch of Russian-Belarusian maneuvers that raise Kyiv's fears.
He rejected the peace plan
On the other hand, the Russian Foreign Ministry renewed Moscow's rejection of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's peace plan.
Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said - during a press conference - that only about 40% of Western weapons sent to Ukraine reach Kyiv, and that the arrival of these weapons on the black market has become a reality.
Ambiguity in Solidar
Mystery still surrounds the fate of the battles taking place in the city of Solidar in Donetsk Province, despite the assertion of the private Russian "Wagner" group that its fighters have resolved the battles on the ground.
A Russian-appointed official in Donetsk said earlier that "pockets of resistance" remained in Solidar.
On the other hand, President Zelensky said in a video speech on Thursday evening that two Ukrainian units in Solidar "hold on to their positions and inflict heavy losses on the enemy."
He added that he had met senior military commanders and analyzed in detail the reinforcements required in Solidar and nearby towns, and the steps that should be taken.
The advisor to the Ukrainian presidency, Mikhail Podolyak, confirmed that the cities of Solidar and Bakhmut are under the control of the Ukrainian forces, describing the battles in Solidar as fierce, indicating that Ukraine's success in defeating the Russians in this battle will constitute a major turning point, as he put it.
The Ukrainian presidential advisor said that the ban on the supply of tanks to Ukraine has been lifted, and that the practical decision of Ukraine's partners is for it to fulfill all its tasks in this war.
Podolyak added, "We will receive these tanks and armored vehicles within two or three months. In the end, we will also receive long-range missiles that reach 200 and 300 kilometers, not to strike the Russian depth, but rather to hit ammunition depots in the occupied territories that are far from the fronts. This is what will impose the end of the war and the Ukrainian victory." .
Kyiv has repeatedly denied the statements of the "Wagner" group (a Russian private security company), and confirmed that its soldiers are still engaged in fierce fighting in Solidar, accusing Moscow of sending thousands of Russians to death in the hope of achieving a strategic initiative in the city.
In turn, the US State Department said that "any additional Russian gains in Ukraine will not change the strategic failure that Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing in the war."
On Thursday, the Ukrainian General Staff said that its planes launched 23 raids on the areas of concentration of Russian forces and their missile systems, adding that its forces managed to shoot down a helicopter and two drones.
The General Staff indicated that its forces bombed several areas where the Russian forces were stationed and ammunition depots, and confirmed that the previous day, Russian aircraft carried out more than 20 raids on several areas, targeting civilian infrastructure.
European support
On the other hand, Finland has shown a cautious desire to supply Ukraine with Leopard-2 tanks, while European governments are considering providing Ukraine with combat tanks.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said that if a joint European aid program is formed in this regard, a contribution from Finland will be needed as well.
President Niinisto indicated that his country is in a special situation, as it has not obtained membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) yet, and it has borders with Russia.
In a related context, European Commission spokeswoman Dana Senant reported that about 15 out of 27 European commissioners may visit Kyiv to participate in a meeting to be held in Ukraine, chaired by European Council President Charles Michel and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the third of next February.
Ukrainian President Zelensky will receive the European delegation to discuss financial and military support, as well as financial and energy issues and the file of joining the European Union.