Germany announced that it managed to reduce its energy dependence on Russia
Germany announced this Sunday that, since the beginning of the war between Ukraine and Russia, it managed to diversify its supply of energy supplies to thereby reduce its dependence on the Kremlin.
Russian oil purchases fell from 35 percent of total German imports before February 24 to 12 percent, according to an Economy Ministry report. In turn, in the same interval, purchases of Russian coal decreased from 50 to 8 percent and those of Russian gas, from 55 percent to 35 percent.
“In recent weeks we have made great efforts, with all the actors involved, to reduce our imports of fossil fuels from Russia and diversify our supplies,” said German Economy Minister Robert Habeck.
Russia says it has no date to end its invasion of Ukraine
Russia has no set date for ending its invasion of Ukraine. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Serguei Lavrov, who argued that his country “never stopped trying” to avoid a nuclear war.
“Our military will not artificially adjust their actions for any date, including Victory Day,” Lavrov said in an interview with Italian broadcaster Mediaset, according to the Russian news agency Sputnik. Russia celebrates Victory Day on May 9, commemorating the Soviet Union’s victory over Germany in World War II, which occurred on that date in 1945.
Lavrov noted that the duration of the invasion of Ukraine depends “on the need to minimize any risk to the civilian population and Russian military personnel.” He also assured that Moscow “never stopped striving to reach agreements that guarantee that a nuclear war does not occur.”
The Speaker of the United States Parliament met with Vladimir Zelensky in kyiv
The president of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelositraveled unannounced to Kiev to meet with the president of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelenski.
With a video published in Twitter by the Ukrainian president this morning, where the meeting of both officials is seen, Zelensky assured: “The United States is a leader in the strong support of Ukraine in the fight once morest Russian aggression. Thank you for helping to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state!”
The meeting took place secretly yesterday and came to light several hours later when Pelosi spoke to the press in Poland.
As detailed, the meeting lasted three hours and had as its focus the support of the United States to the Ukrainian people that will imply a new disbursement of “humanitarian aid” to combat Russian troops.
The former Democratic congresswoman is the highest-ranking official from her country to visit Ukraine since the start of the war on February 24. Before the press, she assured that the visit was made “to send an unequivocal and resounding message to the world: the United States is with Ukraine.”
In addition, the US legislators who accompanied the meeting assured that “Additional US support is on the way” and that they seek to turn “the strong demand for financing from President (Joe) Biden into a legislative package“.
For his part, in subsequent presidential statements, the Ukrainian president was satisfied with the dialogue and considered that the United States is providing “very important signals” to Ukraine.
In addition, he highlighted that The North American country will launch a program similar to the one created during World War II, to provide friendly countries with war material without intervening directly in the conflict.
Czech Republic strengthens its gas reserves following the Russian cut
The Government of the Czech Republic has purchased 2.4 terawatts of natural gas to add to its national reserves in case of supply problems. The operation, announced by the national reservation agency this Sunday, has cost 8,500 million crowns (345 million euros).
It is the first time that the country buys gas reserves. The amount is the equivalent of 2 percent of national consumption in 2021.
Nadal considers it “unfair” to exclude Russian and Belarusian tennis players from Wimbledon
Rafael Nadal described this Sunday as “unfair” the decision to exclude Russian and Belarusian tennis players from Wimbledon. The Spaniard, winner of 21 Grand Slam titles, believes the All England Club chose “the most drastic option”.
“They are not to blame for what is happening with the war,” said the Majorcan tennis player, adding: “I feel sorry for them. I wish it wasn’t like that, but in the end we know that this is what it is.”
They confirm that there are already more than 100 civilians evacuated from the Mariupol steelworks
Nearly 100 civilians were evacuated from the Azovstal plant, a redoubt of the last Ukrainian forces in the city of Mariupol under siege by Russian troops, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky said on Sunday.
This announcement came following the UN confirmed that an “evacuation operation is underway” in Azovstal, in coordination with the Red Cross, Russian troops and Ukrainian forces, without giving further details.
The Azovstal industrial area is the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance in the southern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, which is now controlled by Russia.
Living conditions in the network of tunnels under the steelworks were described as appalling. So far previous evacuation efforts have failed.
Fire at a military facility in Russia’s Belgorod region
A fire broke out this Sunday at a military facility in the Russian region of Belgorod, bordering Ukraine, local governor Viacheslav Gladkov reported.
“A fire was recorded on the border of three municipalities – the Borisov and Belgorod districts and the Yakovlevski urban district – at a facility of the Russian Defense Ministry,” the official posted on his Telegram account.
The governor noted that one person was injured in the incident. “The wound is minor and his life is not in danger. All necessary medical care is being provided,” he assured.
He also indicated that “all operational services are in place and all necessary measures are being taken to guarantee security.”
There were no details from the governor of Belgorod regarding the causes of the fire at the military facility in that Russian region.
Civilian evacuation continues at Mariupol steelworks
The evacuation operation of civilians from the Azovstal steel complex in Mariupol, in eastern Ukraine, “continues” this Sunday, said a UN spokesman in Geneva.
“The UN confirms that an evacuation operation is underway at the Azovstal steel complex, in coordination with the ICRC and the parties to the conflict,” said Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, on Sunday. an email.
He stressed that he cannot give other details for security reasons.
Turkish mediation between Zelensky and Putin advances
Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in kyiv on Saturday. Ankara is playing an important role in the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Kalin was accompanied by Vice Chancellor Sedat Onal. No further details were given, for now, regarding the content of the meeting in kyiv.
In March, Turkey hosted a first meeting between the negotiators from Moscow and kyiv, and another between the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, and his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is now seeking to pave the way for a summit in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian presidents Vladimir Putin and Zelensky.
In a phone call on Thursday, Erdogan told Putin that Turkey sought to “establish lasting peace in the region as soon as possible, building on the momentum achieved in the talks in Istanbul,” his cabinet said.
