Ukraine stay weblog: ++ NATO common secretary travels to Washington ++ | EUROtoday

NATO Secretary General Rutte travels to Washington for talks immediately. According to Ukrainian info, at the least 9 folks have been killed in Russian air strikes on Kyiv.

The most essential developments:

The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj shortens his go to to South Africa due to the Russian main assault on Kyiv. Selenskyj introduced that he would cancel a part of his program and return to Ukraine after violent Russian rocket and drone assaults have occurred in Kiev. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha will maintain all the mandatory conferences in South Africa to tell concerning the scenario in Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian info, the Russian armed forces attacked 215 drones and rockets on Thursday night time. 48 rockets and 64 drones have been intercepted and destroyed, the Ukrainian Air Force stated on Telegram. 68 drones have been redirected by digital interference maneuvers.

Great Britain and the European Commission, based on a media report, will full the plans for a brand new protection pact. This is reported by the Financial Times, citing a number of insiders, who’re accustomed to the talks between the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in London. It is anticipated to announce the plan at a summit on May 19.

The chairwoman of the EU Parliament’s Defense Committee, Marie-Agnnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), criticized the “deal” between the USA and Russia about an finish to the warfare in opposition to Ukraine. In the rbb she stated that the alleged content material has not but been confirmed, however they match into the image. “That is the execution of a dictation peace.” If all of that is severely the provide of the United States, “then you can say that this is the written proof: No, the Americans are neither our friends nor our allies in the future,” stated Strack-Zimmermann. She emphasised that it was all of the extra essential that the EU continues to assist Ukraine: “Otherwise, Russia would be successful at the end of the day with these brutal attacks. That would also do something with us in Europe.”

Russia once more reserves the fitting to make use of nuclear weapons within the occasion of “aggression”. This underlines Sergej Schoigu, the secretary of the influential safety council and former Defense Minister, based on the state information company TASS. Schoigu then refers to adjustments to the Russian nuclearoctrine made final yr. In the occasion of an assault, Russia is allowed to make use of nuclear weapons, additionally with standard weapons, within the occasion of an assault.

The Union’s overseas coverage skilled, Roderich Kiesewetter, has in ARD morning journal rejected to the US advance. “It is a deal that Trump suggests at the expense of Ukraine. It is a capacity certificate.” Of course, neither Ukraine nor Europe might agree “because our security would then be endangered”. There isn’t a lot identified about this anyway, says Kiesewetter: “Obviously it is not yet a real plan, in Moscow you don’t know much about it, and not in Europe either.” Trump arrives in actuality that he failed on Putin. “The bad thing is that Ukraine is thrown in front of the bus.”

The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj has arrived in South Africa to advise President Cyril Ramaphosa about bilateral cooperation and efforts to terminate the Russian War in Ukraine. Selenskyj tries to safe the worldwide assist for his nation’s warfare effort, whereas US President Donald Trump is more and more placing stress on Ukraine.

“It is crucial to get closer to a just peace,” Selenskyj wrote about his go to to the X. South Africa platform with good relationships with Russia and remained impartial within the warfare. Ramaphosa solely telephoned with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday and defined to X that each had “strong bilateral relationships” and the duty to work collectively to work on a peaceable resolution to the warfare.

In the Ukrainian capital Kiev, at the least 9 folks have been killed in a Russian assault throughout the night time. More than 63 folks have been injured, the emergency providers continued. It was a mixed assault with rockets and drones. “There are destruction. The search for people under the ruins continues,” stated the emergency providers on Telegram. The rescue measures continued in 5 districts of the town. Before that there had been discuss of two deaths.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte travels to Washington for talks immediately. There he’ll come along with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Minister of Defense Pete Hegseth and the nationwide safety marketing consultant Mike Waltz, because the US State Department and NATO introduced. Among different issues, the talks ought to be concerning the precarious negotiations to finish the warfare in Ukraine.

The Russian ambassador Sergei Netschajew desires to participate in one other memorial occasion on the finish of World War II 80 years in the past. In Torgau in Saxony, the conflict of American and Soviet troopers on the Elbe on April 25, 1945 was reminded. The ambassador “will accept the invitation of the city of Torgau and take part in the planned events,” stated a spokesman for the Russian embassy in Berlin on request.

