It is the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance in the martyr city of Mariupol. Two months after the start of the Russian invasion, launched on February 24, the immense Azovstal metallurgical complex is still in shock. But for how much longer? Ukrainian fighters continue to fiercely defend the area where civilians are also entrenched, says kyiv.
Vladimir Poutine affirmed Friday April 22 that Ukraine refused the surrender of the last entrenched soldiers. His army said Friday ready to observe “at any time” a truce “on all or part” of the site.
At the same time, in Mariupol, a new attempt to evacuate civilians – primarily women, children and the elderly – from the port of the city, largely controlled by the Russian army, is planned for this Saturday around 12 p.m., Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said. The President of the European Council Charles Michel, who represents the member states of the European Union (EU), had earlier asked Vladimir Putin in a telephone interview on Friday to guarantee humanitarian corridors in Mariupol on the occasion of Orthodox Easter. A similar request also came from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- Negotiations “skating”, according to Moscow
Negotiations between Moscow and kyiv aimed at settling the conflict are “skating”, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday. “They are slipping, because a proposal that we submitted to the Ukrainian negotiators five days ago and which was formulated taking into account their comments remains unanswered,” said Sergei Lavrov.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier described as “realistic” the possibility of the war in Ukraine lasting until the end of 2023, due to Russia’s determination to continue its offensive.
- Sinking cruiser “Moskva”: one dead and 27 missing, according to Moscow
A sailor has died and 27 others are still missing after the sinking of the cruiser “Moskva” last week, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday, acknowledging losses for the first time.
The sinking of the “Moskva” is widely considered a humiliation for Russia. Pro-Kremlin commentators even demanded explanations. Moscow says the ship sank due to the explosion of ammunition on board and bad weather conditions that hampered towing operations. But Ukraine says it sank the building with missiles.
- UN chief to visit Russia and Ukraine
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will travel to Russia on Tuesday 26 April where he will be received by Vladimir Putin before going to Ukraine two days later where he will meet with Volodymyr Zelensky.
Since Antonio Guterres claimed that Russia was violating the UN Charter by sending troops to Ukraine, the Russian president has declined all contact with the UN leader, whom he refuses to take on the phone. Antonio Guterres has also had little contact with the Ukrainian president, with whom he only had a telephone exchange on February 26. The UN on Friday accused the Russian army of actions “could amount to war crimes” in Ukraine since the February 24 invasion.
- Washington invites its allies to discuss the defense of Ukraine
The Pentagon invited 40 allied nations to meet in Germany on Tuesday to discuss Ukraine’s long-term security needs.
Defense ministers and senior generals from 20 NATO and non-NATO member countries have already accepted US Defense Minister Lyoyd Austin’s invitation to meet at the US Ramstein base west of the Germany, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby announced on Friday.
- An imprisoned Russian opponent
Russian opponent Vladimir Kara-Murza, a fierce critic of the Kremlin, was remanded on Friday until June as part of an investigation into “false information” about the activities of the army in Ukraine, according to his lawyer .
- Reopening of embassies in Kyiv
Spain reopened its embassy in kyiv on Friday, which it had closed following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Spanish government announced. For his part, Boris Johnson announced on Friday the reopening “next week” of the British embassy in kyiv, which had also been relocated.