June 24,2022:Ukrainian troops will “have to be withdrawn” from the mostly Russian-occupied battleground city of Severodonetsk, the Luhansk governor says, a day after he said troops had pulled out of some areas around Lysychansk.
A Washington-based think-tank believes Kyiv is preparing for the ultimate loss of both key cities, but says this would not be a decisive victory for Russia.
The United States is sending $450m more in military aid to Ukraine, including another four High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).
The Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, says Russia is carefully recording the use of each Western-supplied weapon to ensure Ukraine fulfils its promise of not launching an attack into Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the EU’s decision to approve Ukraine’s application for candidacy status is one of the most important for the country since it gained independence.
Germany’s economy minister says the country is heading for a gas shortage if Russian gas supplies remain as low as they are now, and certain industries would have to be shut down if there is not enough come winter.
Ukrainian troops to leave Severodonetsk
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