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CONFLICTSUKRAINE
Ukraine: Mariupol commanders return home with Zelenskyy
Published 07/08/2023Published July 8, 2023last updated 5 hours agolast updated 5 hours ago
The officers were originally supposed to stay in Turkey until the end of the war but Zelenskyy said he was “bringing our heroes home.” DW has the latest.
https://p.dw.com/p/4Tbzs
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shakes hands with one of commanders of defenders of the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol Denys Prokopenko as they return to Ukraine
Denys Prokopenko was one of the commanders who defended the Azovstal plant in Mariupol and who returned to Ukraine with president ZelenskyyImage: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/REUTERS
Skip next section What you need to know
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The commanders of the Mariupol defense, who were to remain in Turkey until the end of the war, returned to Ukraine with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy praised Biden for “decisive steps” after cluster bomb approval
Turkey’s Erdogan says Ukraine, Russia should return to peace talks
For the events of July 7, follow this link
Skip next section US pledges continued support to Ukraine after 500 days of war
5 hours ago5 hours ago
US pledges continued support to Ukraine after 500 days of war
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken marked 500 days since Russia launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine by vowing his country would remain steadfast in its support Kyiv.
“Ukrainians have fought bravely to defend their country, freedom and right to determine their own future. The US will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes to achieve a just and durable peace,” Blinken said.
The US and its allies would continue to provide support so that Ukraine can defend itself and “be in the strongest possible position at the negotiating table when the time comes,” he added.
“The Russian government remains the sole obstacle to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” said Blinken, who accused the Kremlin of attempting “to subjugate Ukraine, seize its land, topple its democratically elected government.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4Tco7
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Skip next section Poland moves troops to eastern border amid Wagner fears
6 hours ago6 hours ago
Poland moves troops to eastern border amid Wagner fears
Poland began moving over 1,000 troops to the east of the country, the defense minister said, amid rising concern that the presence of Wagner Group fighters in Belarus could lead to increased tension on its border.
“Over 1,000 soldiers and almost 200 units of equipment from the 12th and 17th Mechanized Brigades are starting to move to the east of the country,” Mariusz Blaszczak wrote on Twitter. “This is a demonstration of our readiness to respond to attempts at destabilization near the border of our country.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to offer mercenary fighters of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner group the choice of relocating to Belarus has led to fears among eastern NATO members that their presence will cause greater instability in the region.
A senior Wagner commander was quoted as saying on Saturday that mercenaries from the group were preparing to move to Belarus.
Wagner mercenaries in Belarus – threat to neighbors?
05:36
https://p.dw.com/p/4TcnO
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Skip next section Russia says Turkey violated agreements by releasing Azovstal defenders
7 hours ago7 hours ago
Russia says Turkey violated agreements by releasing Azovstal defenders
Russia denounced the release of five former commanders of Ukraine’s garrison in Mariupol.
As DW reported earlier, the men were meant to remain in Turkey until the end of a war but flew home to Ukraine with Zelenskyy after he visited Turkey.
“No one informed us about this. According to the agreements, these ringleaders were to remain on the territory of Turkey until the end of the conflict,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Zelenskyy posted a one-minute video showing himself and other officials shaking hands and hugging the smiling commanders before they boarded a Czech airplane together. He later posted a picture of them together simply saying “home.”
The five leaders were freed in a prisoner swap last September and taken to Turkey.
Many Ukrainians hailed their return on social media.
https://p.dw.com/p/4TcmV
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Skip next section Canada joins other US allies in opposing sending cluster bombs to Ukraine
9 hours ago9 hours ago
Canada joins other US allies in opposing sending cluster bombs to Ukraine
Canada is opposed to the US plan to send cluster munitions to Ukraine, the country’s government said in a statement.
“We do not support the use of cluster munitions and are committed to putting an end to the effects cluster munitions have on civilians — particularly children,” Ottawa added.
The US decision to deliver the weapons, banned across a large part of the world, has also drawn resistance from Germany, Spain and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Britain is part of a convention that “discourages” the use of cluster munitions.
The United States said on Friday it would supply Kyiv with cluster munitions as part of a new $800 million (€730 million) security package.
Ukraine has welcomed the US decision, saying it would help liberate Ukrainian territory, but promised the munitions would not be used in Russia.
https://p.dw.com/p/4TchO
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Skip next section Zelenskyy brings ‘heroes home’ from Turkey
10 hours ago10 hours ago
Zelenskyy brings ‘heroes home’ from Turkey
Five Ukrainian military leaders, including Azov Regiment commanders Denys Prokopenko and Svyatoslav Palamar, returned home on a flight with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
During a long Russian siege, the Ukrainian fighters who defended a steel plant in Mariupol were forced to surrender and later exchanged in prisoner swop arranged by Turkey.
Under the deal with Moscow, they were supposed to stay in Turkey until the war’s end, but Zelenskyy on Saturday posted a video of them getting on a plane with him, “we are returning home from Türkiye and bringing our heroes home.”
Besides Prokopenko and Palamar, three others were also on the flight: Serhiy Volynsky, Oleh Khomenko and Denys Shleha.
https://p.dw.com/p/4TcZ4
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Skip next section UK ‘discourages’ cluster bombs’ use, prime minister says
12 hours ago12 hours ago
UK ‘discourages’ cluster bombs’ use, prime minister says
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said his country “discourages” the use of cluster munitions.
His statement came a day after the US announcement that it intends to supply Ukraine with the controversial weapons.
Speaking to reporters, Sunak reminded that Britain is signatory to a convention which prohibits the production or use of cluster bombs.
Neither the US nor Ukraine are signatories to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions.
“We will continue to do our part to support Ukraine against Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion,” Sunak said.
