The U.S. ambassador to South Africa on Thursday accused the country of loading weapons and ammunition onto a Russian vessel docked at a Cape Town naval base in December. The ambassador, Reuben Brigety, said during a press round table that the U.S. is confident about the assertion, though he offered no evidence. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called the ambassador’s remarks “disappointing” and said the issue is being investigated.
Ukraine needs more time before launching its long-anticipated spring counteroffensive against Russian forces, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Speaking to the BBC and European public broadcasters, Zelensky said that while the effort could proceed now “and be successful,” it would incur an “unacceptable” level of loss.
But the founder of Russia’s mercenary Wagner Group, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, claimed Thursday that Ukraine’s counterattack in the besieged front-line city of Bakhmut is “in full swing.” Ukrainian forces are attempting to attack his fighters’ flanks, he said on Telegram, adding: “Unfortunately, in some places they are successful.”
Here’s the latest on the war and its ripple effects across the globe.
Speaking at a joint news conference in Washington, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the commitment to providing military assistance and aid to Ukraine as the war enters a second year. “There is not a zero-sum choice between some of the work we’re doing around the world and the work that we’re doing at home,” Blinken said.
Perry Stein contributed to this report.
