- Ukraine denies Mariupol has fallen after Russia’s ultimatum expires
- EU prepares ‘mechanisms’ to sanction Russian oil
- Zelenskyy calls Mariupol state of affairs ‘inhuman’
- Russia says hit Ukrainian ammunition manufacturing facility close to Kyiv
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Zelenskyy slams delays in weapons deliveries
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticized delays in arms deliveries to Ukraine.
As Russia prepares for an anticipated new offensive, Ukraine faces a state of affairs the place there’s “permission for Russia to take the lives of Ukrainians,” Zelenskyy mentioned.
Whereas Zelenskyy didn’t title any nations, in Germany there’s a dispute inside the governing coalition as as to if to produce Ukraine with heavy weapons. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been accused of dragging his toes regardless of saying vital protection spending will increase and calling Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “a turning level” for Germany.
Navy consultants say Ukraine wants considerably extra heavy weapons to place forth a formidable resistance to Russian assaults within the jap a part of the nation.
18 individuals killed, 100 wounded in shelling in Kharkiv
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned late Sunday throughout his nightly deal with that 18 individuals have died and 100 had been wounded throughout shelling over the previous 4 days within the northeast metropolis of Kharkiv. He added the shelling has been fixed.
Zelenskyy mentioned, “That is nothing however deliberate terror: mortars, artillery in opposition to unusual residential quarters, in opposition to unusual civilians.”
Earlier, regional governor Oleh Synehubov mentioned 5 individuals had been killed and 20 injured following a missile strike and artillery hearth that struck the middle of the suburb of Saltivka.
He added that Ukrainian forces had been in a position to repel Russian forces and recapture two village and a part of a 3rd village.
Zelenskyy speaks with the IMF’s managing director
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned that he spoke with Kristalina Georgieva, the managing director of the Worldwide Financial Fund (IMF).
The 2 mentioned Ukraine’s monetary stability and the post-war reconstruction of the nation.
Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter, “Now we have clear plans for now, in addition to a imaginative and prescient of prospects. I’m certain cooperation between the IMF & Ukraine will proceed to be fruitful.”
Ukraine’s prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, earlier mentioned he would attend IMF and World Financial institution conferences this week in Washington with a view to search extra monetary help for his nation.
Russia says it shot down two Ukrainian jets in Kharkiv
Russia’s Ministry of Protection mentioned its air protection system had shot down two Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jets within the area of Kharkiv.
Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov mentioned, “Russian air protection belongings close to the Fedorovka and Zavody settlements within the Kharkiv area shot down two Ukrainian MiG-29 plane within the air.”
Konashenkov added {that a} Ukrainian drone was shot down close to the city of Preobrazhenskoye. Russia additionally mentioned it had destroyed two Ukrainian command posts and the radar system for S-300 surface-to-air missiles within the metropolis of Avdiivka, north of the town of Donetsk.
By Russia’s depend, 136 airplanes, 471 drones, 248 anti-aircraft missile programs, 2,308 tanks and armored autos, 2,171 navy autos, 254 rocket launchers and 998 items of area artillery and mortars belonging to Ukrainian forces have allegedly been destroyed.
Ukraine says Mariupol hit with extra bombs, missiles
With 1000’s of Ukrainian fighters nonetheless held up in a steelworks plant in Mariupol, the Russian navy “continues to launch missile and bomb strikes on the town,” Ukraine’s military headquarters mentioned.
Ukraine mentioned Russia used Tu-22M3 strategic bombers in Mariupol and “tried to hold out assault operations close to the seaport and the Azovstal plant” the place the final defenders are situated.
Russia beforehand issued an ultimatum to Ukrainian forces to give up or be “eradicated.” No stories of give up got here from the town regardless of the ultimatum expiring this morning.
Russia’s default might turn out to be Europe’s default — Medvedev
Former President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev slammed feedback made by the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen on Russia’s state default. Beforehand, EU Fee head von der Leyen mentioned Western sanctions had been “biting” deeper and deeper into Russia’s economic system and that the nation’s default is “solely a matter of time.”
On Sunday, Medvedev mocked von der Leyen as “European aunt Ursula” and warned the technique of “masochists from Brussels” might backfire.
“That is what (they) secretly wished for at night time,” Medvedev wrote on Telegram, noting that Russia’s default “might flip into Europe’s default — each morally and really probably financially.”
