WAR IN UKRAINE: May 29, 2022
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: Day 95
Yesterday, it was Kyiv Day in Kyiv. In Ukraine’s capital, it's celebrated on the last weekend of May (photo above). The city is slowly coming back to life after Russian forces invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.
The leaders of France and Germany have urged Russia's Vladimir Putin to hold "direct [and] serious negotiations" with Ukraine's president, the German chancellor's office said. Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz spoke to Mr Putin by phone for 80 minutes. The pair "insisted on an immediate ceasefire and a withdrawal of Russian troops", the chancellor's office said. More of the BBC report here
The Biden administration has approved the sending of long-range multiple launch rocket systems to Ukraine, which could significantly help Ukraine defend the Donbas, The New York Times writes, citing U.S. officials. The transfer is likely to be announced next week, official said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday he would attend remotely the Group of 20 economies' summit in Bali, Indonesia, in November.In an online speech hosted by the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia, the wartime leader urged pro-Russian elements to not blame Ukraine for wanting to join NATO - Nikkei Asia
More than 20 million tonnes of grain is lying idle in silos in Ukrainian ports amid a blockade by Russian ships. Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly offered to allow grain out of blockaded Ukrainian seaports - SKY NEWS
Growing international concerns that Russia may use nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine appears to have pushed Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to make Hiroshima the site of next year's G7 summit - Japan Times
Georgia’s government is under attack for its failure to give Ukraine full backing, its alleged backdoor ties to the Kremlin and its handling of former President Mikheil Saakashvili's imprisonment. The government's approach to the conflict may begin to look unsustainable as pressure from Western partners grows, ties with Kyiv deteriorate and the opposition gathers energy for a new round of protests, says Oxford Analytica.