Dusseldorf Negotiators from Russia and Ukraine met for the second time for peace talks – the first time with a tangible result: both sides agreed to set up humanitarian corridors in particularly contested areas of Ukraine.
After the exchange in the Belarusian-Polish border area, the head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, said that hostilities could be temporarily suspended – for the period of the evacuation.
It is not yet clear which areas are involved. Fierce fighting is currently going on in several regions, with the heaviest fighting being reported northwest of the capital Kyiv and near the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and the port city of Mariupol in the south.
Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podoliak said the “humanitarian corridors” should also be used to provide the population with food and medicine. Basically, he was dissatisfied with the course of the conversation. “To our great regret, we did not achieve the results we had hoped for,” he said. At least he was able to confirm that the negotiations should be continued in the very near future. It should be “early next week”.
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After the end of the round of negotiations, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also commented. In a television speech, he said he was ready to talk and to compromise. “There are things that have to be compromised so that people don’t die,” he explained. “But there are also things where compromises are impossible.”
“I do not bite. I’m a normal guy.”
(Photo: dpa)
He was ready to have an open conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin – “but not at a distance of 30 meters”. Zelensky was referring to Putin’s meetings with Chancellor Olaf Scholz or French President Emmanuel Macron, who were seated at an extra-long table during their recent visits to the Kremlin. “I do not bite. I’m a normal guy. Sit with me, tell me what you’re afraid of,” said the 44-year-old.
>> Read about this: The current developments can be found in our news blog
A speech by Putin was broadcast almost at the same time. The Kremlin chief, who had previously summoned the National Security Council, said of the deployment so far: “I would like to say that the military special operation is proceeding strictly according to schedule and according to plan – all the tasks set are being successfully solved.”
Putin offered his condolences to the families of the Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine and observed a minute’s silence. The families of the killed soldiers each received around 12.4 million rubles (around 105,000 euros), Putin said. The wounded should also receive compensation payments.
The Russian state news agency Sputnik published this photo: The Kremlin chief during a meeting of the Security Council.
(Photo: dpa)
In his speech, he again discredited Ukrainians as “neo-Nazis” who were taking thousands of foreigners “hostage.” Once again, however, Putin also emphasized: “I will never give up my conviction that Russians and Ukrainians are one people.”
Zelensky said he did not understand Moscow’s demands on Kyiv. “We didn’t attack Russia, we don’t want to attack it,” the president said. “We in NATO? No. Do we have nuclear weapons? No.”
>> Read about this: Volodymyr Zelensky – the hero of freedom who came out of TV
A week ago today, Vladimir Putin had his troops march into Ukraine. And there was soon no doubt that the Russian ruler would invade the entire neighboring state under fire.
In the second week of the war, the Russian army continued its offensive in Ukraine: it fired rockets at Kyiv overnight and intensified its advance on cities in the south. The port city of Cherson, which was last home to 280,000 people, was heavily contested on Thursday. It is likely to be the first major city to be conquered by Russian troops.
In the capital Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko describes the situation as “difficult but under control”. In an interview with the Reuters news agency, he emphasized his compatriots’ willingness to fight. “We will not surrender. We have nowhere to retreat to,” he says. He spoke of “thousands, already tens of thousands dead” in the war. “And unfortunately that number is only going to grow.”
About half of the original population of three million people have now left the capital. Many orphans were brought to safety in Poland and Germany by the authorities.
According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, one million people have already fled Ukraine. According to official figures, 575,000 people have arrived in Poland. More and more people from the Ukraine are also arriving in Germany. The Federal Ministry of the Interior recently counted 5,000 registered war refugees from Ukraine.
>> Read about this: EU wants to activate special protection status for refugees for the first time
At the same time, the federal government wants to deliver more armaments to Ukraine. It is also about new weapon systems. The Ministry of Defense asked the manufacturers what they could deliver in the short term, several people familiar with the plans reported to the Handelsblatt. “It’s about emergency aid for Ukraine.”
The industry is preparing for this: “We have drawn up an extensive list on which there are a number of goods. This includes ammunition, helmets, medical supplies, reconnaissance systems, protective equipment and anti-aircraft systems,” Rheinmetall boss Armin Papperger told Handelsblatt.
In order to be able to provide additional material, products from current orders could be rearranged in consultation with customers, he said.
Germany is already supplying anti-aircraft and armored vehicle missiles from old stock. After that it shouldn’t be over. A Defense Ministry spokeswoman said there was already packaged material destined for Ukraine. However, the export still has to be approved by the Federal Security Council.
>> Read about this: Germany wants to deliver more weapons to Ukraine – including brand new ones
Meanwhile, more countries are drawn to the European Union. Like the Ukraine, the ex-Soviet republics of Georgia and Moldova now want to join the EU. Moldovan President Maia Sandu signed a corresponding motion.
According to a statement in the capital Chisinau, she said: “In the current difficult situation, we must act quickly and clearly to ensure a European future, freedom and democracy for our citizens.”
As announced, Georgia also submitted an application on Thursday. “The application for EU membership is another milestone on Georgia’s path to European integration,” Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said, according to the civil.ge portal. “Georgia is a European country. Throughout its long history, our country has always belonged to the European culture and civilization and continues to make a valuable contribution to its protection and development.”
Here is a selection of current Handelsblatt reports:
With agency material.