Zelensky protagonist at the top of Hiroshima. The Ukrainian president will have a face to face with Joe Biden in the next few hours. While the US is opening up to China’s diplomatic initiative. “Beijing could absolutely play a role” in resolving the Ukrainian conflict and it is “positive that President Xi has spoken to Zelensky” and “has appointed a special envoy for this purpose”, says a senior US administration official. On the ground, the Moscow Defense Ministry announces the capture of Bakhmut. Previously it was the Wagner group that claimed it, with a denial by Kiev.
Putin congratulates the troops
Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated the troops “for taking the city of Bakhmut”, according to the Interfax news agency.
Moscow Defense Ministry announces capture of Bakhmut
The Russian Defense Ministry has announced the “liberation” of Bakhmut, the Ukrainian city that has been the scene of fierce clashes for months. The Tass makes it known. In the past few hours he had been the head of the Wagner group, Yevgeny Prighozin, to claim to have taken “full control of the city”. But Kiev had denied it.
The ministry adds: “In the Artyomovsk tactical direction (the Russian name of Bakhmut, ed.), assault teams of the private military company Wagner with the support of artillery and aviation of the southern tactical group completed the liberation of the city “.
US: “China could play a role in peace in Ukraine”
The Chinese “could absolutely play a role” in the resolution of the Ukrainian conflict and it is “positive that President Xi spoke to Zelensky” and “appointed a special envoy for this purpose”: a senior official of the G7 said in a briefing to the G7 US administration.