Moscow has no interest in peace summit – The night at a glance
Published: Thursday, Apr 11th 2024, 05:20
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Switzerland is organizing a peace summit to end the war in Ukraine. However, Russia has stated that it will not be attending. Moscow has not received an invitation to the conference, the Russian embassy in Bern announced on Wednesday. "But even if an invitation for such an event were to be received, the Russian side would not accept it", the statement continued. Without Russian participation, the meeting on Mount Bürgenstock would degenerate into another round of fruitless consultations. The summit is scheduled for June 15 and 16.
The embassy explained the rejection by claiming that only the peace plan of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi was being negotiated in Switzerland. His peace formula, however, "is a collection of ultimatums to Russia and does not take into account the interests of our country's national security". Among other things, Zelenskyi had demanded the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory - including Crimea, which has been annexed by Moscow since 2014.
Moscow criticized the fact that other peace initiatives - including those from China and Africa - were not taken into account at the conference. In contrast, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said at the presentation of the conference that the conference would go beyond the peace plan drawn up by Zelensky and also take into account existing proposals from other countries, such as China. According to Cassis, China has been invited, but has not yet responded. Swiss media had also reported that Russia was also to be invited.
Selenskyj reports on successes in rocket production
In his daily video message, Zelensky thanked Switzerland for its organization and announced a proposal for what he called a "just end to this war". Until now, Ukraine has insisted on a complete withdrawal of Russian troops from the occupied territories as the basis for a peace settlement. Moscow, on the other hand, claims at least the previously conquered territories for itself.
At the same time, the Ukrainian head of state announced progress in missile production. Series production had started and new models were being developed. It was now important for the military to be able to turn the results of arms production into successes. Drones and missiles are considered to be the most important weapons in the war, which has been going on for two years.
In view of the ongoing attacks on Ukrainian cities from the air and the slow but steady advance of Russian troops on the ground, he also appealed to the population's will to persevere. Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin is doing everything he can to intensify the strikes against Ukraine. Kiev is also strengthening its military capabilities. "But we don't need less inner strength, an inner understanding that only the strong will end the war on their own terms," said Selensky. Recent surveys have shown that more than 80 percent of Ukrainians still believe in their own victory.
Civilians killed on both sides after mutual shelling
According to official information, at least 4 people were killed and 14 others injured in Russian missile attacks on the Ukrainian port city of Odessa. The military governor of the region, Oleh Kiper, announced on his Telegram channel that a ten-year-old girl was among the casualties. Several of the injured were in a critical condition. According to him, the shelling was carried out with Iskander ballistic missiles.
On the other side, three people were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in the western Russian region of Kursk. Two children were among the victims, the governor of the region, Roman Starovoit, announced on Wednesday. According to the report, in the village of Ananassovka, a few kilometers from the Ukrainian border, a drone dropped an explosive device on a car in which the civilians were traveling.
Russia has been waging a war of aggression against Ukraine for more than two years, repeatedly firing drones and missiles at the neighboring country's hinterland. However, the Russian border regions are also increasingly complaining about Ukrainian shelling. However, the casualties and damage on the Russian side are disproportionate to the large number of dead and injured and the destruction that Moscow is causing in Ukraine.
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