Russia will be defeated “in the same way” as Nazism, in particular launched the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky.
A birthday and a prophecy. “All the old evil that modern Russia brings back will be defeated the same way Nazism was defeated”, warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, May 8, the anniversary of the end of the Second World War. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to kyiv on Tuesday to meet him. Franceinfo summarizes what to remember from this day of conflict.
Volodymyr Zelensky promises Russia a Nazi-like defeat
The Ukrainian president promised defeat to Russia on Monday, the anniversary of the end of the Second World War. “All the old evil that modern Russia brings back will be defeated the same way Nazism was defeated”insisted Volodymyr Zelensky in a speech broadcast on his social networks.
He then announced that Ukraine will henceforth mark the end of the Second World War in the Western way on May 8 and will celebrate Europe Day on May 9, like the EU countries that Kiev aspires to join in the faster.
Ursula von der Leyen will travel to Kyiv on Tuesday
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to Kyiv on Tuesday to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, her spokesperson said. This will be the fifth visit by the President of the Commission since the start of the Russian military offensive in February 2022.
“The President will reaffirm the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine”specified Eric Mamer, emphasizing that this visit would take place on Europe Day.
Towards an eleventh package of European sanctions against Russia
The European Commission on Friday submitted to EU member states an eleventh package of restrictive measures against Russia intended to avoid the circumvention of European sanctions. “The objective is to prevent goods banned from export to Russia from finding a way to supply the Russian military complex”explained EU spokesperson Eric Mamer.
The Commission’s proposal targets 541 companies, including 526 Russians, and includes for the first time eight Chinese and Hong Kong companies accused of re-exporting sensitive goods to Russia, according to a document seen by AFP. An Iranian company, two companies from the United Arab Emirates, two firms based in Uzbekistan, one in Armenia and one in Syria are also targeted. The Commission proposes to restrict the possibilities of exports by these companies.
The eleventh package will be discussed on Wednesday by the representatives of the Member States in Brussels and several meetings will be necessary to reach its adoption.
Russia to ‘expand’ military facilities in Kyrgyzstan
Russia will “develop” its military installations in Kyrgyzstan, a Central Asian country allied with Moscow, the Kremlin announced after a meeting in the Russian capital between the presidents of the two countries, Vladimir Putin and Sadyr Japarov.
“Heads of State stress the importance of strengthening the armed forces of Kyrgyzstan and developing Russian military installations on its territory”the Kremlin said in a joint statement.
Russia has a military base in Kyrgyzstan consisting of an airfield, a naval facility on Lake Issyk-Kul and several other sites.
“Fierce” fighting continues in Bakhmout
The boss of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said fighting “fierce” continued in Bakhmout, a symbolic city in eastern Ukraine. According to him, the Russian forces advanced 130 meters during the day and the Ukrainian troops now control only 2.36 km2 of the city. The Ukrainian General Staff for its part simply reported that the “hostilities continue in the city”under the “unsuccessful offensive actions” Russian troops.