EU-Ukraine summit Friday in kyiv, a “strong signal” sent to Moscow

Ukraine and the European Union will hold a summit in Kiev on Friday, February 3, with the Ukrainian government welcoming this "

" sent to Moscow almost a year after the start of the Russian invasion.

For its part, the Russian army, on the offensive in recent days, claimed on Tuesday January 31 the conquest of a village near Bakhmout, a hot spot in the fighting in eastern Ukraine.

The summit with the twenty-seven is an important step, several months after kyiv obtained the status of official candidate for EU membership.

"Believe in the victory of Ukraine"

In his Tuesday evening address, President Zelensky hoped the summit would reflect a high "

" with the EU.

"

," he said.

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"

", Prime Minister Denys Chmygal had welcomed earlier, saying "

”.

These two days must allow "

", he insisted.

They will take place a few days after the Westerners gave the green light, after long procrastination, to deliver to the Ukrainian army heavy tanks extracted from their arsenal.

Between 120 and 140 tanks

According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine expects "

" Western tanks to repel the Russian army.

This is the first time kyiv has revealed the total number of modern heavy armor pledged by its Western allies.

Ukraine had previously indicated that it would need several hundred of these heavy tanks, long-range missiles and planes to be able to carry out counter-offensives capable of reconquering Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia.

Especially since the delivery process could take months, according to several chancelleries, because of the need to organize the maintenance of the tanks on site and the training of the Ukrainian soldiers.

Paris, for its part, announced on Tuesday January 31 that France would provide Ukraine with 12 additional 155 mm Caesar guns, in addition to the 18 already delivered.

But these highly accurate and mobile pieces lack the 100+ kilometer range that Ukraine says it needs to destroy Russian supply lines and ammunition depots.

US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday January 31 that he would discuss his arms needs with Volodymyr Zelensky.

"

," he told a group of reporters at the White House after answering a negative question the day before about his plans to supply F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, which claim them.

According to the Wall Street Journal, an American defense company, General Atomics, offered kyiv to sell it two Reaper MQ-9 drones for a symbolic dollar.

The cost of transportation to Ukraine ($10 million) and maintenance ($8 million per year) would be borne by kyiv, the newspaper said.

The US government has not commented on this information.

climbing dread

Westerners fear that even more massive military support could push the Kremlin to escalate, as Russia hammers that Americans and Europeans have declared a proxy war on it.

The United States also accused Russia on Tuesday of not respecting the New Start treaty, the last nuclear disarmament agreement binding them.

Many observers believe that Moscow and Kyiv are each planning an assault in late winter or spring.

On the ground, Russian forces seem determined to regain the initiative, after setbacks in the fall forced them to retreat to the northeast and south of the country.

On Tuesday, January 31, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed in its daily situation update that "

", near Bakhmout, after an offensive by "

" supported by the aviation and artillery.

"

" is the euphemism used in Russia for paramilitary groups - especially those of the Wagner group - fighting with the army.

Wagner's boss, the sulphurous Evguéni Prigojine, had already claimed responsibility for taking Blagodatné on Saturday, which kyiv had denied.

His men also conquered the small town of Soledar in January, at the cost of heavy losses, and the surrounding villages.

Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that his country was considering military assistance for Ukraine.

"

," Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with US channel CNN, when asked if Israel was planning to offer help to Kiev, such as its defense system. aerial Iron Dome.

Benjamin Netanyahu also offered to mediate, if the belligerents and Washington asked him to.