Medvedev mentioned that the EU monetary system was not utterly secure, and in addition that EU residents can be enraged by “hyperinflation” and the wave of refugees which might deliver “a wave of violent crime.”
The Russian politician served as president between 2008 and 2012, with Vladimir Putin as prime minister. He then additionally served as prime minister beneath Putin earlier than resigning in January 2020. The 56-year-old stays a senior Kremlin official and deputy chief of Russia’s influential Safety Council.
Biden ought to go to Ukraine, says Zelenskyy
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy has invited US President Joe Biden to return to Kyiv.
“I feel he is the chief of the USA and that is why he ought to come right here to see,” Zelenskyy informed CNN on Sunday.
Beforehand, the US chief mentioned his administration was considering sending high-level officers to Ukraine, and even indicated he was prepared to go to the nation himself.
Zelenskyy additionally mentioned that he invited France’s Emmanuel Macron to go to and see proof of “genocide” in opposition to Ukrainians.
Ukraine says Mariupol has not fallen
Regardless of Russia’s ultimatum to Ukrainian troopers in Mariupol to give up or be destroyed, the defenders are nonetheless resisting, mentioned Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
“The town nonetheless has not fallen,” Shmyhal informed US broadcaster ABC. “There’s nonetheless our navy forces, our troopers. So they are going to combat to the top.”
No stories of give up got here out of the port metropolis after the Russian ultimatum expired this morning. Russian officers mentioned some 2,500 fighters had been nonetheless holed up in a steelworks plant, together with 400 “international mercenaries,” and that Kyiv has forbidden its forces to give up.
Shelling kills a number of in central Kharkiv
At the least 5 individuals had been killed and 13 injured within the shelling which focused the middle of Kharkiv in jap Ukraine, in accordance with a report by Ukraine’s public broadcaster Suspline.
“Rescuers are working within the websites (affected by shelling),” the report mentioned.
Individually, journalists working for the AFP information company mentioned a collection of strikes had ignited fires and tore roofs off buildings.
Kharkiv, which had a pre-war inhabitants of 1.5 million, is situated some 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Russian border. It confronted heavy bombing because the combating began though Russian forces haven’t entered the town.
Earlier this week, Kharkiv Governor Oleh Synehubov mentioned over 500 individuals had been killed within the metropolis and the area because the struggle began on February 24.
Russia ‘apprehensive’ by NATO exercise in Arctic: ambassador-at-large
Russia is apprehensive concerning the elevated exercise of NATO forces within the Arctic area, Russian ambassador-at-large Nikolai Korchunov has mentioned in feedback carried by Russia’s TASS information company.
“The current enhance in NATO’s exercise within the Arctic is a trigger for concern. One other large-scale navy train of the alliance was just lately held in northern Norway. In our view, this doesn’t contribute to the safety of the area,” Korchunov mentioned.
He mentioned such actions posed a safety danger due to the hazard of unspecified “unintended incidents” and will additionally critically harm the Arctic ecosystem.
Finland and Sweden, that are each contemplating turning into NATO members, held long-planned mixed NATO navy drills in northern Norway in March.
On Thursday, certainly one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies warned NATO that if the 2 nations joined the US-led alliance, Russia would deploy nuclear weapons and hypersonic missiles in a European exclave.
About 30,000 troopers from 27 nations had been concerned within the March maneuvers in northern Norway
Pope Francis speaks of an ‘Easter of struggle’
The top of the Roman Catholic Church has known as on all the world to “implore for peace” amid quite a few conflicts throughout the globe, notably saying that Ukraine has been “dragged” right into a “merciless and mindless struggle.”
“Our eyes, too, are incredulous on this Easter of struggle. Wehave seen all an excessive amount of blood, all an excessive amount of violence. Our hearts, too, have been full of worry and anguish, as so lots of our brothers and sisters have needed to lock themselves away with a view to be protected from bombing,” Pope Francis mentioned.
Ukraine was “sorely tried by the violence and destruction of the merciless and mindless struggle into which it was dragged,” he mentioned.
The pope has to date not explicitly blamed Russia for its invasion of Ukraine however earlier this month, talking in Malta, implicitly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin by saying a “potentate” was fomenting battle for nationalist pursuits. His feedback on Sunday are being seen as one other implicit condemnation of Russia’s actions.
The pope’s remarks got here in his biannual “Urbi et Orbi” (to the town and the world) deal with to about 50,000 individuals in St. Peter’s Sq. in Vatican Metropolis. It was the primary Easter since 2019 that the general public was allowed to attend following two years of COVID-19 restrictions.
