Summary:
- Ukraine recaptured a village in the country's east south of Bakhmut.
- Ukraine is making gains both in the south and east.
- President Zelensky is going to meet President Biden at the White House to argue that Ukraine can win this war.
- There are concerns that funding may be pulled from Ukraine by the US if the Republican primary wins.
- Russia announced that it's expelling two high-ranking US diplomats.
Ukraine's military is claiming successes on the front lines. As the country continues its counteroffensive, the general staff of Ukraine's armed forces said that its troops recaptured a village in the country's east south of Bakhmut. MTS Tyab is joining us now from Dnieper with more.
Ukraine Recaptures Russian-Occupied Village in the East
Ukraine's military has announced that it has recaptured a village in the country's east south of Bakhmut. According to the general staff of Ukraine's armed forces, troops were successful in taking back Andriybka, which was previously occupied by Russian-backed mercenaries. Although Andriybka may have been a small village before the conflict, its reclaiming is significant and shows that despite the slow progress of the ongoing counter-offensive, Ukraine is making advances not only in the south but also in the east.
Zelensky's Visit to the White House
With President Zelensky's upcoming visit to the White House, he's expected to highlight Ukraine's successes in recapturing Andriybka and emphasize that Ukraine can win the war with sufficient resources. The President will meet with President Biden, who is pushing Congress to approve a $24 billion aid package for Ukraine. Although the US has been a crucial ally to Ukraine, there are still some concerns about funding, especially if the political landscape changes in the upcoming election. As a savvy politician, Zelensky is meeting with senior members of Congress during the same week, as well as other international leaders to build up support from other countries.
Russia's Expulsion of US Diplomats
Russia announced the expulsion of two high-ranking US diplomats, first secretary Jeff Zelens, and second secretary David Bernstein, from the US embassy in Moscow. The move comes as Russian officials claim that the diplomats were involved in what they describe as "illegal activity" and had conducted "incompatible" actions with their diplomatic status. However, Russia has yet to provide any clear indication of what these illegal activities entailed. While the US State Department has promised an appropriate response, the incident underscores the growing tensions between Moscow and Washington.
The relationship between Moscow and Washington, as we keep saying it's at the lowest point it's ever been, well, it's just gotten that much lower.