War in Ukraine: "Smelly Bastards" - Selenskyj reports from subway station in Kyiv

Created: 04/24/2022Updated: 04/24/2022 08:23

By: Tobias Utz, Teresa Toth, Katja Thorwarth, Nadja Austel, Andreas Schmid

Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are deadlocked.

Tomorrow Zelenskyj wants to meet with representatives of the US government.

The news ticker.

• USA send foreign ministers

  : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj receives

  Anthony Blinken in Kiev in the middle of the

  Ukraine war .

• Selenskyj threatens Russia

  : The Ukrainian President is making demands on

  Russia

  .

• This

  news ticker

  on diplomatic developments in the Ukraine war

  is continuously updated.

+++ Update from April 24, 2022, 8:20

a.m .: In the middle of the Ukraine war, President Volodymyr Zelenskyj invited media representatives to a subway station in Kiev.

On the platform of the Maidan Nezaleschnosti (Independence Square) station, Zelenskyj reported on the Russian rocket attack on Odessa that took place on Sunday night.

Zelenskyy called the attackers from Russia “smelly bastards”.

He called the regime in Moscow "National Socialist".

Volodymyr Zelenskyy again demanded military aid from the West for the fight against Russia.

A turnaround in the Ukraine war is only possible with support from the West.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his way to a press conference at a Kyiv subway station.

© Genya Savilov/afp

US sends foreign ministers to Kyiv for talks on Ukraine war

+++ 8.32 p.m .:

According to his own statements, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Kiev on Sunday (April 24th, 2022).

In a press conference, he said he wanted to discuss with them what weapons Ukraine would need to confront the Russian invasion.

The head of state did not give any further details about the meeting.

Negotiations in the Ukraine war: Selenskyj threatens Russia with breaking off all talks

+++ 8:08 p.m .:

Again the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj threatens Russia with breaking off the negotiations.

At a press conference in a central metro station in the capital Kyiv, he stressed that if a pseudo-referendum on independence is held in Kherson, Ukraine will break off all peace talks.

However, he is still willing to negotiate directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Negotiations in the Ukraine war: British special forces in Ukraine?

+++ 19:11:

According to its own statements, Russia assumes that British special forces are in Ukraine.

According to this, the RIA news agency, citing Russian security circles, reported that Great Britain had sent around 20 members of the Special Air Service (SAS) to the Lviv region in western Ukraine.

They are supposed to support the Ukrainian soldiers in acts of sabotage.

Russia's top investigative authority is now following up the clues.

Putin has repeatedly threatened western countries to take drastic consequences if they interfere in the Ukraine war.

Negotiations in the Ukraine war fail: Pope cancels meetings

Update from Saturday, April 23, 8:40 a.m.:

Pope Francis has canceled talks with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Cyril.

The meeting, scheduled for June in Jerusalem, could lead to "a lot of confusion," the head of the Catholic Church told Argentina news site La Nacion, citing the Ukraine war.

+++ 10:43 p.m .:

The USA are not ready to reopen the embassy in Kiev.

CNN, citing several unnamed sources, reports that the mission will not return to the city while there is a risk of missile strikes that could hit US personnel.

Ukraine war: Russia says negotiations have stalled

+++ 8.50 p.m .:

According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, negotiations between Moscow and Kiev to end the Russian military operation in Ukraine have stalled.

The talks are deadlocked because Moscow has not received a response to a proposal submitted to the Ukrainian side five days ago, Lavrov said in Moscow on Friday.

According to Russia's chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky, the latest round of talks took place on Friday.

Ukraine conflict: Russia's President Putin receives UN Secretary-General Guterres in Moscow

+++ 19:13:

After around two months of war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin will receive UN Secretary General António Guterres in Moscow on Tuesday (April 26), according to the Kremlin.

Guterres will also hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

The UN chief had previously requested a meeting with Putin.

