Ukraine War Live Updates +++ 21:40 Fugitive Wirecard Executive Marsalek Linked to Russian Spy Ring
Marsalek, a Wirecard manager, discussed drone technology with Spy for potential use in Russia.
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In shocking developments, it has been revealed that Jan Marsalek, the notorious fugitive former executive of Wirecard, has been speaking with Russian spies about arms deals and other illicit transactions. According to documents from a British court, Marsalek was in conversation with Orlin Roussev, the head of a spy ring operating in the UK, regarding the procurement of drones for the ongoing war in Ukraine, the trade in blood diamonds, and the provision of mercenaries in Africa. Roussev even boasted, as stated in the documents, that they could order weapons, including nuclear weapons, if they were paid for.
21:03 Ukraine Allies to Give Green Light for Special Tribunal
Ukraine and its European allies are gearing up to approve the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute the crime of "aggression" in connection with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The vote is set to take place this Friday during a visit by EU foreign ministers to Lviv, Ukraine. This tribunal, being pushed by the European Union, Council of Europe, Ukraine, and several other countries, intends to prosecute the crime of "aggression" and hold political and military leaders from Russia accountable. However, the International Criminal Court will continue to be responsible for prosecuting war crimes in the Ukraine war.
20:25 Putin and Zelensky Extend Congratulations to Pope
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Pope Leo XIV in a telegram published by the Kremlin. Putin expressed his confidence that "the constructive dialogue and interaction between Russia and the Vatican will continue to develop on the basis of Christian values that unite us." He also wished the new Pope success in fulfilling his new duties and good health. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also congratulated Pope Leo XIV, expressing Ukraine's appreciation for the consistent stance of the Holy See in upholding international law, condemning the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, and protecting the rights of innocent civilians.
19:55 Zelensky Speaks with Newly Elected German Chancellor Merz
Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, has congratulated Friedrich Merz on his election as the new German Chancellor via a phone call. Zelensky emphasized the importance of Germany's ongoing role in supporting Ukraine, particularly in protecting its people and rebuilding after the war. He noted the great potential for a German-Ukrainian partnership and acknowledged that they had agreed to work on many crucial issues. While details were scarce, Zelensky stated that Merz had pledged continued support for Ukraine, which he found promising.
19:30 European Foreign Ministers Traveling to Ukraine Together
EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas has announced that foreign ministers of the European Union will journey to Ukraine this coming Friday for a meeting. Kallas stated that, on this occasion, they will provide a billion euros in support for Ukraine's defense industry. With this move, they hope to send a "very important signal" to Ukraine. Meanwhile, in Russia, a significant military parade is underway on Red Square to commemorate the victory over Nazi Germany and the end of World War II, serving as a demonstration of Moscow's power.
19:01 EU Pumps Another Billion Euros into Ukraine's Defense
The European Commission has disbursed the fourth tranche of its exceptional macro-financial assistance (MFA) loan for Ukraine. The Commissioner, Valdis Dombrovskis, stated that the European Union continues to support Ukraine politically, financially, economically, and militarily by paying out another billion euros.
18:16 Ukraine Urges 30-Day Ceasefire for Peace Talks
After consultations with Western security advisors, Ukraine is now pushing for a 30-day ceasefire as a prerequisite for peace talks with Russia. Andriy Yermak, Kyiv's chief of staff, stresses the importance of a full and unconditional ceasefire to be the first step towards a just and lasting peace. He suggests that this 30-day ceasefire would be an opportunity for Moscow to demonstrate its sincerity towards achieving peace. In case of escalation, Yermak emphasizes that action must be taken.
17:42 Ukrainian Drones Cause Turmoil at Russian Airports
Ahead of the Victory Day parade in Russia, there's chaos at the country's airports due to fears of Ukrainian drones. Despite efforts to repel these drones, there have been numerous disruptions, causing operational difficulties.
Politics Russian Airports in Turmoil Ahead of Parade due to Ukrainian Drones
16:29 Ukrainian Soldiers Reported to Have Received Orders to Only Return Fire
Several Ukrainian troops stationed at the front report having received orders to only open fire in response to Russian attacks. While there's been a decrease in artillery attacks and Russian activities in some areas, both sides continue to violate the unilateral ceasefire declared by Russia.
15:58 Pro-Russian "Night Wolves" Visit Brandenburg and Berlin
Pro-Russian motorcycle riders of the nationalist "Night Wolves" group have visited two Soviet memorial sites in Brandenburg, laying wreaths in Schönwalde and Baruth before continuing their route towards Berlin. The police were present at both sites but did not intervene in the activities of the "Night Wolves" members.
