Zelensky cancels visit to Belgium due to Russian offensive in Ukraine
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has cancelled his visit to Spain, scheduled for Friday. According to the Spanish press, this is due to the Russian offensive in Ukraine. Zelensky also cancelled an unannounced visit to Belgium.
A meeting between Spanish King Felipe VI and Zelensky and an official breakfast in honour of the Ukrainian president were cancelled. Later on Wednesday, Zelensky's spokesman Serhiy Nikiforov confirmed that all foreign trips "in the coming days" would be cancelled.
According to a close source, this includes Belgium: Zelensky had planned an unannounced visit to Brussels, including a meeting with prime minister Alexander De Croo.
Russian offensive
The Spanish press writes that Zelenski made the decision because of the new Russian offensive in northern Ukraine. Russian soldiers have made significant progress in recent days, capturing several villages in eastern Ukraine.
The latest Russian offensive has forced Ukraine to withdraw troops from the Kharkiv region, which borders Russia. The city of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest with a population of 1.3 million, is not currently under threat.
"Anyone who is tempted to bet against Ukraine, don't. It would be a big mistake"
In response, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced an additional $2 billion in military aid for the country. "We are rushing ammunition, armoured vehicles, missiles, air defences to the front lines," Blinken said on Wednesday. "Anyone who is tempted to bet against Ukraine, don't. It would be a big mistake."
© YVES HERMAN / POOL / AFP
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