Volodymyr zelensky biography

A Russian military expert has said the United States has started to restrict its military assistance to Ukraine and linked what he believed to be a cooling of Washington's support for Kyiv to the actions of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky . The comments by Arsenal of the Fatherland editor Alexei Leonkov come a day after the Biden administration announced another $1 billion in new military aid for Ukraine comprised of rockets, ammunition and arms from the U.S. Department of Defense stocks. On Tuesday, Leonkov wrote on his Telegram channel about the U.S.-supplied M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), which are a game-changing weapon for Kyiv that have allowed its forces to hit Russian command centers and ammunition depots. But he said that "the United States is beginning to limit the list of future arms supplies to Ukraine." Regarding HIMARS, the U.S. had "planned 20, and delivered 16." "Now they are refusing to supply F-16s, temporarily," Leonkov … [Read more...] about U.S. refused Ukraine F-16s over Zelensky “scandals”: Russian military expert

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that it was “too soon” to celebrate, after a shipment of grain left a Ukrainian port under a U.N. and Turkey-brokered deal. “At this time, it is too early to draw any conclusions and make any forecasts,” he said in his daily video address. “Let’s wait and see how the agreement works and whether security will be really guaranteed.” The first shipment of Ukrainian grain since the Russian invasion in February left the port of Odessa on Monday under the landmark deal to lift Moscow’s naval blockade in the Black Sea. The five-month halt of deliveries from war-torn Ukraine — one of the world’s biggest grain exporters — has contributed to soaring food prices, hitting the world’s poorest nations especially hard. Also Read First ship carrying Ukrainian grain leaves the port of Odesa Officials said the Razoni cargo ship, registered in Sierra Leone, was making its way through a specially cleared corridor in the mine-infested … [Read more...] about ‘Too early’ to celebrate grain shipment, says Zelensky

Ukraine is seeking an opportunity to speak “directly” with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to help end its war with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, the South China Morning Post reported on Thursday. In an interview with SCMP, the Ukrainian leader urged China to use its outsize political and economic influence over Russia to bring an end to the fighting. “It’s a very powerful state. It’s a powerful economy … So (it) can politically, economically influence Russia. And China is [also a] permanent member of the UN Security Council,” the report quoted Zelenskiy as saying. Meanwhile, Zelensky told Australian university students that China must not help Russia in its war against his homeland and remain at least neutral. Zelenskyy addressed 21 Australian universities Wednesday in an online discussion hosted by the Australian National University in Canberra. Questioned by a student about Chinas stance, Zelenskyy said he would prefer Beijing join countries including the United … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a Very Powerful State’: Zelensky Seeks Direct Talks With China’s Xi to Help ‘End War With Russia’

Actress Jessica Chastain met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev amid the ongoing Russian invasion. The 44-year-old Zelensky, a former actor and comedian, posted a photo on his official Telegram account showing him and the actress in the presidential palace on Sunday, reports nypost.com. “American actress Jessica Chastain is in Ukraine today. For us, such visits of famous people are extremely valuable,” Zelensky wrote. “Thanks to this, the world will hear, know and understand the truth about what is happening in our country even more,” the post said. VIDEO: American actor Jessica Chastain meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. pic.twitter.com/23YVg7x9pB — AFP News Agency (@AFP) August 8, 2022 Chastain, 45, also visited the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital, Ukrinform reported. The images showed the actress wearing all black, with her red hair pulled into a loose ponytail, smiling while posing with Zelensky in front of a Ukrainian flag. … [Read more...] about Actor Jessica Chastain Meets Ukrainian President in Kiev Amid Russian Invasion

One of Ukraine's top air force pilots has been killed in combat, officials announced on Sunday. Anton Lystopad, who was awarded the title of the best pilot of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2019, was reportedly killed in battle, nearly six months into Russian President Vladimir Putin 's war against Ukraine, the Physics and Technical Lyceum of Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Council said in a statement on Facebook . The statement said Lystopad studied at the lyceum from 2005 to 2008. "Anton Lystopad, a graduate of the Physics and Technical Lyceum, died defending the Ukrainian state," the lyceum said. Just days before his death, he was honored by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with a prestigious award, the Order for Courage, 3rd class, for his "courage, bravery and professionalism." The lyceum's statement remembered Lystopad as capable and "very persistent." "Millions of Ukrainians with delight and pride watched on the day of the 30th anniversary of … [Read more...] about Ukraine’s “best pilot” Anton Lystopad killed in combat—Report

