Ukraine updates: Russia's forces surround Bakhmut

Russian troops and mercenaries began closing off the last access routes to the besieged city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine on Friday, as Moscow seemed on the precipe of its first major military victory in six months.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner mercenary group, said that his forces had all but surrounded the small town in Ukraine.

Russia has been trying to take control of Bakhmut — which it refers to by its Soviet-era name of Artyomovsk — as a launchpad for further advances toward bigger cities in the area.

Prigozhin said in a video that there was only one road left for Ukrainian forces to retreat from the city, and called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to order the withdrawal.

"Units of the private military company Wagner have practically surrounded Bakhmut. Only one road is left [open to Ukrainian forces]. The pincers are getting tighter," the mercenary leader said.

He also showed what appeared to be three captured Ukrainians — an old man and two young boys. Prigozhin said these increasingly made up the opponents that his forces were facing.

"It is important to stress that the Wagner group is known for pretty tall tales but never knowingly understating their achievements," Nick Connolly, DW correspondent in Ukraine, said.

While Bakhmut isn't strategically important, Connolly said that a "Ukrainian controlled withdrawal from Bakhmut could be on the cards."

Other important Ukrainian cities like Sloviansk and Kramatorsk were still safely within Ukrainian-held territory, but capturing Bakhmut represents a "crucial, symbolic win for the Russians after months of setback on their part, so there is a feeling this might be the beginning of the end of Ukrainian control of Bakhmut for now," Connolly added.

Here are some of the other notable developments concerning the war in Ukraine on Friday, March 3:

US announces new military aid, sends bridge-launchers for spring fight 

The US announced a new $400 million (€376 million) military package for Ukraine, including armored vehicles that can launch bridges and allow troops to cross rivers.

The armored vehicles are being sent for the first time, as Russian and Ukrainian troops remain entrenched on opposite sides of the Dnieper River and as Ukrainian troops brace for a Russian do-over in spring.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that "Russia alone could end its war today. Until Russia does so, for as long as it takes, we will stand united with Ukraine and strengthen its military on the battlefield so that Ukraine will be in the strongest possible position at the negotiating table."

This round of aid will be drawn from existing US weapons stockpiles so it can arrive to Ukraine quickly. The military package includes ammunition for HIMARS and howitzers. 

The US has spend more than $32 billion (€30 billion) in weapons and equipment since Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago.

Moscow to take measures to prevent incursions after alleged Bryansk attack

Kremlin will take measures to prevent incursions along Russia's border with Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a Telegram post.

Moscow accused Ukraine-backed saboteurs of a “terrorist" attack in the Bryansk border region on Thursday.

Kremlin will take measures "to prevent similar events in the future" and Putin would convene a meeting of the security council, Peskov said.

Kyiv has distanced itself from the claim, calling it a "deliberate provocation."

DW expands Russian-language news broadcasts

Deutsche Welle will begin broadcasting its 30-minute Russian language news bulletins DW Novosti every day from March 4, including weekends and holidays.

DW Novosti livestreams daily at 5 p.m. on YouTube and Facebook, averaging about 500,000 viewers on weekdays.

The new daily broadcasting comes a year after the Kremlin shut down DW's Moscow office and revoked accreditation for its staff.

DW Managing Director of Programming Nadja Scholz: "The news situation in Russia and Ukraine is still explosive and changes at short notice. By broadcasting DW Novosti on weekends, we will be able to keep our Russian-speaking audience better informed than before."

Russia cannot wage war with impunity, says US

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his counterparts from India, Japan and Australia on Friday that Russia cannot be allowed to wage war with impunity.

"If we allow with impunity Russia to do what it’s doing in Ukraine, then that’s a message to would-be aggressors everywhere that they may be able to get away with it too," Blinken told the so-called Quad group in India.

The group met in the capital, New Delhi, on the sidelines of the G20 summit. Apart from Blinken, the group consisted of Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

They said in a statement that the use, or threat of nuclear weapons in Ukraine was "inadmissible."

Ukrainian defense minister optimistic war may end this year

Ukrainian Defense Minister Olexey Reznikov told German newspaper Bild that he feels optimistic the war will end this year.

"I am an optimist, I see the situation on the battlefield, I see the development of support and I really see that there is a chance to end this war this year with our victory," he said.

He rejected the possibility of negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. When asked about Scholz's pledges to support Kyiv, he said, "Ukraine must receive real security guarantees.

Switzerland receives request from Germany for mothballed Leopard 2 tanks

Switzerland's Defense Ministry said it had received a request from the German government to allow German defense manufacturer Rheinmetall AG to acquire some of Switzerland's mothballed Leopard 2 tanks.

The tanks would not be sent to Ukraine but be used to fill the gaps created by the handover of Leopard 2 tanks by Germany and its NATO and European allies, a ministry spokesperson told Reuters agency.

Germany, Poland, Portugal, Finland and Sweden are among countries that have committed to sending Leopard tanks to help Ukraine defend itself, creating gaps in their own arsenals.

'Small improvement' in diplomacy with Moscow: Borrell

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he saw a "small improvement" in diplomacy with Moscow after a Group of 20 meeting that saw a rare encounter between US top diplomat Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

"At least this time he stayed and he listened. This is a small improvement but it's important. I think it's better than nothing," Borrell said at the Raisina Dialogue, a forum in New Delhi.

He was referring to the last G20 meet in Bali last year, where Lavrov reportedly stormed out.

Borrell said he was against any effort to remove Russia from the G20 group of the world's top economies. Russia was evicted from the G8 a decade ago, which made it the G7.

More DW coverage

DW got a close-up look at how Ukrainian soldiers continue to risk their lives in the war against invading Russian forces. They rely on mortar shell attacks despite the dangers of short range combat.

Germany has said it wouldn't be buying Russian crude oil this year as it weans itself off its erstwhile biggest energy supplier. But an oil deal with Kazakhstan means Moscow would continue to hold some sway over Berlin.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivered a speech in parliament in which he asked China not to support Russia with weapons in its war against Ukraine.

rm, ab, tg/nm (dpa, AFP, Reuters)