A delegation of Ukrainian lawmakers who visited Washington on Wednesday said they believed Russia was simply using the peace talks with Ukraine as a “smokescreen” for their forces to regroup and re-emerge in Ukraine. “Right now, these peace talks are a long way from the real talks,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, chair of the Ukrainian Parliamentary Committee on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, to a small group of journalists. bank organized by the German Marshall Fund. thought tank. “Sure, I think Putin is using this as a smokescreen, buying time to reorganize; and sending false, misleading messages around the world,” he said. “We feel that these are not real peace talks at this point,” said MP Anastasia Radina, who heads the parliament’s Anti-Corruption Policy Committee. “We feel that what Russia is doing is trying to save face. They say they are withdrawing troops from the Kiev region. This is not true for a simple reason. They do not withdraw. … They were expelled (out). “ Radina said there was only “one way out of the war, and that is for Ukraine to win.” Their comments came a day after the Russian Defense Ministry said it had decided to “drastically reduce hostilities” around Kyiv and Chernihiv. U.S. officials, including President Joe Biden, remain skeptical of the announcement. “We will see,” Biden said on Tuesday when asked about Russia’s allegations. “I do not read anything until I see what their actions are. We will see if they will follow what they suggest “. More weapons needed: Ukraine’s military seeks foreign aid for reconnaissance and attack drones, regular radars, electronic warfare systems against drones and closed-air support aircraft, according to the latest list of Ukraine needs provided to Congress. The list, delivered to CNN on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, also includes assistance in treating wounded troops and repairing equipment, including mobile military medical hospitals, repairing armored vehicles in neighboring countries, and carrying weapons. Jason Crowe, a Democrat from Colorado, told a House Armed Services Committee hearing Wednesday that the latest list submitted to Congress this week reflects the “urgent needs” of the Ukrainian military and political leadership. At the top of the priority list of 17 items were reconnaissance and offensive drones, including “switchblade” drones, which are small so-called kamikaze or suicide drones that carry a head and explode in a collision. The list also included fighter jets – specifically the Su-25, a Russian-made ground attack aircraft similar to the US-built A-10 Warthog. The Ukrainian army is also looking for artillery systems, surface-to-air missiles, Javelin anti-tank missiles, anti-ship missiles and surveillance equipment. The all-female Ukrainian delegation – men aged 18-60 – are not allowed to leave Ukraine amid the war – traveled to Washington this week mainly, they say, to ask US lawmakers and administration officials for more military support. which they said is still far from the needs of Ukraine. “Appropriate action for Ukraine at this time, in support of Ukraine at this time, would be weapons,” Radina said. “Ukraine is constantly asking for weapons, not only defensive weapons, but also offensive weapons. In our case, this distinction between defensive and offensive is, frankly, humiliating. “In our situation, all weapons are defensive because we are defending our territories.” Radina reiterated that Ukraine needs fighter jets, “because that way we can really stop the bombing. “And from now on this is the issue at the table, and as long as it is on the table, people will continue to suffer.” “Our ‘humanitarian aid’ is a weapon,” said MP Maria Ionova. “Because to minimize these victims and the victims, we have to defend our air. Freedom must be armed. And that’s our main message here is please, help us defend our future and the future of the democratic world. “ “Neutrality is not an option for Ukraine”: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has shown that Ukraine can be willing to give up NATO membership and commit to neutrality if the West provides Ukraine with solid security guarantees. But such a move should be put to a referendum – and Klympush-Tsintsadze said anything other than NATO membership should be rejected. “Neutrality is not an option for Ukraine,” he said. Read more here.
