Friday’s Coverage: “Massive” Russia Attack Kills Woman, Injures 10+ in Odesa

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 0701 GMT:

Three residents have been killed and two injured by Russian attacks on the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.

The victims were in Chasiv Yar, Slovyansk, and Kurakhove,” near the frontline of Russia’s offensive.

UPDATE 0641 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s phone call with Vladimir Putin.

This is exactly what Putin has long sought. It is critical for him to weaken his isolation, as well as Russia’s isolation, and to hold mere talks that will lead nowhere. He has been doing this for decades.

In their first conversation in almost two years, Scholz asked Putin to end his 32 1/2-month invasion and withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine.

Condemning the invasion, Scholz urged Putin in the hour-long call to negotiate with Kyiv to achieve a “just and lasting peace”.

Zelensky challenged, “This has allowed Russia to avoid making any changes to its policies, effectively doing nothing, which has ultimately led to this war. We understand all the current challenges and we know what to do.”

Zelensky said of Donald Trump’s return to power in January, “It is certain that the war will end sooner with the policies of the team that will now lead the White House. This is their approach, their promise to their citizens.”

Zelensky did not give his expectation of the terms which would end Russia’s invasion. However, he told a Ukrainian outlet of the “constructive exchange” with Trump last week, “I didn’t hear anything that goes against our position.”

At his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Friday, Trump said: “We’re going to work very hard on Russia and Ukraine. It’s got to stop.”

Zelensky acknowledged “slow, but nevertheless advancements” by the Russians in eastern Ukraine. He cited fatigue among fighters, the slow pace of filling and equipping brigades, and delays on weapons deliveries from abroad.

He said, in an interview with Ukraine State radio:

Ukraine must not be alone with Russia, and Ukraine must be strong.

How can there be negotiations with a killer? If we talk to Putin under our current conditions, without being strengthened, this is a losing position for Ukraine from the start. This isn’t about a just peace.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Russia’s officials say they are suspending gas deliveries via Ukraine on Saturday.

The Russians sent the message to Austrian counterparts. The pipeline, dating back to the Soviet era, was scheduled to shut at the end of this year.

Ukraine has said it would not extend the transit agreement with Russian state-owned Gazprom, hoping to deprive Russia of revenues for its 32 1/2-month invasion.

Austria was the main recipient of Russian gas via Ukraine. Moscow will now supply only Hungary and Slovakia, in Budapest’s case via a pipeline running mostly through Turkey.

Before its February 2022 full-scale invasion, Russia supplied 40% of the European Union’s gas. Russia shipped around 15 billion cubic metres of gas via Ukraine in 2023. The route met 65% of gas demand in Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia.

European and global gas prices spiked after a fall in Russian pipeline supplies in 2022, but European countries have found alternative sources, including liquefied natural gas from the US.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said Gazprom’s halt of supplies was long expected and Austria has made preparations: “No home will go cold….Gas-storage facilities are sufficiently full.”

OMV, Austria’s biggest energy supplier, said it has arranged to import gas via Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha posted: