10:38
EU membership: Head of Ukraine’s diplomacy denounces ‘second-class treatment’ by ‘certain capitals’
The reference to Berlin is transparent after Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke out against “a shortcut” for Ukraine’s rapid EU accession. The head of Ukraine’s diplomacy, Dmytro Kouleba, therefore on Thursday denounced “second-rate treatment” of “certain capitals” over Ukraine’s candidacy to join the European Union.
“The strategic ambiguity about Ukraine’s European perspective, practiced by some EU capitals in recent years, has failed and must end,” he tweeted.
He also spoke of “second zone treatment”.
10:00 a.m
According to the Russian government, 1,730 Ukrainian soldiers have surrendered from Azovstal since Monday
The Russian executive has counted the surrenders of the last Ukrainian defenders of the Azovstal site in Mariupol.
The Kremlin has therefore calculated the number of soldiers who surrendered to the Russians or their local cronies at “1730”. “During the last 24 hours, 771 fighters of the Azov nationalist regiment went to the Azovstal steel site in Mariupol. In total, since May 16, 1,730 fighters, including 80 wounded, have taken prisoner,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
9:44
Scholz is not in favor of a “shortcut” for Ukraine’s quick EU membership
The Chancellor prefers to hesitate. As the war pushes Europeans to consider Ukraine, Olaf Scholz declared this Thursday morning that he “does not support” the country’s quick accession to the European Union.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Thursday he was not in favor of giving Ukraine a “shortcut” to European Union (EU) membership, which he said was “not a matter of a few months or a few years”.
“The fact that there is no shortcut on the way to (Ukraine’s) EU membership is an imperative of fairness towards the six Western Balkan countries,” which have long wanted to join the European bloc, he emphasized in a speech to MPs Ukraine Bundestag. French President “Emmanuel Macron rightly points out that the accession process is not a matter of a few months or a few years,” he added.
8:15
One dead and injured in a bomb attack in Russia near the Ukrainian border, local governor says
A bomb attack in a village in south-west Russia on the border with Ukraine in the Kursk region has left one dead and wounded, the region’s governor said on Thursday.
“Another enemy attack in Tyotkino, which took place at dawn, unfortunately ended in tragedy. At the moment we know of the death of at least one civilian,” Roman Starovoyt said on Telegram, explaining that other people had been injured and were receiving medical treatment.
According to preliminary information, the victim, a truck driver making deliveries to a local distillery, was hit “repeatedly,” the governor added, implying that the attack came from Ukraine in response to the February 24 started Russian invasion took place.
4:07
Washington actively supports the NATO candidacy of Finland and Sweden
The United States on Wednesday strongly backed Finland and Sweden’s bid for NATO membership, vowed to stand by them in the event of a Russian “threat” and is working to crush the Turkish opposition.
“I welcome and strongly support the historic candidatures of Finland and Sweden,” said President Joe Biden, who will welcome Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö to the White House on Thursday.
In a statement, the Democrat said he “looks forward to working with the US Congress and our NATO allies to quickly bring Finland and Sweden into the strongest defensive alliance in history.”
4:07
Russia Shuts Down CBC/Radio Canada Office, ‘Unacceptable’ to Trudeau
Russia on Wednesday announced the closure of the Moscow office of Canadian television broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada and the cancellation of its journalists’ accreditations and visas, a decision the Canadian prime minister called “unacceptable”.
It is the first time that Moscow has banned a Western media outlet since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine on February 24. Russia said this was in response to the ban on Russian group RT’s broadcasting channels in Canada, which was decided in mid-March.
“Putin’s decision to expel Canadian media from Moscow is trying to prevent them from reporting facts and that is unacceptable,” Justin Trudeau said on Twitter. “Journalists must be able to work safely – without censorship, intimidation or interference,” he added.
4:06
Hello, everyone
Welcome to this directive dedicated to the post-war in Ukraine