GERMANY CHANCELLOR ON CAUTION OF SUPPLYING WEAPONS TO UKRAINE PAGE 31

 May 1 , 2022

 German chancellor explains caution on arming Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that Berlin won’t take the lead in sending heavy weapons and vehicles to Ukraine. Pressed to do so by officials in Kiev and from within his own government, Scholz insisted that he won’t take any “hasty action” that could broaden the ongoing conflict.

“I make my decisions quickly and coordinate them with our allies,” Scholz told German tabloid Bild am Sonntag in an interview published on Sunday. “I am suspicious of hasty action and German solo efforts.”

https://www.rt.com/news/554819-scholz-ukraine-weapons-caution/

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May 2 , 2022

 Ukraine's neighbor hosts major NATO wargames

Poland is participating in two large-scale multinational drills and is the host nation for one of them, the country’s Defense Ministry revealed on Sunday amid Russia’s allegations that Warsaw is preparing to occupy the western part of Ukraine.

The Defender Europe 2022 (DE22) and Swift Response 2022 (SR22) will be conducted in nine countries including Poland between May 1-27, the Polish ministry said.

https://www.rt.com/news/554816-drills-poland-nato-us/

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 Germany names conditions for lifting Russia sanctions

The Western sanctions imposed on Russia over its military offensive in Ukraine will not be lifted unless Moscow withdraws its troops from the neighboring country, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has said.

In an interview with Bild on Sunday, Baerbock explained that “a ceasefire can only be a first step” when it comes to removing the sanctions.

“It is clear to us that the sanctions can only be lifted if Russia withdraws its troops,” she said, adding that “peace on terms dictated by Russia” will not bring security to Ukraine or Europe. “At worst, it would be an invitation to the next war – even closer to our borders.”

https://www.rt.com/russia/554809-germany-russia-sanctions-condition/

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 Intense fighting at Azovstal plant leaves smoke and destruction 

 

The scope and intensity of the heavy fighting at the Azovstal plant in Mariupol was filmed on Saturday, as the remaining Ukrainian soldiers, reportedly hidden inside the plant, were urged to surrender. 

 

On April 21, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu reported that all of Mariupol was 'liberated', and that 'remaining nationalists are hiding in the industrial area'. Later that day,  

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a call off the assault and sealed off the Azovstal industrial zone 'so a fly can't get through.' 

 

The Russian Defence Ministry urged the Ukrainian military to lay down their weapons and opened humanitarian corridors for civilians at the Azovstal plant.

 Finland prepares to live without Russian gas – media

The Finnish government and companies across the country are preparing for the end of Russian natural gas supplies, which could happen in less than three weeks, Helsingin Sanomat (HS) reported on Saturday.

According to the outlet’s sources, Russian energy giant Gazprom has set a deadline of May 20 for Helsinki to come up with a final response on whether the country will pay for gas in rubles.

https://www.rt.com/russia/554801-finland-russia-gas-supplies/

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 Putin signs law on data sharing with ‘unfriendly’ states

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on Sunday barring the country’s banks from sharing data with government agencies from so-called ‘unfriendly’ nations that have illegally sanctioned Russian entities and individuals.

The new law prohibits the country’s financial institutions from responding to requests from foreign agencies, including judicial bodies, for information about their clients and transactions.

From now on, banks are instructed to reject such inquiries, citing Russian law as the reason for not processing such requests.

https://www.rt.com/business/554818-banks-data-putin-unfriendly/

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