Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday criticized “protectionist measures” from neighboring countries which limit imports of Ukrainian grain, saying they are “absolutely unacceptable.”
The EU last
week adopted a temporary measure that bans wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower
seed originating in Ukraine from being exported to Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland,
Romania and Slovakia, after those countries raised concerns over local
farmers being undercut by a bottleneck of cheap Ukrainian
grain.
“Unfortunately, we have encountered problems where we should
have continued to see strong signs of solidarity, in proportion to the threats
that exist today — tough and even brutal, for wartime, protectionist measures
from our neighbors," Zelensky said at a joint news conference with EU
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen,
“Any restrictions on our exports now are absolutely unacceptable because they
do not strengthen all of us in Europe, instead they strengthen the
aggressor's capabilities,” he added.
Addressing
Zelensky's concerns, von der Leyen described the grain topic as a
"challenging situation" and vowed to set up a joint
"coordination platform" to get grain exports "fully functioning
again.”
"The
immediate priority now is that the grain transit goes seamlessly and at the
lowest possible cost outside of Ukraine towards the European Union,” she said.
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Russia is attempting to destroy values because it's afraid of
Ukraine’s path to EU, bloc's chief says
European
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday that Russia is seeking
to destroy values of freedom in Ukraine because it is afraid of the country’s
path to the European Union.
"We
Europeans cherish our liberty, our democracy, our freedom of thought and
speech," von der Leyen said alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelensky during a visit to Kyiv to mark Europe Day.
"Ukraine
is fighting for the ideals of Europe that we celebrate today. In Russia, Putin
and his regime have destroyed these values," she said.
"They
are afraid of the success you represent and the example you show, and they are
afraid of your path to the European Union," she said.
Von
der Leyen added that Russia has "dramatically failed," and Ukraine is
"fighting back successfully."
For the
next news
Russia has failed to capture Bakhmut,
Ukraine’s Zelensky says
Russia has failed to
capture the eastern city of Bakhmut before the May 9 deadline — a day when
Russia marks the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, Ukrainian
President Volodmyr Zelensky said Tuesday
“They were not able to capture Bakhmut. This was the last
important military operation that they wanted to complete by the ninth of May,”
Zelensky said in a joint news conference with European President Ursula von der
Leyen.
“Unfortunately, the
city does not exist anymore. Everything is fully destroyed," he added.
Zelensky urges more ammo: The Ukrainian
president also said ammunition the European Union has pledged to
deliver to Ukraine is already needed on the battlefield, calling for faster
deliveries.
"Ukraine daily
demonstrates efficiency of our defense against Russian aggression. Every
intercepted terrorists' missile, every success of our warriors in defeating
Russian attacks, these are the proofs that we can win over this
aggressor," Zelensky said.
"The main thing
is the proportionality of our abilities to the abilities that the aggressor
has. And in this context, I have thanked Ursula for the readiness of the
European Union to provide Ukraine this badly needed ammunition, one billion
artillery shells, and we have also discussed the key issues, the speed of the
procurement and delivery of this ammunition, because they are needed on the
battlefield already now," he said.
Meanwhile, Russian
President Vladimir Putin marked May 9 with the annual Victory Day parade and
launched yet another scathing attack on the West, accusing it of holding
Ukraine hostage to its anti-Russian plans. He also claimed that “real war”
has been unleashed against Russia.
For the next news
It’s mid-afternoon in Kyiv. Here’s what you
need to know
Russia held its annual
celebration to mark the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany in World
War II. In past years, tens of tanks have streamed across Red Square as jets
have ripped through the skies in a flex of Russia’s military might. But this
year’s parade was a quieter affair: A single T-34 tank – a relic
from the Soviet era – led out this year’s mechanized column, and the flypast
was canceled.
Here are the latest developments:
- Prigozhin’s rant: Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin
launched the latest
in a series of rants directed at Russia’s military
leadership – during the parade in Moscow. He claimed his troops were
“blatantly lied to” after he received only “10%” of the support he had
been pledged to help sustain his troops in Bakhmut. Prigozhin also
questioned how Victory Day celebrations could be underway in Moscow, when “we
haven’t earned that victory one millimeter.”
- Kyiv withstands Russian missile
strikes: Ukraine’s
air defense systems intercepted
23 of the 25 cruise missiles Russia fired overnight
Tuesday, according to the Ukrainian air force. The Ukrainian military
warned earlier this week that Russia is trying to wear down its air
defenses ahead of the long-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive. But,
for now, Kyiv’s shields are holding firm.
- EU chief celebrates Europe Day
in Kyiv: European
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is in
Kyiv to mark Europe Day – a celebration of peace and unity
on the continent. In a joint news conference with Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelensky, she claimed Russia is trying to destroy liberty,
democracy and freedom in Ukraine because they fear its burgeoning European
future.
- More US support incoming: The United States is set to
announce a $1.2
billion aid package to Ukraine as early as Tuesday,
according to a US official familiar with the issue. The package – which
will include drones, artillery ammunition and air defense missiles – comes
as Ukraine’s long-anticipated counteroffensive looms.
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