15:21 Embarrassing Blunder: Russian Tanks Fall Apart During Parade Practice
With large commemorative events taking place across Russia to celebrate the end of World War II, an embarrassing blunder occurred during rehearsals in Sterlitamak when two old Soviet-era tanks fell apart.
14:51 Russia Accuses Ukraine of Attempting to Break Through Border
According to Russian reports, Ukrainian forces have attempted to break through the border into the Russian region of Kursk. The Russian Defense Ministry claims that there have been two such attempts since the three-day ceasefire was announced.
14:20 Ukraine Accuses Russia of Hundreds of Ceasefire Violations
Ukraine accuses the Russian army of hundreds of violations of the unilateral ceasefire declared by Moscow, stating that the Russian forces continue to attack along the entire front. There have been 734 violations of the ceasefire and "63 attack operations" by the Russian army since midnight to midday.
13:51 Ukrainian Parliament Accepts US Resource Agreement
The Ukrainian parliament has ratified the resource agreement with the USA. The agreement is seen as a significant economic and political partnership and provides Ukrainian resources, such as rare earths, in preference to the US defense industry. Despite concerns from some Ukrainian MPs, the agreement passed with a landslide majority with 338 votes in favor and none against.
13:13 Switzerland Considering Selling Leopard Tanks to Germany
Swiss state-owned defense company Ruag is exploring the possibility of selling Leopard-1 tanks parked in Italy to German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall. The proposed transaction originally meant for Ukraine was halted by the Swiss government in 2023, citing the country's strict neutrality in all military conflicts. This time, the German company assures that the tanks will not be sent directly to Ukraine and could be used as a parts depot instead.
12:48 Meeting in Moscow: Putin and Xi Discuss Strengthening Cooperation
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Moscow to discuss deepening their cooperation through a series of agreements. Mexico, a country with no territorial disputes with Russia, faces potential sanctions for its ties to Moscow, creating a diplomatic rift.
12:14 Munz: "Fear of Attacks - Moscow Shuts Down Mobile Network"
Ahead of the May 9 military parade in Moscow, the city is increasing security measures, including shutting down the entire mobile network, as reported by ntv correspondent Rainer Munz. He cites fears of attacks and drone strikes as the reason for this unprecedented measure.
Politics Munz on the May 9 Military Parade "Fear of Attacks - Moscow Shuts Down Mobile Network"
11:38 Ukrainian Brigade Claims to Have Liberated "Berlin" from Russians
On the anniversary of the victory over Nazism, the Ukrainian Charter Brigade claims to have liberated a forest area in the Kharkiv region known as "Berlin" from Russian control. The press service of the National Guard unit reported that soldiers from the brigade, joined by other units, managed to free 200 hectares of forest north of the village of Lypci after months of fighting.
10:59 Ukraine Claims to Adhere to Three-Day Ceasefire Despite Some Misunderstandings
Despite some conflicting statements, Ukraine is reportedly adhering to the three-day ceasefire announced by Russia, according to a parliamentary MP. The unofficial confirmation suggests that there have been no mutual drone attacks since midnight local time, unlike previous nights.
10:15 Lithuania Leaves Ottawa Convention Regarding Anti-Personnel Mines
Lithuania's parliament in Vilnius has approved a proposal to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention on the prohibition of anti-personnel mines. Other Baltic states, such as Estonia, Poland, and Finland, are considering following suit due to the military threat posed by Russia, which is not a party to the treaty and has been using anti-personnel mines in the invasion of Ukraine.
09:34 Masala: "Russian threat - we have four to five years"
Political scientist Carlo Masala warns that Europe has only four to five years to boost its own defense capabilities due to growing tensions with Russia, despite President Macron's prediction that it will take another ten years for Europe to achieve full sovereignty in defense matters.
FrühstartCarlo Masala in ntv's Frühstart "Russian threat - we have four to five years"
09:03 Uniform Ban: Soviet Memorial Becomes High-Security Zone
The Soviet memorial in Berlin-Treptow has been turned into a high-security zone due to concerns that Putin supporters might misuse the site for propaganda purposes. Police are stationed around the memorial, with access guarded and a ban on uniforms and flags. The memorial honors the more than 20 million fallen soldiers of the Red Army in their fight against Hitler fascism, with six million Ukrainians also fighting alongside them.
