Until the final victory over Russia, the support of Ukraine fell among the Europeans. This results from a survey by YouGov in seven countries of the European Union.
28.12.2024 05:55
Photo: SITA/AP
In a photo taken from a video released by the press service of the Russian Ministry of Defense on Friday, December 27, 2024, Russian soldiers fight near Vuhledar in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
5:55 After a surprise offensive this summer, when Ukrainian troops invaded Russia’s Kursk region, they have already lost about half of the territory they previously occupied. According to US officials, they may lose the rest within a few months, writes Bloomberg. Kyiv could thus lose an important lever in negotiations with Russia on a cease-fire, the agency adds.
Moscow’s increased efforts to push Ukrainian troops out of the Kursk region, possibly as early as next month, may leave the Ukrainians only able to hold the occupied territories until spring before being forced to retreat or risk being encircled. This was reported by American officials on condition of anonymity, according to Bloomberg.
Ukrainian forces have managed to hold on to occupied territory near Kursk for longer than originally thought, partly due to the US decision to allow Kiev to launch long-range US missiles deeper into Russia, one of the officials said. Another official warned that Ukraine’s intention in the Kursk region was never to keep it, but that this counterstrike was intended to shock and deprive Russia of its troops. So the retreat could still be portrayed as a tactical success. Two of the officials expressed hope that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi would order a retreat from Kursk in time enough to avoid high Ukrainian casualties, Bloomberg reported.
5:50 In Western Europe, the number of people who agree to support Ukraine until its final victory, that is, until Russia withdraws from its territory, is decreasing. There are fewer of them than at the beginning of 2023. It follows from survey by the British company YouGovwhich deals with public opinion polls.
Support for Ukraine until it wins is the largest in Sweden – 50 percent, but it is less by seven percentage points compared to February 2023. In Denmark it is 40 percent (-11%), in Great Britain 36 percent (-14%) , Germany 28 percent (-7%), Spain 25 percent (-12), France 23 percent (-14%) and Italy 17 percent (-11%). In all these countries, there has been a rise in the number of people who prefer ceasefire talks and peace talks, even if it means that Russia will occupy some territories. At the same time, the willingness to support such a peace increased by three to ten percentage points.
It appears that Donald Trump’s approach to Ukraine will be to enforce a peace treaty that leaves Russia with some conquered territory. Such a deal would be particularly unwelcome among Swedes, Danes, Britons (51-57%), but other countries are less worried – only 31% of Italians and Germans would react negatively to such a deal, YouGov said.
5:50 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Friday that “several” seriously wounded North Korean soldiers had died after being captured by Ukrainian forces, AFP reported.
“Today there were reports of several soldiers from North Korea. Our soldiers managed to capture them. However, they were very seriously injured and it was not possible to revive them,” announced Zelensky during the evening address published on social networks.
The Ukrainian president did not specify the number of these soldiers. However, he reiterated that Ukrainian forces inflicted heavy losses on North Korean troops.
In his speech, Zelensky also urged China. “If China is serious about its statements that the war should not escalate, it must exert corresponding influence on Pyongyang,” he said.
Earlier on Friday, South Korea’s secret service reported that a North Korean soldier captured by Ukrainian forces died of serious injuries.
Ukraine’s president said earlier this week that more than 3,000 North Korean soldiers have already died or been injured in the fighting against the Ukrainian army in Russia’s Kursk region.
Source: spravy.pravda.sk
