Putin’s May 9 speech eagerly awaited

Destroyed hotel in Odessa (photo taken on May 8)

Fighting continued throughout the night in various parts of Ukraine.

(Photo: dpa)

Kyiv In the midst of the war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia celebrated its victory over Hitler’s Germany with a parade on Red Square in Moscow on Monday. The speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to indicate, among other things, whether there could be general or partial mobilization in Russia. Before the anniversary, the West hit Russia with new sanctions – and demonstrated solidarity with Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy sees great symbolism in the trips of international celebrities to his country on the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. “Today in Ukraine has shown that we are already a full part of the free world and a united Europe,” Zelenskiy said in his daily video address on Sunday evening. “This is an obvious contrast to Moscow’s loneliness in evil and hatred that everyone will see tomorrow,” he said, referring to celebrations in the Russian capital on Monday.

On Sunday, US President’s wife Jill Biden, Bundestag President Bärbel Bas, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U2 musicians Bono and The Edge, among others, visited Ukraine. Zelensky also spoke in a conference call with the heads of government of the G7 industrialized nations.

All G7 countries pledged to phase out or ban imports of Russian oil. A US official announced a ban on providing business services to companies or individuals in Russia.

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Fights continue

Meanwhile, fighting in different parts of Ukraine continued. In the south, the Ukrainian military said it killed 51 Russian soldiers on Sunday and destroyed two rocket launchers and a helicopter. According to the Ukrainian air defense system, five unmanned aerial vehicles and three Russian cruise missiles were shot down. The information could not be independently verified.

Map of combat operations (as of May 7, 2022)

UN Secretary-General shocked at school airstrike

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “appalled” by an airstrike on a school building in the Luhansk region that may have killed up to 60 people. The attack showed once again that civilians paid the highest price in this war. According to Ukrainian authorities, around 90 people had sought protection in the school.

A fire broke out as a result of the bombing and the building collapsed. At first there was talk of 30 rescued and two recovered dead.

Reports of dead after attack on a school in eastern Ukraine

Zelensky adviser warns of new Russian attack on Kyiv

An adviser to Ukrainian President Zelensky has warned of a new attack by Russian troops on the capital Kyiv if the West does not speed up arms deliveries to his country. This could give Russia time to mobilize and launch another offensive on Kyiv and other cities in northern Ukraine, argued presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych in a video interview.

Russia had withdrawn its troops from the Ukrainian capital after a failed attempt to take Kyiv, and is instead focusing on the east of the country. In view of the high losses, experts believe at least partial mobilization is possible, which the Kremlin has so far rejected.

Ukrainian ambassador: “More concrete” wanted from Scholz’s speech

Ukrainian Ambassador Andriy Melnyk said he was disappointed with Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s televised speech on the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. In the speech, there was also a wish for “much more concrete information” about how the Bundestag decision on the delivery of heavy weapons should be implemented, Melnyk said on the program “Anne Will”.

“When we hear the Federal Chancellor saying that Russia must not win, that means that everything, absolutely everything should be done (…) to help us in this difficult situation, in this war, the worst war since Second World War,” demanded the diplomat.

SPD boss admits mistakes in dealing with Russia

SPD leader Lars Klingbeil admitted that mistakes had been made in dealing with Russia in the past. “We have always had a political and social consensus in this country that we want to be close to Russia,” he said on the Phoenix broadcaster. “We made a mistake there. We should have turned earlier,” he said.

Klingbeil recalled the Russian annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014, the attempted assassination of Russian opposition figure Alexej Navalny and the murder of an anti-Russian Chechnya fighter in Berlin. “These were all signs that we should have dealt with Russia differently politically.”

Selenski distinguishes mine detection dog with medal

Selenski honored a mine detection dog with a medal on Sunday. Little Jack Russell Terrier Patron was presented with the Order of Selfless Service during a press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau. The two-and-a-half-year-old dog is said to have taught himself how to search for mines. In the northern Ukrainian region of Chernihiv, he has already drawn attention to more than 100 deadly objects.

Award for Patron

In the presence of Prime Minister Trudeau (left), Selenski (centre) awarded the mine detection dog a medal.

(Photo: AP)

Ukraine has been considered one of the most heavily mined countries in the world since the beginning of the conflict in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and the Russian raid on February 24 this year.

This is how the Handelsblatt reports on the Ukraine war:

That brings the day

The parade on Red Square and Putin’s appearance could provide important clues about Russian plans for the further course of the war. The question is also what he says about the relationship with the West and the economic problems in Russia as a result of the sanctions.

French President Emmanuel Macron is traveling to Berlin for the first time since his re-election on Monday evening to meet with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Among other things, they want to exchange views on the war in Ukraine. The aspects of defense and energy supply should be the focus.

More: You can follow the latest developments in our news blog

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