live blog
Status: 04/15/2023 05:32
At least nine people were killed in a Russian airstrike in Sloviansk, according to Ukrainian sources. Switzerland promises support of 1.8 billion Swiss francs to Ukraine. All developments in the live blog.
4:40 a.m
Switzerland confirms new billions in aid for Ukraine
Switzerland has promised Ukraine humanitarian and reconstruction aid totaling CHF 1.8 billion. The money should flow over a period of six years, as announced by the governing Federal Council. He confirmed statements made by Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis during his visit to Washington this week. According to this, an additional 1.5 billion francs (around 1.5 billion euros) are to be added to the 300 million francs that Switzerland has already set aside for Ukraine for the current and next year.
The reconstruction in the country attacked by Russia is to be supported with around 650 million francs from the aid package. Switzerland held an international conference on this topic in Lugano in July 2022.
4:14 a.m
Lindner: Ukraine can win the war against Russia
According to Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner, Ukraine has the ability to win the defensive battle against Russia. That said the FDP chairman on Friday evening at the US University of Princeton. Russian President Vladimir Putin must not win the war against Ukraine. That is why the West must continue to stand by the government in Kiev. This is supported by the West with weapons and money.
Asked about statements by French President Emmanuel Macron that Europe must become more independent not only from China but also from the USA, Lindner said: “I’m afraid it’s naive.” Standing up to the nuclear power Russia in Europe would be unthinkable without the United States. The western defense alliance NATO with the USA continues to play an extremely important role.
3:46 a.m
Zelenskyj: No peace for the Orthodox Easter of Russia
In his nightly video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that not a single hour had passed “without Russian murders and terror” in the run-up to the Orthodox Easter services this weekend. “This is the devilish state and it will be the loser. Victory is our duty in the face of this kind of humanity”.
3:20 a.m
At least nine dead in Russian airstrike in Sloviansk
According to regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko, at least nine people were killed and 21 injured in rocket attacks in Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine. Kyrylenko said on state television that seven Russian S-300 missiles had been fired. According to the rescue services, several dozen multi-storey buildings and individual houses were damaged.
conflicting parties as a source
Information on the course of the war, shelling and casualties provided by official bodies of the Russian and Ukrainian conflict parties cannot be directly checked by an independent body in the current situation.
3:06 a.m
Baerbock meets top Chinese foreign policy officials in Beijing
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock continued her two-day inaugural visit to Beijing with a meeting with China’s top foreign policy expert, Wang Yi. The Chinese government’s controversial backing for the Russian war in Ukraine, the situation in Taiwan and human rights violations in China are also likely to play a role in this conversation. Baerbock met with Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Deputy President Han Zheng on Friday.