A few hours after Russia annexed several territories, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced the successes of his army in the east of the country. “Everyone has heard what is happening in Lyman,” Zelenskyy said in a video address last night, overlooking the strategically important town in Donetsk Oblast, which has just been shot in Moscow.
Earlier, the occupation leader of Donetsk, Denis Puschilin, had already admitted the almost complete encirclement of Russian troops in Lyman by Ukrainian soldiers. “These are steps that mean a lot to us,” says Zelenskyj. “We must liberate our entire country and this will be the best proof that international law and human rights cannot be violated by any terrorist state.”
More than seven months after the start of the war, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday annexed the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhya in addition to Donetsk. However, this illegal step is not recognized internationally.
Kiev wants swift accession to NATO
In response to Russia’s annexation of four occupied Ukrainian territories, the leadership in Kiev on Friday filed an application for accelerated accession to NATO. “In fact, we have already found our way to NATO,” President Zelenskyy said. Legally, that should be the case.
According to the 44-year-old, Ukraine is ready to join because cooperation with the military alliance is working and the country has demonstrated its ability to integrate Western weapons technology during the fighting against Russia.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
