International court joins war crimes investigation
The International Criminal Court in The Hague will join the investigation into war crimes committed in Ukraine when Russia’s destructive invasion of its determined neighbor extended into a third month.
A joint investigation team was set up by Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine to prepare for possible prosecutions within countries and before the International Court of Justice. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan and the three countries’ prosecutors general signed an agreement on Monday.
The agreement sends a “clear message that all efforts will be made to effectively gather evidence of fundamental international crimes committed in Ukraine and bring those responsible to justice,” the European Union’s Office for Criminal Justice said in a statement.
Ukrainian authorities have accused the Russian leadership and military of targeting civilians, claiming that mass graves have been found with hundreds of victims. Russia has denied the allegations, accusing the Ukrainian military of falsifying images of the dead or of committing the murders and accusing Russia of trying to strengthen international support.
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From Potemkin to Putin: What a centuries-old myth reveals about Russia’s war against Ukraine
Recent developments:
►Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a tweet Sundaythanked President Joe Biden for his leadership and support of the Ukrainian people, saying that the friendship and partnership between the two countries is “stronger than ever.”
“Russia is planning a phased referendum in Kherson, a city in the south that fell to Russian forces early in the war, in order to justify its occupation,” said the British Ministry of Defense.
►Reporters accompanying Minister of Defense Lloyd Austin and Foreign Minister Antony Blinken to Poland were prevented by Pentagon officials and the State Department from reporting on the visit to Kiev until the two men physically left Ukraine. U.S. officials referred to security concerns.
►Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said new evidence was emerging showing that Russian troops had killed tens of thousands of civilians in Mariupol and then tried to cover it up.
Sweden, Finland will reportedly apply for NATO membership in May
Media in Sweden and Finland report that their governments will submit NATO applications next month. The Finnish newspaper Iltalehti said on Monday that the Swedish government wants “a common date for the publication of NATO applications” and mentions the week of May 16. Sweden Expressen tabloid said they had confirmed the plan through sources in their government. Both Nordic countries have long cooperated with NATO on defense issues and the United States supports their membership. Finland shares an 830 km long border with Russia.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to growing support in Sweden and Finland, a Russian neighbor, to join NATO.
Top US officials meet Zelenskyy, promising more help
The Biden administration raised its financial promise and nominated a new ambassador to Ukraine following a quasi-secret meeting in Kyiv between two US government officials and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The announcements came hours after Foreign Minister Antony Blinken and Defense Minister Lloyd Austin paid the highest visit to Kyiv by a US delegation since the start of Russia’s invasion.
Ukraine has repeatedly pressured the western world for more powerful weapons against Russia’s campaign in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, where Moscow’s forces are working to get rid of the last Ukrainian troops in the battered port city of Mariupol.
Blinken and Austin told Zelenskyy and his advisers that the United States would provide an additional $ 300 million in foreign military funding and had approved a $ 165 million ammunition sale. Blinken said that US diplomats who left Ukraine before the war would begin returning to the country as soon as this week.
“We had an opportunity to directly demonstrate our strong ongoing support for the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people,” Blinken said.
Biden appoints Bridget Brink as US Ambassador to Ukraine
President Joe Biden announced on Monday that he will appoint Bridget Brink as US Ambassador to Ukraine, filling a post that has been vacant for three years. Brink is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service and currently serves as Ambassador to Slovakia. If confirmed by the Senate, she would become the first US ambassador to Ukraine since Donald Trump removed Marie Yovanovitch from the post in 2019. Yovanovitch’s dismissal was one of the factors in Trump’s first federal court.
Brink, born in Michigan, previously served as Senior Adviser and Deputy Secretary to the State Department’s Office for European and Eurasian Affairs and was responsible for issues related to Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. She also served as Deputy Head of Mission at the US Embassies in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and Tbilisi, Georgia.
How much money has the United States sent to Ukraine?
The United States’ latest financial commitment to Ukraine represents only a small fraction of the total expenditure of the affected nation of 45 million people. Since the start of Russia’s invasion on February 24, the United States has committed about $ 3.7 billion in “security assistance,” the White House said Monday. The United States has provided more than $ 4.3 billion since the start of the Biden administration.
The United States provides more than arms and ammunition and announced last week that it will provide Ukraine with an additional $ 500 million to help its government fund critical operations. The United States provided $ 500 million in similar aid last month.
“Ukrainians stand up, they stand strong, and they do so with the support we have coordinated from literally around the world,” Foreign Minister Antony Blinken said after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Ukrainian officials warn of UN Secretary-General meeting with Putin
UN Secretary-General António Guterres will travel to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. said his office in a statement last week. Some Ukrainian officials say the meeting is not a good idea.
Igor Zhovkva, adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Guterres and the UN were “not really” competent to speak on behalf of Ukraine and try to negotiate peace talks with Russia on NBC’s “Meet the Press”.
“This is not a good idea to travel to Moscow. We did not understand his intention to travel to Moscow and talk to President Putin,” he said, adding: “All peace talks are good if they end with the result. I really doubt if they peace talks organized by the UN Secretary-General would lead to no result. “
He criticized the UN for “slipping behind” in providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine and said Guterres should focus on that as well.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said he was not sure if Guterre’s trip would lead to a diplomatic breakthrough with Russia CBS “Face the Nation.”
The State National Guard will send armored vehicles to Ukraine
Several U.S. governors announced that their state National Guard would send armored vehicles to Ukraine at the request of the Department of Defense.
Both Ohio and western Virginia will send an unknown number of M-113 APCs to Ukraine, which will be used to move troops and equipment across the battlefield while providing protection against small arms fire and the effects of artillery.
“As we continue to learn about Russian war crimes in Ukraine, those of us in Ohio are ready to help the Ukrainian people in every way possible.” said Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in a statement. “Ohio has a strong Ukrainian community, and we stand behind them and their families abroad.”
The announcement came the same week that President Joe Biden announced $ 800 million more in military aid to Ukraine.
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Contribution: Associated Press