Scholz wants to prevent “nuclear war” – the Netherlands will stop using Russian gas from the end of the year

+++ 4.30 p.m .:

The Netherlands intends to phase out the use of Russian fossil fuels by the end of the year, the government said on Friday and promised to spend an estimated 623 million euros ($675 million) on incentives for companies to fill a large gas storage facility .

This is reported by the Reuters news agency.

Ukraine war: Michel calls Putin

+++ 2.30 p.m .:

EU Council President Charles Michel spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone.

Michel said he urged Putin to immediately grant humanitarian access to besieged cities in Ukraine.

He also demanded that there be a safe corridor from Mariupol and other cities, especially on the occasion of the Easter celebrations of the Orthodox Christians this weekend, Michel wrote on Twitter on Friday.

He had emphatically reaffirmed the position of the EU.

This includes, among other things, support for Ukraine's sovereignty and condemnation of Russian aggression.

Ukraine war: Britain reopens embassy in Kyiv

+++ 2 p.m .:

Great Britain will move its embassy in Ukraine back to the capital Kiev next week.

"I can announce today that very soon next week we will reopen our embassy in the Ukrainian capital," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday during a visit to New Delhi.

Ukraine war: "Fate of Mariupol" for governor decisive for war

+++ 1.30 p.m .:

According to local governor Pavlo Kyrylenko, the further course of the war in Ukraine depends on “the fate” of the port city of Mariupol.

"The enemy is concentrating all its efforts on Mariupol," Donetsk region governor Kyrylenko said in an interview conducted via video conference on Friday.

"The success of the Russian offensive in the south depends on the fate of Mariupol." For the Ukrainians, the port city is of "strategic" importance in defending the region, for the Russians in their quest for a land connection to the annexed Crimea.

According to him, “up to 300 civilians” are staying next to the Ukrainian troops entrenched there at the huge Azov steel industrial complex.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of around "a thousand civilians, women and children" and "hundreds of injuries" on the factory premises on Wednesday.

Ukraine war: Scholz wants to prevent "nuclear war".

+++ 11.00 a.m .:

Olaf Scholz has once again positioned himself clearly against a no-fly zone in Ukraine.

"Introducing a no-fly zone, as was demanded, would have made NATO a party to the war," the Chancellor told the news magazine Spiegel.

Russia is a "highly armed superpower" and a "nuclear power".

A confrontation between NATO and such a state should be avoided, said Scholz in an interview.

"I'm doing everything to prevent an escalation leading to a third world war.

There must be no nuclear war,” he declared.

In the further course of action regarding arms deliveries, they wanted to avoid “German solo efforts”.

Ukraine-News: Macron warns of a new escalation level in the war

+++ 9:00 a.m .:

French President Emmanuel Macron warned of Russia’s willingness to escalate in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

The risk of an escalation is "very high," Macron told the newspapers of the Funke media group, the French newspaper Ouest-France and the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

Above all, the test of a Russian intercontinental ballistic missile with an enormous range on Wednesday was "worrying".

Macron therefore sees two major escalation risks: the use of chemical and nuclear weapons.

And the intervention of allied states in the war.

That is why it is important to “do everything to prevent a conflagration.

The war must stop.” European countries such as France, Germany and Italy also play a mediating role.

But Ukraine must also be helped financially and militarily.

When asked whether Europe and Germany should send heavy weapons to Ukraine, Macron said: "I do not interfere in the politics of other countries." Germany's decision is respected.

"We have the same strategy as Chancellor Scholz: we help the Ukrainians in the maximum way.

But we are careful never to become a party to the war.” For Macron, however, the runoff election against Marine Le Pen is scheduled for Sunday.

A survey of the TV duel sees a clear winner.

Ukraine-News: Russia rejects ceasefire on Orthodox holidays, according to Zelenykyj

Update from Friday, April 22, 6 a.m.:

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia has rejected the proposal for a ceasefire over the Orthodox Easter holidays.

That's what Selenskyj said in his nightly video message on Friday night.