NATO surveillance planes and fighter jets are patrolling around the clock to protect the airspace of member states amid fears that Russian President Vladimir Putin 's war could spread beyond Ukraine's borders. NATO on Thursday shared a video on Twitter regarding the effort, showing its planes and pilots in action. A series of captions included in the video explained that NATO is working to protect the skies of its allies in Eastern Europe "with more jets flying from air bases and aircraft carriers across the alliance" and by "bringing additional deterrence and defensive capabilities." The video said that NATO is also supplying a "constant defensive presence and monitoring the airspace" over Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania, all of which are on or near NATO's eastern flank near Russia. A couple of the Eastern NATO members, Estonia and Latvia, share borders with Russia. "Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, NATO forces stand ready to secure allied … [Read more...] about NATO planes conducting 24/7 air patrols over Putin’s potential next targets

WASHINGTON — In the early phase of the war in Ukraine, shortages of soldiers and problems with equipment forced Russia to narrow its mission, abandon its assault on Kyiv and focus its offensive on the east. Now, as the fighting enters its sixth month, critical manpower and equipment problems could again slow Russian operations and give Ukraine’s counteroffensive a better chance to succeed, U.S. and European officials said. The signs of Russia’s challenges abound: artillery shells missing their targets, intercepts of Russian soldiers complaining they have been given old tanks and a sharply rising death and injury toll in its military ranks. But unlike earlier in the war, it could become harder for Russia to reset its strategy and recover, at least in the short term. U.S. and European officials say few powers have conquered a country and destroyed an opposing army with a mostly volunteer force, as President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia is attempting to do. But Mr. … [Read more...] about Russia’s Shortfalls Create an Opportunity for Ukraine, Western Officials Say

Volodymyr Saldo, who was appointed by the Kremlin to lead Ukraine's southern Kherson region after it was seized during Vladimir Putin 's war, has been hospitalized as Ukraine launches a counteroffensive to retake the strategic city. The official, whom Russia declared "head of the Kherson civic military administration" after gaining control of the territory in the first phase of its invasion, claimed Thursday that he had been hospitalized, and that he was delegating his "authority" to his "acting executive," Sergei Eliseev—a former officer with Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). In a statement on his Telegram channel, Saldo said that following a meeting with the Kremlin-installed government of the Kherson region, the "minister of health" approached him, and after "looking at my appearance, began to insist on an immediate medical examination." "Of course, I refused, but the minister brought doctors to the office, who, after doing an examination, insisted on immediate … [Read more...] about Russia-installed Kherson official hospitalized as Kyiv wages offensive

Ukrainian military officials on Wednesday said that nine Russian warplanes on the Crimean Peninsula were destroyed, but Ukraine has still not officially taken credit for the action. Explosive attacks at the Saki air base in Crimea were worse than described by the Kremlin, The New York Times reported, with Russia's defense ministry initially stating that no equipment had been destroyed and no casualties occurred. Videos have purportedly showed more damage than Russian officials have acknowledged. In social media posts on Facebook and Telegram, the Ukrainian Air Force displayed wartime statistics since the conflict began February 24—adding that the "nine invader planes" are included. Totals since the war's inception include the destruction of 232 Russian aircraft and 193 helicopters. Russia said Wednesday that none of its aircraft had been impacted or destroyed, according to the Associated Press, and it did not acknowledge any attack on its fleet. However, The New York … [Read more...] about Putin loses 9 military planes in one day after Crimea explosion: Report

Ukrainian civil society leaders have started a petition demanding Agnes Callamard resign as Secretary General of Amnesty International, following a controversial report on the war in Ukraine. Amnesty accused Ukrainian forces of using tactics that "violate international humanitarian law" and putting "civilians in harm's way," by stationing themselves in urban areas. The report sparked a furious reaction from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky , who accused Amnesty of shifting "the responsibility from the aggressor to the victim." In response to the report, a petition was launched by 57 Ukrainian civil society figures, including charity heads, journalists and activists, on the Change.org website. Posted by Maksym Eristavi, chair of the KyivPride Managing Board, it calls for Callamard to resign along with "other employees…responsible for the incident." The petition reads: "We, the civil society of Ukraine, activists, volunteers, journalists and human rights defenders, … [Read more...] about Thousands sign Ukraine petition to remove Amnesty chief Agnes Callamard