Newsletter 10/04/2024
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Switzerland to host Ukraine peace summit on June 15-16
The conference will be held June 15-16 at the Burgenstock resort in the canton of Nidwalden outside the city of Lucerne. It will aim to create a framework favorable to a comprehensive and lasting peace in Ukraine as well as "a concrete roadmap for Russia's participation in the peace process."
Ukraine, UK sign agreement on defense cooperation
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin have signed a framework agreement on defense and industrial cooperation with the British government.
Russian Ka-27 helicopter crashes into Black Sea after explosion – Ukrainian Navy
A Russian Ka-27 helicopter crashed into the Black Sea following an explosion on board the aircraft.
'Primitive idea': Zelensky reacts to Trump's 'peace' plan
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called "very primitive" the idea by former U.S. President Donald Trump that Ukraine could swiftly end the war just by making massive territorial concessions.
He said this in an interview with Politico, Ukrinform reports.
Zelensky said he was open to hearing Trump's proposals for the war, while making clear he was highly skeptical.
"If the deal is that we just give up our territories, and that's the idea behind it, then it's a very primitive idea," Zelensky said.
He also continued: "I need very strong arguments. I don't need a fantastic idea, I need a real idea, because people's lives are at stake."
Germany sends new military aid package to Ukraine
Germany has sent a new batch of military aid to Ukraine, which includes shells, military equipment, drones, and more.
In particular, Ukraine received 6,000 rounds of 155 mm ammunition, 1 million rounds of ammunition for fire arms, 16 Vector reconnaissance drones with spare parts, 30 RQ-35 Heidrun reconnaissance drones, 30 frequency range extensions for anti-drone devices, a Warthog all-terrain tracked carrier (command vehicle), and two Wisent 1 mine clearing tanks with spare parts.
Russian Federation calls suicide cause of death of volunteer who helped Ukrainian refugees in detention center
It became known on April 8 that Demydenko died in the pre-trial detention center No. 3 in the Belgorod region. At the same time, the Federal Penitentiary Service said in a statement that the death occurred three days earlier.
War
Invaders in Mariupol plan "mobilization" for May
The occupation "authorities" in Mariupol are planning to hold "mobilization" in May and are also launching a spring "draft".
This was reported in Telegram by the Mariupol City Council, Ukrinform reports.
"In May, mobilization may begin in occupied Mariupol. The so-called military commissariat of Mariupol and the district has issued an order according to which the occupation administration must provide all data on enterprises in the city by April 15 for mobilization activities," the statement reads.
In addition, the spring "conscription" of men born in 1994-2006 is starting in the temporarily occupied territories.
Contradictory rhetoric in Russian propaganda leads to high losses among invaders - ISW
Experts note that recent discourse among select Russian milbloggers highlights contradictory Russian rhetoric in the Russian information space between narratives that seek to portray Russian forces as more capable than Ukrainian forces and other narratives that criticize the Russian military for shortcomings that result in high Russian infantry casualties.
Defense
U.S. approves sale of equipment for Hawk missile systems to Ukraine
The U.S. Department of State has greenlighted an emergency $138 million in foreign military sales for Ukraine to provide critical repairs and spare parts for Kyiv's Hawk missile systems.
Borrell: European armies have 100 Patriot batteries, but still cannot provide seven of them to Ukraine
The European Union is not doing enough to protect Ukraine from Russia's attempts to destroy Ukrainian cities using missiles and guided bombs, so it must urgently provide Ukraine with more air defense equipment and ammunition.
Politics
EU preparing 14th package of sanctions against Russia
"We have started preparing a 14th sanctions package, which should be adopted in spring. It is likely to include an extensive list of restrictive measures with a strong anti-circumvention angle – in the maritime sector, for example, as Russia continues to try and violate the price cap for its oil exports," said European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis.
EU Ambassador to Moldova: EU boosting support for Modlova’s defense forces in view of Russian aggression in Ukraine
“As for what we are doing here in the Republic of Moldova, in the past we were engaged in practically all spheres of life except for defense. And for the past several years, we’ve had - and that's basically wa's triggered by the Russian aggression in Ukraine - is rethinking of our engagement,” the EU Ambassador to Moldova Janis Mazeiks said.
Interview
Şeref Malkoç, Chief Public Ombudsman of Turkey
Last week, the Chief Public Ombudsman of Turkey, Şeref Malkoç, paid a visit to Ukraine, which included Kyiv, Odesa and Lviv. He met with the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, with relatives of Ukrainian prisoners held in Russia, and with Russian prisoners of war in the detention camp in Lviv.
In the near future, Mr. Malkoç intends to pay a visit to Russia to meet with Ukrainian prisoners and see the conditions of their detention. After both visits, the Turkish Ombudsman's office will prepare reports, including on the conditions of compliance with the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
Şeref Malkoç calls the exchange and return of prisoners of war home one of his main tasks in his current activism and human rights work within the framework of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
The Chief Public Ombudsman of Turkey, Şeref Malkoç, spoke about his impressions and results of his visit to Ukraine, as well as the prospects for the return of Ukrainian prisoners home, in an interview with Ukrinform.