Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to take part in the videoconference meeting of the leaders of the G7 major powers on Sunday to discuss the situation in his country, where the fate of the last besieged strategic port of Mariupol remains uncertain.
May 8 is a historic date marking the end of World War II in Europe which caused fear, destruction and death in Europe.German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s spokesman said on Friday, saying the war in Ukraine is making the unity of the G7 (…) more important than ever.
Germany holds the presidency of the G7 this year, which also includes Canada, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan.
This third meeting since the beginning of the year will be dedicated in particular the situation in Ukrainehe said, without further details.
US President Joe Biden mentioned this meeting a few days earlier, about possible additional sanctions against Russia.
We are always open to additional penaltieshe said on Wednesday, adding that he would discuss with G7 members the what to do and what we will not do.
Also in the face of sanctions in the West, the 27 member states of the European Union are engaged in difficult negotiations to reach an agreement this weekend on a plan to stop Russia’s oil imports, which so far have been blocked by Hungary.
The G7 meeting will take place on the eve of a military parade on May 9 in Russia, which marked the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany during World War II.
The Russian army on Saturday held in Red Square in Moscow the last rehearsal for the traditional military parade scheduled for Monday, in the presence of soldiers participating in the offensive in Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities have been warning for several days against the intensification of Russian attacks as this commemoration approaches.
The enemy seeks to put an end to the defenders of Azovstal. He tries to do it before May 9 to give a gift [au président russe] Vladimir Putinwarned Oleksiï Arestovytch, an adviser to the Ukrainian president.
Azovstal Steelworks is home to the last defenders of Mariupol. Hundreds of civilians also found refuge in vast underground galleries after Russia launched the offensive on February 24th.
After many calls and unsuccessful attempts in recent weeks, we evacuated civilians from Azovstallaunched President Zelensky on Saturday night in his daily message, citing the number of 300 exfiltrated people. We are now preparing for the second stage […]: the wounded and the medical personnel.
and, of course, we also do the evacuation of our soldiers. All these heroes defending Mariupolhe continued, without giving a figure. This is very difficult. But it is very important.
Ukraine asked Doctors Without Borders (MSF) on Saturday night to organize a mission to evacuate and treat soldiers buried in ironworks.
Mariupol, a port city in the southeast with nearly 500,000 inhabitants before the war, had almost completely disappeared from the map two months after Russia’s bombing.
Source: Radio-Canada
