Western allies dampen Ukraine’s hopes for rapid shipment of battle tanks to boost its firepower for the spring offensive against Russia, with the US urging Kiev to hold off from mounting such operation as fighting rolls into its 332nd day.
Russia advances in eastern Ukraine
Russia claimed to have captured a village in eastern Ukraine as part of its intense, monthslong push toward the city of Bakhmut.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov said the village of Klishchiivka, which is located nine kilometres (five miles) south of Bakhmut, has been “liberated.”
The claim couldn’t be independently verified, and Ukrainian officials made no immediate comment on the claim.
Here are the other developments:
0120 GMT — UN agency launches mobile clinics for Ukrainian women
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) enables women to have healthy deliveries with mobile clinics in Ukraine, according to an official.
“We have mobile teams. We have mobile clinics where women can literally give birth in a kind of van outside that can move around depending on the situation of the war,” UNFPA’s Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Florence Bauer, said.
Bauer said women can deliver in the van, receiving all medical support needed.
2330 GMT — Try harder to make peace plan work, Ukraine’s first lady tells West
Ukraine’s western allies might bridge delays in implementing a 10-point peace plan that the country has put forward, if each country takes responsibility for one part, the first lady in Kiev said in an interview.
Olena Zelenska spoke from the World Economic Forum in Davos as Western allies dampened Ukraine’s hopes for a rapid shipment of battle tanks.
She told Swiss daily Neue Zuercher Zeitung the West’s failure to quickly supply Ukraine with the weapons to drive out Russian forces had cost lives and wrecked much of its infrastructure, and that other forms of help were also required.
Hundreds of people in Berlin protest against the reluctance of the Olaf Scholz administration to supply Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks pic.twitter.com/cLe9bcGkwr
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) January 21, 2023
2130 GMT — Ukraine should focus on preparing offensive, not Bakhmut battle: US official
Ukraine should not fixate on defending the city of Bakhmut at all costs and instead use a window of opportunity to prepare a major counter-offensive against Russian forces, a senior US official has said.
That industrial hub has become the epicentre of the grinding war in eastern Ukraine, involving mass artillery strikes, slow advances and high casualties for both sides.
A senior official in President Joe Biden’s administration said the focus on Bakhmut is hampering Ukraine in the more important task of preparing a widely expected spring offensive to make major gains against Russian occupation in the south.
According to the official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity and not being quoted verbatim, time favours Russia in Bakhmut, given its greater artillery resources and sheer numbers of troops.
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Group of Seven officials have agreed to review level of price cap on exports of Russian oil in March — US Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo pic.twitter.com/J2aFPnCo6A
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) January 20, 2023
Ukraine minister says had frank chat with Germany about tanks
Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleskii Reznikov has said he had “a frank discussion” with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius about the supply of Leopard tanks, adding that the talks would continue.
Reznikov made the remarks on Twitter after he attended a meeting of Western allies in Germany, where Ukraine’s partners did not agree to give the tanks to Kiev.
Germany, which makes the Leopard tanks, would have to approve any transfer.
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2100 GMT — Netherlands to support Ukraine with Patriot parts, missiles
The Dutch government has announced that it will send two Patriot air defense system launchers and a series of missiles to Ukraine.
Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren said in a statement that the Netherlands will cooperate with the US and Germany to support the Patriot defense system project.
Ollongren added that 65 Dutch soldiers will train Ukrainian soldiers on the s ystem.
For live updates from Friday (January 20), click here
Source: TRTWorld and agencies
Live blog: Russia claims progress as its push towards Bakhmut continues
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