All updates in Central European Time (CET).
13:51 | Lavrov sees “progress” in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov assured this Friday during his official visit to India that there has been some progress in the negotiations on the neutral status of Ukraine, including a rapprochement of positions regarding the situation in the regions of the Donbas. “These agreements must be completed (…), there is some progress admitting the impossibility of Ukraine being part of any bloc,” said the head of Russian diplomacy, adding that they have found “an understanding” on the situation in the disputed Donbas region. EFE
12:37 | Ukrainian attack on Russia will affect negotiations, says Kremlin
The Kremlin estimated this Friday that the attack perpetrated according to Moscow by Ukrainian helicopters on Russian territory against a fuel depot will affect bilateral negotiations to end the offensive in Ukraine. “It is clear that this cannot be considered as something that will create the appropriate conditions for the continuation of the negotiations,” said Dmitri Peskov, spokesman for the Russian presidency, after the destruction at dawn of a warehouse in the Belgorod region, Ukraine border. AFP
11:56 | Russian troops leave Chernigov: Governor
Russian troops are leaving Chernigov, north of kyiv, according to the region’s governor, Vyacheslav Chaus, who said on Telegram that he does not know the reasons for this withdrawal, which had been announced this week by the Russian authorities. “The enemy, thanks to our Armed Forces, is leaving the Chernigov region, but only he knows why he is doing it,” Chaus said. However, the governor of Chernigov warns citizens that air and missile attacks could still take place since there was no announcement by Russian troops that these operations will be canceled. EFE
11:45 | HRW denounces possible war crimes against Russian prisoners
The NGO Human Rights Watch urged the Ukrainian authorities to investigate potential “war crimes” against Russian prisoners, after the dissemination of images showing Ukrainian soldiers shooting them in the legs. In a video released on March 27, three men in battle dress, with their hands tied behind their backs, are seen being thrown to the ground from a van by other armed men who shoot them in the legs. Although its authenticity could not be established independently, AFP geolocated the video as being made in the town of Mala Rogan, in the Kharkov region (northeast), which was taken up this week by Ukrainian forces after a counteroffensive. AFP
11:06 | Uncertainty around the evacuation of Mariúpol this Friday
It is not yet confirmed that the evacuation of the besieged city of Mariupol in Ukraine can take place this Friday, said a spokesman for the international Red Cross in Geneva. “There are many parties in action and all the details are not resolved to be sure that this will take place with adequate security … It is not yet clear if it will be done today,” said Ewan Watson, spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross. (ICRC) in regular UN contact with the press. AFP
10:58 | Humanitarian situation reported “extremely difficult” in Chernigov
The humanitarian situation in the city of Chernigov, in northern Ukraine, is “extremely difficult”, as its citizens have been without water, electricity, gas, heating and other basic services for more than two weeks. “The humanitarian situation in Chernigov remains extremely difficult. Citizens heroically endure and live without water, electricity, heating and other critical communications for more than two weeks,” the press service of the Ukrainian National Police published on its Telegram account. EFE
10:50 | Russia appreciates India’s neutrality in the conflict with Ukraine
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov thanked India on Friday for its neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict in a meeting he held with his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, on the occasion of his two-day official visit to New Delhi. “We appreciate that India is taking this situation in its entirety, not just from one side,” the head of Russian diplomacy said in his statement before the meeting began. India has maintained a profile of neutrality since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, refraining from condemning the aggression in the UN General Assembly. EFE
10:47 | EU regrets Russian veto of European envoys
The European Union (EU) regretted this Friday that Russia has decided to impose a ban on officials and politicians from the community and the member states entering its territory, in retaliation for the sanctions applied to Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine. The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, deplored in a statement the Russian veto to a number of nationals of the European Union, including community and member state officials, as well as deputies of the European Parliament and of the Parliaments nationals of EU countries, “in retaliation for EU sanctions related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.” EFE
10:09 | Australia to send armored military vehicles to Ukraine
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Friday that his country will send Bushmaster armored vehicles to Ukraine, in response to a request made the day before by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to defend his territory against Russian invasion. “We will send them in our C-17 (planes) to make sure they can be there to support,” Morrison announced, without specifying the number of these vehicles or the date of shipment. Australia’s announcement comes after Zelensky gave a virtual speech in the Australian Parliament calling for more military aid, where he reiterated the need for armor. EFE
9:11 | The EU and China will talk about the war in Ukraine
The European Union wants to convince China not to help Moscow dodge Western sanctions at a summit on Friday where Beijing seeks to relaunch its economic relationship with a Europe weakened by the war in Ukraine. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, will talk by videoconference with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and then with President Xi Jinping. “The meeting will focus on the role that we encourage China to play to exert all the necessary influence and pressure on Russia. It was not the initial objective of the summit, but it has necessarily become it,” the secretary said on Tuesday. of French State for European Affairs, Clément Beaune. AFP
8:39 | Russia accuses Ukraine of bombing oil depot
Russia today accused Ukraine of attacking an oil depot located in the Russian region of Belgorod, next to the Russian-Ukrainian border, which caused a huge fire. “The fire at the oil depot occurred as a result of an airstrike by two Ukrainian Armed Forces helicopters that entered Russian territory at low altitudes. There are no casualties,” Belgorod Governor Viacheslav Gladkov was quoted as saying. Russian agencies. EFE
7:48 | Russia prepares “powerful attacks”, says Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia is consolidating its positions and preparing “powerful attacks” on the south of the country, including the besieged port of Mariupol, where a new attempt to evacuate civilians is being prepared this Friday. Russia’s announcement of a de-escalation of attacks in the capital kyiv and the northern city of Chernigov has been met with skepticism by Ukraine and its Western allies, who simply see a repositioning of troops. “This is part of their tactics,” Zelensky said in an overnight message. “We know that they are leaving areas where we are beating them to focus on others that are very important … and where it can be difficult for us,” he said. AFP