According to Zelensky, Ukraine and the USA are preparing a security agreement. Kiev accuses Telegram of blocking official bots. More information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
Xi travels to France – Macron announces Ukraine talks
5:26 p.m.: Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to make a state visit to France on May 6th and 7th at the start of a trip to Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron wants to receive him at the Elysée Palace in Paris, but also wants to visit the Pyrenees with him, the Elysée said. The content is primarily about the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.
“We must continue to involve China, as it has the greatest opportunity to influence Russia on the international stage,” said French diplomatic circles. France is one of the few countries that has kept the channels of communication open to the world’s second-largest economic power, it continues. This is important given the tensions between China and the USA and Great Britain.
NATO chief promises more arms deliveries to Ukraine
2:25 p.m.: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has announced more arms deliveries to Ukraine. The members of the military alliance have not delivered what they had promised in recent months, says Stoltenberg during a surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital Kiev. “But now I’m confident that that will change,” he adds, referring, among other things, to the recently passed billion-dollar aid package from the USA and support commitments from the British government.
He also expects further commitments. “This will make a difference – just as the lack of support made a difference,” said Stoltenberg, alluding to Ukraine’s setbacks on the battlefield. It is not too late for Ukraine to win.
Russia reports further terrain gains
1:57 p.m.: According to its own statements, Russia has taken over another town in eastern Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday that it had “liberated” the village of Semenivka, located near the Russian-controlled city of Avdiivka. It was only on Sunday that the ministry announced the “liberation” of the village of Novobachmutivka, around ten kilometers northwest of Avdiivka.
Britain estimates dead Russian military personnel at 450,000
11:21 a.m.: Britain estimates that around 450,000 Russian military personnel have been killed or wounded in Ukraine. However, the number of employees of private Russian military companies killed is unclear, explained Leo Docherty, British Minister of State for the Armed Forces, according to the “UK Defense Journal”. Over 10,000 Russian armored vehicles are also said to have been destroyed.
Ukraine: Serious Russian attacks repelled in Donbass
9:32 a.m.: Ukraine says it has repelled serious attacks by Russia in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian army said “55 attacks were repelled” in several towns north and west of the village of Novobachmutivka. Further south, in the west of the city of Donetsk, Russian forces “with the support of the air force tried 15 times to break through the defenses of our troops,” according to Kiev.
According to Kiev, its soldiers were able to “continue to hold back the enemy” in several towns west of Donetsk, including in the city of Krasnogoriivka. The city is located around 20 kilometers from the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk and is considered a Ukrainian bulwark in the region. However, since the capture of the nearby towns of Marinka and Avdiivka by Russian soldiers, Krasnogorivka has become more vulnerable.
The Ukrainian army admitted on Sunday that the situation at the front had deteriorated. Russian troops have been advancing in eastern Ukraine since February. At the weekend, Moscow’s soldiers took over the village of Novobachmutivka.
Allegations from Kyiv: Does Telegram block official bots?
8:47 a.m.: Ukraine accuses the short messaging service Telegram of blocking several of the country’s official software bots. Among them is the bot from the Ukrainian military intelligence service GUR, as the secret service itself announced on Telegram. “Despite our bot being blocked – your personal information is safe.” Telegram could not initially be reached for comment.
