Here are the latest developments in the war in Ukraine:
– Third prisoner swap underway –
Ukraine says 12 Ukrainian soldiers and 14 civilians are returning home following a prisoner exchange with Russia.
“On the order of President (Volodymyr) Zelensky, the third prisoner exchange took place today. Twelve of our servicemen are returning home, including one female officer,” deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk says on Telegram.
Fourteen civilians including nine women were also on their way home, she added.
– Johnson offers more arms –
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pays an unannounced visit to Kyiv and pledges armoured vehicles and anti-ship missiles to Ukraine.
“It is because of President (Volodymyr) Zelensky’s resolute leadership and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people that (Vladimir) Putin’s monstrous aims are being thwarted,” Johnson says after meeting Zelensky, according to a Downing Street statement.
Zelensky in turn calls on the West to “follow the UK” in providing military aide to Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia.
– Global event raises 10.1 bn euros –
A global pledging event for Ukrainian refugees called “Stand Up for Ukraine” has raised 10.1 billion euros ($11 billion), European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen says in Warsaw.
“The ‘Stand Up For Ukraine’ campaign has raised 9.1 billion euros for people fleeing bombs, inside and outside Ukraine, with an additional billion pledged by EBRD (the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development),” Von der Leyen says.
– Ukraine ‘still ready’ for talks –
Ukraine is “still ready” to continue negotiations with Moscow, which have stalled since the discovery of atrocities in Bucha and other areas near Kyiv, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says.
“We are ready to fight and to look in parallel to end this war through diplomacy,” Zelensky said at a news conference with the Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who was visiting the capital and Bucha.
– 4.4 million flee Ukraine war –
More than 4.4 million Ukrainian refugees have fled their country since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion on February 24, the UN refugee agency says.
Ninety percent of those who have fled Ukraine are women and children, as the Ukrainian authorities do not allow men of military age to leave.
– Evacuations from Kramatorsk resume –
Evacuations resume from the town in eastern Ukraine where a missile strike killed 52 people at a railway station as civilians fled a feared Russian offensive.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky describes Russia as an “evil with no limits” after the attack and calls for a “firm global response”.
US President Joe Biden accuses Russia of being behind the attack, calling it a “horrific atrocity”, while French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian deems it a “crime against humanity”.
Russia’s defence ministry accuses Kyiv of carrying out the attack, saying it wanted to use fleeing residents “as a ‘human shield’ to defend the positions of Ukraine’s Armed Forces”.
– Russia warns of YouTube reprisals –
Russian officials warn of reprisals after US video hosting service YouTube blocks the channel of the lower house of parliament due to US sanctions.
Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker at lower house of parliament, the State Duma, says Washington is breaching the rights of Russians.
– EU in talks with ICC prosecutor –
The EU is to discuss its support for war crimes probes in Ukraine in meetings over the next two days with the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, the European Commission says.
Karim Khan, of The Hague-based court, is to meet EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Sunday in Luxembourg, then take part in a meeting of EU foreign ministers in the city on Monday.
– EU sanctions Putin’s daughters –
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two adult daughters and more than 200 other people are blacklisted by the EU.
Those on the list, which additionally includes 18 companies, face asset seizures and travel bans in the 27-nation European Union.
The United States and Britain had already sanctioned Putin’s daughters, as well as the daughter of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
– Odessa curfew –
A curfew is to start in Ukraine’s southern city of Odessa on Saturday evening to Monday evening over a “missile strike threat” from Russia, and after the shelling of the train station in Kramatorsk.
– Germany: ‘Limit’ in arms to Ukraine –
Germany has almost exhausted its ability to supply Ukraine with weapons from its army reserves, but is working on direct deliveries from the arms industry, German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht says.
“For deliveries coming from the Bundeswehr’s stocks, I have to say honestly that we have reached a limit,” she tells German daily Augsburger Allgemeine.
