US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan denied placing restrictions on targeting Moscow's strategically important Crimea, while the commander of Russia's paramilitary group Wagner revealed the fate of his fighters fighting alongside Russian forces after capturing the city of Pakhmut.
Sullivan explained that restrictions on the use of US weapons in Ukraine, including F-16 jets, are limited to not using them within Russia's borders, so Ukraine can strike the Russian military within its recognized borders and Crimea is part of it.
Crimea is of special strategic importance to Russia, as it is its only gateway to warm waters on the Black Sea, and there are military bases that play important roles in the Russian war on Ukraine, which has been ongoing since February 24, 2022.
Russia annexed the peninsula on March 18, 2014, following a referendum that neither Kiev nor the international community recognized. While Kiev insists on demanding the recapture of its "territory" with weapons, Moscow says that "Crimea is Russian," refusing to be the subject of negotiation in any potential peace talks.
Sullivan's remarks come after US President Joe Biden said at a press conference at the end of his participation in the G16 summit in the Japanese city of Hiroshima that he had agreed to train Ukrainian pilots on F-<> aircraft. But he said his country would not enable Ukraine to use Western military aid to strike Russia within its borders.
Biden revealed that he had received "unequivocal assurance" from his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, that F-16 fighter jets, which the West would provide to Ukraine, would not be used to enter Russian airspace.
Ukraine has been demanding that its allies send modern F-16 fighter jets, to replace its old fleet of Soviet MiGs and Sukhoi.
On the other hand, the US president announced on the sidelines of the summit of the Group of Seven major industrialized countries a new package of military equipment for Ukraine, and stated that the package includes ammunition, artillery and armored vehicles.
According to White House data, the value of the aid will be approximately $375 million.
Remarkable statement
In a related context, the founder of the Russian paramilitary group "Wagner" Yevgeny Prigozhin said that from the first of next June no fighter from Wagner will remain on the battlefronts until his forces undergo regrouping, renewing their equipment and completing their training.
In his remarkable statement, Prigozhin reiterated his assertion that his forces control the city of Pakhmut, accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who did not confirm the control of Russian forces, of lying.
The Wagner Group led Russia's grinding 224-day offensive on Bachmut in eastern Ukraine and has been involved on a number of frontlines since the war broke out more than 15 months ago.
The past two months have witnessed an escalation in accusations by Prigozhin against Russian military leaders against Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Army Valery Gerasimov for withholding ammunition from his forces, and Prigozhin even published several videos that carried profanity to those leaders.
Wagner commander says his fighters have taken control of Pakhmut after fierce battles with the Ukrainian army (Reuters)
Russia and Ukraine gave conflicting accounts of the situation in Bachmut on Sunday, with Kiev saying it still controlled a small part of the besieged eastern city, while Moscow congratulated the Wagner Special Military Group and Russian forces for "liberating" the city.
Russia on Saturday declared full control of the city, putting an end to the longest and bloodiest battle of the 15-month war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated his troops and the Wagner Group on the move.
Capturing Pakhmut would mark Moscow's first major victory in the more than 10-month-old struggle to seize the city.
Summit of Seven
The rapid developments in Bachmut come as the three-day Group of Seven summit concluded on Sunday and discussed several issues, including Russia's war on Ukraine.
The Group of Seven world powers sent strong messages to Russia and China following three days of talks in Hiroshima, Japan, which saw a significant increase in support for Ukraine.
Despite relying on China economically, the group's leaders have sought to take a strong stance against China's ambition to expand its global influence.
On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky personally attended a Group of Seven session that also included the leaders of eight guest countries such as India, Brazil and Indonesia.
During the summit, the United States gave the green light to start training Ukrainian pilots on American F-16 fighter jets, a demand that Kiev has long demanded from its allies.