The 85-year-old pope has known as this an ‘Easter of struggle’
Ukraine asks for G7 assist: adviser
Ukraine has requested G7 nations for $50 billion (€46 billion) in monetary assist, Oleh Ustenko, financial adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has mentioned.
Talking on nationwide tv, Ustenko mentioned the choice was additionally being mentioned of issuing 0% coupon bonds for the subsequent six months to assist bridge a finances deficit largely attributable to the struggle.
Diplomacy appears ‘ineffective’ with Putin: Italian PM
In feedback coming after Italy mentioned it will reopen its Ukrainian embassy in Kyiv from Monday, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has mentioned diplomacy appears helpless within the face of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to wage struggle on Ukraine.
“I’m starting to suppose that these persons are proper once they say ‘It’s ineffective to speak to him, it is only a waste of time,'” Draghi informed the day by day Il Corriere della Sera.
“I’ve the impression that the horror of the struggle with its carnage, with what they’ve achieved to kids and ladies, is totally unbiased of the phrases and telephone calls which are made,” the Italian chief mentioned.
Describing Ukrainians’ protection of their nation as “heroic,” Draghi mentioned that whereas Western sanctions had been “important to weaken the aggressor,” direct assist by weapons was wanted.
“We have to assist the Ukrainians immediately, and that’s what we’re doing. Not doing so can be tantamount to telling them: give up, settle for slavery and submission — a message opposite to our European values of solidarity,” Draghi mentioned.
Ammunition manufacturing facility close to Kyiv destroyed: Russian Protection Ministry
Russian missile strikes have destroyed a manufacturing facility producing ammunition close to the town of Brovary, near the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, Russian Protection Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov has mentioned.
“In a single day, high-precision air-launched missiles destroyed an ammunition manufacturing facility close to the city of Brovary in Kyiv area,” Konashenkov mentioned.
Brovary’s mayor had earlier spoken of missile strikes on infrastructure within the metropolis. It’s not but clear whether or not he meant this assault now claimed by the Russians.
No humanitarian corridors open on Sunday: Ukrainian deputy PM
Ukraine has mentioned no evacuation routes might be opened for civilians to flee areas within the east of the nation affected by Russia’s invasion, as no settlement on such humanitarian corridors had been reached with Russian armed forces.
“As of this morning, April 17, now we have not been in a position to agree with the occupiers on a ceasefire on the evacuation routes. That’s the reason, sadly, we’re not opening humanitarian corridors right this moment,” Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk wrote in an announcement on social media.
EU says offering one other €50 million in humanitarian assist
The European Union says it’s allocating an additional €50 million ($54 million) in funding to offer humanitarian assist to individuals affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The funding is to incorporate €45 million for humanitarian tasks in Ukraine and €5 million for Moldova.
The bloc mentioned its whole humanitarian help funding in response to the struggle was now €143 million. The assist is a part of a €1 billion package deal promised by the European Fee ultimately week’s international pledging occasion “Stand Up For Ukraine.”
The cash is to go towards offering offering emergency medical providers, entry to protected consuming water and hygiene, shelter and safety, money help, and assist in opposition to gender-based violence, in accordance with a press assertion.
Metropolis close to Kyiv hit by missile strikes: mayor
A Russian missile assault has broken infrastructure within the metropolis of Brovary, some 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) from the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, Mayor Igor Sapozhko mentioned.
There have been no particulars on the extent of the destruction and whether or not there have been casualties. Some unconfirmed stories have spoken of water and energy outages within the metropolis.
Brovary, with a inhabitants of simply over 100,000, was the scene of combating and a few shelling by Russian troops in March however was reported by Ukrainian authorities to be away from Russian invading forces in early April.
Russia aiming to claim ‘regional dominance’: British intelligence
Regardless of shifting its navy operations in Ukraine to the east of the nation, Moscow has not modified its goal of attempting to cease Ukraine shifting out of its orbit towards the West, in accordance with an intelligence report issued by the British Defence Ministry on Sunday.
Russia “is dedicated to forcing Ukraine to desert its Euro-Atlantic orientation and asserting its personal regional dominance,” the report says.
The report say that Russian is bringing navy tools and provides from Belarus towards jap Ukraine and hitting Ukrainian positions within the area forward of a deliberate renewed offensive there.
