The day of the war at a glance
Putin justifies invasion as a first strike – Macron dampens Ukrainian hopes
05/09/2022 10:02 p.m
In his speech marking the 77th anniversary of the end of the war, Vladimir Putin blamed NATO for the Ukraine invasion. Russian television is attacked by hackers beforehand and broadcasts anti-war messages. In eastern Ukraine, Russian troops are trying to encircle Ukrainian fighters. Scholz and Macron call for an end to hostilities. Ursula von der Leyen is promoting a boycott of Russian oil in Hungary. The 75th day of the war at a glance.
Putin justifies invasion as ‘first strike’
Russian President Vladimir Putin has again accused NATO of threatening Russia. In a speech marking the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany, he accused the Western alliance of posing a “completely unacceptable threat” to Russia. “The danger increased day by day.” According to Putin, the only solution for Russia was a first strike against the aggression.
All plans will be fulfilled
Following the military parade, Putin also expressed optimism about the Russian army’s invasion of Ukraine. “The guys are behaving bravely, heroically, professionally. All plans will be fulfilled, the result will be achieved,” Putin said, according to the Interfax news agency, in an interview with the father of a pro-Russian separatist who was killed in eastern Ukraine. “There is no doubt about that,” stressed Putin.
Russian television shows anti-war messages
From Putin’s point of view, the morning was rather unfortunate. First of all, television programs of opponents of the war were apparently hacked. Various users reported this on Twitter. A screenshot reads: “Your hands are stained with the blood of hundreds of Ukrainians and their children.” Later, on the online platform Letna.ru, which is actually loyal to the Kremlin, texts critical of Putin appeared. One of the short-lived articles was titled: “Putin must go. He has started a senseless war and is leading Russia into the abyss.” A total of around 20 such texts were briefly published before being deleted again. Two editors of the medium later claimed responsibility for the protest, including the head of the business department.
Approval for the war in Russia declines
Despite all the pathos, support for the invasion of Ukraine in Russia is falling. According to this, only 74 percent of Russians now support the military operation in principle. This emerges from data published by the independent Russian opinion research institute Levada Center. In April, 81 percent of those surveyed had indicated their approval. 45 percent of the people express their “absolute support” for the operation, which is still known in Russia as a “military special operation”. In April, this value was still 53 percent.
Russia wants to encircle Ukrainian troops
Meanwhile, fighting in Ukraine continues. In eastern Ukraine, Russian forces are continuing to encircle the cities of Sieverodonetsk and Lysychansk. Three floating bridges have been built across a river west of Lysychansk, said Defense Ministry spokesman Olexander Motusyanyk. Artillery was used intensively there and bombarded from the air. According to the governor of the Luhansk region, Serhiy Hajday, there is a risk that a road link between Lysychansk and Bakhmut will be cut by the Russians. At the same time, there was heavy fighting on Russian advances south of Izyum in the direction of Sloviansk and at Avdiivka in the Donetsk region.
Successes of Ukraine north of Kharkiv
Vladimir Putin’s troops did not succeed in fully conquering Mariupol by May 9, but fighting around the Azovstal steelworks continues. The trapped Ukrainian soldiers would continue to be fired upon by artillery and tanks. This is documented, among other things, by videos from social networks. On the other hand, north of the metropolis Kharkiv, the second largest city in Ukraine, Ukrainian troops tried to advance towards the Russian border. The Ukrainians were recently able to liberate several towns there.
EU Council President Michel is under fire
A spontaneous visit by EU Council President Charles Michel to the Ukrainian port city of Odessa was temporarily interrupted because of a rocket attack. At a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal, the participants had to seek shelter because rockets fell in the Odessa region, according to EU sources. “I came to celebrate Europe Day in Odessa,” wrote Michel.
Russians want to continue negotiations with Ukraine
Despite all the fighting, Russia says peace talks with Ukraine are continuing. They were not ended, but would be continued remotely, Russia’s chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky told the Interfax news agency. The Russian government has accused Ukraine of stalling the talks and using reports of atrocities by Russian soldiers to undermine the deliberations. Russia denies that it is targeting civilians in its so-called special military operation in Ukraine.
Scholz calls for de-escalation
French President Emmanuel Macron sees no progress in the Ukraine conflict in Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin’s cautious speech at the Moscow military parade. “What we want to achieve is a ceasefire as soon as possible,” said Macron during his inaugural visit to Berlin after his re-election. Only then could negotiations between Ukraine and Russia be brought to a conclusion in order to achieve peace and, as a result, a permanent withdrawal of Russian troops. “That is our goal.” They want to help Ukraine in negotiations, the terms of which she decides herself. Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that it was “important that de-escalation continues, at least as far as rhetoric is concerned.” It is important that, after so many weeks of war, decisive steps are taken to end the conflict.
Macron dampens Ukrainian hopes for EU membership
On the other hand, the French President clearly dampened Ukraine’s hopes of speedy admission to the European Union. The process could take “decades,” Macron said in a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg before his trip to Berlin. Instead, he called for increased cooperation with Kyiv. Macron proposed the creation of a “European political community” for Ukraine and other candidate countries. “This new European organization would enable a new space for political cooperation, security and cooperation for democratic European nations that are committed to our foundation of values,” said the head of state.
Von der Leyen hopes for a compromise with Hungary
Hungary is already a member of the EU, but its stance on a boycott of Russian oil is currently causing EU officials headaches. Against this background, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen traveled to Hungary. Von der Leyen wanted to meet Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Negotiations on the EU’s next package of sanctions have been stuck for days, as Hungary and other countries are demanding extensive exemptions from the planned oil embargo.
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