Russia attacked Ukrainian energy facilities with missiles and drones, while Britain and Ukraine signed an agreement to cooperate in weapons production, and Washington agreed to sell military equipment worth $138 million, while Germany presented a list of a new package of weapons, at a time when Switzerland announced yesterday that it would host the 15th. Next June 16, there will be an international conference on peace in Ukraine, which Moscow immediately announced a boycott of, describing it as a project of “American Democrats.”
Russian forces bombed two energy facilities in air strikes on southern Ukraine. The Ukrainian Energy Ministry said in a statement that a substation in Mykolaev was targeted, as well as generation and production facilities in the Odessa region. The attack caused a power outage to subscribers in the Mykolaev and Kherson regions. The Ukrainian Air Force said that the defenses shot down 14 drones, two missiles from 17 drones, and three missiles launched by Russia.
Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukrainian Minister of Strategic Industries, said that Kiev and London signed an agreement for cooperation in the field of defense and weapons production as part of the Ukrainian war effort to build a local military industry by working with allies. The two sides signed the agreement during a military industry conference in Kiev, attended by about 30 British defense industries companies.
For his part, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron urged American Republicans to approve an aid package worth tens of billions of dollars to support Ukraine. Cameron said, “I come here (Washington) and I have no intention of admonishing anyone, or telling anyone what should be done, or interfering in the course of politics… I come here as a great friend and believer in this country, and I sincerely believe that it is in your interest… to release this woman.” Funds allocated to support Ukraine. The United States authorized the sale of military equipment to Ukraine worth $138 million in order to repair and modernize Hawk missile systems.
Yesterday, Wednesday, China confirmed its rejection of “any criticism or pressure” regarding its relationship with Russia, after Washington warned that it would hold Beijing responsible if Moscow achieved territorial gains in Ukraine.
US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said that Washington “will not sit idly by and say that everything is fine” after Beijing renewed its pledge to cooperate with Moscow during a visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stressed, “China and Moscow have the right to engage in normal economic and trade cooperation,” adding, “Such cooperation should not be interfered with.” China also does not accept any criticism or pressure.
On the other hand, the Swiss government announced yesterday, Wednesday, the organization of an international conference on “Peace in Ukraine,” which will be held in a luxury hotel in the heart of the country on June 15 and 16. The government said, in a statement, that “the necessary conditions have been met for holding the conference to launch the peace process,” stressing that “as a first step, it will be necessary to develop a common understanding among the participating countries regarding the way forward towards a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace in Ukraine.”
On the other hand, Russia described the conference as a project of the “American Democrats” and President Joe Biden’s party, confirming that it would not attend. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the TASS news agency yesterday, “Behind all this stand the American Democrats who want pictures and videos of an event like this to indicate that their project (Ukraine) is still a topical issue.” (agencies)