Today
Saturday May 20, 2023
18:55
DECODED A JOURNEY
Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Hiroshima, Japan, on Saturday to attend the G7 summit. The President of Ukraine traveled on board an A330 in the colors of the French Republic. A questionable choice.
International
Posted today at 6:02 p.m.
18:37
“THE PEACE FORMULA”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video on social media to update Ukrainians on his first day at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan.
The President of Ukraine notably welcomed productive meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
peace formula. We attract to Ukraine as many countries and leaders as possible. Defense. Long-term support programs for Ukraine. finance and economy. The first day in Hiroshima before the #G7 is very powerful. The second day will be even more powerful. pic.twitter.com/67paT2NDOp — Volodymyr Zelenskiy (@ZelenskyyUa) May 20, 2023
18:12
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
The International Criminal Court (ICC) said it was “inflexible” after its prosecutor, Karim Khan, who issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin, was put on a wanted list by Russia.
“The ICC finds these measures unacceptable. He will persistently continue to fulfill his statutory mandate to ensure accountability for the most serious crimes,” the Hague-based court said in a statement.
15:42
TRANSFER OF POWER
The Wagner Group, which says it has completed the capture of Bakhmout, will hand over control of the city to the Russian army on May 25, Yevgueni Prigojine announced on Saturday. “By May 25, we will completely search the city, set up defenses and turn them over to the military to take care of. For our part, we will return to the bases,” he said.
15:40
UKRAINE STILL “FIGHTING” IN BAKHMOUT
“That’s not true. Our units are fighting in Bachmout,” Ukrainian military spokesman Serhiy Cherevatyi said in a comment reported by the Guardian. “The situation is critical. At the same time (…) our defenders control certain industrial facilities and infrastructure in the region, as well as in the private sector,” added Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Ganna Maliar.
These excursions come a few minutes after Evgueni Prigojine’s statements in which he confirmed that the Wagner group had conquered the entire city.
15:23
BRITAIN-UKRAINE TALKS
At a meeting in Hiroshima on Saturday, Rishi Sunak and Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed additional sanctions against Russia and the possibility of Kiev receiving fighter jets, Downing Street said in a statement.
“The Prime Minister reiterated that the UK will continue to provide Ukraine with the military assistance necessary to win the war and secure a just peace,” read the text shared by the Guardian. “The Prime Minister updated President Zelenskyy on the very positive progress made so far in the G7, including the new sanctions against Russia and the supply of fighter jets,” he added.
15:00
Hostility towards China and Russia
The head of Russian diplomacy Sergei Lavrov estimated on Saturday that the decisions made at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan are aimed at “containing” Russia and China. “Look at the decisions discussed and made today at the G7 summit in Hiroshima aimed at doubly containing Russia and China,” he said.
14:59
BAKHMOUT
Wagner’s boss Evgueni Prigojine announced on Saturday that the Russians had completely taken over the town of Bakhmout, which had been the scene of bloody fighting for many months. “On May 20, 2023, at noon today, Bakhmout was completely taken,” he said in a video broadcast by his press service on Telegram, in which he stands next to armed men in front of destroyed buildings. “The operation to capture Bachmout lasted 224 days (…) Only Wagner was here,” adds the leader, in open conflict with the Russian military hierarchy.
14:57
UKRAINIAN DELEGATION
On Twitter, Emmanuel Macron welcomed the arrival of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the rest of the Ukrainian delegation to attend G7 talks. “This is a unique opportunity” for the Ukrainian leader to discuss with his G7 allies, but also to stand up for the cause of Ukraine against the Russian invasion with the various leaders of the countries of the south invited to the summit, the resident of the Élysée stressed. “I think it can be a turning point for Ukraine,” he says again.
An airplane in the colors of the French Republic has arrived in Hiroshima. On board, the Ukrainian delegation came to the G7 to work with us and our partners. For the victory of Ukraine. For the return of peace in Europe. pic.twitter.com/1D6n8jCaEN — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 20, 2023
14:27
G7 SUMMIT
A bilateral meeting between Italy and Ukraine took place ahead of the G7 summit in Hiroshima.
Meeting before the G7 summit in Hiroshima – HANDOUT / PRESS SERVICE OF THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT 13:54RUSSIAN MISSILE PRODUCTION
While Moscow is believed to have exhausted most of its missile stockpiles, its army could be producing up to 67 missiles a month, according to a report by Ukrainian intelligence. Fragments of Russian missiles suggest they just “off the assembly line,” Deputy Intelligence Chief Vadym Skibitsky told RBC-Ukraine. This means that despite Western sanctions, Russia would have managed to procure components for advanced munitions.
