WAR IN UKRAINE: February 21, 2023
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: Day 363
Vladimir Putin has been speaking about Russia's war against Ukraine in a State of the Nation address. He blames the West for provoking the war and escalating it, saying the US and its allies seek "limitless power.” Putin adds that economic sanctions have not crippled Russia as intended. And he lauds Russia's soldiers and vows to provide them and their families with more support
By the end of the speech, it is clear that Putin has no immediate plans to retreat or rethink his strategy: “I want to repeat," he said. "They [the West] started the war. And we used force and are using force to stop it…The Western elites do not conceal their goals to bring Russia a strategic defeat. What does it mean? It means to end us, once and for all. It means they plan to turn a local conflict into a global confrontation. We understand it exactly like that. We will react to it accordingly. This is because in this case it is about the very existence of our country."
U.S. President Joe Biden has returned to Poland after a daring and historic visit to Ukraine. He’s expected to deliver a major address after Mr. Putin is finished talking. Biden also pledged some $500-million in further military aid to Ukraine. In Kyiv, he said: “When Putin launched his invasion nearly one year ago, he thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could outlast us. But he was dead wrong. Today, in Kyiv, I am meeting with President Zelenskyy and his team.”
Biden added: “ "There should be no doubt. Our support for Ukraine will not waver, NATO will not be divided and we will not tire," Biden said in Warsaw. President Putin's craven lust for land and power will fail, and the Ukrainian people's love for their country will prevail," Biden said.
The new U.S.assistance package will include more military equipment, such as javelins, howitzers, and artillery ammunition.
Around 7 p.m. ET on Saturday night, President Joe Biden was out in Washington on a Valentine’s week date-night, lingering over rigatoni with fennel sausage ragu before returning with his wife to the White House. The next time he was seen in public was 36 hours later, striding out of St. Michael’s Cathedral in Kyiv into a bright winter day, air raid sirens wailing a reminder of both the risks and reason for visiting Ukraine as it nears a second year of war. Read the CNN account how a sitting U.S. President entered a war zone here
While Putin has been speaking, the UN Human Rights Office today issued figures for civilian casualties during one year of war in Ukraine. Verified deaths now stand at 8,006, with a further 13,287 injured. However, Matilda Bogner, of the UN human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine, warned that the real figure would be much higher. In particular, detailed figures from the city of Mariupol are lacking. The UN has documented over 2,000 deaths there but also has anecdotal evidence, for example, from Russian POWS, one of whom told the UN that Russian soldiers were issued quotas to collect at least one truck full of bodies per day in Mariupol, and that there was "no problem" doing that.
Biden's surprise visit to Kyiv on Feb. 20 is set to be followed by top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi's visit to Moscow, reports Reuters. Both visits occur in the days preceding the anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
A new survey by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) reveals that seven out of ten refugees from Ukraine living in Poland, Romania and Moldova say the income and support they are receiving is not enough to cover their basic needs and are at risk of falling into poverty. “After being forced to flee from their homes, leaving their loved ones, homes and livelihoods behind, refugees from Ukraine are now being pushed to the brink financially and are struggling to make ends meet,” said Carlo Gherardi, NRC’s regional director for Central and Eastern Europe. According to NRC’s Hidden Hardship report, seven out of ten (68 per cent) refugees say they are not able to cover basics like food, water, clothing, accommodation, and healthcare. Refugees living in collective centres, and those without regular employment income like mothers with children, pensioners, and people with disabilities, are also facing increased financial pressure after fleeing from war.
Ukrenergo: Situation with Ukraine's energy infrastructure has become more stable. The situation with Ukraine's energy infrastructure has become more stable, and energy imports are nearing zero, reported Ukrenergo on Feb. 20. Starting from October, Ukrenergo's key network facilities suffered extensive damages due to Russian missile and drone attacks, meaning they will need significant resources and time for complete restoration - Kyiv Independent
Required reading…
‘You cannot outlast us’: Biden’s Kyiv visit sends strong message to Moscow
US President Joe Biden made headlines on February 20 with a bold surprise visit to Kyiv that underlined ongoing American support for Ukraine in its struggle against Russian aggression. The unannounced trip came as Ukraine prepares to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began in the early hours of February 24, 2022. It sends an important message to Moscow that the United States and its partners will continue to stand with Ukraine as the war enters its second year.
Biden’s arrival in Kyiv was warmly welcomed by Ukrainian officials and members of the public alike. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the visit as “a victory for the Ukrainian people and President Zelenskyy,” while Ukrainian MP Oleskiy Goncharenko called it “a clear sign of strong support for Ukraine from the US.” As news of Biden’s morale-boosting visit spread throughout the Ukrainian capital on Monday morning, many Kyiv residents expressed their approval. Some noted with trademark Ukrainian humor that they were even ready to accept the temporary traffic disruption caused the US leader’s motorcade.
Read the full Atlantic Council analysis here