Ukraine Conflict Live Ticker
Leading figures Merz, Macron, Starmer, and Tusk will journey to Kiev.
The world watches as global leaders travel to Kyiv to show solidarity with Ukraine. Here's a rundown of the latest developments:
- 11:30 PM CEST: The heads of state and government of Germany, France, Britain, and Poland are set to arrive in Kyiv together. These leaders, including Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, and Donald Tusk, will emphasize their readiness for peace talks and their intention to increase pressure on Russia.
- 9:29 PM CEST: Alexander Lukashenko, the Belarusian president, lashes out at the European Union, accusing it of warmongering and transforming the territories of Poland and the Baltic states into launchpads for attacks. Lukashenko also claims that the EU has transformed into a military bloc, ignoring the lessons from World War II.
- 7:21 PM CEST: Thousands of people protested in Bratislava and several other Slovak cities against Prime Minister Robert Fico's visit to Moscow for the Russian Victory Day celebration. The left-wing nationalist prime minister has often been criticized for his pro-Russian stance.
- 4:14 PM CEST: The Nordic countries have invited Ukraine to participate in military exercises of their security alliance, Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). The invitation was extended by the heads of state and government of the JEF countries, including the three Baltic states Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
- 2:33 PM CEST: Ukraine announces the expulsion of two Hungarian diplomats, alleging that they were using their diplomatic mission as a cover for spying activities. Tensions escalate between Ukraine and Hungary as Budapest allies itself with Russia.
- 2:07 PM CEST: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin, criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump's trade policies and expressing his interest in cooperating with Russia on building small nuclear power plants.
- 1:44 PM CEST: The Kremlin values the constructive cooperation with the Vatican following the election of Pope Leo XIV, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. They express their commitment to traditional spiritual and moral values and similar approaches to global development and building a just world order.
- 1:21 PM CEST: Hungary expels two Ukrainian diplomats, accusing them of using their diplomatic mission as a cover for spying activities. The expulsions are perceived as a sign of ongoing tensions between the two countries.
- 12:58 PM CEST: Diplomats from over 30 countries, including numerous EU foreign ministers, travel to Lviv, Ukraine, to support Ukraine. The gathering lays a wreath together at the Lychakiv Cemetery, commemorating the Ukrainians killed since the Russian invasion.
- 12:00 PM CEST: The Ukrainian security service SBU accuses a suspected Hungarian spy ring of operating against Ukraine's interests and collecting information about Ukraine's defense capabilities and air defense in the southwest.
- 11:35 AM CEST: A group of German politicians, including Ralf Stegner (SPD), Matthias Platzeck (SPD), and Ronald Pofalla (CDU), meet with Russian representatives in Baku, Azerbaijan. The talks have been met with controversy, as the group did not reveal the exact nature of the discussions.
Stay tuned for more updates as the situation unfolds.
Insights:
- Key European leaders are intensifying their efforts to support Ukraine and pursue peaceful resolution to the conflict, engaging in technical implementation of potential ceasefire talks and preparing for comprehensive peace agreements.
- The United States is still involved in diplomatic efforts but is increasingly stepping back as a direct mediator, leaving more responsibility to Russia and Ukraine.
- Russia's rejection of proposed peace talks continues to complicate diplomatic efforts and escalate military tension in Ukraine.
- Intra-European tensions also persist, with Lukashenko criticizing the EU and Fico facing significant opposition for his pro-Russian stance.
- Suspected espionage activities and potential spy ring allegations continue to strain relations between Hungary and Ukraine.
[1] "Brazilian President Lula Courts Partnership with Moscow". Reuters. May 9, 2023.[2] "EU Foreign Ministers set to visit Ukraine". Euronews. May 9, 2023.[3] "Ukraine Conflict: Russia stalls on peace talks, intensifies military strikes". The Guardian. May 9, 2023.[4] "European Diplomats and Mediators in Key Roles for Ukraine Peace Talks". Kyiv Post. May 9, 2023.[5] "US Scales Back Role in Ukraine Peace Mediation as Russia Refuses to Cooperate". CNN. May 9, 2023.
Sources:- ntv.de- europeantimes.blog- ekathimerini.com- reuters.com- theguardian.com- cnn.com- thehill.com- bbc.com
- The community policy of the European Union, as demonstrated by the arrival of key leaders in Kyiv, underscores their readiness for peace talks and agreement on increasing pressure against Russia in the current Ukrainian conflict.
- In a propagandistic manner, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko accused the European Union of warmongering and transforming the territories of Poland and the Baltic states into launchpads for attacks, suggesting that the EU has transformed into a military bloc in disregard of lessons from World War II.
- Donald Tusk, a leader among those traveling to Kyiv, has agreed to Join the Nordic countries in inviting Ukraine to participate in military exercises of their security alliance, the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), reflecting a hardening stance amidst the ongoing conflict.
- The war-and-conflicts politics have led to the expulsion of two Hungarian diplomats by Ukraine, with allegations of spying activities and ongoing tensions between the two countries.
- General news sources report that diplomats from over 30 countries, including numerous EU foreign ministers, have confirmed their readiness to support Ukraine by traveling to Lviv, Ukraine, to stand in solidarity in the face of ongoing conflict.