1:47 p.m
STATE OF RUSSIAN TROOPS
According to a recent report by the Ukrainian Army General Staff, 202,430 Russian soldiers have been killed since the invasion of the country began on February 24, 2022. Losses inflicted on the Russian side also included 3,781 tanks, 7,382 armored fighting vehicles, 308 aircraft, 294 helicopters, 2,801 drones and 18 boats destroyed.
12:49 p.m
MODI MEETS ZELENSKY
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had just arrived in Hiroshima, Japan, where leaders of the G7 and other invited countries are meeting for a summit. A first for the two leaders since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which India refused to condemn.
Prime Minister @narendramodi held talks with President @ZelenskyyUa during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima. pic.twitter.com/tEk3hWku7a – PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 20, 2023
12:17
RUSSIAN SURVEY
According to iStories, one in three Russian students expressed a desire to leave the country in an unpublished Kremlin poll. For example, 44% of the students surveyed described the situation in Russia during the war as a “crisis”, while 32% described it as a “collapse”. Only a quarter saw hope in the situation in Russia.
12:06
3 QUESTIONS ABOUT THE F-16
Joe Biden has paved the way for delivery of American F-16 fighter jets by willing countries. A “historic” decision, celebrated by Kiev, which raises several questions, such as that of pilot training.
International
Posted today at 11:59 am
11:57
CAUTION FROM MOSCOW
Western countries would take “colossal risks” in supplying Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko warned, according to the TASS news agency. “We see that western countries are still sticking to the escalation scenario. That poses huge risks for themselves. In any case, all our plans take this into account and we have all the necessary means to achieve the goals set for ourselves,” he said. A day earlier, ahead of a G7 meeting, the US President announced his support for joint training programs for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.
11:53
CREDENTIALS
Report from Mariupol, one year after the deadly bombing and Russian occupation of the city.
VIDEO – Mariupol: “corpses in every courtyard of buildings”, a year after the fall of the city, the stigmata of the survivors are still aliveSource: Les MATINS LCI
09:36
NEW US AID
According to a US official, US President Joe Biden will announce $375 million in military aid to Ukraine in Hiroshima, where he is attending the G7 summit. On condition of anonymity, he said the new support would include artillery, ammunition and a Himars rocket launcher.
09:34
WHICH PROGRAM FOR ZELENSKY?
When the Ukrainian head of state arrived in Japan on the eve of the G7 summit, he had a busy day. In particular, he has to meet with Joe Biden after approving the delivery of F-16s to Ukraine, but also with Emmanuel Macron.
09:21
G7 SUMMIT
The G7 called on Beijing to “put pressure on Russia to end its aggression”. “We stand ready to build constructive and stable relations with China,” said the leaders of the seven democracies that make up this alliance, noting “the importance of open dialogue” with the Chinese authorities. In doing so, they reaffirm their “resistance” to any Chinese “militarization” in the Asia-Pacific region.
09:07
Zelenskyy at the G7 summit
Shortly after landing in Hiroshima, the Ukrainian President spoke about the G7 summit planned for tomorrow. “Important meetings with partners and friends of Ukraine. Security and increased cooperation for our victory. Peace will come closer today.”
Japan. G7. Important meetings with partners and friends of Ukraine. Security and increased cooperation for our victory. Peace will come closer today. — Володиmir Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 20, 2023
08:58
THE LAST 24 HOURS IN UKRAINE
Joe Biden has given Kiev the green light to stock up on F-16 fighter jets. Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Saudi Arabia for the Arab League summit. A look back at the highlights of the last 24 hours of the conflict.
International
Posted today at 7:58
08:41
Urgent
SELENSKI IN HIROSHIMA
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has just arrived in Hiroshima, Japan, ahead of tomorrow’s G7 summit, a diplomatic source told AFP. The French Republic plane, which was transporting it from Saudi Arabia, where it landed on Friday, landed at the city’s airport and the red carpet was rolled out for its departure, AFP journalists noted.
07:27
GREEN LIGHT FOR F-16
Washington is now ready to allow other countries to supply Ukraine with the fighter jets that country craves: US-made F-16s. A “historic” decision, welcomed Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy acquires American F-16 aircraftSource: TF1 Info
07:09
DRONE ATTACK DEFENDED
Kiev’s civil and military administration said it had completely repelled a new Russian drone attack on the city that was targeted overnight, although debris fell on Kiev and so far caused no casualties. “Tonight the attacker carried out another massive drone strike. All detected air targets were shot down by the city’s air defenses,” Kyiv’s head of civil and military administration Serhii Popko wrote on Telegram.
According to the official, further debris falls occurred in the Darnytskyi, Pechersk and Solomyanskyi districts. No information is currently available on possible victims, he added. At 12:45 a.m. local time, the Ukrainian army announced that Shahed drones were heading to the Kiev region.
07:00
WELCOME
Hello and welcome to this post dedicated to the war in Ukraine. Throughout the day you will find up-to-date information on the conflict and its global consequences.