Western officials hailed Russia’s withdrawal from the Ukrainian city of Kherson as a ‘big moment’ by the White House and a ‘new strategic failure’ for Moscow by the UK
Ukrainian troops on Friday Between Kherson, the only provincial capital captured by Russia during its invasion. The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed in a video that Moscow troops had been withdrawn from the Ukrainian city and other territories on the west bank of the Dnipro, in a blow to President Vladimir Putin’s war effort.
“It also has wider strategic implications,” said US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, “because being able to push the Russians across the river means that the longer-term threat to places like Odessa and the Black Sea coastline is reduced from where they were before.
“And so this is a great moment. And it’s definitely not the end of the line, but it’s a great moment,” the senior White House official told reporters as he drove to a Southeast Asian summit in Cambodia. according to a reading published online.
French President Emmanuel Macron called him a “crucial step towards the restoration of [Ukraine’s] sovereign rights”.
UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said The withdrawal of Russia “marks for them a new strategic failure. In February, Russia failed to achieve any of its main targets except for Kherson,” a statement said.
Ukraine’s military said it was overseeing ‘stabilization measures’ around Kherson to ensure it was safe, according to the Associated Press reported Saturday. Kyiv was making quick but cautious efforts to make the city livable after months of occupation, as one official described it as “a humanitarian catastrophe”, the outlet said.
“We will restore all conditions for normal life – as much as possible,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. said in his evening speech. “Our defenders are immediately followed by police, sappers, rescuers, energy workers,” he said. “Medicine, communications, social services are coming back.
Roman Holovnya, an adviser to the mayor of Kherson, said humanitarian aid and supplies had started arriving, but many residents still lacked water, medicine, food and electricity, the report reported. PA.
“The occupiers and collaborators did everything to ensure that the people who remained in the city suffered as much as possible during these days, weeks, months of waiting” for the arrival of Ukrainian forces, Holovnya said. “The water supply is practically non-existent,” he said.
“I am moved to tears to see freedom returning to Kherson,” Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said. tweeted Saturday. “Ukrainians hugging their soldiers, and blue and yellow flags raised.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Saturday that the “war continues” after the success of the Ukrainian army. Before a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Cambodia, Kuleba also thanked Washington for helping Kyiv against the invasion of Moscow.
“Only together can we prevail and drive Russia out of Ukraine. We are on the way. It is happening, and our victory will be our common victory – the victory of all peace-loving nations across the world,” Kuleba said.