The Ukrainian military announced its withdrawal from Adviivka on February 17, days before the two-year mark since full-scale conflict between Russia and Ukraine erupted in February 2022. The decision also comes amid a severe shortage of ammunition in Kyiv as new US military aid has been stalled in the country’s parliament for months.
Although the Russian Defense Ministry said Ukrainian units were still holding out at the Avdiivka coke plant, the advance in the town was Moscow’s biggest since it took control of the city of Bakhmut last May, according to Reuters. Both Avdiivka and Bakhmut are in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, and Avdiivka is not far from the provincial capital of the same name, which is controlled by pro-Russian separatists.
Russian and US presidents speak out after Moscow's victory in eastern Ukraine
The developments in Avdiivka are also the clearest sign yet that the tide of the war has turned in Moscow's favor, after a large-scale counteroffensive failed to break through Russia's defenses last year.
The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated military units and their commanders on the capture of Avdiivka on February 17. According to a statement posted on the Kremlin website, Putin received a report on the situation in Avdiivka from Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
Ukrainian soldiers pile bags of earth to build fortifications not far from Avdiivka on February 17.
"The head of state congratulated the Russian soldiers on this success, an important victory," the statement said.
Russian news agencies published the content of the telegram in which Mr. Putin sent thanks to Colonel General Andrei Mordvichev, commander of the Russian "Center" group of troops in Ukraine participating in the effort to besiege Adviivka.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 17. Mr. Biden said he was "confident" that the US Congress would approve new aid for Kyiv, but also warned that without Washington's help, Kyiv could lose more territory to Russia.
"I spoke to Mr. Zelensky this afternoon to let him know I'm confident we'll get that money," Mr. Biden told reporters after visiting a church in Delaware, according to AFP.
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He said it would be "absurd" and "unethical" for US lawmakers not to approve funding to continue military aid to Kyiv, adding: "I will fight to get them the ammunition they need."
A White House statement on the same day of the phone call said President Biden emphasized Washington's commitment to continuing to support Ukraine and reiterated the urgency of passing a budget bill in the US Congress.
The White House also said Ukraine was forced to withdraw its troops from Avdiivka "due to dwindling supplies amid inaction by the US Congress." This situation forced Ukrainian soldiers to disperse their ammunition and led to "Russia's first significant victory in months."
In another development, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on February 17 that he discussed peace prospects with Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission and Chinese Foreign Minister, according to Reuters.
"I met with my Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss bilateral relations, trade and the need to restore a just and lasting peace in Ukraine," Kuleba wrote on X (formerly Twitter) about their talks on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany.
Mr Kuleba said he had discussed with Mr Wang plans for a global peace conference in Ukraine, which Switzerland had agreed to host. He said the two sides “agreed on the need to maintain Ukraine-China contacts at all levels and continue dialogue”.
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