Russia Ukraine war update: Leaders in Switzerland for major peace summit as Zelensky rejects Putin ‘ultimatum’

In a particular investigation, Tom Watling tells the story of 5 youngsters who had been taken into Russia or Russian-occupied territory earlier than ultimately being rescued. Many others are nonetheless believed to be trapped:

One other unique by Tom Watling reporting on the peace summit in Switzerland focussing and the kidnapping of 1000’s of Ukrainian youngsters by Russia.

Freezing the battle in Ukraine just isn’t a solution however a recipe for future wars of aggression, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen advised a Ukraine summit within the Swiss resort of Buergenstock.

“Freezing the battle as we speak, with international troops occupying Ukrainian land, just isn’t the reply. It’s a recipe for future wars of aggression,” she stated in her speech.

“As a substitute we have to assist a complete, simply and sustainable peace for Ukraine. One which restores Ukraine’s sovereignty and its territorial integrity.”

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pledged America’s unwavering assist for Ukraine and introduced greater than $1.5 billion in help for the nation’s power sector and its humanitarian scenario on account of Russia’s 27-month invasion.

“This conflict stays an utter failure for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,” Harris stated throughout a bilateral assembly with Zelenskiy. “It’s in our curiosity to uphold worldwide norms,” she added, pledging U.S. assist for the nation.

The $1.5 billion contains $500 million in new funding for power help and the redirecting of $324 million in beforehand introduced funds towards emergency power infrastructure restore and different wants in Ukraine, the vice chairman’s workplace stated.

“These efforts will assist Ukraine reply to Russia’s newest assaults on Ukraine power infrastructure by supporting restore and restoration, bettering Ukraine’s resilience to power provide disruptions, and laying the groundwork to restore and increase Ukraine’s power system,” Harris’ workplace stated.

In a particular investigation, Tom Watling tells the story of 5 youngsters who had been taken into Russia or Russian-occupied territory earlier than ultimately being rescued. Many others are nonetheless believed to be trapped

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday predicted “historical past being made” on the Swiss-hosted convention that goals to plot the primary steps towards peace in Ukraine though specialists and critics don’t count on any main breakthroughs as a result of Russia isn’t attending.

The presidents of Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Somalia joined dozens of Western heads of state, different senior authorities leaders and high-level envoys on the assembly, within the hopes that Russia might take part sooner or later.

In a short assertion to reporters alongside Swiss President Viola Amherd on the outset of the summit, Zelensky forged the gathering as a hit, saying: “We’ve succeeded in bringing again to the world the concept joint efforts can cease conflict and set up a simply peace.”

“I imagine that we’ll witness historical past being made right here on the summit,” he stated.

A Russian army plane briefly violated Swedish airspace east of the Baltic island of Gotland on Friday and was met by Swedish fighter jets, the Nordic nation’s armed forces stated on Saturday.

The Swedish armed forces stated in an announcement that the Russian army plane, a SU-24, had been hailed with a warning however failed to reply after which two Swedish Gripen fighters had been despatched as much as meet it.

Sweden’s army stated the airspace violation had been temporary.

“The Russian actions are usually not acceptable and present a scarcity of respect for our territorial integrity,” Swedish air drive chief Jonas Wikman stated. “We adopted your complete chain of occasions and had been in place to intervene.”

The Russian military continues to place strain on Ukrainian frontlines with artillery shelling, airstrikes, and a lot of assault drones.

In an replace on Saturday, the Southern Protection Forces of Ukraine stated on Telegram: “The enemy launched a rocket assault on the Mykolayiv area.

“Because of the influence, a fireplace broke out in an open space exterior the settlement, which was promptly extinguished.

“The occupiers proceed to press with artillery hearth, perform airstrikes, use a lot of strike drones of assorted sorts, and actively conduct aerial reconnaissance. Over the previous day, the flight of 213 reconnaissance UAVs was recorded within the operational zone.”

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to SkyTG24 on the eve of the opening of the inaugural Peace Summit in Switzerland.

“The street to peace is an extended one as a result of we’re coping with terrorists, and we should comply with the proper path, based mostly on the UN Constitution and worldwide regulation.

“We should have the identical foundation. And we’re doing this with out breaking the regulation, with out violating folks’s rights,” he stated.

Ukraine dismissed ceasefire situations announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday as “absurd”, saying he was making an attempt to mislead world powers and undermine real peace efforts.

Putin stated in a speech Russia would finish the conflict in Ukraine provided that Kyiv agreed to drop its NATO ambitions and hand over everything of 4 provinces claimed by Moscow.

Ukraine’s international ministry described his phrases as “manipulative statements aimed toward deceptive the worldwide neighborhood (and) undermining diplomatic efforts to attain a simply peace”.

Ukrainian forces stated they’d repelled seven enemy assaults in Orikhiv and one on the financial institution of the Dnipro River.

The Southern Protection Forces of Ukraine stated on Telegram: “Within the operational zone of the Southern Defence Forces, day by day counter-battery confrontation and repelling enemy assaults continues.

“The enemy doesn’t abandon his intention to knock out our items from their occupied positions.

“Over the previous day, the occupiers have carried out 7 assaults within the Orihiv course. That they had no success.

“On the left financial institution of the Dnipro, within the quickly occupied Kherson Oblast, the enemy launched 1 assault. Having suffered losses, he retreated to his unique positions. The defence forces proceed to hold out complete measures to take care of positions.”