Ukraine to try captured Russian soldier for war crimes
- Pro-Moscow authorities in Ukraine’s occupied southern region of Kherson say they plan to ask Russian President Vladimir Putin to incorporate the territory into Russia by the end of this year.
- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says he does not foresee peace talks taking place in the immediate future and warns that the war is threatening global food security.
- Ukraine’s prosecutor general has said for the first time since the war began, a Russian soldier will stand trial for committing an alleged war crime in Ukraine.
- Ukrainian officials warn of “medieval” conditions in Mariupol as Moscow continues its push for complete control of the southeastern port city.
- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the United Kingdom has struck new security deals with Sweden and Finland aimed at bolstering European security.
Here are all the latest updates:
Allies to approve Finland, Sweden NATO bid
NATO allies expect Finland and Sweden to apply to join the alliance in coming days and will grant membership quickly, five diplomats and officials told Reuters.
During the one-year ratification of their membership, the allies would provide an increased troop presence in the Nordic region, hold more military exercises and naval patrols in the Baltic Sea and possibly rotate US and British forces through Finland and Sweden, they said.
Finland and Sweden would not benefit from NATO’s collective defence clause – that an attack on one ally is an attack on all – until the parliaments of all 30 member states have ratified the decision.
Swift US Senate approval likely for $40b Ukraine aid bill
Final congressional approval of the US $40 billion Ukraine aid bill seems certain within days, the Associated Press reports.
Top Senate Republicans said on Wednesday they expect strong GOP backing for the bill that the House approved yesterday.
“I think there’ll be substantial support,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told AP. “We’re going to try to process it as soon as possible.”
The No. 2 Senate GOP leader John Thune predicted “a big vote over here” for the bill, which he and others suggested might come Thursday but could spill into next week.
IMF approves $145m for Moldova
The International Monetary Fund has said its Executive Board approved an immediate $144.8 million disbursement to Moldova to help the country meet balance of payments financing needs as it comes under pressure from Russia’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.
In a statement, the IMF said the payment is part of an augmentation of Moldova’s existing IMF loan program to a new total of $795.7 million — an addition of $260 million, Reuters reports.
Russia’s new invasion phase ‘no less dangerous’: Austin
Russia’s new offensive focusing on southern and eastern Ukraine is “no less dangerous” than when it attempted to take Kyiv, the US secretary of defence has said.
Lloyd Austin met with the UK’s defence secretary Ben Wallace today and discussed “the next steps to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian military aggression”, according to a tweet from the UK’s defence ministry.
“Russia’s invasion has entered a different phase that is no less dangerous,” Austin said, according to a US defence department statement. “But we will continue to work together with unity and resolve to rush Ukraine what it needs to defend itself now, and in [the] future.”
He also thanked the UK for the assistance it has provided to Ukraine. “Your country is a leader among allies and partners in providing security aid to Ukraine,” Austin told Wallace.
Defence Secretary @BWallaceMP and @SecDef Lloyd Austin held bilateral talks today at the Pentagon 🇬🇧🇺🇸
They discussed the next steps to help 🇺🇦 Ukraine defend itself against Russian military aggression, as well as AUKUS and NATO@DeptofDefense pic.twitter.com/CvrMt169jl
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) May 11, 2022
Ukraine football team plays for first time since invasion
Ukraine’s national football team played its first game since the invasion by Russia on Wednesday, beating German club Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-1 in a friendly organised to raise funds for victims of the conflict.
Thousands of spectators waved Ukrainian flags and joined the players in relaying a message of support to a country that came under attack from Russia on February 24.
“This match is very important, for our team and for our country,” said former Ukraine international Andriy Voronin, who was commentating on the match for German TV channel ProSieben.
“We feel that we’re not alone, the whole world is behind us.”
Biden visits US farm and highlights war-driven food inflation
US President Joe Biden has blamed Russia’s war on Ukraine for the latest spike in global food prices in the US and pledged to support the nation’s farmers as they seek to fill the supply shortage.
“Right now, America is fighting on two fronts. At home, it’s inflation and rising prices. Abroad, it’s helping Ukrainians defend their democracy and feeding those who are left hungry around the world because Russian atrocities exist,” Biden said during a visit to a family farm in the US state Illinois.
Biden said US farmers have helped pull Americans through the COVID-19 pandemic and now the Ukraine crisis. “You are the backbone of freedom,” he said.
More than 560 Ukraine National Guard soldiers killed in war: Kyiv
More than 560 soldiers from Ukraine’s National Guard, a force that includes the Azov regiment currently holed up in Mariupol’s steelworks, have been killed since the war with Russia began, its leader has said.
Besides the 561 dead, an additional 1,697 troops had been wounded since the war started, National Guard chief Oleksiy Nadtochy said in an online briefing.
Zelenskyy discusses more Russia sanctions with Germany
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he discussed defensive aid, energy sector cooperation and increasing sanctions on Russia in a call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
“We appreciate the high level of dialogue with Germany and support in our struggle!” he said in a tweet.
A German government spokesperson said the chancellor and the Ukrainian president “exchanged views on very concrete, practical ways of continuing to support Ukraine and agreed to remain in close contact,” giving no further details.
Held regular talks with 🇩🇪 Chancellor @Bundeskanzler. Talked about defensive aid, cooperation in the energy sector, increasing sanctions on the Russian aggressor. We appreciate the high level of dialogue with 🇩🇪 and support in our struggle!
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 11, 2022
First Russian soldier to face trial in Ukraine for alleged war crime
Ukraine’s prosecutor general has said a Russian soldier will stand trial for committing an alleged war crime in Ukraine for the first time since the war began.
Iryna Venediktova said in a post on Facebook that the man, identified as Vadim Shysimarin, is accused of killing an unarmed civilian in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region on February 28, four days after Moscow launched its offensive.
The 21-year-old is currently being held in custody. If convicted, he faces between 10 years to life in prison, Venediktova said.
Reporting by Mansur Mirovalev in Kyiv.
One dead, three wounded in Russia after Ukraine attack: Belgorod governor
One person died and three more have been injured in southwestern Russia as a result of shelling from Ukraine, the governor of Belgorod has said.
Russian deputy foreign minister meets US ambassador in Moscow
Russia’s deputy foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov and US ambassador John Sullivan have met in Moscow to discuss bilateral issues.
The US embassy said, “The United States remains committed to open channels of communication with the Russian government, both to advance US interests and to reduce the risk of miscalculation between our countries.”
Russia’s foreign ministry issued a short statement with no details of the conversation.
Read all the updates from Tuesday, May 11 here.
