Another night of Russian attacks on Kiev, with defense systems deployed and alerts across most of the country. High alert in Moscow for the traditional Victory Day Parade, in Belgorod, a Russian city bordering Ukraine, the celebrations have been canceled for security reasons. Zelenskyy: “This will be Europe Day for us” Nuclear reactors in the Zaporizhzhia power plant, Von der Leyen stopped today in Kiev. The eleventh EU sanctions package against Russia is ready, the USA announces another 1.2 billion in aid. Metsola: Too many third countries are helping Moscow. Pulitzer Prize to AP reporter for reporting from Mariupol. Brazilian President Lula’s envoy will visit Kiev and meet with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.
The war in Ukraine what you need to know
file – War tracks
Live news from the Ukraine-Russia conflict
Important points
07:27 Von der Leyen is in Kiev: “It’s nice to come back, EU values are being defended here”
08:06
Approaching the EU, wheat exports, reconstruction and Russian crimes: the dossiers on the Von der Leyen-Zelensky table
The process of rapprochement with the EU, the grain export dossier, the great chapter of post-war reconstruction and the prosecution of Russian crimes. These will be some of the main topics of the meetings that the President of the European Commission will hold in Kiev with the heads of Ukrainian institutions, starting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Among the dossiers on the table will be the so-called accountability of Russians for the crimes committed in Ukraine.
An issue, the latter, encompassing two main issues: post-war reconstruction with Brussels’ legal attempt to seize frozen Russian assets, and the establishment of a hybrid or international tribunal for Russian crimes. But the chapter on Kiev’s EU accession will also be discussed with the Ukrainian President. In this sense, the commitment of the Ukrainian government to the reforms demanded by Brussels – starting with the anti-corruption reforms – is essentially confirmed by the European executive. The hypothesis is that October is the crucial month for the 27 to decide whether or not to start accession negotiations with Kiev. It’s not a foregone conclusion, also because more than one EU member state views Kyiv’s implementation of the required anti-corruption reforms with some skepticism. At the meeting between von der Leyen and Zelensky, the topic of financial aid will probably come up. And it is by no means out of the question that after various Eastern European countries unilaterally stopped imports of agricultural products from Kiev, the two of them will also tackle the knot of Ukrainian wheat exports. A stop that has greatly irritated the Ukrainian government.
07:27
Von der Leyen in Kiev: “It’s nice to come back, EU values are being defended here”
The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv. “It’s nice to be back in Kiev. Where the values we hold dear are defended every day. It is therefore a suitable place to celebrate Europe Day. I applaud President Zelensky’s decision to make May 9th Europe Day here in Ukraine,” she wrote in a tweet portraying her after stepping off the train at the Ukrainian capital’s train station.
07:06
Von der Leyen in Kiev on Europe Day
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will be in Kiev today to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the occasion of Europe Day. Zelenskyy announced that Europe Day would also be celebrated in Ukraine.
06:57
Kiev: 15 missiles on the capital neutralized by the anti-aircraft system
According to preliminary reports, after the Russian attack on Kiev, a fire broke out in a private house in the capital’s Holosiiv district, and debris was found on the roadway in the Shevchenkivskyi district. This was reported by Rbc-Ukraine, citing the Telegram channel Kmva. Explosions were reported in Kiev and across the region overnight. According to KMVA, the Russian army fired 15 missiles, but the missiles were destroyed by Kiev’s anti-aircraft system.
06:41
Moscow is preparing for the parade
All ready in Moscow for the military parade on Victory Day in World War II with President Putin.
(Portal) 04:33
Another night of Russian raids on the capital, air defenses deployed
Ukraine’s air defense systems are repelling Russian attacks on the country’s capital, the Kiev military administration reports, after airstrike warnings were issued across the country, Portal reports. “Air defense systems are working on the outskirts of Kiev,” the administration said on Telegram.
Ukrainian emergency services issued air raid alerts at dawn in Kiev and most of central and eastern Ukraine, stretching from Vynnitsya in the west to all eastern regions and south to the Black Sea regions of Kherson and Odessa.
(Portal) 04:26
Explosions in Kiev, alarm in 14 regions
According to local media, explosions were heard in Kiev and the Ukrainian capital region this morning. The same sources say the anti-aircraft alert was issued today in 14 of the country’s 24 oblasts.
02:18
Another 1.2 billion US aid for Kiev
The US will provide $1.2 billion in long-term military aid to Kiev to further strengthen its air defenses while Russia continues to attack Ukraine with drones, rockets and surface-to-air missiles, US media have cited as saying on American officials. The aid package is due to be announced today and the money will be provided under Ukraine’s Security Assistance Initiative.
01:48
Zelensky: Over 170,000 square kilometers of land must be demined and secured
Ukraine is preparing a special action system that will contribute to faster demining of the areas liberated from Russian invaders. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as reported by Ukrinform. “To date, more than 170,000 square kilometers of our territory are contaminated with mines and unexploded ammunition. In general, they say it takes decades to deal with such a threat. We have to do it much faster. We are preparing a special action system that will help clear the territory faster,” said Zelenskyy.
(afp)
01:16
Russian invasion of the Dnipropetrovsk region
Russian forces carried out a missile attack on the Pavlograd district of the Dnipropetrovsk region late in the evening. This was announced by the local governor Serhii Lysak, who spoke of “two explosions in the municipality of Mezhiritskyi”. At the moment – he specified – there are no reports of casualties or injuries caused by the Russian missile attack.
(handle) 00:39
Kiev poll: For 67% of citizens, a war can only end in victory
According to a poll published by the Democratic Initiatives Foundation of Kiev, over 67% of Ukrainians say that the war with Russia can only end after victory and that no compromise with Russia is acceptable. 22% of respondents say some compromises are possible. 5% of respondents say any compromise is acceptable as long as it ends the war. According to the same poll, 82% of Ukrainians say there is no difference between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Adolf Hitler. 11% of respondents say they “rather agree” with this statement. Ukrainians also see Poland (68%), the US (67%) and the UK (45%) as their most loyal allies, while Polish President Andrzej Duda, US President Joe Biden and former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson are the most prominent supporters of the Ukraine are. The two most popular people in Ukraine are President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Valeriy Saluzhnyi.
(handle)
00:09
Twelve Russian raids on the Sumy region in the last 24 hours
In the past 24 hours, Russian forces carried out 12 bombing raids on the Sumy region of Ukraine, registering a total of 70 explosions. This was announced by the local military administration. The settlements of Yunakivska, Bilopolska, Znob-Novgorodska, Shalyginska, Esmanska and Novoslobidska are under shelling. There was damage to private residential buildings and the power line.
(afp)