Monday, May 9 was a busy day from a diplomatic point of view: on a visit to Strasbourg, Emmanuel Macron proposed the creation of a new European alliance to welcome Ukraine.
In Moscow, Vladimir Putin spoke in front of thousands of Russian soldiers parading in Red Square. The opportunity for him to mention the “preventive response” of his army. Here’s what to remember from the day.
Macron and Scholz in favor of a “European political community”
Emmanuel Macron warned that a possible accession of Ukraine to the EU would take “decades” and proposed to pending a “European political community”, which is also likely to welcome countries such as the United Kingdom. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz ruled initiative “very interesting” during a meeting between the two leaders in Berlin.
This organization “would allow democratic European nations adhering to our core values to find a new space for political cooperation, security, cooperation”explained Emmanuel Macron during a joint press conference.
Ukraine, the United Kingdom, but also countries that are less advanced on the path to membership, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, could become members, pending the completion of the very long membership procedures, which sometimes take many “decades”or as a replacement for membership in the bloc in the case of Great Britain, according to the French president.
Charles Michel forced to take shelter after strikes in Odessa
European Council President Charles Michel delivered a strong message of support to the Ukrainians during a surprise visit to Odessa, a large southern city where he was forced to take shelter for a while because of strikes in the region.
“The Kremlin wants to suppress your spirit of freedom and democracy. I am totally convinced that it will never succeed”he said in a video message posted on Twitter, a few hours after the holding in Moscow of the great parade of May 9 celebrating the victory over Nazi Germany.
My statement on the occasion of #EuropeDayin #odesa #Ukraine.@ZelenskyyUa @Denys_Shmyhal#StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/4GnoWGLKqN
— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) May 9, 2022
Putin claims to retaliate against an “unacceptable threat”
Russian President Vladimir Putin proclaimed that his army was fighting in Ukraine to defend “the homeland” in front of the “unacceptable threat” represented by its Western-backed neighbor, in front of thousands of Russian soldiers marching through Red Square to mark the anniversary of the 1945 victory over Nazi Germany.
Shortly before, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky promised for his part that his country would not leave Moscow “claim victory over Nazism” and expressed confidence in an imminent victory for Ukraine against the Russian forces.
Pro-kyiv refuse to capitulate in Mariupol
In Mariupol, a southeastern port almost entirely under Russian control after two and a half months of ordeal, the Ukrainian soldiers who are still resisting in the huge Azovstal steelworks have ruled out surrendering. “Surrender is not an option because our life does not interest Russia. Leaving us alive does not matter to him”said Ilya Samoilenko, an intelligence officer.
The civilians who were with the fighters in this vast complex pounded by Russian forces could all be evacuated, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, citing the number of 300 people still exfiltrated. According to the latest information, “there are no more civilians” in the steel plant, according to the UN, which is however not “able to verify”.
More than 5.4 million civilians have left the country
According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 5.4 million Ukrainians have fled their country. Among them, 90% of women and children, men aged 18 to 60, likely to be mobilized, not having the right to leave.
More than 7.7 million Ukrainians have been internally displaced, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).