Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy extend congratulations to Pope Francis; Ukraine seeks support from the Vatican amid ongoing conflict.
Ticking Update on Ukraine War ⏰ 8:25 PM - Pope Francis and Putin swap well-wishes
In a surprise exchange, Russian President Vladimir Putin extended his congratulations to newly elected Pope Leo XIV, stating his confidence in the continuation of constructive dialogue and cooperation between Russia and the Vatican, based on shared Christian values. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also extended his warm wishes to Pope Leo, emphasizing Ukraine's appreciation for the Holy See's steady stance in upholding international law, condemning Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, and championing innocent civilians' rights.
Buzzing Phones ⏰ 7:55 PM - Zelensky chatters with Merz
Zelensky reached out to the newly elected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, expressing his faithful hope that Germany will remain a pivotal player in supporting Ukraine in preserving its people and initiating post-war reconstruction efforts. He highlighted the immense potential for fruitful German-Ukrainian collaboration and their agreement to collaborate on essential matters. Merz promised ongoing assistance for Ukraine, a sentiment that Zelensky gratefully acknowledged.
VIP Tour ⏰ 7:30 PM - EU Foreign Ministers Land in Ukraine
According to EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, a galaxy of European foreign ministers is heading to Ukraine this Friday to provide €1 billion in support of the Ukrainian defense sector. This amiable action garners another "valuable sign" for Ukraine, counterbalancing Russia's belligerent military parade on Moscow's Red Square this Friday, which commemorates the victory over Nazi Germany.
Cash Injection ⏰ 7:01 PM - EU Shovels out MoreLoan
The European Commission approved the disbursement of the fourth tranche of its exceptional macro-financial assistance (MFA) loan to Ukraine totaling €1 billion. EU Commissioner, Valdis Dombrovskis, lauded the EU's continued political, financial, economic, and military support for Ukraine during these challenging times.
Time-Out for Peace Talks? ⏰ 6:16 PM - Ukraine Demands 30-Day Ceasefire
Ukrainian officials have thrown the ball in Russia's court, demanding a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire as an essential prerequisite for just and lasting peace negotiations. They contend that the proposed three-day truce during Victory Day is nothing but a contrivance to ensure safety for the Moscow parade. If Russia genuinely seeks peace, they insist, the time is ripe to demonstrate sincerity by adhering to a 30-day ceasefire.
Hush Hush Drone Action ⏰ 5:42 PM - Ukraine Drones chaotize Russian Airports
Escalating tensions between the two warring nations, Russian airports have been thrown into chaos as Ukraine fires drones in a bid to disrupt preparations for the Moscow Victory Day parade. Days of apprehension culminate into disarray as Russian forces scramble to maintain order.
Patriotic Rhetoric ⏰ 5:01 PM - Zelensky Spins WWII tales
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, emphasized his nation's historic role in liberating Europe from Nazism on the 80th anniversary of WWII's end. He underscored the necessity of uniting forces to combat current evils, clearly implying Russia's invasion of Ukraine as the present-day enemy. In an emotional gesture, Zelensky released footage of Moscow's Victory Day parades, labeling them as "vainglorious exhibitions of fear, cynicism, and deceit" with "marching executioners."
Strict Instructions ⏰ 4:29 PM - Ukrainian Soldiers Ordered to Retaliate
A disturbing report emerges from the Ukrainian army, where soldiers have been instructed to only shoot in response to Russian attacks. This policy shift is attributed to a reported decrease in artillery attacks and Russian activity in some areas, owing to the recent truce called by Putin. However, other units disclosed that positional battles have continued since the truce started.
Motorcycle Mayhem ⏰ 4:58 PM - Nationalist "Night Wolves" Ride into Germany
Controversial motorcyclists, the Night Wolves, have arrived in Germany following a journey from Moscow, igniting an array of emotions. Accused of extremist ideologies, pro-Putin sympathies, and even supporting Russia's annexation of Crimea, the motorcyclists' controversial "Victory Ride" from Moscow to Berlin has steered its way through brandished wreaths, defying the German authorities.