PoliticsGiant memorial site The Soviet memorial in Berlin-Treptow
Politics Direct Ceasefire Broken? Sharma: Ukraine Accuses Russia of Guided Bomb Attack 08:04 Partisans Disrupt Military Communication in Moscow Region
Partisans of the Ukrainian resistance movement Atesh claim to have disrupted military communication in the Moscow region by targeting a substation that supplied power and telecommunications infrastructure to the region.
07:14 Ukraine Destroys North Korean Multiple Rocket Launcher for the First Time
Ukrainian forces are reported to have destroyed a North Korean multiple rocket launcher of the KN-09 type in the Russian region of Kursk near the village of Pervomaiskii for the first time. A reconnaissance drone of the 4th Special Regiment "Rangers" of Ukraine spotted the weapon system, after which a US multiple rocket launcher of the HIMARS type opened fire.
Politics Weapon for Russia in Use: Ukraine Destroys KN-09 from North Korea for the first time 06:32 USA Criticizes Russia for Supporting North Korea
The USA has strongly criticized Russia at the UN Security Council for its support of North Korea, calling it a cynical move to hinder the implementation of UN sanctions against North Korea.
05:56 EU Countries Working on New Sanctions Package
A 17th sanctions package against Russia is being prepared in the EU. EU foreign ministers have been discussing new proposals from the European Commission since the middle of this week, which provide for a further tightening of measures against the so-called Russian shadow fleet for the transport of oil and oil products, as well as targeting dozens of companies involved in circumventing existing sanctions or supporting the Russian defense industry.
04:12 Wadephul: Europe Will Defend Ukraine "with all means"
Shortly after his inauguration as German Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul reiterated Germany and Europe's support for Ukraine during an inaugural visit to Poland. He stated that Europe would defend and support Ukraine "with all means." "Everyone in Moscow must know that they will have to deal with us," Wadephul emphasized, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Regarding the financing of defense spending in the EU and possible joint debts, Wadephul said, "I think we are all agreed that more needs to be done to support Ukraine."
03:18 Ukraine: Russia Launches Guided Bombs Despite Ceasefire
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russian aircraft have fired guided bombs at the Sumy region in northern Ukraine despite the three-day ceasefire announced by Russia.
01:47 Merz Does Not Expect Deployment of German Soldiers in Ukraine
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that he does not expect a deployment of German soldiers in Ukraine following a possible peace agreement. "We are far from a ceasefire and even further from a peace agreement," Merz told Welt TV. "We're not trading our independence."
Read all previous developments [here](https://www.ntv.de/
Topics: Ukraine conflict, Ukraine, Military, Military deployments, Russia, NATO, Cyberwar, Attack on Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, Wars and conflicts, War crimes
Enrichment Data:
Recent reports reveal the involvement of Jan Marsalek, the fugitive former executive of Wirecard, in dealings with a Russian spy ring. Here are the key points regarding his activities:
- Involvement with Russian Spy Ring: Jan Marsalek was reportedly in communication with Orlin Roussev, the head of a spy ring operating in the UK. This spy ring was involved in various illicit activities, including money laundering, arms trading, and more.
- Arms Trading and Ukraine War: Marsalek discussed the procurement of drones for the ongoing war in Ukraine with Roussev, highlighting his support for Russian military efforts.
- Nuclear Weapons and Other Activities: Marsalek was mentioned in court proceedings for boasting about the potential to supply nuclear weapons, although this was described as a joke. Additionally, the spy ring is also known for surveilling journalists, dissidents, and Ukrainian soldiers being trained at a U.S. military base in Germany.
- Legal Proceedings: Six Bulgarians, part of the spy ring, face up to 14 years in jail for spying for Russia, as their activities were primarily driven by financial gain, rather than direct orders from Russian intelligence.
- International Investigations: Marsalek’s network continues to be investigated both in the UK and internationally, with ongoing efforts to uncover the full extent of his activities.
- The fugitive former executive of Wirecard, Jan Marsalek, is linked to a Russian spy ring; he conversed with Orlin Roussev, the leader of the UK-based spy ring, regading arms deals such as the procurement of drones for the ongoing war in Ukraine.
- The European Union, Council of Europe, Ukraine, and several other countries are pushing for the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute the crime of "aggression" in connection with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, targeting political and military leaders from Russia.
- In a surprise turn of events, the new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged continued support for Ukraine, despite not foreseeing the deployment of German soldiers following a potential peace agreement.
- Amidst escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, European foreign ministers are set to journey to Ukraine together as part of an effort to boost defense aid after providing a billion euros in support. However, in Moscow, a military parade is underway on Red Square to commemorate the victory over Nazi Germany, demonstrating Russia's power amidst the ongoing war-and-conflicts.
