No Easter truce in Russia’s war on Ukraine. This Sunday, April 16, the most important religious holiday for the Orthodox was stained with blood, the Russian army having bombarded the region of Zaporizhia in the night from Saturday to Sunday. “Nothing is sacred, not even the night of the resurrection. The enemy launched a massive attack. In Komychouvakha, a local church was damaged, but fortunately there was no service. Nearby buildings were also destroyed,” Oblast Governor Yurii Malashko said.
Russia also bombed a wooded area in the same region. Regarding the victims, no report has yet been drawn up. On Saturday, Russia had already bombed the Donetsk, Sumy and Chernihiv regions, killing nine people in Sloviansk in particular.
Lula pleads for joint mediation between China and the Emirates
After a two-day stay in China, Lula spent Saturday in the United Arab Emirates. And from these two trips, he drew an idea: that these two countries, and others, join a “political G20” whose mission would be to end the war in Ukraine. He expressed this project during a press conference in Abu Dhabi. According to him, “the war was caused by two countries”, and not only by Russia.
“President Putin is not taking any initiative to stop the war. The President of Ukraine is not taking any initiative to stop the war,” Lula said. As for Europe and the United States, “they contribute to the continuation of the war, when they should sit around the table and say: enough is enough.”
“Yesterday I spoke to the Sheikh about the war. I spoke to Xi Jinping about the war. And I think we are meeting a group of people who prefer to talk about peace rather than war. And so I think we will succeed,” Lula also said.
Putin praises the “consolidating” role of the Church within Russian society
Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed this Sunday, on the occasion of Orthodox Easter, the “consolidating” role of the Church for society and youth. Addressing Patriarch Kirill in particular, he said, “I would like to express my deepest gratitude for your tireless and selfless work in preserving enduring historical, spiritual, moral and family values, in educating and enlightening the young. many years, your wise pastoral word has served to strengthen society. Today, when we face serious challenges, it is particularly important.”
Poland and Hungary ban the import of Ukrainian grain
In order to protect their farmers, Poland and Hungary both decided on Saturday to no longer import cereals from Ukraine. Ukrainian cereals destined for foreign countries transit through the European Union since the traditional export route via the Black Sea was blocked by the Russian invasion. But, due to logistical problems, grain stocks are piling up in Poland, driving down local prices, which has led to protests by farmers and the resignation of Poland’s agriculture minister.
For the same reasons, the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture, indicated in a message on Facebook that his country had also taken this decision, which will be valid, for both countries, until June 30. In Poland, import bans apply to cereals, sugar, meat, fruit and vegetables, milk, eggs and other food products. On the Hungarian side, these are cereals, oilseeds and several other agricultural products.
Macron and Zelensky talked about China
Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron discussed, this Saturday, the visit to China of the French president, whose recent remarks have drawn criticism in Europe and the United States. “I had a conversation of almost an hour and a half with French President Emmanuel Macron […] The results of President Macron’s recent visit to China were discussed,” Zelensky said on Telegram.
Emmanuel Macron caused an outcry after his state visit to China by saying that Europe should not automatically align itself with the United States or Beijing in the event of a conflict over Taiwan. The two presidents also discussed the next steps in organizing a peace summit.