Ukraine war: G7 issue dire warning of violent world order change

International

Almost 14 months after the start of the Russian attack on the Ukraine the fighting continues. The fighting is particularly fierce in the strategically important city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian defenders were allegedly surrounded there by Russian troops.

Meanwhile, Poland wants to deliver fighter jets from GDR old stock to Ukraine. The federal government approved a corresponding application for approval of the delivery on Thursday within a few hours.

In our news blog you can read all the important news about developments in the Ukraine war.

17. April

4:47 a.m.: G7 warn of violent change in world order

The Ukraine war increases concerns about a power shift in the international order. In view of China’s increasing thirst for power, the G7 group of economically strong democracies has warned against any attempt to change the world order by force. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Monday at the start of the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Karuizawa, central Japan: “We will reject any unilateral attempts to uphold the status quo Violence Because: In the region, China is also trying to expand its position of power militarily. It will “demonstrate to the world the firm determination of the G7 to maintain the international order based on the rule of law.”

Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) will also take part in the talks, which will last until Tuesday. Hayashi said at the start of the meeting on Sunday evening that “constructive and stable” relationships are important in order to tackle global challenges China build up. According to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the G7 ministers emphasized that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is an “indispensable element for the security and prosperity of the international community”. China views Taiwan as a breakaway territory to be reunited with the mainland, if necessary using military force.

16. April

3.46 p.m .: EU criticizes import stop for Ukrainian grain

The European Union has Poland and Hungary criticized for announcing that they would no longer import Ukrainian grain. Unilateral trade measures by EU member states are not permitted, said a spokesman for the EU Commission.

Before the war, Ukraine was considered the granary of the world.Photo: AP / Efrem Lukatsky

Both countries had announced the import stop on Saturday. The reason: They want to avert damage to local agriculture. Due to logistical problems, Ukrainian grain is currently backing up in some Central European countries and cannot be transported to the original sales countries.

8.47 a.m .: Selenskyj demands security guarantees from NATO

Ukraine wants to join NATO as quickly as possible and is also insisting on security guarantees from the military alliance even before it joins. “Effective security guarantees for Ukraine (…) are needed even before we join the alliance,” said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his evening video address on Saturday.

Kyiv had in Herbst 2022 applied for accelerated accession of Ukraine to NATO. The prerequisite for this, however, is that the country is not involved in any international conflict. As long as the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine continues, the country will not be able to meet this condition.

At least 11 people died in a Russian missile attack in a residential building in Sloviansk. Bild: SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire / Ashley Chan

Meanwhile, the death toll after the Russian rocket attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk has risen to eleven civilians, according to official figures. Also, despite its role as a close ally, Poland has banned grain imports from Ukraine to protect its own agriculture.

15. April

5:02 a.m.: Rocket attack in Sloviansk kills at least nine people

In the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk, a rocket hit a residential building, killing at least nine civilians. This was reported by Ukrainian rescue workers and the governor of the region. Accordingly, there are also 21 more in the attack People get hurt.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the Russian airstrike in his late night video address. In it he indicated Russia as a “diabolical state” of everything Life destroy and ruin. Despite the upcoming Orthodox Easter services this weekend, there is not a single hour without Russian murders and Terror passed, emphasized Zelenskyj.

14. April

4:58 p.m .: Ukraine is increasingly reporting Chinese components in Russian weapons

Although the Chinese foreign minister claimed the opposite in Beijing on Friday, there are increasing signs that Beijing is supporting Russia with weapons components in its war of aggression against Ukraine. According to its own statements, Ukraine is increasingly providing Russians Waffen sure that contain Chinese components.

The composition of the weapons used by Russia has changed since the beginning of the war, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s adviser on sanctions policy, Vladyslaw Vlasiuk, told Reuters news agency. For example, Swiss components in Russian Orlan drones have increasingly been replaced by Chinese ones.

According to Ukraine, Chinese components are increasingly being installed in Russian drones, among other things.Bild: imago/tass

8.20 a.m .: A third of Ukraine may be contaminated with explosive devices

The extent of mining in Ukraine is becoming increasingly clear. A spokesman for the State Emergency Service said a third of the country is “potentially contaminated with explosive devices”. This is according to a report by CNN. The greatest danger is therefore in Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, Donetsk in the east and Cherson and Mykolaiv in the south.

According to spokesman Oleksandr Khorunzhyi, the emergency services have been fighting mines since the beginning of the war. The staff are responsible for defusing and removing the explosives left behind by the Russian attackers as they withdraw from conquered areas. Since the Russian invasion began, more than 316,000 war remnants have already been cleared, Khorunzhyi said. The emergency service pays particular attention to removing mines near the energy infrastructure.

2.02 a.m .: EU imposes sanctions on Wagner Group

Russia’s Wagner mercenary group is now also on the European Union’s sanctions list. The force, founded by oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been added for “active participation in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” the European Council said.

The Wagner group leads the Russian attacks on the eastern Ukrainian cities of Bakhmut and Soledar. According to a Russian NGO and a Wagner deserter, they are also responsible for the alleged beheading of a Ukrainian prisoner of war. Wagner boss Prigoshin rejected the allegations about the case, and there is also a video that caused international horror.

Yevgeny Prigozhin’s private army is known for its great brutality. Bild: AP / Uncredited

Anyone on the EU sanctions list will be subject, among other things, to a travel ban to Europe. In addition, the assets of those affected will be frozen in the EU and EU citizens and companies will be prohibited from providing them with funds.

You can find older news about the war in Ukraine here.

(With material from dpa and AFP)