05/12/2022
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 01:59 Pro-Russian protesters in Sofia prevented from tearing down the Ukraine flag +++
In the Bulgarian capital Sofia, there have been clashes between pro-Russian demonstrators and the police. Police prevented activists from the pro-Russian nationalist party Vasrashdane (Rebirth) from tearing down the Ukrainian flag at City Hall on Wednesday evening. The yellow and blue flag has been flying at Sofia’s city hall since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine as a sign of solidarity with Kyiv. Vashrashdane activists managed to tear down the flag just a week ago, but it was quickly reattached to City Hall.
+++ 01:15 Zelenskyj sees progress in “concrete guarantees” for Ukraine’s security +++
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sees significant progress in efforts to secure international security guarantees for his country. “We are negotiating with the world’s leading nations to give Ukraine confidence in security for decades to come,” Zelenskyy said in his daily video address on Wednesday evening. Among other things, this topic was discussed at the G7 meeting on May 8, in which Ukraine took part for the first time. “This is the first time in the history of our state that such guarantees can be recorded,” says Zelenskyj. And not in any memoranda or unclear formulations, “but concrete guarantees”. These are also “not only legally valid, but also formulated in such a way that it is clear: What exactly, who specifically and how specifically (Ukraine) is guaranteed”.
+++ 00:22 Both Russians and Ukrainians use cluster munitions +++
According to a report by the organization Human Rights Watch, the Russian armed forces have used internationally banned cluster munitions in Ukraine. As a result, hundreds of civilians lost their lives and schools, residential buildings and hospitals were damaged, reports the human rights organization in Geneva. The Ukrainian army also used such ammunition at least once. There is an international treaty that has banned the use, stockpiling, trade and production of cluster munitions since 2010 (Cluster Munitions Convention). Strictly speaking, however, only the 110 contracting states are bound by it. Russia and Ukraine are not among them. Nonetheless, the widespread condemnation of so many countries has made the use of these weapons internationally outlawed.
+++ 23:37 Ukraine submits offer to Russia: prisoner exchange for injured Azovstal fighters +++
The Ukrainian leadership is proposing to the Russian military a trade for the last defenders of the port city entrenched in the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol. “As a first step, we offered the Russians the following exchange: we would transport our seriously wounded boys from Azovstal in a humanitarian corridor,” said Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk, according to Ukrajinska Pravda. At the same time, the Ukrainian military is releasing Russian prisoners of war “according to standard rules for their exchange”. Negotiations are still ongoing and no agreement has yet been reached.
+++ 22:45 Selenskyj: End of war only after reconquest of all areas +++
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj believes that an end to the war with Russia is only possible after all occupied Ukrainian territories have been recaptured. “If we take back everything that belongs to us, then we’ll end the war,” the head of state told French students. “We want peace in our state,” he emphasizes. Russia attacked Ukraine on a broad front at the end of February and occupies large areas in the east and south of the country. In 2014, Russia had already incorporated the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea. Russian President Vladimir Putin also justified the current war of aggression with the fact that Ukraine was planning to take back Crimea using military force. Russia categorically excludes a return.
+++ 22:24 UN: Further evacuations as planned in Mariupol +++
According to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, after the evacuation of civilians from the Ukrainian port of Mariupol, there will be more similar operations. “We are in contact with the authorities in Ukraine and Russia to advance similar initiatives,” Guterres said. As long as these operations are not yet completed, they should not be made public: “We don’t want too much to be said here too soon.”
+++ 22:01 European Investment Bank: Trillions needed for Ukraine’s reconstruction +++
The European Investment Bank (EIB) supports the proposal to help Ukraine rebuild with an international aid plan worth billions. Institute President Werner Hoyer demands that the heads of state and government must make a decision on this as soon as possible. Hoyer says the amount has not yet been determined. But one thing is clear: “We’re not talking about millions, but trillions.” Economic experts from Economic Policy Research estimate that up to 600 billion euros would already be needed for reconstruction. The EIB’s capital is provided by the EU member countries, who own the bank.
+++ 21:36 Scholz talks to Selenskyj about further support +++
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy again. During the phone call, Scholz informed himself about the current situation and the negotiation process between Ukraine and Russia to end the war. According to his spokesman, the chancellor emphasized that Russia remains called upon to end hostilities in Ukraine immediately, to withdraw troops from Ukraine and thereby restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. The two politicians also exchanged views on “very concrete, practical options for further support for Ukraine and agreed to remain in close contact”. Selenskyj wrote on Twitter that he had spoken to Scholz about defensive aid, cooperation in the energy sector and tougher sanctions against Russia. He also praised the dialogue between the two countries.
+++ 21:22 Czech Republic allows selected citizens to fight in Ukraine +++
Czech President Milos Zeman has allowed more than 100 citizens of his country to go to war for Ukraine. He approved corresponding individual applications, as announced by a spokesman for the head of state. According to the military law, Czech citizens are forbidden to do military service for foreign armies. Prime Minister Petr Fiala still has to countersign the exemptions, but according to his spokesman this is expected. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on foreign volunteers to take part in the resistance against Russia. To this end, he set up an “international brigade”. The Czech Republic has been a member of the NATO defense alliance since 1999.
You can read earlier developments in the Ukraine conflict here.