- NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg says he expects the situation in Ukraine to worsen
- Zelensky warns of new pro-Russian “pseudo-democracies” in Ukraine
- Humanitarian corridors, help is expected in Mariupol
For information on Saturday’s developments in the war in Ukraine, click here.
This article was last updated at 04:38 UTC / GMT
Reports: Russia appoints new mayor in Melitopolis
According to media reports, a new mayor has settled in Melitopol, southeastern Ukraine, following the abduction of former mayor Ivan Fedorov by Russian troops.
Galina Danilchenko appeared on local television as the new mayor, local media reported. CNN also referred to a statement on the Zaporizhzhia regional administration website.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said the abduction of the elected mayor was a flagrant violation of international law and a “war crime under the Geneva Conventions.”
“The perpetrators of this and other crimes will be held more accountable,” the ministry said in a Facebook post.
NATO chief warns of ‘possible’ Russian plan to use chemical weapons
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg expects further intensification of the fighting and the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, he told the German newspaper. World on Sunday.
He said the Ukrainians were resisting Russian forces with courage and determination, but that the next few days could get worse.
Stoltenberg also denied recent “absurd allegations” by Moscow that the United States was operating secret laboratories in Ukraine to make chemical and biological weapons.
“Now that these false allegations have been made, we must remain vigilant, because it is possible that Russia itself is carrying out chemical weapons shipments under this false web,” he said.
He also rejected calls for NATO to impose and impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine. “This could mean a direct confrontation and escalation. We must end this war, not let it escalate,” he added.
In a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said: “End this war, withdraw all your forces and commit to diplomacy.”
Zelensky warns of new pro-Russian “pseudo-democracies” in Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the Ukrainians in an online speech and reiterated their right to live on their own land on their own terms.
Zelensky also said that Russian forces would create new people’s democracies in the occupied territories, similar to those operating in Donetsk and Luhansk since 2014. Moscow recognized the so-called “people’s democracies” of Donetsk and Luhansk immediately after in Ukraine.
“The occupiers in the Kherson area are trying to repeat the sad experience of forming pseudo-democracies,” Zelenski said.
“They are blackmailing local leaders, putting pressure on MPs, looking for someone to bribe,” he added.
Zelensky said such “pseudo-democracies” would end up isolating themselves from the rest of the world and tackling poverty, crime and exodus.
Zelensky said the withdrawal of IT professionals, businessmen and artists from Russia was the fate that awaited both Donetsk and Luhansk.
Towns and villages in the Kherson region have been occupied by Russian troops since the early days of the war.
Urging the Ukrainians to continue their struggle, he said they would regain what belonged to them. “Ukraine will not forget. Ukraine will find and persecute,” he said.
Zelensky said the agreed humanitarian corridors worked and that aid would arrive in Mariupol on Sunday.
Summary of events in the Ukraine-Russia crisis on Saturday
German Chancellor Olaf Soltz and French President Emanuel Macron called for an immediate ceasefire during a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Elysian Palace described the call as “very sincere and difficult”. The Kremlin said Putin had “informed the leaders of the real state of affairs.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and discussed the prospects for peace talks with Putin.
Meanwhile, the UK Ministry of Defense said that “most of the Russian ground forces” were about 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the center of Kiev. “If they decide to make carpet bombs [Kyiv], and just delete the history of this area … and destroy us all, then they will enter Kyiv. “If that is their goal, let them in, but they will have to live on this land on their own,” Zelenski said.
About 13,000 people were evacuated from various Ukrainian cities on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said. It is almost double the number they managed to come out on Friday.
Satellite images before and after the Russian attacks show significant destruction of political infrastructure in the port of Mariupol. Russian forces advanced into the eastern suburbs of the city on Saturday, but Ukraine says it was still in control of the city.
US President Joe Biden has approved $ 200 million (18 183 million) in additional weapons and other aid to Ukraine, the White House has said.
Russia has warned that Western arms shipments to Ukraine are now “legitimate” military targets. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Russian troops could target supplies.
The game said on Saturday that germany was to set up a task force to help impose sanctions on russian oligarchs. Several countries, including Italy, France and the United Kingdom, have already confiscated assets belonging to Russian billionaires.
lo / fb (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)
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