Day 413 since the beginning of the war: Leaked documents point to a violent dispute in the Russian power apparatus. France appears to be blocking an EU decision to finance ammunition supplies to Ukraine. All information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
Document: Violent dispute between Shoigu and Prigozhin
10.10 a.m.: The previously secret documents from the Pentagon, which became public as part of a leak a few days ago, point to various power struggles in the Russian power apparatus. Accordingly, there is said to be a public dispute between the head of the Wagner mercenaries, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu about ammunition for the Wagner troops allegedly withheld by the military. President Vladimir Putin is said to have personally tried to settle the dispute between the two. The meeting is said to have taken place on February 22, according to one of the documents.
In addition, the domestic secret service FSB accuses the military of covering up the extent of the casualties on the Russian side, according to a report by the Washington Post. The military continues to shy away from relaying bad news up the chain of command, the document said. The FSB, in turn, is questioning the figures from the Ministry of Defense in discussions with the Russian government.
Moscow complains that Lavrov’s delegation did not have a visa
9.47 a.m.: Russia has criticized delays in issuing US visas to Moscow’s UN delegation led by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov just ahead of key UN Security Council meetings. “So far not a single entry permit has been issued,” Russia’s Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov wrote on Thursday on the diplomatic mission’s Telegram channel. Russia took over the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council in April. Lavrov is scheduled to chair the April 24-25 Council meetings.
There are only a few days left until the event, but so far there are still many uncertainties. Landing permission for Lavrov’s plane has not yet been granted. “We expect the Americans to immediately grant permission to fly without any conditions or restrictions,” Antonov said. Another delay in issuing visas would also be a violation of the USA’s obligations as the base of the UN headquarters. Before Antonov, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov had also urged more haste in issuing visas.
Kuleba: Real peace means restoring borders
8:51 a.m.: According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, there can only be real peace if his country’s original borders are restored. All occupied cities and Crimea should be part of Ukraine again, he says in a video link at a security conference in Bucharest.
“There is no difference between Ukrainian cities, they all must and will belong to Ukraine again.” Russia already annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014, which is not recognized internationally.
Report: France blocks ammunition shipments to Ukraine
The Night: Shock at Beheading Video
Ukraine leaks: USA apparently expects little progress
2.30 a.m.: The US apparently does not expect the Ukraine war to end this year – even if Kiev could win back larger parts of its country. This assessment should be part of the leaked documents, reports the Washington Post. Even increasingly serious losses of the Russian armed forces would therefore not lead to peace talks or a victory on the part of one side. “Negotiations to end the conflict are unlikely in 2023 in all scenarios considered,” according to the Washington Post in the previously unpublished document.
