Situation on the ground, international reactions, sanctions: update on the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
May 9 does not mean the end of the war
Russia is not seeking to end the war in Ukraine on May 9, celebrated as Victory Day, its foreign minister said, as analysts believed a possible end to the conflict on that date. “Our military will not artificially adjust their actions to any date, including Victory Day,” Sergei Lavrov said in an interview broadcast on Sunday, referring to the date commemorating May 9, 1945 and the Nazi surrender to the Nazis. to the Allies, including the Soviet Union.
Israel slams Lavrov’s comments about Hitler
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Monday blasted comments by his Russian counterpart Lavrov, who claimed Hitler “had Jewish blood” and summoned the Russian ambassador for “clarifications.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr “Zelensky makes this argument: how can Nazism be present (in Ukraine) if he himself is Jewish. I could be wrong, but Hitler also had Jewish blood,” Mr. Lavrov, whose statement was transcribed on his ministry’s website. Russia has repeatedly said that it wants to “denazify” Ukraine. Since the invasion of the country by the Russians on February 24, the Jewish state has tried to maintain a delicate balance between kyiv and Moscow, but the remarks on Sunday by Mr. Lavrov sparked outrage.
kyiv says it destroyed two Russian boats
The Ukrainian army said on Monday that it had destroyed two Russian patrol boats near Serpents’ Island in the Black Sea, which has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance since the start of the invasion. The Russian Raptor-class patrol boats are among the fastest shuttles in the Russian Navy, reaching nearly 90 km/h at full speed. Moscow did not confirm the information.
To read : Russians open the doors of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant
Denmark and Sweden reopen their embassies in kyiv…
Denmark and Sweden announced on Monday the reopening of their embassies in kyiv, in a sign of support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion. “On Wednesday the Swedish Embassy will reopen in Kyiv,” Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde wrote on Twitter. His Danish counterpart Jeppe Kofod reopened his country’s embassy in the Ukrainian capital on Monday during a surprise visit.
… and return of US diplomats expected by the end of May
The return of American diplomats to kyiv, the Ukrainian capital which they had left in mid-February a few days before the start of the Russian invasion, is hoped “by the end of the month” of May, announced Monday the charge of American businessman Kristina Kvien.
Read also : “In Ukraine, the Americans put what it takes for a victory”
The Bolshoi withdraws shows
The Bolshoi Theater in Moscow announced on Monday evening the withdrawal of its poster from the performances scheduled for May by two directors who left Russia and publicly communicated their opposition to its offensive in Ukraine.
Russian oil: the EU is studying a gradual embargo
In Brussels, the Ministers of Energy of the Twenty-Seven met Monday to study a gradual cessation of oil purchases from Russia in order to sanction the war in Ukraine. “There is a political will to stop oil purchases from Russia and next week we will have measures and a decision on a gradual withdrawal,” said a European official involved in the discussions on Sunday, without hiding that this decision does not is “not easy to implement”.
Football: Russian clubs and teams excluded
Russian clubs will not play in European competitions in 2022-2023, including the lucrative Champions League, UEFA announced on Monday, which has also decided to replace Russia with Portugal for the women’s Euro-2022 this summer ( July 6-31) in England.
