Longer-range American missiles are expected to arrive in Ukraine soon. Russia’s deputy defense minister has been fired. More information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
Putin announces visit to China in May
6:37 p.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced an imminent visit to China. “I have planned a visit in May,” said the Kremlin chief during an appearance before the Russian business and industrialists’ association RSPP. He doesn’t give an exact date. The inauguration ceremony for his fifth term as president is scheduled for May 7, so it could be the first foreign trip of his new term. China is considered Russia’s most important ally.
Ukraine’s agriculture minister resigns after corruption allegations
6:21 p.m.: Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky, who was suspected of corruption, has resigned. The parliament in Kiev will discuss this in one of the upcoming plenary sessions, writes the speaker of the parliament on the messenger app Telegram. According to media reports, Solsky is said to be involved in the illegal acquisition of state-owned land.
USA delivers missiles – Kremlin puts it into perspective
4:36 p.m.: The US has delivered longer-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine for use in the defense against Russia. According to the US Department of Defense, the ATACMS missiles now delivered have a longer range than previously delivered missiles of the same type. They can therefore hit targets up to 300 kilometers away.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov puts the rockets’ importance for the course of the war into perspective. The delivery will “not fundamentally change the outcome of the military special operation,” Peskov said. “But it will cause more problems for Ukraine.” At the same time, he emphasizes that the USA is “directly involved in the conflict” and is in the process of “increasing the range of the weapon systems that it is already supplying.”
Tass: Belarus foiled drone attack on Minsk from Lithuania
12.11 p.m.: Belarus thwarted an attack on its capital Minsk by drones that took off from Lithuania, the Russian agency Tass quotes security authorities from Belarus. The State Security Committee, in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies, recently carried out several urgent security measures that made it possible to prevent attacks by combat drones from the territory of Lithuania on objects in Minsk and its suburbs, the Russian state news agency RIA also quoted Belarusian security chief Ivan Tertel as saying.
He did not specify whether he provided evidence to support his claim. The military of NATO member Lithuania says it has not taken any hostile actions against another country. Belarus is an ally of Russia and has made its territory available for the start of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Lukashenko: Time is ripe for peace talks in Ukraine war
10:54 a.m.: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says the time is ripe for peace talks in the Ukraine war. The front is deadlocked and the conditions for starting peace talks are in place, Lukashenko is quoted as saying by the Russian state news agency Tass. Proposals that were discussed between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Turkey in the first weeks of the war could serve as a starting point for negotiations.
According to Tass, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s close ally warns that there is a risk of “the end of the world” if Russia uses nuclear weapons in retaliation for Western actions. Russia has repeatedly warned that Western support for Ukraine could lead to direct confrontation with Russia and trigger a nuclear conflict.
Injured in air strike on Cherkassy region of Ukraine
7.35 a.m.: According to local authorities, six people were injured in a Russian air strike on the Cherkassy region of central Ukraine. In addition, important infrastructure facilities were damaged, regional governor Ihor Taburez said on the short message service Telegram. Some attack projectiles were shot down by Ukrainian air defense. The emergency services are on site.
Zelensky thanks Qatar for help in releasing abducted children
6:13 a.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj thanks the influential Gulf emirate of Qatar for help in the release of 16 Ukrainian children who were forcibly abducted to Russia. “Thanks to the mediation efforts of our friendly Qatar, they were released and reunited with their families,” writes Zelenskyj on the X platform. The children and their relatives are currently in Qatar for medical, psychological and social recovery.
Zelensky points out that thousands of other children who were forcibly abducted are still in Russia. “Together we must make every effort to bring every child home, and I thank everyone in the world who is helping us in this difficult task.” Zelenskyj continues to write on X that he is deeply grateful to the head of state of Qatar, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, for his country’s support.
