After the horror at Bucha, Ukrainian President Zelenskyj is now talking about further Russian atrocities. EU Commission chief Von der Leyen travels to Kyiv. The current developments:
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is on her way to Kyiv. She wants to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy there.
Zelenskyy accused Russian troops of atrocities against civilians in other Ukrainian cities. In Germany, war refugees from the Ukraine are to receive basic state security from June 1st, i.e. the same benefits as, for example, Hartz IV recipients.
Von der Leyen took the train from south-eastern Poland to the Ukrainian capital on Friday night. The former German Defense Minister is the first Western top politician to visit Ukraine since the war atrocities in the Kiev suburb of Bucha became known.
In reaction to the massacre of civilians in Bucha, the EU member states decided on further sanctions against Russia on Thursday. These include an import ban on coal from Russia, new trade restrictions and a far-reaching ban on Russian ships entering EU ports.
Kyiv: “Tougher sanctions are needed”
Zelenskyi welcomed the sanctions but said they were not enough to stop Russia and end the war. “More sanctions are needed. Tougher sanctions are needed.” At the same time, Zelenskyi demanded weapons for his country “with which we can win on the battlefield”. That will be the strongest sanction against Russia, he said in his daily video message.
Zelenskyi: Borodyanka “even more terrible” than Bucha
Selenskyj spoke of further atrocities by Russian troops in Ukraine. In the small town of Borodjanka near Kyiv, where clean-up work was underway, it was “much more terrible” than in Bucha. There are “even more victims” of Russian units. Zelenskyy also asked what will happen when the world finds out what Russian units have done in the heavily contested port city of Mariupol. There is on “almost every street” what the world saw after the withdrawal of Russian troops in Bucha and other places around Kyiv.
Damage in Odessa region after rocket attack
According to Ukrainian sources, a rocket attack by Russian forces hit infrastructure facilities in the Odessa region in the south of the country. The rocket attack was launched from the sea, the online newspaper Ukrajinska Pravda reported, citing the Odessa City Council. The information could not be independently verified.
Ukraine: More than 4,500 people brought to safety
According to Ukrainian information, more than 4,500 people were brought to safety from contested areas on Thursday. Around 1,200 came from the port city of Mariupol, which was besieged by Russian troops, and another 2,000 from several cities in the Zaporizhia region, said Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Wereshchuk. Around 1,400 people were also evacuated from the Luhansk region in the east of the country from the cities of Lisichansk, Sievjerodonetsk, Rubischne and Kreminna. Ukraine is expecting a new Russian offensive in the east of the country.
Australia flies Bushmaster armored vehicles to Ukraine
Australia flies Bushmaster armored vehicles requested by Ukraine to Ukraine. The 20 versatile troop carriers that Australia had deployed in Afghanistan, among other places, are designed to protect their ten occupants from land mines and other explosive devices. In a speech to the Australian parliament last week, Zelensky specifically asked for a supply of Bushmasters.
Pink Floyd reunites for Ukraine song after almost 30 years
British rock band Pink Floyd have reunited for their first recording session together in almost 30 years to record a song in solidarity with Ukraine. The song “Hey Hey Rise Up” released on Friday features the singing of the Ukrainian singer Andriy Khlyvnyuk of the band Boombox, who is currently recovering from a shrapnel injury in Kyiv. The Pink Floyd musicians previously recorded music together for their 1994 album “The Division Bell”.
Protest slogans on the Soviet memorial in Berlin
Slogans against the war in Ukraine and against Russian President Vladimir Putin were spray-painted on the Soviet War Memorial in Berlin-Treptow. A spokesman for the Berlin police confirmed the graffiti on Thursday evening. He did not give any further details. As “Der Tagesspiegel” and the newspaper “Neues Deutschland” reported, some parts of the memorial were marked with slogans such as “Death to all Russians”, “Ukrainian Blood on Russian Hands” (Ukrainian blood on Russian hands) or ” Putin = Stalin» sprinkled. The lettering was immediately made unrecognizable, a police spokesman told the “Tagesspiegel”.
Japan wants to reduce coal imports from Russia
Japan, in line with the West, wants to impose further sanctions on Russia. One wants to “gradually reduce” imports of Russian coal and ultimately aim to avoid coal imports from Russia altogether, said Koichi Hagiuda, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had previously spoken of war crimes for the first time, citing reports of Russian atrocities.
That will be important on Friday
Ursula von der Leyen’s solidarity visit to Kyiv is likely to get the most attention. She will be accompanied, among others, by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) travels to London. During his inaugural visit to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Russia’s war against Ukraine is likely to be the focus. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier meets President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin in Finland.
Source: Stern
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