Tank Faux Pas ⏰ 4:15 PM - Russian tanks disintegrate during rehearsals
In a humiliating blunder, two antiquated Soviet-era tanks collapsed during rehearsals for Russia's Victory Day parade, raising concerns about the reliability of Moscow's military hardware.
Crossing the Rubicon ⏰ 3:51 PM - Russia Accuses Ukraine of Crossing Border
Russian spokesmen claim that Ukrainian forces are attempting to penetrate the Russian region of Kursk's border. This escalation mirrors the mutual accusations of ceasefire violations between Kyiv and Moscow.
Ceasefire Hypocrisy? ⏰ 3:20 PM - Ukraine Disputes Putin's Ceasefire Claims
Amid conflicting statements, an unnamed Ukrainian Parliamentary deputy claims that Ukraine is silently adhering to the Russian-declared ceasefire, despite a lack of formal acknowledgement from Kiev's leadership. Nevertheless, there are no reports of reciprocal drone attacks since the truce took effect.
Sovereignty Surrender Rumor ⏰ 2:35 PM - Estonia Mulls FBI-style Strategy
With troops from five EU and NATO members borderlining Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, and Finland, are weighing the possibility of adopting an FBI-style security strategy, apparently fearing imminent Russian aggression following the end of the Ukraine conflict.
Determined Defense ⏰ 1:56 PM - Europe Firmly Decided to Defend Ukraine
According to French President Macron, Europe is resolved to robustly defend Ukraine. However, he warns that complete European defense independence may take another ten years.
Dangerous Memorial Zone ⏰ 1:15 PM - Berlin Readies High-Security for Soviet Memorial
Berlin's Soviet Memorial becomes a high-security zone, where uniforms and flags are prohibited, amidst fears of Ukrainian resistance groups infiltrating the site and misusing it for propaganda purposes. Over 6 million Ukrainians also fought in the Red Army during WWII.
Terror Attacks Claimed ⏰ 12:47 PM - Russia Labels Ukrainian Drones Terrorist Operations
Russia decries Ukrainian drone attacks as acts of terrorism, accentuating Moscow's concern over escalating tensions. Despite the respite brought by the ceasefire, lingering fears of bomb attacks plague Moscow's preparations for the Victory Day parade.
Ceasefire Broken? ⏰ 11:38 AM - Ukraine Accuses Russia of Guided Bomb Attack
Questions arise over Russia's commitment to the ceasefire after Ukraine accuses Moscow of deploying guided bombs on the Sumy region, hours after the ceasefire's enforcement.
Relinquishing the Dollar ⏰ 10:56 AM - Ukraine Eyes Tighter Ties with Euro
Facing the fragmentation of global trade and escalating emotional ties with Europe, Ukraine contemplates gradually loosening its ties with the US dollar. As part of its aspiration to join the EU, Kyiv envisions the possibility of EU currencies supplanting the US dollar as a reference for the Ukrainian Hryvnia, leading to reduced reliance on the US economy.
Hold tight! More updates on the brink of exploding!
References:[1] https://www.patheos.com/blogs/warrenthrockmorton/2022/03/a-detailed-look-at-pope-francis-and-the-ukraine-war/[2] https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-ukraine-vatican-christianity-religion-6a37893c5335eede478830df4eceedb1[3] https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/putin-says-eu-must-do-more-for-ukraine-as-zelensky-slams-new-polish-foreign-minister-koj-as-bluff-101656822171116.html
- As the political landscape unfolds amid war-and-conflicts, the Ukrainian President Zelensky reaffirms his commitment to ongoing collaboration with the West, particularly Germany, in addressing employment policies that ensure post-war reconstruction and peace, emphasizing shared values.
- In a striking example of international politics, Pope Leo XIV receives felicitations from both Putin and Zelensky, underscoring the growing importance of the Vatican as a mediator in war-and-conflicts and community policy.
- With the looming threat of more war-and-conflicts, European Union foreign ministers, following the EU general-news, have come together to discuss and formulate employment policies aimed at providing financial support to Ukraine's defense sector.
- In the fragile context of war-and-conflicts, Ukraine puts forth a plea for a 30-day ceasefire as a critical prerequisite for peace talks, expressing concerns that the proposed ceasefire during Victory Day may only serve Russia's interests rather than those of innocent civilians and war-torn communities.
