War in Ukraine: Selenskyj in conversation with US MPs – Russia is marching towards a third nuclear power plant

Created: 07/03/2022 04:47

By: Katja Thorwarth, Sonja Thomaser

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy criticizes NATO.

In a message today, he calls on the people of Ukraine to persevere.

• The attack from Russia* on Ukraine* could become a danger throughout Europe.

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj* is demanding help from NATO.

• All news about the Ukraine conflict* and Volodymyr Zelenskyj in our news ticker.

This ticker has ended.

Read everything about the war in Ukraine in our new news ticker.

+++ 10:10 p.m .:

During his talks with US senators and deputies, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said that Russian forces had two nuclear power plants in Ukraine (Zaporizhia and Chernobyl) under their control and were marching on a third (Yusnoukrajinsk in the south of the country) to.

It is about 120 kilometers north of the town of Mykolaiv - one of several towns that Russian forces appear to be trying to encircle.

There are four nuclear power plants in Ukraine.

+++ 17:48:

In a phone call with US Senate members, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi asked US politicians for “urgent help”.

According to Bloomberg correspondent Jennifer Jacobs from Washington DC, Selenskyj called in a telephone call to support Ukraine with an aircraft delivery and to initiate further sanctions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the nation after more attacks by Russia.

© dpa

War in Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelenskyi calls US politicians

According to Jacobs, the Democratic majority leader in the US Senate, Chuck Schumer, as well as Democratic Senators Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker and Senator Amy Klobuchar also took part in the call.

Among the sanctions that Zelenskyy has asked the US for is a ban on imports of Russian oil and the withdrawal of Mastercard and Visa services from Russia.

As a result of the phone call to the US government, Schumer will support the aircraft deliveries, Jacobs reports on Twitter.

These are “urgently needed” in Ukraine.

+++ 1:15 p.m .:

Selenskyj has called for further defense of the port city of Mariupol in southeastern Ukraine.

The humanitarian corridors for Mariupol and Volnovakha in the Donetsk region should be operational on Saturday to rescue women, children and the elderly, as well as deliver food and medicines to the embattled cities, Zelenskyy said in a video address on Saturday.

"Anyone who needs help should be given the opportunity to come out," the president said.

"Anyone wishing to defend their city should keep fighting."

In a phone call with US Senate members on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked for US support.

(symbol photo) © Matthias Oesterle/dpa

Ukraine war: "Our country no longer has a weekend" - Selenskyj calls for perseverance

+++ 12.20 p.m .:

According to the news portal The Kyviv Independent, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj turns to his compatriots: “Today is Saturday, but that means nothing.

Our country no longer has weekends.

It doesn't matter what's on the clock or the calendar.

And it will stay that way until we win.” He was sure “that we will soon tell our people – come back, it’s safe now.”

He also thanked Poland for having taken in hundreds of thousands fleeing the war: “In fact, we no longer have a border with Poland.” Zelenskyj has sworn the people of Ukraine to resist Russia since the start of the Russian war of aggression.

Update from Saturday, March 5th, 2022, 6:30

a.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has sharply condemned NATO's decision not to set up a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

"By refusing to create a no-fly zone, the leadership of the military alliance gave the green light for further bombing of Ukrainian towns and villages," Zelenskyy said in a video released on Friday.

"We believe that the NATO countries themselves created the narrative that closing the skies over Ukraine would provoke direct Russian aggression against NATO," Zelenskyy said.

Addressing the Western Alliance, he added: "All the people who die from today will also die because of you.

Because of your weakness, because of your disconnection.”

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg rejected Ukraine's request for a no-fly zone after a special meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels on Friday.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses demonstrators across Europe.

© Chaloupka Miroslav/dpa

War in Ukraine: Selinskyj addresses demonstrators in Germany

+++ 7.40 p.m .:

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj addressed demonstrators in Frankfurt* and several other European cities via live broadcast on Friday evening (03/04/2022).

"If Ukraine falls, everyone will fall," he warned in his speech about the effects of the war on the entire continent.

He called on those gathered in Frankfurt, Paris, Bratislava, Vilnius, Prague and Tbilisi, among others, to observe a minute's silence for the men, women and children, soldiers, police officers and civilians who have died since Russia attacked the eastern European country .

The president, dressed in olive green as in his other video messages, said goodbye with a fiercely raised fist and the words “Glory to Ukraine”.

Ukraine war: Kremlin rejects offer from Zelenskyj to Putin

+++ 3.49 p.m .:

 Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by Russian news sites as saying that Russia wanted to continue talking to the Ukrainian delegation and not to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

On Thursday (03/03/2022) President Zelenskyj asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to "sit down and talk" with him.

In this still from a video released by the Ukrainian President's Press Office, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the nation.

© dpa

Ukraine War: Selenskyj survives three assassination attempts by Russia

Update from Friday, March 4th, 2022, 11.40 a.m .:

President Volodymyr Zelenskyj survived at least three attacks in the past week.

This is reported by the British daily newspaper The Times.

Two different groups were sent to assassinate the Ukrainian president: mercenaries from the Kremlin-backed Wagner group and Chechen special forces.

Both were thwarted by opponents of the war within Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).

Wagner mercenaries in Kyiv have suffered casualties in their attempts and are said to have been concerned about how accurately the Ukrainians had anticipated their moves, according to the Times.

A source close to the group said it was "uncanny" how well-informed Zelenskyy's security team seemed to be.

Ukraine war: Zelenskyj accuses Russia of "nuclear terrorism".

First report from Friday, March 4th, 2022, 10:30 a.m.:

Kiev – After the Russian attack on the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj accused Russia of “nuclear terrorism”.

No other country in the world has ever shelled nuclear facilities, Zelensky said in a video message published on Friday night (March 4, 2022).

"The terrorist state is now shifting to nuclear terror." Apparently, Russia wants to "repeat" the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Because of the war in Ukraine, Zelenskyy warned of an impending disaster for the entire continent: "Ukraine has 15 reactors.

If there is an explosion, it will be the end for everyone, the end of Europe.”

Ukraine War: Fire in nuclear power plant after Russian attack

A fire broke out in Europe's largest nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia, Ukraine, after a Russian attack.

According to the authorities, however, the situation is under control and the fire does not affect the nuclear reactors.

In the morning, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, it was cleared.

A training complex burned down.

"The operating staff controls the power units and ensures their operation," said the Ukrainian nuclear regulatory authority.

A leak was not found at the power plant.

No changes in radioactive radiation exposure were registered, the authority said.

After the attack by the Russian army on the nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia, Russian troops are now apparently on the site of the nuclear power plant.

This is reported by the AFP news agency. 

Ukraine war: Energy Minister called for NATO intervention

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) called for an end to all hostilities around the nuclear power plant and warned of "serious danger" if reactors were hit.

The Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko has called for NATO* to intervene.

"That's why we demand not only a professional assessment of what is happening, but real intervention with the toughest measures, including by NATO and the countries that have nuclear weapons," wrote Halushchenko on Friday night on Facebook.

Attack on nuclear power plant in Ukraine: "Security throughout Europe at risk"

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Russian President Vladimir Putin's "reckless actions" "could now directly endanger the security of all of Europe".

He wants to reach a special session of the UN Security Council "in the coming hours".

US President Joe Biden* asked Russia to stop military activities in the area around the nuclear power plant.

(sot with dpa/afp)