Ukrainian forces have been ordered to withdraw from the strategic city of
Severodonetsk
in the Lugansk region of eastern Ukraine.
This was announced by the governor of the region.
Meanwhile, a
health alarm
arrives from
Mariupol
.
The city, occupied by the Russian armed forces, is "on the verge of an epidemiological catastrophe".
Mayor Vadym Boychenko said this - reports the Kiev Independent - adding that "the city is invaded by
mountains of unsorted garbage
, about 9,000 tons, and the hygienic conditions are precarious".
" Infectious diseases
are spreading - he added -
among which I do not exclude cholera and dysentery. In all areas there are natural burials and no sewage system is functioning. Furthermore, there is no drinking water. All this puts health at risk. of Mariupol residents who find themselves in a real
ghetto
".
Kuleba: weapons will guarantee the diplomatic path
Only the military victory of Kiev will convince Russia to serious peace negotiations: "weapons will guarantee the diplomatic path".
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is convinced of this, saying to Corriere della Sera that the Russian aggression does not only affect Ukrainian homes, but every European family.
After the recent visit of Draghi, Macron and Scholz we see unity and clarity of purpose: there are differences, "but in principle we are going together in the same direction".
As for the negotiation route, Moscow's guns continue to fire, says Kuleba, but
the offer of a Putin-Zelensky summit is still valid for Kiev
.
In the past few hours, Kuleba called
Macron, Draghi and Scholz's visit to Kiev
"the
turning
point for Ukraine's candidacy in the European Union. Before then the situation was very fragile".
"The French President Emmanuel Macron - he added - played a very important role. The list of
skeptics
had been known for a long time: the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal. Germany was in this group".
Zelensky: 'Italy alongside Kiev, thank you Draghi'
"Italy is on our side. Thank you very much, Prime Minister! Thank you for your strength, for your perseverance. Thank you for showing that people's principles respectable are truly the foundation of Europe ".
This was underlined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaking to the European Council after the EU's yes to the Ukrainian candidacy.
Zelensky thanked, one by one, all 27 member countries, according to the speech published on the Ukrainian government website.
ANSA agency
War in Ukraine, the announcement from the United States: soon 450 million dollars in military aid to Kiev - World
Unesco: 'Over 150 cultural sites destroyed.
Three quarters of the damage in 3 regions, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Kiev '.
Russian forces are increasing pressure on the Lysychansk-Severodonetsk area in eastern Ukraine with their advance to the edge of built-up areas, British intelligence writes.
Lugansk governor speaks of 'numerous victims' (ANSA)