Zelenskiy postpones all foreign trips amid offensive on Kharkiv

• 15 May, 09:11

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has postponed all his foreign trips amid intensified Russian attacks on northern Kharkiv region. “Volodymyr Zelenskiy has instructed that all international events scheduled for the coming days be postponed and new dates coordinated,” Sergii Nykyforov said on Facebook. Zelenskiy had cancelled a visit to Spain and Portugal, his press secretary has now said that all upcoming foreign visits scheduled for Zelenskiy have been postponed.

Russia has stepped up offensive towards Ukraine’s second city, Kharkiv in recent days. Russian troops launched a new offensive in northeastern Ukraine near Kharkiv city on Friday, opening a second front in the war. This could force Ukraine to divert some of its already stretched forces from the east, where Russia has been making gradual progress. Russian forces have been advancing in multiple directions in northeastern Ukraine, including near Vovchansk and towards the village of Lyptsi, according to the head of the Kharkiv regional administration, Oleh Syniehubov. This week, Russian troops enetered north-eastern border town of Vovchansk near Kharkiv.

The situation in Kharkiv was discussed during US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s surprise visit to Kyiv on Tuesday. Zelenskiy asked Blinken for more air defence to repel Russian attacks. “In particular, he asked for Patriot systems for Ukraine, saying two “Patriots” for the Kharkov region could significantly help in protecting lives from Russian terror. Blinken said “the U.S. has been by Ukraine’s side from day one, and we will stay by your side.”