Live Ukraine: Russian spokesperson calls Switzerland peace talks pointless

12:26

Russian spokesman calls Switzerland peace talks pointless

Talks about a possible end to the war in Ukraine are pointless, according to Maria Zacharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry. She said this today during a press conference, referring to the peace conference to be held in Switzerland on June 15 and 16.

Russia has stated that it does not want to participate in the negotiations because the government believes that Switzerland is not neutral in the war. Despite its historic impartiality, two years ago the country imposed the most sanctions on Russian individuals of any country. This is due to the high number of oligarchs who deposit money in Swiss banks. Although it is still unknown which countries will participate in the conference, it is expected that American President Joe Biden will be present

Zacharova added that the demands of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky do not bring peace closer, but prolong the conflict. Ukraine wants a complete withdrawal of Russian troops from all conquered Ukrainian territory – including Crimea.

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko also joined the discussion today by saying that the time is ripe for peace negotiations, according to the Russian news agency TASS. According to ‘Europe’s last dictator’, there is a stalemate at the front and the conversations that Russian and Ukrainian officials had at the beginning of the war in Turkey can serve as a starting point.

Sebas van Aert

10:14

Russian missile damages Ukrainian railway infrastructure in Cherkasy, injuring six

A Russian missile last night damaged railway infrastructure in the Ukrainian region of Cherkasy. The governor of the area, Ihor Taboerets, said this via Telegram. The blast left six people injured and 47 houses damaged during the attack.

The attack took place in the town of Smila, he said Illya Yevlash, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, during a television broadcast. According to him, it may have been an Islander-K missile.

A week ago, the Russian army also targeted Ukrainian railways in the Dnipro region. The Ukrainian railway company Ukrzaliznytsja reported this via Telegram. As a result, several routes were shut down and seven railway employees were injured.

Sebas van Aert

Read more about Ukrainian air defense here: Ukraine longs for more Patriots to successfully repel Russian attack waves

02:23

Ukraine no longer issues passports to conscripted men abroad

Ukraine will no longer issue new passports abroad to men between the ages of 18 and 60 who could serve military service. They can only get a new passport in Ukraine.

The transfer of passports to “a Ukrainian subdivision or diplomatic mission abroad for the purpose of issuing them will not be carried out,” a Ukrainian government statement said. The new rule does not apply to people who are already allowed to cross the border under certain exceptions, such as people with disabilities. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the consular service procedure “remains unchanged.”

On Tuesday, the Ukrainian government decided that consulates will no longer provide services to men who can perform military service. Only the issuance of ‘identity cards to return to Ukraine’ is maintained for that group of men.

Ukraine currently bans men between the ages of 18 and 60 from traveling abroad, with some exceptions. According to media estimates, tens of thousands of men have fled the country to avoid being sent to the front.

23:28, Yesterday

Welcome to the live blog of Thursday April 25

This was the most important news about the war in Ukraine on Wednesday, April 24:

• The Ukrainian army has been using new long-range missiles that the United States secretly sent to Ukraine last week. The Ukrainian army is said to have used the weapons immediately afterwards to attack an airfield in occupied Crimea and against Russian troops in the southeast of the country.

• US President Joe Biden has signed the hard-fought bill for aid to Ukraine. The first shipments of US military equipment will come as early as the next few hours, Biden said. Ukraine can count on a support package worth $61 billion.

• Russia reports that Ukraine attacked several energy facilities with drones during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday. According to the governor of the border province of Smolensk, Vasily Anochin, the attacks caused fires at energy facilities in the provincial capital of the same name and in the city of Yartsevo. There were reportedly no injuries.

Read the full live blog from Wednesday April 24 here.

23:28, Yesterday

Welcome to the live blog of Thursday April 25

This was the most important news about the war in Ukraine on Wednesday, April 24:

• The Ukrainian army has been using new long-range missiles that the United States secretly sent to Ukraine last week. The Ukrainian army is said to have used the weapons immediately afterwards to attack an airfield in occupied Crimea and against Russian troops in the southeast of the country.

• US President Joe Biden has signed the hard-fought bill for aid to Ukraine. The first shipments of US military equipment will take place as early as the next few hours, Biden said. Ukraine can count on a support package worth $61 billion.

• Russia reports that Ukraine attacked several energy facilities with drones during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday. According to the governor of the border province of Smolensk, Vasily Anochin, the attacks caused fires at energy facilities in the provincial capital of the same name and in the city of Yartsevo. There were reportedly no injuries.

Read the full live blog from Wednesday April 24 here.