Ukrainians Flee Pokrovsk As Russia Advances To East

US Secretary of State Anthony blinkin has announced new sanctions against Russian media channel the top us Diplomat explained that a media is part of a network of Russian backed media Outlets which have sought to covertly undermine democracy in the United States United States respects and champions freedom of expression even when it comes to Media Outlets that wittingly spread government propaganda and will continue to lead the World in defending and promoting media freedom but we will not stand by as RT and other actors Carry Out cover activities in support of Russia's nefarious activities meanwhile fighting is still on between Russia and Ukraine with officers from the Ukrainian military reporting that the situation is critical near the front line south of procr we have more in this report the Russian military has reported of being surrounded by russan this comes as Russia's military strategy now appears to be surrounding the south of pooves which is a key Transportation Hubb in the region one of the Ukrainian officers who preferred to stay Anonymous said the military leadership wants to hold their positions at all cost often leading to the loss of troops and resources reports said the situation in poke Roes is becoming increasingly difficult as the Russians have destroyed the crossing that connected the city with minad leaving the locals without water and gas more and more people are trying to evacuate from pokro but trains are no longer returning from there and the bus station is also closed therefore those who do not have their own transports are looking for benefactors who would help with departure another report revealed that the Russians are bombarding okive and the surrounding area with aerial bombs and long range artillery every day at the same time in the fields to the South the occupiers keep trying to push through the Ukrainian defense line in order to deter the enemy and support Ukrainian infantry men long range weapons of the 44th separate Artillery Brigade are on guard around the clock on the tomak section of the front in another development odisa has been affected after being massively attacked by drones at night Air Defense Forces worked in the city for almost an hour most of the drones were destroyed but there were also hits and damage from debris a dozen cars and houses were damaged by the explosion and one person was injured those who experienced the night terror say the Russians specifically aimed the drones at the residential sector because there are no military or energy facilities nearby I have joined me Global Affairs analyst edba and chair he joins me from the US and also we have the chairman in um chairman Nigerians in diaspora um Russia Dr Godwin Ebe and they'll both be speaking on the continuous of Russia Ukraine war thank you both for joining us well thank you for having me thank you for so let me start with you um mrba what's your thought on um the statement coming from the US of State um saying that look the US is beginning to consider allowing Ukraine use long range weapons um in this war you know I don't know I mean it could just be an empty empty statement that it's not going to be followed up with because if if they were to do that uh then you know this war is going to escalate to a level that maybe nobody we going to like the outcome um you know Russia is doing what Russia is doing because Russia knows that if Ukraine were to use an American missile that America was hoping to be a deterrent and actually fire it into Russia then who knows what what Putin is going to do attack some other n countries around Russia and then all of a sudden you have a major major war going on so I think it's just one of those statements that he's making but then watching you know this war is now 2 and a half years old when it started everybody thought it was going to be over in a matter of months and who knows how long it's going to go before it actually stops um so I don't put any weight on what Biden Administration people are saying you the president is just watching and marking his time uh to be out of there come January uh regardless of who wins in November so and nobody's taking him seriously you know he's been a weak president and during this time and then that was even what enabled and emboldened uh Putin to do what Putin has done and I'm staying with you Mr um how valid is the statement coming from the Russian President Vladimir Putin that if the US and NATO countries were to allow that to happen the use of long range um weapons by Ukraine then it would mean that Russia is at war with NATO and Russia would have to change its strategy well that's what I said earlier you know if you know UK prime minister was there I think recently meeting with Biden and everybody's just kind of cautious because Russia has Russia has one of those world one of those countries in the world that has some weaponary system that they can deploy and it could be an immediate uh on you know onle of missiles and bombs and whatever around vulnerable countries that shouldn't even be drawn into this War uh War so you know is a cautious statement it's a cautious situation and I don't think anything is going to happen in the next few months you know I think they're just watching this election to see what happens come November and who takes over in January let me bring in Dr ibe now who is in Russia um Dr Ebe I also want to get your reaction you know to the statement coming from both the Secretary of US Secretary of State and then the president of Russia Vladimir Putin well um uh you see uh it's uh it's it's horrible that um instead of deescalation we are seeing such rethoric that could lead to escalation um President Putin has been quite clear uh in the sense that and has drawn a red line or do I say new red line that if those long range weapons are to be used then those satellites in space that for theate that helping the um Target acquisition and um and uh you know location will be destroyed um that could mean so many things it could also mean unleashing nuclear bomb or explosion in space um because it will be seen by Russia as direct involvement of NATO in the conflict um everyone knows that Russia has a capability but the question is why the bear um this war has lasted do I say longer than most most people predicted but also led to the loss of lives approaching Millions uh this does not um reduce in any