Fighting has intensified in the Donbas region
Ukraine may find it harder to hold Russian forces back there
“IT CAN NOW be stated that Russian troops have begun the battle for Donbas,” pronounced Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, late on April 18th. More than three weeks have now passed since Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, abandoned his assault on Kyiv and retreated from northern Ukraine. Now Mr Putin is throwing a large portion of his weary army at eastern Ukraine in the hope of salvaging something from his war. The coming weeks are likely to see the bloodiest battles since Russia first invaded the Donbas region in 2014.
This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “A new phase begins”
Europe April 23rd 2022
- Fighting has intensified in the Donbas region
- Why Olaf Scholz hesitates to send Ukraine heavy weapons
- Georgians back Ukraine, but their government is more hesitant
- Protests and politics will dominate this year’s Biennale
- Emmanuel Macron remains the strong favourite to win France’s presidency
- Tariffs on Russian energy are a smart way to hobble Vladimir Putin
From the April 23rd 2022 edition
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The boss of the European Commission embarks on a second term
Marine Le Pen spooks the bond markets
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Vladimir Putin fires a new missile to amplify his nuclear threats
The attack on Ukraine is part of a new era of missile warfare
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