75th day of war in Ukraine. Kiev announces sixty deaths in the school bombed by the Russians. Survivors in the Ukrainian school describe the horror, while today Vladimirurtin is preparing to celebrate the feast of May 9 without being able to exhibit any victory, not even the final conquest of Mariupol. The wife of the American president, Jill Biden, paid a flash visit to Ukraine to meet the first lady of Kiev. G-7 leaders vow to phase out Russian oil.
He reports – On the march to Russia
The interview – Olli Rehn: “The EU can handle a stop on gas, but we need an anti-inflation plan”
The analysis – The cult of Victory did not exist. Putin revives the imperial “zombie”
The interview – Ilya Samoilenko, the officer of the Azov battalion: “We will never give up, Zelensky has abandoned us”
Follow the updates hour by hour
6.11 – In Moscow, military and parade equipment on the street
Military, armored vehicles and equipment are already on the street in Moscow, which in a few hours will parade on Red Square for the expected parade celebrating Victory Day, but which this year has a special value in consideration of the war in Ukraine. An impressive display of military power, which however clashes with the fact that Putin cannot exhibit any victory, not even the conquest of Mariupol, and a Ukrainian counter-offensive has begun in the Donbas. 11,000 officers, sergeants, soldiers, cadets, members of the Yunarmiya youth movement, units of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Russian National Guard and FSB border agents are involved in the parade. All will spin in 33 marching columns. Also involved 131 units of armaments and equipment, 77 aircraft and helicopters. For the occasion, the modified Ilyushin-80 will also return to flight after 12 years, which should allow Vladimir Putin to take refuge in the event of a nuclear attack by Russia.
23.07 – Guterres “horrified” by the attack on the school
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is “horrified” by the attack on a school in eastern Ukraine, which killed 60 people and called for civilians to be spared. This was stated by his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, after President Zelensky’s denunciation of the G7. Guterres, the spokesman said, “reaffirms that civilians and civilian infrastructure must always be spared in wartime”. The attack, he added, “reminds us once again that in this war, as in many conflicts, it is civilians who pay the highest price”.
22.48 – Zelensky: fully part of the free world, Moscow instead is alone
«I am sure that today in Ukraine we have shown that we are already a full part of the free world and of a united Europe. This is a clear contrast to Moscow’s loneliness in the evil and hatred that everyone will see tomorrow ». Thus the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in the latest video published on social media, on the eve of May 9. «Today he had talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau» and «for the first time, Ukraine attended a meeting of G7 leaders. The largest democracies in the world. He called for increasing pressure on Russia and for the conditions for Ukraine to end the war as soon as possible with the liberation of our land and our people. In particular, it is an embargo on Russian oil, oil mixtures and petroleum products ». Zelensky also recalled the visits today to Ukraine by US First Lady Jill Biden, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and the President of the German Bundestag, as well as Bono from U2.
22.22 – Zelensky: 60 dead in the school bombed by the Russians in the East
60 people were killed in the school bombed on Saturday by the Russians in Eastern Ukraine: the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky said. “Yesterday, in the village of Bilohorivka, in the Lugansk region, a Russian bomb killed 60 civilians,” Zelensky said in video link with G7 leaders. Ukrainian media reported that 90 people had taken refuge inside the school and that about 30 had been rescued quickly.
9.45pm – Trudeau announces the reopening of the Canadian embassy in Kiev
In a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the reopening of the Canadian embassy in Kiev. Trudeau also announced increased military assistance to Ukraine, including drones, satellite imagery, small arms, ammunition and funding for demining operations. In addition, Canada will remove trade tariffs on all Ukrainian imports arriving next year. “It is clear that Vladmir Putin is responsible for heinous war crimes and there must be responsibility,” said Trudeau.