way from the fact that there are other Wars going on in other theaters around the world in Syria it hasn't stopped oh no in Sudan in Libya um in so many areas around the world still have wars and these are human lives that are being lost on a daily basis um the first uh um Peace Summit that was held by um Ukraine and its um and its Hallelujah boys um that did not include Russia and one will wonder why would you have a peace Summit between two you know Waring partners and you wouldn't have one of them seated at the table um but uh fortunately we are hearing statements that the second pce Summit might include Russia and it's very good if both parties can come along and and negotiate because well everything um you you made a statement that I want to follow through with or follow on follow up on it's the when you said everyone knows that Russia has its capabilities um Russia has you know struggled in this war with Ukraine it Russia actually thought that it was going to defeat Ukraine in a matter of of months or weeks but I mean this is now a war of attrition is Russia ready for um conflict with NATO uh there are some statements you may consider misconceptions first of all there's no time and no place did Russia say that they were going to win the war in a matter of days these are one-sided predictions which didn't turn out and that responsibility should not be placed on Russia that's the first of all now about struggling you've made a one-sided remark saying Russia is struggling but it's NATO winning uh so why wouldn't you say nato is also struggling maybe you could say both sides are struggling since it has lasted this long then it'll be a balanced statement so if both sides are struggling then he begs the question why not meet on the negotiation table and try to end it because it has cost huge cost so it will not be it such statement will not bring the other party to if you say only one side is struggling rather you accept the realities of what's going on that both sides are suffering losses and uh both sides need to uh come to negotiation table and end this obviously it's Ukrainian lands mostly that are taken now we have this ksk offensive which has led to more loss of lives especially of the ukrainians they are kind of retreating from ksk um but it's mostly uh former Ukrainian lands are taking are now part of Russian territory um which are you know which are which is the main victim in this uh conflict that's where the combat line is most of the combat line so uh I think we we have to take it from a balanced view of things and listen more I've heard so many statement from West whether not only secretary of state other Western leaders but I don't see many from Russian leader you know Russian leaders some of them speak English and even if they don't they have translators so it would be nice to also get their own statement their own version that when when you get two Russian Western leaders speak you match it up with two Russian leaders we actually do listen to we actually do listen to um reports coming from Russia as well but in terms of capabilities Russia is no um uh Ukraine is no match for Russia and that's why it's it's called a struggle on the side of Russia when you look at you know military capabilities but let's but it's not Ukraine that is fighting Ukraine is supplied and sponsored by the West so be my final question has to go to Mr AAR um Dr I has talked about about um negotiations and finding lasting peace which a lot of people actually we have more people who are in support of Peace you know and finding you know just that negotiation Point mediation Point what will it take to bring this war to an end and and is is it even close is it is it in sight at all yeah I wish I'm Clairvoyant I wish I'm a Russian or I wish I'm a Ukrainian you know I I I am somebody who is opposed to you know European conflicts becoming a World War and this is Neighbors you know hitting on neighbors I don't I really don't care if they were to bumb all themselves out of life you know because in in history you look at all the major conflicts in the world has always been an European War the first one the second one and now you know we are teaching at the age of something else happening yes it makes sense for the two War Warlords in this to get together and look themselves in the eye and said hey what what do we need to do to have this to end people are dying properties have been destroyed then not even when this thing ends you still have to have the after after aftermath of it you know that's psychological damage people who have lost loved one because they are encouraged by their leaders who live in bunkers to put on their uniform and then at the end of it day they give you a medal and call you a hero the hero of life should be one who is able to live freely and be able to take care of their family I don't have to fight fight unnecessary Wars because a president or two presidents don't B each other yes eBay is right you know it is the is you know I've always said this on interviews you guys have given me it's one versus many you know maybe Putin is crazy and you know every every every president in the world is crazy but the fact that he has been able to to you know with I mean withstand this you know incursion from NATO from the west from everybody maybe what he's doing is reserving his most dangerous weapon until NATO people fire at him then he will ises on arms so again you know this is neighborly love if if you know love thy neighbor is what they say in the Bible for those people who read it and believe in it how come this Russian and ukrainians are not loving each other why should I be bothered why should Africa be bothered in all this stuff Africa has its own conflict Africa has it own challenges but is that drawing their attention that this ukan and Russia is drawing is not so you know I I think you know Africa should come to the point say I don't care we don't care if you guys want to it be a very strong statement to make to say we don't care because I mean in every conflict lives and loss whether in Africa or around the world but we do have to live but nobody nobody's talking about you I mean EB said it who's talking about have to leave there I have just a few seconds left thank you so much for your time Global Affairs analyst Ed thank you and chairman Nigerians in diaspora Russia Dr God always a pleasure to have both of you on thank you [Music] [Applause] [Music]