The curtain has fallen on the eighth day of the war between Russia and Ukraine and its official entry into the second week, amid news of the fall of a regional city in the hands of Russian forces trying to reach the capital, Kiev, with increased sanctions from the United States and its allies against Russia, and other events The following is a summary of the most important current events so far, according to the German Deutsche Welle network.
- Bin Salman offers mediation between Russia and Ukraine
Saudi media reported that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Russian President Vladimir Putin during a phone call that he was ready to make efforts to mediate between all parties to the crisis in Ukraine. He also renewed Saudi Arabia's "keenness" to maintain the balance and stability of oil markets, and noted the role of the OPEC Plus group agreement in that and the importance of preserving it. It is noteworthy that Saudi Arabia voted yesterday in favor of a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
- The German Minister of Economy opposes banning energy imports from Russia
German Economics Minister Robert Habeck expressed his opposition to the idea of banning energy supplies from Russia because of the war on Ukraine. The German vice-chancellor said that such a move would threaten social peace in Germany, and added: “I will not work for a ban on Russian fossil energy imports, but I will even oppose it.” "We need these supplies in order to achieve price stability and energy security in Germany," the politician, who belongs to the Green Party, continued.
- Putin: The Russian operation in Ukraine is proceeding according to plan
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia's military operations in Ukraine are proceeding according to plan and praised his soldiers, describing them as heroes. In a televised speech, Putin launched a series of allegations against Ukrainian forces, which he did not provide evidence, including that they were holding foreign citizens hostage and using human shields.
- UN official: One million Ukrainian refugees since the start of the Russian invasion
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi announced that one million Ukrainian refugees have fled their country since the start of the Russian invasion a week ago. "In just seven days, we have witnessed the influx of 1 million refugees from Ukraine into neighboring countries," Grandi wrote in a tweet. "For millions of others inside Ukraine, it is time for the guns to fall silent so that humanitarian aid can arrive and save lives," he added.
- The Biden administration imposes sanctions on the ruling elite in Russia
US President Joe Biden said that Russia is shooting indiscriminately in Ukraine. This coincided with the White House's announcement of imposing harsh economic sanctions on Putin, the ruling elite and their companies, as well as his spokesman, Dmitry Peskov. He added that the United States would also impose visa restrictions on 19 members of the Russian ruling elite, their families and associates. Biden had written on Twitter that he would meet his ministers at the White House, saying, "We will continue to impose harsh economic sanctions on Putin and those around him."
- Official: Kiev and Moscow agree to establish "humanitarian corridors"
A senior Ukrainian official announced that Kiev and Moscow have agreed to establish humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians, in the second round of talks since the start of the Russian invasion last week. "The second round of talks is over," Ukrainian President Mikhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukraine's president, said on Twitter. Unfortunately, Ukraine has not yet achieved the results it needs. There are decisions only on the organization of humanitarian corridors.” And the official news agency in Belarus quoted Podolyak as saying that the third round of talks is scheduled for early next week.
- About 7 thousand Russian academics protest the invasion of Ukraine
Nearly seven thousand Russian researchers and academics signed an open letter to President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, protesting "strongly" against the war in Ukraine. In a letter published by trv-science.ru, they wrote: "We, scientists and science journalists working in Russia, strongly protest against the military invasion of Ukraine launched by the Russian army" a week ago. These letter themselves to fines or even imprisonment under legislation adopted a few years ago allowing Russian authorities to prosecute any citizen who criticizes the government.
- Moldova has submitted an official application to join the European Union
After Ukraine and Georgia, Moldova also submitted an official request to join the European Union, as announced by the president of this former Soviet republic, which borders Ukraine, a week after the start of the Russian invasion. "Today we are signing the application to join the European Union," Maya Sandhu told reporters. Some decisions have to be taken quickly and decisively.”
- The European Union adopts measures to protect those fleeing from Ukraine
The European Union's interior ministers have agreed to adopt emergency measures to provide immediate protection to those fleeing the war in Ukraine, according to Ylva Johansen, the EU's Home Affairs Commissioner. Johansson said in a tweet after a meeting in Brussels to discuss the issue that the "historic decision" meant the EU would grant temporary protection to people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
- Zelensky: If Ukraine falls, Russia will target Eastern Europe
President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the West to increase their military aid, stressing that if Russia defeats Ukraine, Moscow will target the rest of Eastern Europe, from the Baltic states to the Berlin Wall. "If we are no longer present, God forbid, it will be the turn of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia to reach the Berlin Wall, believe me," Zelensky said during a press conference, calling on Westerners to "close the skies" to Russian planes or to give him planes.
