Russia Ukraine war latest news: Putin claims West helped Kyiv mount acts of ‘terror and sabotage’

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky received new pledges of deeper cooperation on a state go to to Poland on Wednesday because the neighbours sought to forge a tighter relationship in defiance of Russia’s full-scale war towards Kyiv that has reshaped worldwide alliances.

Polish president Andrzej Duda mentioned his nation has supplied 4 Soviet-designed MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine to assist it beat again the Kremlin’s assault. Four extra are within the course of of being handed over and one other six are being ready, he mentioned.

Zelensky mentioned at a information convention with Duda that his authorities would “extend a hearty welcome” to Polish companies searching for to assist Ukraine’s postwar rebuilding, which the World Bank has estimated might price $411 billion. He met later with prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki and mentioned he would signal agreements on growing Ukrainian infrastructure.

Poland heaped army honours and reward on Zelenskyy because it welcomed him and his spouse on a joint go to, throughout which they thanked the nation for its essential army help in addition to being a haven for Ukrainian refugees. The former Soviet satellite tv for pc that’s now a member of the European Union and NATO feels particularly threatened by Russia and has been a number one advocate for support to Kyiv.

Russian president Vladimir Putin, in the meantime, mentioned Moscow’s relations with Washington are “in deep crisis” because the U.S. has led its allies in supplying support and weapons to Ukraine.

Speaking at a ceremony the place he accepted diplomatic credentials from ambassadors of 17 nations, together with the U.S., Putin alleged that Washington’s help for the 2014 protests in Kyiv that ousted a pro-Kremlin president led to Russia’s sending troops into Ukraine.

Zelensky and Duda mentioned they needed to go away behind any World War II-era grievances that linger in Ukraine and Poland.

“There are no taboo topics between us,” Duda mentioned. “There are still open wounds in the memory of many people.”

The go to to Warsaw was a uncommon wartime foray out of Ukraine for Zelenskyy. While he additionally travelled to the United States, Britain, France and Belgium, the journey to Poland stood out as a result of it was introduced prematurely and undertaken with out the secrecy of previous overseas journeys. It additionally was the primary time Zelensky and first woman Olena Zelenska travelled overseas collectively for the reason that war started in February 2022, mentioned Marcin Przydacz, head of Duda’s overseas coverage workplace.

Duda awarded Zelensky Poland’s oldest and highest civilian distinction, The Order of the White Eagle.“We have no doubt that your attitude, together with the bravery of the nation, has saved Ukraine,” the Polish president advised Zelensky.

At a ceremony within the courtyard of the presidential palace, Duda and the 2 international locations’ first girls have been wearing formal apparel, whereas Zelensky wore the military-style sweatshirt and khaki trousers which have grow to be his uniform for the reason that invasion.

His journeys to London, Paris and Brussels in February have been half of his push for warplanes and for his nation admission to the EU and NATO, and his go to to Washington in December was supposed to shore up U.S. help.

Zelenskyy travelled by way of Poland on his earlier overseas journeys, however till now had not made it his sole vacation spot. The objective of the journey to Warsaw was primarily to thank a rustic that has been a global cheerleader for Ukraine, in addition to a protected haven for Ukrainian refugees and a transit hub for Ukraine-bound humanitarian support and weapons.

The go to highlighted the central European nation’s rising function in a brand new worldwide safety order that has emerged from the war. Poland is searching for to modernize its army by buying tanks and different tools from U.S. and South Korean producers. The United States has additionally bolstered its army presence in Poland.

Zelensky additionally was assembly with Ukrainians who’ve fled to Poland. More than 1.5 million Ukrainians have registered with the Polish authorities for the reason that war started.

His go to comes at a fragile time, with Polish farmers more and more indignant as a result of Ukrainian grain that has entered the nation has created a glut, inflicting costs to fall.

The grain is barely meant to be saved quickly earlier than being despatched to markets in North Africa and the Middle East. But farmers say the grain is taking on area in silos and coming into Polish markets, inflicting native costs to fall. Romanian and Bulgarian farmers say they face the identical drawback.

That anger is rising as a headache for Morawiecki’s authorities forward of fall elections, significantly since his conservative ruling social gathering, Law and Justice, will get a lot of its help in rural areas. Agriculture minister Henryk Kowalczyk, the main focus of the farmers’ anger, resigned Wednesday.

In Ukraine, the army authorities mentioned Russian forces within the earlier 24 hours had launched 47 airstrikes, three missile strikes and 42 assaults from a number of rocket launchers. At least 4 civilians have been killed and 16 others wounded in that interval, Zelensky’s workplace reported.