Putin rejoicing his 'pyrrhic' victory in Bakhmut

Setting off the past week of tumultuous political developments supporting Ukraine in Putin's war with Ukraine; the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, personally arrived in Japan to attend the current G7 Summit meeting.

As reported by  Dasha Livitovna (right),

"While the world awaits Ukraine’s spring battlefield offensive, its leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, has launched a diplomatic one. In the span of a week, he’s dashed to Italy, the Vatican, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia and the UK to shore up support for defending his country. This weekend he’s in Japan at the G7 conference in Hiroshima." (Independent.ie :21 May 2023) (my emphasis)

Joe Middleton : Independent : 19 May 2023

As also reported by Tessa Wong (left),

"The Ukrainian president arrived in Hiroshima on a French government plane, after a stopover in Saudi Arabia.

His hastily-organised visit prompted G7 leaders to issue a statement early, in which they condemned Russia.

They also warned against "economic coercion", which Beijing is accused of using against several countries." (BBC News: 21 May 2023) (my emphasis)

Zelensky's attendance at the G7 Summit in Japan coincides with,

"The White House said US president Joe Biden informed his allies at the conference in Hiroshima that it will allow the advanced planes to be donated to Kyiv.

Mr Biden, who is attending the G7 with other members France, Italy, Germany, Japan and Canada, as well as the EU, also announced training for Ukrainian pilots." (Joe Middleton : Independent : 19 May 2023) (my emphasis)

NBC News : 19 May 2023 : YouTube

And as reported by Inês Pereira (left),

"Joe Biden pledged a “shared and unwavering commitment” to stand with Ukraine during his speech at the G7 summit.

The US president said: “This morning I once more shared and assured President Zelensky together with all G7 members and our allies and partners around the world that we will not waver. Putin will not break our resolve, as he thought he could two years ago, almost three years ago.” (Independent :21 May 2023) (my emphasis)

(Independent :21 May 2023) (my emphasis)

Not only did Zelensky meet with US President Biden at the G7 Summit, he also met with India's Prime Minister Narenda Modi.

As reported by HT News Desk,

"At the meeting, PM Modi stressed that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine was a major issue impacting the entire world.

“But I don’t see this as a political or economic issue, for me this is an issue of humanity, an issue of human values,” the prime minister told Zelensky during his opening remarks.

"You know more than any of us what is the suffering of war but when our students came back from Ukraine last year, the description of the circumstances they gave then, I could understand the pain felt by you and Ukrainian citizens," he added. (Hindustan Times : 20 May 2023) (my emphasis)

Firstpost : 21 May 2023 : YouTube

And whilst the attendees at the Tokyo G7 summit are expressing their “shared and unwavering commitment” to stand with Ukraine, Putin is already preparing to dole out medals for the Wagnerite criminals who are claiming to have "liberated" Bakhmut. 

As reported by Sky News,

"Vladimir Putin has congratulated the Wagner Groups of mercenary fighters and the Russian army today for what he called the "liberation" of the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.
...
"All those who distinguished themselves will be presented with state awards," it said. (Sky News : 21 May 2023) (my emphasis)

But, as Lloyd Lee (left) points out,

• "Russia claimed victory over Bakhmut after a month long battle over the eastern Ukrainian city.
•  But experts have said even if that's true, the area provides little to no strategic advantage.
•  Now, Russia will have to expend resources in the city while also preparing for Ukraine's counterattack."  (Business Insider : 22 May 2023) (my emphasis)

Putin does not seem to comprehend that his 'alleged' victory in Bakhmut is nothing more nor less than a "pyrrhic" victory i.e. a victory that inflicts such a devastating toll on the victor that it is tantamount to defeat. Such a victory negates any true sense of achievement or damages long-term progress. (cf. Wikipedia)

And whilst Putin is clinging to a pyrrhic victory in Bakhmut, many are now politically scrambling to immediately set in motion a 'peace' mission to end Putin's war with Ukraine.

As reported by Lindsay Dentlinger (right),

"President Cyril Ramaphosa says African leaders hope to travel on a peace mission to Ukraine and Russia as soon as possible in efforts to resolve the conflict between thens.

President Ramaphosa said he floated the African peace mission idea to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in two separate phone calls over the weekend.He said that both leaders were receptive to the offer and were prepared to receive the delegation in both Moscow and Kyiv.

Ramaphosa said that he tabled the initiative on behalf of the presidents of Zambia, Senegal, Congo, Uganda, Egypt and South Africa. (Eyewitness News : 16 May 2023) (my emphasis.)As also reported by Gerard O’Connell,

"Pope Francis’ peace mission, which he first announced on April 30, appears to be underway. This was confirmed by the Vatican on May 20 when it announced that Pope Francis has entrusted Cardinal Matteo Zuppi .... with “the task of conducting a mission, in accord with the Secretariat of State, that may contribute to reducing the tensions in the conflict in Ukraine, in the hope, never dismissed by the Holy Father, that this could open to paths of peace.” .. (America The Jesuit Review : 20 May 2023) (my emphasis) However, as Jared Gans reports,"Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch urged caution about reaching peace in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, arguing that Russian assurances should be met with some skepticism." (The Hill : 19 May 2023) (my emphasis)                                                          

Putin may, indeed, be rejoicing his "pyrrhic" victory in Bakhmut, but the international political walls continue to close around him. (to be continued)