- The start of a second round of talks between Moscow and Kiev in Belarus
Ukraine and Russia have started a second round of talks in western Belarus, according to Belarusian state television. The Russian delegation is headed by Vladimir Medinsky, assistant to the President of Russia, while the Ukrainian delegation is headed by David Arakhamia, head of the ruling Ukrainian party. The members of the Russian delegation wore suits, while the members of the Ukrainian delegation wore military green jackets. The media carried pictures of the members of the two delegations shaking hands in front of the cameras.
- A second round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine
Today, the second round of talks between Ukraine and Russia is being held on the Polish-Belarusian border. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mikhailo Podolak wrote on Twitter, attaching to the tweet a photo showing him and parliamentary official David Arakhamia in military uniform in what appears to be a helicopter cabin “on the way to negotiations with the Russian Federation.” We are currently in the helicopters.
Arakhamia indicated in the Russian version of his tweet that the talks session “will start in about two hours,” and explained that the delegation would seek to reach “at least humanitarian corridors.” The rest will depend on circumstances.
The Russian delegation raises three files: “the military-technical, the humanitarian and the international, and the political,” according to the Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky, who did not give further details. He had indicated that the talks would deal with the aspects necessary to reach a "ceasefire".
- The United Nations: Tens of millions face "imminent danger of death" in Ukraine
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said that tens of millions of people in Ukraine face an “imminent risk of death” with the escalation of military operations, with bombing of major cities and reports of cluster weapons hitting civilian targets.
Inaugurating an urgent debate in the United Nations Human Rights Council to consider establishing a commission to investigate alleged human rights violations by Russia, Bachelet called for an immediate cessation of hostilities that have severely damaged basic services.
My team in Ukraine has been contacted by several groups who fear persecution if Russian forces advance, including members of the Crimean Tatar community in mainland Ukraine, as well as prominent human rights defenders and journalists.
- The International Criminal Court is investigating possible war crimes in Ukraine
The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, has launched an investigation into possible war crimes committed in Ukraine following Russia's invasion of the country. On Thursday, he called on individuals currently in the war zone to report possible crimes to the court in The Hague. The prosecutor now intends to engage with all parties involved in the conflict, and also called on all parties to abide by the rules of international law. Khan announced his decision to open investigations on Wednesday evening. "No individual in the Ukraine situation possesses a license to commit crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC," he said in a statement.
- The International Atomic Energy Agency condemns Russia's control of Ukraine's nuclear plants
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) condemns the Russian army's takeover of the Ukrainian nuclear power plants and considers this to be "serious and direct threats to the safety and security of these facilities and personnel." This came in a resolution voted for by 26 countries, five countries abstained from voting, and Russia and China opposed it. The resolution considered Russia's actions in Ukraine "continuing to represent serious and direct threats to the safety and security of these facilities and personnel."
According to the agency, Moscow says that Russian forces have secured the area around Zaporizhia, Ukraine's largest nuclear power plant. The station itself is therefore under Russian control from the agency's point of view, even if it is still run by Ukrainian individuals under Kiev supervision.
- Macron talks with Putin and Zelensky
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke again today with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, and later with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as announced by the Elysee Palace. This conversation with Putin, which lasted an hour and a half, according to the French presidency, is the third between the two presidents since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24. The French presidency did not disclose details.
The Russian "Interfax" agency quoted Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying in a press briefing: "We would be happy if France helped this time reach an agreement on the principles adopted in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and in international relations in general."
- The European Union calls for an immediate end to the war in Ukraine
The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said that the bloc demands an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. "This war must stop now," Borrell wrote on Twitter. I call for an immediate ceasefire. I call for the immediate opening of humanitarian corridors. He added that the European Union stands with Moldova, which has received more than 20,000 refugee children who fled the war.
- France "strongly" recommends its citizens to leave Russia
France "strongly" recommended its nationals "whose presence and their families do not need to be in Russia" to leave this country, and the French Foreign Ministry said on its website, "In the atmosphere created by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the application of international sanctions imposed on this country, it is necessary to increase vigilance.” It also called on the French to "postpone any travel to Russia."
On Sunday, Paris had already recommended that "the French who pass through Russia" leave the country.
- Lavrov: Russia will continue its operation to the end
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says he believes some foreign leaders are preparing for war against Russia and that Moscow will continue its military operation in Ukraine to the "end". Lavrov stressed that his country is not considering a nuclear war.
