Ukraine live briefing: Pressure to send German main battle tanks to Kiev is mounting
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have made progress in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region and to continue offensive operations around the Donbas city of Bakhmut, while a chorus of supporters urged Germany to approve delivery of main battle tanks that it claims Kiev will be crucial to the fight against entrenched Russian troops. .
The Institute for the Study of War, a US-based think tank, noted Russia’s alleged gains in Zaporizhzhia in its latest report, but said any suggestion of a major territorial conquest there “is likely part of a Russian intelligence operation” . However, it noted that Russian forces are likely to make incremental gains around Bakhmut. The Ukrainian army acknowledged in an update on the situation on Saturday that Russian offensives are underway in the Bakhmut and Zaporizhzhia areas and that there has been an increase in airstrikes.
Here’s the latest on the war and its ripple effects around the world.
4. From our correspondents
The United States bought 14 percent of its uranium from Russia by 2021, writes Steven Mufson, but any action against Rosatom should not lead to significantly higher electricity costs, as US utilities are already seeking more natural uranium supplies. Henry Sokolski, executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, said that “at worst, some long-term Russian supply contracts could not be fulfilled, and that might raise the price of electricity by one or two percent.”
He added: “Since we are spending over $100 billion to help Ukraine, it would be a rounding error.”