Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has traveled to Izyum, one of many largest cities not too long ago retaken from Russia in a lightning counteroffensive within the japanese a part of the nation.
The Ukrainian army in an announcement on social media mentioned Zelenskiy and army officers “took half” in a ceremony elevating the Ukrainian flag over the liberated metropolis, which was key for Russia’s ambitions to seize the Donbas area.
Images confirmed Zelenskiy greeting Ukrainian troopers collaborating within the quickly advancing counteroffensive.
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Zelenskiy mentioned in his nightly tackle on September 13 that Ukraine was in full management of greater than 4,000 sq. kilometers of territory recaptured from Russian forces and stabilizing one other 4,000 sq. kilometers.
“Our blue-yellow flag is already flying in de-occupied Izyum. And will probably be so in each Ukrainian metropolis and village,” Zelensky mentioned on Telegram.
“We’re shifting solely in a single route — ahead and till victory,” he mentioned in a put up on social media after his go to.
The Ukrainian army has pushed Russian forces out of a whole lot of cities and cities within the northeast of the nation, and Zelenskiy mentioned the stabilization of the liberated communities was below means.
Zelenskiy additionally criticized Russia for missile strikes that hit a hydroelectric facility in Kryviy Rih, which he mentioned was an try and flood the town and depart its folks with out water, electrical energy, warmth, and meals.
Russian troops fired eight cruise missiles at Kryviy Rih, hitting the ability, mentioned Kyrylo Tymoshenko, a senior aide to Zelenskiy. No civilians have been injured, and the harm precipitated is being repaired, he mentioned.
He mentioned the rockets have been aimed toward important amenities with the objective of making an emergency state of affairs and panic among the many inhabitants.
“They want our panic,” Tymoshenko mentioned. “That is why we do not panic.”
Earlier on September 14, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who held a 90-minute telephone name with Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 13, mentioned Putin hasn’t modified his pondering on invading Ukraine.
“Sadly, I can’t inform you that the impression has grown that it was a mistake to start this warfare. And there was no indication that new attitudes are rising,” Scholz informed a press convention on September 14.
The Kremlin, which has made little point out of the setbacks in latest days, vowed to proceed preventing. It additionally mentioned on September 14 that Putin had mentioned getting Ukrainian grain to international locations most in want in a phone name with UN Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres.
The dialog “primarily targeted on implementing the Istanbul agreements on exporting Ukrainian grain” from Black Sea ports, and the export of Russian meals and fertilizer, the Kremlin mentioned in an announcement.
“Each side emphasised the significance of assembly the wants, as a precedence, of these in Africa, the Center East, and Latin America who want meals,” the Kremlin mentioned.
Guterres mentioned he was hopeful a UN-brokered deal can be maintained and expanded to incorporate Russian ammonia.
“To take away the obstacles that also exist in relation to the export of Russian fertilizers is totally important,” Guterres informed reporters shortly after chatting with Putin.
“There are…talks in relation to the potential for Russian ammonia exports by the Black Sea,” mentioned Guterres, including that there was a “dramatic state of affairs” on the world fertilizer market.
Facilitating Russia’s meals and fertilizer shipments is a central side of the deal brokered in July that additionally restarted Ukraine’s Black Sea grain and fertilizer shipments. Russia has not too long ago criticized the deal, complaining that its exports have been nonetheless hindered.
A pipeline transporting ammonia from Russia to a Ukrainian Black Sea port was shut down when Russia invaded Ukraine. The United Nations is now making an attempt to dealer a resumption of these ammonia exports.
In Strasbourg, European Fee chief Ursula von der Leyen mentioned she would journey to Kyiv in a while September 14. It is going to be von der Leyen’s third go to to Kyiv for the reason that begin of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.