The Saxon Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) may also participate within the commemoration. According to the town of Torgau, no specific invites have been despatched to the messages. The overseas representatives of a number of international locations – together with the Russian – have been already knowledgeable in writing concerning the public occasion in February.

The process was coordinated with the Saxon State Chancellery, stated Torgaus Mayor Henrik Simon (impartial) of the dpa. The Russian illustration had introduced that Ambassador Netschajew would participate. It was additionally requested for a proper to talk. “However, we knocked it out in order not to give a platform,” stated Simon. Last week the participation Netschajews prompted a sensation at a memorial occasion on the Seelower heights east of Berlin.

US Finance Minister Scott Bessent met the Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal and the Ukrainian finance minister Serhii Marchenko, because the US Ministry of Finance introduced. Bessent underlined the necessity to signal an financial settlement between the USA and Ukraine as quickly as doable.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram that in a number of districts in Kiev, residential buildings and vehicles have been met in Russian assaults and caught fireplace. At least two folks have been killed within the assaults, 54 others have been injured. 38 have been dropped at hospitals, together with six kids.

According to Ukrainian info, Russia once more attacked the Ukrainian capital Kiev with drones at night time. Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram that homes and vehicles have been hit in a number of districts and caught fireplace. A residential constructing was destroyed. People have been among the many rubble. According to earlier data, at the least 21 folks have been violated, together with a 3 -year -old little one. They have been admitted to hospitals.

Klitschko known as on folks to remain within the shelters. Ukrainian media additionally reported Russian air strikes in different components of the nation. The Ukrajinska Prawda on-line portal reported that Ukraine was beneath large Russian shelling. Explosions have been reported in a number of cities. “Very loud all over the country.”

According to US President Donald Trump, Russia is prepared for an answer throughout the negotiations on the tip of the warfare in Ukraine. “I think we have a deal with Russia,” stated Trump in Washington.

“We have to make an agreement with (the Ukrainian president) Selenskyj,” stated Trump. “I thought it would be easier to negotiate with Selenskyj. So far it was more difficult, but that’s okay.” Trump left open whether or not he’ll see the Ukrainian president on the Pope Fair celebrations in Rome on Saturday.

Trump’s clarification initially appeared to contradict the newest statements of high-ranking US authorities brokers. A number of hours earlier, his spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt had stated that Trump was annoyed in view of how slowly negotiations might be made. She additionally stated Selenskyj appears to “transfer within the improper route.

In the Ukrainian capital Kiev, air protection models have been deployed early Thursday morning, because the mayor and the pinnacle of the navy administration introduced on Telegram. Eyewitnesses of the Reuters information company reported numerous loud explosions in several components of the capital, particularly on the east financial institution of the Dnipro River.

According to Ukrainian info, the second largest metropolis in Ukraine, Charkiw, can be attacked. In the early morning, rockets flew to the town, the mayor Ihor Terekhov wrote on Telegram. Several explosions have been heard.

In the controversy about his perspective to the annexation of the Crimea, the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj printed a press release by the US authorities from 2018, by which President Donald Trump spoke out in opposition to the annexation of the Black Sea Peninsula by Moscow throughout his first time period.

At Telegram, Selenskyj printed a hyperlink on the assertion of July 25, 2018 on Wednesday, which was signed by the then US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Among different issues, it states that the United States “rejects Russia to annex the Crimea”. “Ukraine will always act in harmony with its constitution and we are sure that our partners, especially the USA, will act in accordance with its strong decisions,” wrote the Ukrainian president.

Trump had beforehand referred to the refusal of the Ukrainian Selenskyjs to cede the Crimea peninsula annexed by Russia, as “very harmful to the peace negotiations” with Moscow.

US President Trump criticizes Ukraine. The nation extends warfare as a result of the Crimea doesn’t need to give it up. The Ukrainian Vice Government Head of Swrydenko emphasizes that discussions with Russia are doable, however not a give up.