This shows what the Christian faith and one of the happiest and most important holidays mean to the leaders of Russia, Zelenskyy said.

"But we'll still have hope.

The hope for peace, the hope that life will triumph over death," said Zelenskyy.

Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on April 24 this year.

They are the largest religious group in Ukraine.

Ukraine news: Zelenskyy deal with Russia?

+++ 10:00 a.m .:

In view of the dramatic situation in Mariupol, which has been under siege for weeks, Ukraine has proposed a “special round of negotiations” with Russia.

Negotiations could take place "without preconditions," Ukraine's chief negotiator Mykhailo Podoliak wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyj apparently spoke in the evening of a possible deal with Russia.

As the Washington Post reports, Zelenskyy is willing to exchange Russian prisoners for civilians who are trapped in the port city.

Update from Thursday, April 21, 2022, 6:15 a.m .:

According to Russian information, there are still around 2,500 Ukrainian fighters and foreign mercenaries in the Azovstal steel plant.

According to Ukrainian reports, around 1,000 civilians are said to have sought protection there.

"Today before or after lunch, Azovstal will be completely under the control of the Russian armed forces," said Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, whose units are fighting in Ukraine, on Thursday night.

The Ukrainian fighters remaining in the steelworks still have the opportunity to surrender in the morning.

If they do, he is certain that the Russian leadership will make "the right decision."

Ukraine proposes negotiations in Mariupol 

+++ 10:20 p.m .:

In view of the catastrophic situation in the port city of Mariupol, which has been contested for weeks, Ukraine has proposed a “special round of negotiations” with Russian representatives in the strategically important city in the south of the country.

Negotiations could take place "without preconditions," Ukraine's chief negotiator and presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak wrote on Twitter.

The goal is to save the Ukrainian fighters, soldiers and civilians.

Ukraine-News: US boycotts G20 events with Russia

Update from Wednesday, April 20th, 2022, 9:15 a.m .:

The USA announced at the beginning of April that it would boycott G20 meetings if representatives of Russia attend.

This week, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will implement that plan - and skip some meetings.

Ukraine News: After Scholz's hesitation: the West wants to deliver weapons

First report from April 20th, 2022:

Kiev – Russia has apparently started its major offensive in eastern Ukraine.

A “new phase” of the war is now beginning, the Kremlin said on Wednesday night (April 20, 2022).

The Russian Defense Ministry called on Ukraine to surrender "immediately".

While the situation around the Donbass border region is tense, Ukraine is demanding further help from the West.

Probably with success.

From now on there will be more economic pressure on Russia, according to the deliberations of the heads of state and government of the G7 and the Eastern European NATO partners.

"We will continue to tighten our sanctions against Russia and increase our financial and security aid to Ukraine," wrote European Commission President* Ursula von der Leyen on Twitter.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke of "even higher costs" for Moscow.

Ukraine News: No heavy weapons to Ukraine - Scholz hesitates

When it comes to military aid, some of those involved seem to be hesitant, at least publicly.

Above all Germany.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants to finance arms deliveries by German industry in the escalating Ukraine conflict.

However, the SPD politician rejects a direct delivery of German tanks to the country.

Instead, the Chancellor emphasized the close coordination between Germany and its allies.

"German solo efforts would be wrong," he said.

Meanwhile, several other countries have pledged arms supplies to Ukraine.

Canada wants to send more heavy artillery weapons to Ukraine.

Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced the "delivery of additional heavier material".

Ukraine-News: USA apparently wants to further increase military aid

The US is also preparing another military aid package for Ukraine, apparently with a volume of 800 million dollars (741 million euros).

According to NBC News, the new supplies of aid are expected to include artillery and tens of thousands of shells.

US President Joe Biden announced that he would be announcing details in the near future.

The first US deliveries from a previous $800 million military aid package arrived at the Ukrainian border on Sunday, the US Department of Defense said.

This aid package includes howitzers, helicopters and armored personnel carriers.

(as/tu with dpa/AFP)