Top US general Mark Milley said the West should brace for a "very protracted conflict" in Ukraine. Meanwhile, several EU leaders are expected to visit Kyiv. DW has the latest.
- Top US general says Ukraine war could last for years
- EU's von der Leyen and Borrell to visit Kyiv
- Zelenskyy aware of renewed Russian offensive in east
- US expected to enact new sanctions on Wednesday
This article was last updated at 10:30 AM IST
US general: Ukraine conflict could last for 'years'
General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the US Department of Defense, said in testimony to Congress that the war in Ukraine could last for years.
"I do think this is a very protracted conflict and I think it is at least measured in years," Milley said.
Milley added that the US and other states supporting Ukraine will be "involved in this for quite some time."
Milley also said that the US should establish "permanent bases" in eastern Europe, but with "rotational" rather than permanently stationed troops.
"My advice would be to create permanent bases but don't permanently station (forces), so you get the effect of permanence by rotational forces cycling through permanent bases," Milley said, adding that the Baltic States, Romania and Poland would be willing to pay for such bases.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that expansion of the US military presence in eastern Europe was a "work in progress," adding that the issue will probably be discussed at the NATO summit in June.
UK: Situation in Mariupol 'worsening'
The humanitarian situation in the besieged city of Mariupol is worsening, according to British military intelligence.
In its latest intelligence update, the UK Ministry of Defense said heavy fighting and Russian airstrikes have continued in the southern Ukrainian city.
"Most of the 160,000 remaining residents have no light, communication, medicine, heat or water," the ministry said.
It accuses Russian forces of blocking humanitarian access to the city.
Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry said its forces would "liberate" Mariupol from Ukrainian "nationalists."
It fits with Moscow's stated goal to control the Donbas region in Ukraine's east, including Mariupol.
US approves transfer of anti-armor weaponry to Ukraine
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the United States has approved a further $100 million (€91.3 million) in military aid to Ukraine, including anti-armor systems.
Blinken said that Ukraine was in urgent need of anti-armor weaponry.
The transfer will be funded as part of the $13.6 billion (€12.5) in aid for Ukraine earmarked by the US Congress.
Since the beginning of last year, US military assistance to Ukraine has totaled $2.4 billion (€2.2 billion).
US approves transfer of anti-armor weaponry to Ukraine
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the United States has approved a further $100 million (€91.3 million) in military aid to Ukraine, including anti-armor systems.
Blinken said that Ukraine was in urgent need of anti-armor weaponry.
The transfer will be funded as part of the $13.6 billion (€12.5) in aid for Ukraine earmarked by the US Congress.
Since the beginning of last year, US military assistance to Ukraine has totaled $2.4 billion (€2.2 billion).
400 residents missing from Kyiv suburb Hostomel — Ukrainian authorities
The head of the local military administration in the town of Hostomel said that around 400 residents were missing after 35 days of Russian occupation.
Hostomel is in the Kyiv region, lying northwest of the country's capital and close to an airfield that receives international cargo planes. Most of its 16,000 residents have fled the area.
Taras Dumenko said authorities were currently inspecting basements in the town in a bid to find missing residents. He said that the bodies of a number of civilians who were known to have been killed were also yet to be found.
Several Hostomel residents have been found in Bucha, which lies immediately south of Hostomel.
Ukrainian troops took back control of Hostomel a few days ago, along with the nearby settlements of Bucha and Irpin.
New Zealand to impose new Russia sanctions
New Zealand will impose new sanctions against Russia, the government announced.
The government said that it would impose a 35% tariff on all imports from Russia as well as a ban on the export of certain products such as ICT equipment and engines.
"The images and reports emerging of atrocities committed against civilians in Bucha and other regions of Ukraine is abhorrent and reprehensible, and New Zealand continues to respond to Russian President Vladimir Putin's mindless acts of aggression," Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta said in a statement.
“These tariff increases work in conjunction with the international community as we seek to pressure Putin’s regime," she added.
US chipmaker Intel suspends Russia operations
US semiconductor firm Intel has announced it is suspending its operations in Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine effective immediately.
"Intel continues to join the global community in condemning Russia's war against Ukraine and calling for a swift return to piece," the company said.
"We are working to support all of our employees through this difficult situation, including our 1,200 employees in Russia," Intel added. "We have also implemented business continuity measures to minimize disruption to our global operations."
Zelenskyy says Ukrainian army holding back Russian forces
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his daily video address that the Ukrainian army was holding back Russian forces as they tried to push deep into Ukraine.
Zelenskyy added that Russia was gathering up reinforcements for a fresh offensive. He said that Ukraine was outnumbered in terms of both troops and equipment.
Summary of events in Ukraine-Russia crisis on Tuesday
The British Foreign Ministry said that the UK had frozen some $350 billion (€321 billion) in assets of what they called Russian President Vladimir Putin's "war chest."
Italy, Spain and Slovenia expelled Russian diplomats from their soil, in response to the atrocities in the city of Bucha, Ukraine.
The medical charity group Doctors Without Borders, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), said in a statement that its team had witnessed bombings in Mykolaiv, Ukraine.
Estonia decided to close the consulate general of the Russian Federation in Narva and the consular office of the Russian Embassy in Tartu. Latvia also decided to close two Russian consulates and to expel their staff.
Germany said it would loan Moldova €50 million ($55 million) on top of a support package of €40 million to help it cope with the influx of refugees.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Ukrainian television that he would consider it a victory if Russian troops returned behind the "line of contact" in the Donbas region, which has separated Moscow-backed militias from the rest of Ukraine since 2014.
Zelenskyy said that if Ukraine tried to retake the occupied territories in Luhansk and Donetsk by force today, it would cost Ukrainians hundreds of thousands of lives.
Ukraine's leader also addressed the UN Security Council, saying the killings of civilians in Bucha is "only one" example of Russian atrocities in his country.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba calling for talks to end the conflict in Ukraine.