Despite the news of disagreements in arranging a round of negotiations scheduled for today with Ukraine, Lavrov said: “They must be receiving instructions from Washington. However, talks are scheduled to take place.” Nevertheless, he said, "Of course, a solution can be found."
- Steinmeier arrives in Lithuania
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier holds talks in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, with his Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas, on the background of the Russian attack on Ukraine. After that, both presidents intend to visit the German operations unit of the NATO multinational combat group at the Rukla military base. It is noteworthy that the German army has been leading the NATO unit that aims to deter Russia in the region since 2017.
- Germany calls for an international investigation into Russian violations in Ukraine
German Foreign Minister Analina Baerbock said, “We urgently need a commission of inquiry on Ukraine to look into all human rights violations committed by Russia since its military aggression. We must take a strong stand on accountability.” "We must confront this attack," Birbuck said in a video message to the United Nations Human Rights Council. Human rights is a global issue.
- The Russian radio station, Echo of Moscow, announces its dissolution
The independent Russian radio station, Echo Moskvy, has announced its dissolution after being banned from broadcasting by the authorities due to its coverage of the invasion of Ukraine. "The majority of the members of the Echo of Moscow board of directors have taken a decision to dissolve its radio station and website," Alexei Venediktov, editor-in-chief of "Echo of Moscow" wrote on his Telegram account. On Tuesday, the Russian authorities blocked Echo of Moscow and the Dozhd TV channel because of their coverage of the conflict in Ukraine. Russian media were banned from using any information other than that provided by the authorities and depicting the invasion of Ukraine as merely a "special operation".
At the same time, the government is preparing to tighten restrictions on the media. On Friday, the lower house of parliament (the Duma) will consider a draft law that provides for a penalty of up to 15 years in prison in the event of publishing any “false news” related to the Russian army.
- Weser: Refugees of war in Ukraine are free to choose their country of asylum
German Interior Minister Nancy Weser said that it would be possible for war refugees from Ukraine to decide for themselves, at the present time, which European country they wish to seek asylum in. "I think that now people from Ukraine will want to go within the European Union, to countries where they have a lot of friends, relatives and acquaintances in particular," Weser told Germany's Radio Today. She pointed out that there is no need to set distribution quotas for the reception of (Ukrainian) refugees, if the process of receiving them proceeds normally. And the German minister continued, "However, the European Commission will have, from a legal point of view, the possibility to determine distribution shares, but it has not yet used this possibility."
According to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than a million Ukrainians have left their country since the start of the Russian offensive, most of them residing in neighboring countries such as Poland, Hungary and the Republic of Moldova.
- France will call in the Security Council for a cease-fire in Ukraine
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told French TV Channel 2 that Paris will propose a resolution to the UN Security Council calling for a cease-fire in the war in Ukraine. The French presidency had said earlier that France intends to take such a step. As a permanent member of the Security Council, Russia has the right to veto any resolution.
- Russian forces enter Kherson
Russian forces entered Kherson, a large city in southern Ukraine. And Kherson is the largest city entered by Russian forces since the start of the war, which entered its second week. Igor Kolikhaev, the mayor of this city of 290,000, announced that he had held discussions with "armed guests" in a building belonging to the Kherson administration, alluding to the Russian forces without naming them.
He wrote in a message on Facebook, “We did not have weapons and were not aggressive. We have shown that we are working to secure the city and trying to deal with the consequences of the invasion.” In a message via the Telegram application, the head of the regional administration, Gennady Lakhota, asked the city's residents to stay in their homes, noting that "the (Russian) occupiers are present throughout the city and they are very dangerous."
- The UAE allows Ukrainians to obtain a visa upon arrival
The UAE said that Ukrainian nationals are eligible to obtain entry visas upon their arrival, in what appears to be a reversal of its decision to suspend the visa exemption at a time when thousands of Ukrainians are fleeing. Kiev's embassy in the UAE said UAE authorities had temporarily suspended the waiver on Tuesday, a move that drew criticism of the state at a time when Europe is opening its doors to refugees from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
- Germany intends to supply Ukraine with anti-missiles
The Federal Republic of Germany intends to supply more weapons to Ukraine. Sources from the German Economy Ministry told dpa that the ministry had agreed to supply Ukraine with 2,700 Strela anti-aircraft missiles. The sources pointed out that these missiles are Soviet-made, descending from the former stocks of the People's Army of East Germany.