As the world acknowledges this solemn anniversary, the European Union has imposed its 13th package of sanctions, intensifying Russia’s isolation. David Cameron was anticipated to speak at an evening meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba.

EU Grapples Sanctions Escalate Costs Mount: Russia-Ukraine War

Europe Grapples with Tough Questions

As the world observes the invasion’s second anniversary today, Europe faces challenging questions about the war and its future. The most pressing: how long can it sustain the draining financial and military support for Ukraine? Whispers of fatigue are growing, especially as the war shows no immediate resolution, and unity within the European Union and NATO encounters challenges.

Also Read: EU Grapples Sanctions Escalate Costs Mount

EU Grapples Sanctions Escalate Costs Mount: Here are the 10 key points

• On February 24, 2022, Russian forces, under the order of President Vladimir Putin, initiated a multi-pronged attack on Ukraine, targeting major cities like Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odessa.
• Ukrainian troops and a galvanized citizenry fiercely resisted, leading to intense fighting, particularly around major population centers.
• The second-anniversary clashes coincide with heightened tensions as the US announces its most substantial package of sanctions against Moscow, aiming to cripple Russia’s war effort.
• The EU has implemented its 13th package of sanctions, further isolating Russia. In response, Moscow has imposed counter-sanctions on EU officials.
• Sanctions and export controls are in place to hinder Russia, “making it harder for them to fight their war of choice,” said Deputy US Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo.

Geopolitical and Economic Impact

The war has significantly damaged Ukraine’s economy, witnessing a decrease of approximately 30-35% of GDP in the first year alone. Neighboring economies are also affected, with increased defense spending and inflationary pressures, according to the Economics Observatory.

European energy companies face challenges in finding alternative suppliers to replace Russian imports, leading to higher transportation costs, as per S&P Global data.

Also Read: EU Grapples Sanctions Escalate Costs Mount

Get the Latest World News along with the World’s Latest Updates at TheNewsay and Follow for Live Updates – Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, Pinterest, KooApp and YouTube.

Russia Takes Control of Avdiivka Biggest Victory in 9 Months

The fall of Avdiivka is Russia’s most substantial advancement since seizing the city of Bakhmut in May 2023, almost two years after President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale war by invading Ukraine.

Russia’s defense ministry reported an 8.6 km (5.3 miles) advancement on the 1,000 km (620-mile) front line, with Russian troops pushing forward after a deadly urban battle, leaving the town nearly deserted.

Also Read: Russia Takes Control of Avdiivka Biggest Victory in 9 Months

Ukraine stated it withdrew its soldiers to prevent them from being completely surrounded after months of intense fighting. Putin applauded the fall of Avdiivka as a significant victory and praised Russian troops.

Following Ukraine’s unsuccessful attempt to breach Russian lines last year, Moscow aimed to wear down Ukrainian forces as Kyiv considers a major mobilization, and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appoints a new war commander.

“The head of state congratulated Russian soldiers on this success, an important victory,” stated the Kremlin on its website.

Russia mentioned some Ukrainian forces still occupy the Soviet-era coke plant, crucial for Russia’s goal of securing full control of the industrial Donbas region. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov stated, “Measures are being taken to completely clear the town of militants and to block Ukrainian units that have left the town and are entrenched at the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant.”

Also Read: Russia Takes Control of Avdiivka Biggest Victory in 9 Months

There has been no public comment from Ukrainian authorities on this. Russian state television showed Ukrainian flags being replaced with Russian flags in Avdiivka.

Russia portrayed the Ukrainian withdrawal as hurried and chaotic, claiming soldiers and weapons were left behind. The Ukrainian military acknowledged casualties but stated the situation stabilized somewhat after the retreat.

U.S. President Joe Biden had warned about Avdiivka falling due to ammunition shortages following months of Republican opposition to a new U.S. military aid package for Kyiv.

Zelenskiy, at a global security conference in Munich, urged allies to address the “artificial” weapon shortage and emphasized the importance of stalled U.S. aid. He praised Ukrainian troops for exhausting Russian forces in Avdiivka and suggested the withdrawal resulted from a lack of weapons.

Also Read: Russia Takes Control of Avdiivka Biggest Victory in 9 Months

Capturing Avdiivka boosts Russia’s morale ahead of Putin’s re-election bid next month and is a step towards securing Moscow’s hold on Donetsk, about 20 km (12 miles) to the east.

Putin congratulated the Russian commander in charge of the assault on Avdiivka, Colonel-General Andrei Mordvichev. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov stressed the need for modern air defense systems and artillery shells.

Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who took command last week, said Ukrainian forces moved to more secure positions to avoid encirclement. Ukrainian forces also repelled a Russian offensive on the southern front in the Zaporizhzhia area.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by TheNewsay staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Also Read: Russia Takes Control of Avdiivka Biggest Victory in 9 Months

Get the Latest World News along with the World’s Latest Updates at TheNewsay and Follow for Live Updates – Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, Pinterest, KooApp and YouTube.

Weapon of Ukraine Shortage Empowers Putin

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskiy expressed concern about the artificial shortage of weapons, especially in artillery and long-range capabilities. He pointed out that this situation allows Putin to adjust to the ongoing intensity of the war.

Zelenskiy referred to the troubled town of Avdiivka, where Ukrainian troops had to withdraw due to acute shortages of ammunition. He highlighted the delay in U.S. military aid, held up for months in Congress.

In a powerful statement, Zelenskiy urged people not to question when the war will end but to ponder why Putin can still sustain it.

Get the Latest World News along with the World’s Latest Updates at TheNewsay and Follow for Live Updates – Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, Pinterest, KooApp and YouTube.

Russia reported on Sunday that Ukraine, using Western-supplied rockets, killed at least 28 people, including women and a child, by striking a bakery and restaurant in Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine Shelling Bakery Russia Control 28 Casualties: Moscow

Ukraine struck the bakery in Lysychansk with U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) on Saturday, as per Russian-backed officials.

Emergency workers searched for survivors in the remains of the Adriatic Restaurant on Moskovska Street throughout the night, where Russian officials said a bakery for civilians was set up.

Leonid Pasechnik, the Russian-installed head of the Luhansk region now controlled by Russian forces, stated that the armed forces of Ukraine targeted a crowded bakery in Lysychansk. Russia’s emergency ministry rescued 10 people, but four are in extremely critical condition, and the search continues.

Also Read: Ukraine Shelling Bakery Russia Control 28 Casualties

As per the Ukraine Shelling Bakery Russia Control 28 Casualties, There has been no comment from Ukraine about the attack, and Reuters couldn’t immediately verify the weapons used.

After an invasion in February 2022, Russia gained control of parts of eastern Ukraine, considering the land part of Russia. Ukraine and the West refuse to accept the annexation of that territory.

The Russian foreign ministry condemned Ukraine’s attack, urging the West to consider why its financial support to Kyiv was used to harm civilians. Preliminary data suggests the use of Western weapons, according to Maria Zakharova, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman.

Reuters confirmed the video’s location, shared by the Russian emergencies ministry, as the Adriatic Restaurant on Moskovska Street, Lysychansk, matching Google Maps. However, details, including the footage date, remain unverified.

Only about a tenth of Lysychansk’s pre-war population remains, according to Ukrainian officials. While Ukraine reclaimed some territory in 2022, its 2023 counter-offensive faced challenges against fortified Russian lines. In the last month, Russian forces seized 56 square miles of Ukrainian territory, as per the Belfer Center at Harvard’s Kennedy School.

Get the Latest World News along with the World’s Latest Updates at TheNewsay and Follow for Live Updates – Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, Pinterest, KooApp and YouTube.