Day 428 since the beginning of the war: After Russian air raids, the number of dead in Ukraine is increasing. In Bachmut there is a fight for supply routes. All information in the blog.
The most important things at a glance
Ukrainian ambassador asks for more German weapons
1:30: Ahead of the expected Ukrainian counter-offensive, the country’s ambassador in Berlin, Oleksii Makeiev, has called for more military support from Germany in the fight against the Russian attackers. “Other anti-aircraft systems such as Iris-T, Patriot and Gepard are most urgently needed. For the planned counter-offensive we need more armored vehicles, tanks and artillery systems, long-range ammunition in the shortest possible time,” Makeiev told the Funke media group newspapers (Saturday).
Europe’s security depended on the speed and scale of arms and ammunition supplies to help Ukraine restore territorial integrity. “Russia’s defeat is a guarantee of normal life in Europe,” said the ambassador.
Zelenskyj: Modern air force necessary
12:30 a.m.: After the recent Russian rocket attacks on residential buildings in the city of Uman, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has also called for more weapons to protect the country. “Anti-aircraft defense, a modern air force, without which effective airspace defense is impossible, artillery, armored vehicles. Everything that is necessary to provide security for our cities, our villages, both in the rear and at the front,” said the 45- year-old on Friday in his daily video address.
EU Commission: Agreement in principle in dispute over Ukrainian grain
9:20 p.m.: The EU Commission announces a basic agreement in the dispute over the transport of Ukrainian grain by five member countries. Vice-President of the Commission Valdis Dombrovskis wrote on Twitter that the agreement takes into account the concerns of farmers in Ukraine as well as in neighboring EU countries. Wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds were recorded. The agreement includes an aid package worth 100 million euros for farmers. Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia had imposed restrictions on Ukrainian shipments out of concern that supplies from Ukraine could end up in their markets and spoil prices for their farmers.
Zelenskyy asks Chinese President Xi for help
8:04 p.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to help repatriate kidnapped Ukrainian children from Russia. “We have to involve everyone to put pressure on the Russian aggressor and the terrorists who kidnapped so many of our children,” Zelenskyy told journalists in Kiev on Friday. The efforts of the UN and other actors have so far only achieved “poor results”.
According to Kiev, Russia has abducted at least 20,000 children from Ukraine since the war began on February 24, 2022. Only around 360 of them could be brought back to their homeland. In mid-March, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin and the Russian President’s “Child Rights Commissioner”, Maria Alexeyevna Lvowa-Belowa, for the kidnappings.
Xi and Zelenskyy spoke on the phone on Wednesday for the first time since Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine began. After the call, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that Xi told Zelenskyy that “talks and negotiations are the only way out” of the war.
Rocket fire death toll rises
7:27 p.m.: After the first major Russian airstrikes in almost two months, the number of dead has continued to rise: according to Ukrainian information, at least 25 people died. In the evening, the sirens wailed again in the east and south of the country.
Zelenskyj: Hear respect from China
7:24 p.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy once again spoke positively about a recent phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The conversation was about the territorial integrity of Ukraine “including Crimea” and the United Nations Charter. “We have heard respect for all these principles,” said the 45-year-old at a press conference in Kiev on Friday. That is very important. There was no discussion with Beijing about mutual visits.
Zelenskyy also asked Xi to influence Moscow to bring about the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war and “abducted children”. According to him, it is about “almost 20,000 children”. “I’ll say it openly, only Ukraine is currently helping Ukraine with the return of our children,” complained the head of state. There are efforts on the part of the United Nations, but with weak results. That’s why he asked Xi for help with this as well.
