Our correspondent in Russia Xiao Xinxin
According to the New York Times, US Secretary of State Blinken went to a bar in Kiev during his surprise visit to Ukraine on the 14th, and even went on stage to play and sing rock singer Neil Young's "Rock in the Free World", triggering Huge controversy.
reported that critics believe that now is not the time for US government officials to "wear jeans and sing in bars" on the grounds that people in the Gaza Strip are experiencing hunger and there is fierce fighting in Kharkiv. The Republican National Committee said on social media, "Blinken's move proves that this is not a serious government." The report mentioned that Blinken's controversial behavior seemed to have achieved the purpose of refocusing the outside world on Ukraine. Blinken's speech on long-term support for Ukraine earlier on the 14th did not attract attention. However, when he performed the politically charged song, the topic of Ukraine also aroused heated discussion.
Russia’s First Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Polyyansky said on the 14th that while Blinken was “singing leisurely” in a bar in Kiev, Ukrainians were being arrested on the streets and sent to a “meat grinder”, and “there are still people in Gaza Are the bars open?” Ukraine’s “strana.ua” news network quoted netizens as saying that the U.S. military aid to Ukraine has been delayed for half a year, but Blinken was hanging out in a bar in the center of Kiev.
At the same time, fierce fighting was taking place on the front lines. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated on the 15th that the Russian army controlled multiple settlements in the Kharkiv area and penetrated deep into the Ukrainian army's defense. In addition, the Russian army completely controls the settlement of Robodny in the Zaporozhye region. Razutkin, spokesman for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, said on the same day that the Russian army is trying to occupy the northern part of the city of Wovchansk. Some Russian troops have entered the city and the Ukrainian army has deployed combat troops nearby.
Ukrainian Presidential Press Secretary Nikiforov said on the 15th that in view of the current tight situation on the front line, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy has instructed to postpone all international events that he was originally scheduled to participate in and will conduct them at an optional date. According to a report by EFE on the 15th, Zelensky canceled his planned visit to Spain and Portugal due to the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv area.
Russia's "Military Observation Network" analyzed that the Russian army's advantage in battlefield initiative was once again reflected in the Kharkiv area. The Ukrainian army's continuous losses have greatly increased the pressure on the Ukrainian authorities. In addition, there is controversy in Ukraine over whether Zelensky will continue to be in power after his presidential term expires on May 20. Ukraine is facing an increasingly severe internal and external situation, and even if U.S. military aid arrives, it may not have a substantial impact on reversing the situation in the war. ▲
