Europe met yesterday in Brussels to find a solution on the Ukraine issue. Volodymyr Zelensky also attended the emergency summit, who will also meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The main topics of the emergency summit were immediate and long-term support for Ukraine, security guarantees for Kiev, the potential deployment of peacekeeping forces, as well as a new EU approach to European defense. The leaders of the 27 member states intend to develop a common position on these issues in the context of the end of US military aid to Ukraine and Trump’s desire to negotiate.
Significantly, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico have already stated that they oppose these rearmament plans, especially further military aid to Ukraine.
Tusk, upon arrival at the EU summit, said that he proposes to consider increasing the NATO contingent on the borders with Russia and Belarus. “Europe as a whole is truly capable of winning any military, financial and economic confrontation with Russia: we are simply stronger,” said Polish Prime Minister Tusk.
Ursula von der Leyen instead said that “the European Commission’s 800 billion euro plan for the rearmament of Europe will allow EU countries to further invest in the Ukrainian defense industry”. The President of Lithuania called Hungary and Slovakia’s refusal to provide military assistance to Kiev “uncritical”, the money will be allocated by a “coalition of willing EU countries”.
Hungary’s blocking of EU decisions to help Ukraine is becoming increasingly difficult for the community, EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas said: “That is why we have a new initiative to create a majority coalition so that one country cannot block everyone.”
Before the summit, President Emmanuel Macron said: “France denies information about the preparation of a joint trip by Macron, Zelensky and Starmer to Trump.” The Elysée assured that “at this stage” such a visit is not planned.
Macron said live on TV that Russia “has become a threat to France and Europe.” And he did not rule out the deployment of European troops in Ukraine: “He said that he had decided to start a discussion on the use of French nuclear weapons to protect the entire EU.” Finally, he opposed the truce in Ukraine. He said that peace “cannot be built at any cost and under Russian dictatorship, and it cannot be a capitulation of Ukraine.” Macron announced that next week France will bring together the chiefs of staff of the countries ready to “ensure future peace in Ukraine.” “France has the most effective army in Europe,” Macron said. “The head of the French Ministry of Defense said that Paris will continue to provide intelligence to Ukraine during a pause in Washington’s transfer to Kiev.” France’s Eutelsat is preparing to replace Starlink in Ukraine and is ready to send about 40,000 communications terminals.
Ankara has said it is ready to discuss contributions for the possible sending of “peacekeepers” to Ukraine if this helps “stability,” the media quoted a source from the Ministry of Defense.
The Rada proposes to register Ukrainians for military service from the age of 14: the corresponding bill is already more than 70% ready, source MP Maxim Savrasov In particular, the document assumes that: TCC will be able to work directly with classroom teachers in schools. Teachers will be able to provide data on students who demonstrate certain results in physical preparation for a special registration. Those who are lagging behind in terms of physical fitness are expected to train as a pilot-mechanic. It is planned that girls will be recruited to work in analytical centers that process intelligence data, as well as to work as cooks and doctors.
Vladimir Putin appointed Alexander Darchiev, director of the North Atlantic Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, as ambassador to the United States; the decree was published.
Sergei Lavrov commented on the news about the denied intelligence in Kiev: “Publications about the suspension of the transfer of American intelligence data to Kiev confirm what Moscow has been saying for a long time: without Western help, Ukraine cannot strike at Russia.” And again: “Moscow considers Macron’s nuclear rhetoric a threat to Russia.” “Macron has the opportunity to call Putin, accusations that the Russian Federation is preparing a war against Europe are nonsense.” Finally, he reiterated: “The deployment of peacekeeping forces from NATO countries to Ukraine will mean their official involvement in the conflict.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called “Macron’s speech yesterday as confrontational as possible. This allows us to conclude that France thinks more about war than peace.”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a press conference: “Only solid agreements can form the basis for a Ukrainian solution; no truce at the front is acceptable for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Firm agreements are needed for a final solution. Without this, some kind of truce, regroupings – all this is absolutely unacceptable, as it will lead to exactly the opposite result,” the diplomat said at a briefing. In addition, according to Zakharova, “the deployment of units of the Armed Forces in Ukraine <…> under some kind of European flags is absolutely unacceptable.”
And now a clash on the front line updated to 15:30 on March 6.
Following an attack on the warehouse of the Ukrainian Post in Sumy, the property of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was destroyed. Night attacks by the Russian Armed Forces against the Ukrainian rear occurred in the port of Yuzhny in the Odessa region, and again according to the Russians, the place of billeting of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and mercenaries in Kryvyi Rih was hit, it was a hotel. Explosions were also reported in Kharkiv, Sumy, Kiev, Poltava, Cherkasy, Dnipro, Zaporizhia.
In the Kursk region, the Russian Northern Group of Troops continues its offensive in the direction of Malaya Loknya. Social media sources report that Russian marines are advancing into the forest in the south of Sudzhansky District, 11 Ukrainian officers of the Armed Forces have been captured. The Ukrainians continue to constantly transfer reserves to the region.
In the north of the Kupyansk direction, there are imminent battles near the settlement Zapadne on the right bank of the Oskil River.
In Toretsk, they report counteroffensive actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which have formed reserves. Apparently, the Ukrainians managed to wedge themselves into the Russian defenses, and some areas of the development were never taken, source Russian Ministry of Defense. According to social media channels, the city of Toretsk flies the Russian flag, and there are reportedly clashes on the outskirts of the Toretsk agglomeration.
In the Pokrovsk direction, the Ukrainian Armed Forces announce countermeasures in the area of the settlement of: Uspenivka, Udachne, Kotlyne, Pishchane and Shevchenko. The Russians have retreated from several positions, responding to the fire with cannons.
In the area of Kostyantynopil, the Russian Armed Forces, after taking Andriivka, now “loom” over the enemy garrison and in Kostyantynopil itself, but the Ukrainians usually operate in semi-encirclement. Russian troops are taking measures to disrupt Ukrainian logistics along the only road left to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
On the Zaporizhia front, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to shell civilian targets. Under fire are Chubarevka of the Pologovsky municipal district and Novoselovka and Tokmak. One civilian died.
In the direction of Kherson, the Ukrainians strike in Aleshki, Nova Kakhovka, Kakhovka, Dnipryany, Kairy, Korsunka, Plodove, Proletarka and Tsukury.
In the DPR, Horlivka drone strike kills one person. Many more injured.
Graziella Giangiulio
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