As the conflict continues and moves to Ukraine’s eastern borders, the US and its western allies are planning new military and economic support measures for Kyiv. Today US President Joe Biden addresses the nation and announces a new package of military aid to Ukraine, while G7 ministers announce another 24 billion in favor of Kiev. Tensions also rise in the Far East after 11 Chinese jets raided air defense identification space
Ukraine, Zelenskyy: “EU membership is our priority”
8:36
Kyiv, evacuation from Mariupol ahead, security difficult
The evacuation of civilians from Mariupol continues today. This was announced by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk via telegram. In Mariupol “today we continue to evacuate women, children and the elderly,” says Vereshchuk, announcing that boarding buses will begin at 2 p.m. local time. “The security situation is difficult. There may be some changes,” he added. Instead, the arrival of the “four evacuation buses” is expected, which yesterday managed to leave the city via the humanitarian corridor: “They spent the night in Berdyansk and are now on their way to Vasylivka. We will be expecting them in Zaporizhia soon ».
8:18
Gb, Russian troops advance on Kramatorsk
“Russian forces are now advancing from base areas in Donbass to Kramatorsk” in eastern Ukraine “which remains the target of persistent missile attacks.” This is what the British Ministry of Defense writes in its latest intelligence update, which was published on Twitter.
“The Russian armed forces are likely to want to show that they have achieved significant success ahead of their annual Victory Day celebrations on May 9,” the intelligence service continued, specifying that “this could affect the speed and strength with which they are trying to to perform operations in the time before date”.
In this scenario, the Russians continue air activities to provide close air support to the offensive in eastern Ukraine “to suppress and destroy the capabilities of Ukrainian air defenses”.
8:17
Moscow, UN Security Council states as a basis for guarantor states
The five member countries of the United Nations Security Council (USA, UK, France, China and Russia) could become the basis of states guaranteeing Ukraine’s neutrality and security, said a senior official at the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexey Polishchuk, stressing the issue is one of the topics of discussion in the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Tass reports it. The issues of “security guarantees by a number of states will be considered in these talks,” the diplomat said, adding, “It is suggested that the establishment of the institution of guarantor states could consist of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council”. But “others Options are also being explored, so the final list hasn’t been determined yet,” he noted.
