Kremlin says it will closely follow Biden, Zelenskyy meeting

CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK; ADDS MORE DETAILS, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Kremlin said it would closely follow a meeting on Tuesday between US President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a news briefing that the outcome of the meeting would change neither the situation on the front line in Ukraine, nor the progress of Russia's "special military operation."

"Here, of course, it is important for everyone to understand that the tens of billions of dollars pumped into Ukraine did not help it gain any success on the battlefield. The other tens of billions of dollars that Ukraine wants to be pumped into its economy will also be doomed to this same fiasco," he added.

Peskov said "failures" in Ukraine were "rocking the boat" and "swaying the authority" of officials.

Citing "specific information," he said Russian intelligence concluded that the West was preparing to replace Zelenskyy as Ukraine's president.

Zelenskyy arrived in Washington Monday on a two-day visit, which is said to be a lobbying effort at securing more US aid for its war effort against Russia.

Commenting on situation in the Gaza Strip, where Israeli attacks since the Oct. 7 offensive by Hamas has killed more than 18,000 Palestinians, the spokesman said clashes in the besieged enclave continue to take place in such conditions that it is “virtually impossible” to provide aid to civilians.

“We see that hostilities have been resumed and that they continue. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is the object of close attention and concern of many countries around the world. This will require effective efforts and serious steps to quickly provide assistance to the Palestinians. While the guns are roaring, it is virtually impossible to do this,” he said.

Besides the casualties and displacement, Gazans face severe shortages of food, water and other basic goods as only a trickle of aid is allowed in.