No stories of exercise in Mariupol after Russian ultimatum
There have been no stories of main modifications within the state of affairs in Mariupol after a Russian ultimatum was issued to Ukrainian forces defending the southeastern port metropolis to put down their arms by 0300 UTC/GMT and go away their place inside 4 hours of that with out arms or ammunition.
Russian Protection Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov warned that “all those that proceed resistance might be destroyed.”
Ukrainian defenders are reported to be primarily based in a big steelworks within the metropolis, with Russia’s Protection Ministry claiming to have in any other case taken the city space.
A morning report from the Ukrainian navy mentioned Russian airstrikes on the town had continued in a single day and that there have been “assault operations” close to the port space.
The town, located on the Sea of Azov, has seen the heaviest combating throughout Russia’s invasion, unleashing a catastrophic humanitarian disaster. If it falls to invading Russian troops, it will be the primary main metropolis to be taken by Moscow because the begin of the invasion on February 24.
Within the ultimatum, Russian armed forces informed Ukrainian fighters within the Azovstal steelworks that their lives can be spared in the event that they laid down their arms.
EU prepares ‘mechanisms’ to sanction Russian oil
The EU is engaged on the subsequent wave of sanctions in opposition to Russia which might have an effect on the nation’s banking and vitality sectors, EU Fee President Ursula von der Leyen informed the Sunday version of Germany’s Bild newspaper.
This contains “sensible mechanisms to permit for the oil to be included within the subsequent step” of sanctions, von der Leyen mentioned.
The measures would additionally goal Sberbank, Russia’s largest financial institution which alone contains 37% of the nation’s banking sector. The EU has already added Sberbank’s chief Herman Gref to its sanctions listing.
The EU official additionally mentioned that Russia’s chapter was solely a matter of time.
“Putin is destroying his personal nation and the way forward for his inhabitants with this struggle,” she informed the mass-circulation paper.
Zelenskyy says state of affairs in Mariupol stays dire
Throughout his Saturday night time video deal with, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned the state of affairs within the besieged southeastern port metropolis of Mariupol stays extraordinarily critical.
Zelenskyy known as the state of affairs “simply inhuman,” and mentioned, “Russia is intentionally attempting to destroy everybody who’s there in Mariupol.”
Russian forces declare the final remaining defenders of the town at the moment are holed up within the Azovstal steelworks within the metropolis.
Russian missile hits Kharkiv neighborhood kitchen
A Russian missile struck a neighborhood kitchen established by World Central Kitchen, an help group arrange by Spanish-American movie star chef Jose Andres to offer meals aid in catastrophe and struggle zones.
Andres tweeted that employees was nice however shaken. He added, “Russian assaults should cease in opposition to civilian buildings and markets and church buildings and colleges and many others.”
World Central Kitchen mentioned it has now arrange kitchens in 30 cities throughout Ukraine, supplying virtually 300,000 meals a day.
Abstract of occasions in Russia’s struggle on Ukraine Saturday
Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine might produce two paperwork — one to be signed with Ukraine’s companions and the opposite with Russia, in accordance with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The one with accomplice nations would assure Ukraine’s safety, he informed reporters.
After assembly Russia’s Vladimir Putin earlier this week, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer informed US broadcaster NBC that the Russian president was “in his personal struggle logic.”
“I feel he believes he’s successful the struggle,” Nehammer mentioned.
Main Normal Vladimir Frolov, the deputy commander of the eighth Military, whose forces have laid siege to the southeastern Ukrainian port metropolis of Mariupol, was buried in St. Petersburg.
Russian officers additionally printed a video of what they are saying are sailors from the missile cruiser Moskva that sank two days in the past. Ukraine says they hit the ship with a Neptune missile, although it sank whereas being towed to port.
The Russian Protection Ministry mentioned it had destroyed buildings belonging to a manufacturing plant for armored autos in Kyiv.
The UK will ship armored autos to Ukraine “within the coming days,” in accordance with an announcement from the workplace of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Moscow mentioned that it was imposing an entry ban on UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in addition to a number of different prime British officers.
The Swiss authorities has known as on the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) to exclude Russian and Belarusian officers from prime posts in worldwide sports activities federations. Minister of Sport and Protection Viola Amherd wrote in a letter {that a} measure to exclude the 2 nations’ athletes from worldwide competitions would not go far sufficient.
A number of sports activities associations, together with the IOC, soccer governing physique FIFA, European soccer ruling physique UEFA and the Worldwide Basketball Federation (FIBA), have their headquarters in Switzerland.
tj, ar/sri, fb (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)