Ukraine war: America documents the damages of the invasion to seek compensation from Russia
The New Arab – London
May 13, 2023
live updates
The United States is leading efforts to support attempts to document the damage Ukraine suffered from the Russian invasion, in hopes of using it after the war ends to seek compensation, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected in Italy on Saturday for talks with government officials and Pope Francis, who said: Last April the Holy See took part in a peace mission to end the war with Russia.
The developments of the war in Ukraine are being monitored by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
Germany is preparing the largest package of military equipment for Ukraine since the start of the invasion
Der Spiegel newspaper reported today, Saturday, that Germany has collected a new package of military equipment for Ukraine worth 2.7 billion euros (three billion dollars), the largest since the Russian invasion.
The newspaper report stated that the package will include 20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, 30 Leopard 1 tanks, 15 Geppard anti-aircraft tanks, 200 reconnaissance drones, four additional Iris-T anti-aircraft systems, including additional ammunition and artillery ammunition, and more than 200 units. Armored combat and logistic vehicle.
A Defense Ministry spokesman declined to comment.
US-Ukrainian talks on “Kiev counterattack”
The US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, discussed, during a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, the ongoing preparations for the counterattack that Ukraine was promising to push back the Russian forces from its lands.
The US State Department said, in a statement, today, Saturday, that the two sides discussed the support that can be provided to Ukraine by its international partners, and stressed that Ukraine’s sovereignty is vital to peace and security in Europe.
For his part, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister said in a tweet on “Twitter” that he discussed with his American counterpart the coordination of arms supply to Kiev, the importance of providing Ukraine with F-16 aircraft and the necessary steps to start training Ukrainian pilots.
Britain: Russian forces withdraw badly from southern Bakhmut
The British Ministry of Defense said today, Saturday, that the past four days witnessed a poorly organized withdrawal of Russian forces from their positions in the southern wing of operations in Bakhmut.
Britain said in its daily intelligence bulletin that the withdrawal enabled Ukrainian forces to regain at least a kilometer of territory.
“The area has some tactical importance because it was a Russian starting point on the western side of the Donets-Donbass channel, which represents the front line in some areas of the Strip,” the intelligence bulletin said.
The Ukrainian President visits Italy and meets the Pope of the Vatican
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected in Italy on Saturday for talks with government officials and Pope Francis, who said in April that the Holy See was involved in a peace mission to end the war with Russia.
The visit has not been officially confirmed for security reasons, and it is Zelensky’s first visit to Italy since the Russian invasion of his country on February 24, 2022.
But multiple sources expect him to meet separately with President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorga Meloni before heading to the Vatican. He is also expected to be a guest on a popular Italian TV talk show before heading to Germany.
7:56 AM
AFP
Biden thanks Spain for supporting Ukraine
Yesterday, Friday, US President Joe Biden thanked the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, for the latter’s support to Ukraine after the Russian invasion, and for strengthening military relations between Madrid and Washington.
“I cannot thank you enough for your great support of Ukraine,” the US president told Sanchez at the White House before they held bilateral talks that also touched on trade and immigration issues.
8:03 AM
AFP
Washington supports documenting the damage suffered by Ukraine as a result of the invasion
The United States is making efforts to support attempts to document the damages suffered by Ukraine as a result of the Russian invasion, in hopes of using it after the war ends to seek compensation, according to a letter seen by AFP on Friday.
The United Nations General Assembly, in a non-binding vote in November, endorsed the idea of creating an “international record” documenting the damage across Ukraine from the war waged by Russia since February 2022.
In a letter to the meeting, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, expressed Washington’s willingness to provide funding for the emerging registry and to be an “associate member” of it.
“As President Joe Biden has stated, the United States is committed to holding Russia accountable for its war of aggression against Ukraine,” Thomas Greenfield wrote in the letter.
“Creating a registry documenting the damage caused by Russia’s brutal war is a critical step in this effort,” she added.
