Moscow avoids commenting on the impact of the war in Ukraine extending to Russian territory, with bombings against planes and airfields and the destruction of two vital bridges for railway connections. Without mentioning possible reprisals, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, has accused the West of participating in "terrorist attacks against civilian targets." However, Moscow has stated that the Crimean bridge, where an explosion occurred, has not been damaged and remains open.
Meanwhile, the next steps towards a hypothetical peace to end the war in Ukraine are also unclear. Zelensky describes the conditions expressed in the Russian memorandum as "ultimatums" and proposes a ceasefire and a face-to-face summit with Putin. A proposal that the Russian president conditions on prior agreements. The only progress seems to be the exchange, in the coming days, of 500 soldiers from each side captured by the enemy throughout this war in Ukraine.
The European Commission proposes extending protection for Ukrainian refugees by one year
The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, has proposed renewing until March 2027 the protection granted to Ukrainian refugees in the bloc. Since March 2022, Ukrainians fleeing the armed conflict with Russia have benefited from a special status that allows them to work and access social assistance in the European Union.
Currently, there are approximately 4.3 million people in this situation, mainly in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. This status must be renewed annually, and the Commission has proposed extending it for a fourth time, until March 2027. The proposal will be examined in mid-June by the Interior Ministers of the bloc countries.
Zelensky, "willing" to hold a summit with Putin, which the Russian president does not currently consider
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared on Wednesday that he is "willing" to hold a summit with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, as well as with US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to boost peace talks with Moscow.
"We are ready for a meeting of this kind at any time," Zelensky stated at a press conference in Kiev.
Zelensky proposes a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine before meeting face-to-face with Putin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed on Wednesday a ceasefire until a meeting between him and Russian President Vladimir Putin takes place. "My proposal, which I believe our partners can support, is to propose a ceasefire to the Russians until the leaders meet," Zelensky said at a briefing in Kiev.
A few days ago, Putin conditioned a face-to-face meeting with Zelensky on reaching agreements beforehand.
Ukraine describes Russia's conditions for ending the war as "ultimatums"
The peace conditions proposed by Moscow in the Monday talks in Istanbul are "unacceptable ultimatums for Ukraine," Volodymyr Zelensky denounced on Wednesday. Moscow specifically demands that Kiev withdraw its troops from the four Ukrainian regions it claims to have annexed.
"This is an ultimatum from the Russian side. So, in my opinion, I think they (the Russians) did not send it (before the talks) because they understood that if it was made public, Ukraine would have had every right not to attend this meeting" in Istanbul, the Ukrainian president declared at a press conference.
Zelensky announces an upcoming exchange of 500 prisoners on each side
Ukraine and Russia will exchange a thousand prisoners of war this weekend, 500 from each side, announced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a few days after a round of talks in Istanbul.
"The Russian side has indicated that this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, they will be able to transfer 500 people," and Ukraine is willing to do the same, the Ukrainian leader added to journalists in Kiev, including the AFP agency.
Robles reiterates Spain's support for Ukraine "for as long as necessary"
The Spanish Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, reiterated on Wednesday Spain's support for Ukraine in whatever is necessary and for as long as it takes, demanding a fair and lasting peace as soon as possible. Robles visited the military residence in Castellón de la Plana, where over a thousand relatives of Ukrainian military personnel have stayed since last year, remaining there for two weeks away from the noise of bombs and the horror of a cruel war, which has only one culprit: Putin," she said.
The minister stated that the Ukrainian people "are giving us a lesson in life, struggle, and resilience" and reiterated support for Ukraine. "Hopefully, this residence will not have to be used for this program, but as long as there is no fair and lasting peace, it is available. Spain will stand with Ukraine for as long as necessary and even more in actions of this kind, where we witness the smiles of children," Margarita Robles declared.
The Kremlin accuses the West of participating in "terrorist attacks" against civilian targets
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, also stated on Wednesday that the West is involved, both directly and indirectly, in Ukrainian "terrorist attacks" against civilian targets in Russia. Western countries, NATO, and "the collective West," she said, supply weapons and provide coordinates for such attacks.
The Russian Investigative Committee accused Ukraine on Tuesday of carrying out "acts of terrorism" by blowing up two railway bridges in Russia over the weekend. The blowing up of a road bridge over a passenger train in Bryansk left at least seven dead and dozens injured, including two children.
Asked whether Russia believed the West was involved in the recent attacks, Zakharova stated that the West supplied weapons, provided target coordinates, refused to condemn such attacks, and actively encouraged their commission. "These are several aspects that demonstrate the involvement, both direct and indirect, and the guilt of the West in the terrorist attacks carried out by the Kiev regime against civilians and civilian infrastructure," she declared.
Russia to soon deliver 6,000 soldiers' bodies to Ukraine, according to Foreign Affairs
The process of delivering to Ukraine the 6,000 soldiers' bodies agreed upon on Monday in Istanbul will begin shortly, reported Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Thursday.
"As a gesture of goodwill, I emphasize once again, the Russian side will deliver to Ukraine 6,000 bodies of Ukrainian military personnel. This process will begin shortly," she said at a press conference reported by Efe.
She noted that the Russian side "intends to responsibly fulfill all the agreements reached" in the second round of peace negotiations with Ukraine held in Istanbul.
She recalled that on Monday, the parties exchanged a memorandum with their proposals to end the conflict and establish a ceasefire, and noted that "Kiev took a break to study our document." "We received the project from the Ukrainian side, which will also be studied in detail," she said.
Russia now controls 150 square kilometers in Sumy
Russian forces continue to gain ground in the border region of Sumy, in northeastern Ukraine, where according to the Ukrainian war analysis platform DeepState, Kremlin troops control more than 150 square kilometers, reports Efe.
According to DeepState's hostilities map, the Russian Army is less than 25 kilometers from the regional capital of Sumy, a city that before the war had 250,000 inhabitants and where four people died yesterday in a new Russian attack on the municipality's center.
DeepState warns that at this distance, Russian forces can start using fiber-optic guided drones - and therefore immune to electronic interference from the Ukrainian Army - against the city of Sumy itself.
As explained by the spokesman for the Ukrainian Border Guard, Andriy Demchenko, the Russians do not use armored vehicles in their offensive on Sumy, but very small infantry groups that sometimes penetrate behind Ukrainian lines using motorcycles or quads to try to establish themselves there.