Every day, Midi Libre takes stock of the situation in Ukraine. This Thursday, May 16, 2024, discover the latest news around this conflict.
Putin in China for state visit
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in China on Thursday for a state visit during which he will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, talks which the Kremlin hopes will deepen the strategic partnership sealed between Moscow and Beijing. In February 2022, shortly before Russia launched in Ukraine what it presented as a “special military operation” but which kyiv and the West denounce as an invasion, Moscow and Beijing have sealed a partnership “limitless”. By choosing to make his first foreign trip to China since his inauguration for a new six-year term, Vladimir Putin is sending a message about his priorities and the strength of his personal relationship with Xi Jinping.
In an interview with the Chinese news agency Xinhua, Vladimir Putin praised Xi Jinping’s assistance in establishing a “strategic partnership” with Russia based on national interests and deep trust. “It is the exceptional level of strategic partnership (that exists) between our countries that made me decide to choose China for my first state visit since my inauguration as President of the Russian Federation”said Vladimir Putin. “We will try to establish closer cooperation in the sectors of industry and high technology, space and peaceful nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, renewable energy sources and ‘other sectors of innovation’said the head of the Kremlin.
The two leaders and officials will also hold informal talks on Thursday evening. Russian presidential foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said the talks would focus on Ukraine, Asia, energy and trade. Russia’s new Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, his predecessor Sergei Shoigu, now head of the National Security Council, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Yuri Ushakov and Russia’s most powerful business leaders will also take part in these interviews. Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping will also participate in a gala organized to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the recognition of the People’s Republic of China by the Soviet Union. The Russian president will also visit the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin.
Ukraine tries to push back Russian forces in northern Kharkiv
Russian troops are fighting Ukrainian forces in the northern districts of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region but have failed to move deeper into the Russian border town, the Ukrainian military said on Thursday. A Russian success in this locality, located 5 km from the Russian border, would be the most important since the launch on Friday of a new offensive against the Kharkiv region. Faced with this intensification of fighting, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky postponed all his planned trips abroad and went to the city of Kharkiv on Thursday. He said on the Telegram app that he had spoken with the army and described the situation as extremely difficult, although “controlled in general”.
“The enemy’s plans to penetrate deeper into the city of Vovchansk and gain a foothold there have been foiled”, affirmed for its part the Ukrainian general staff in a press release. The defensive actions forced Russian troops to reduce the pace of their push into the northern Kharkiv region, the General Staff added. The Ukrainian army is trying to prevent Russian forces from gaining a foothold in the north of the region, explained the spokesperson for the strategic command in the east of the country, Nazar Voloshin, in a televised intervention. “Our units detect individual enemy units, the location of artillery and inflict damage on the enemy to prevent them from accumulating forces and equipment in the northern part of the city of Vovchansk”did he declare.
Russians unable to achieve strategic breakthrough in Kharkiv-NATO
The Supreme Commander of NATO Forces in Europe, Christopher Cavoli, said on Thursday that Russia did not have sufficient forces to carry out a strategic breakthrough in Kharkiv, in eastern Ukraine. Speaking after a meeting in Brussels of the Transatlantic Alliance, he expressed confidence that the Ukrainian army would manage to hold its defense lines in the region.