In a rare in-person meeting, a Russian and a Ukrainian delegation met in Qatar to reach a agreement significant regarding the future of 48 children. The agreement, announced by Maria Llova-Belova, Russian commissioner for children's rights and reported by the Ria Novosti agency, provides for the exchange of 29 children is they will return in Ukraine e 19 what they will do return in Russia. This event takes on an even more significant dimension in light of the arrest warrant issued in 2023 by the International Criminal Court against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Lvova-Belova herself. The Court raised serious charges, arguing that thousands of children were not simply displaced by the fighting, but were knowingly deported from Russia. An accusation obviously rejected by Moscow.
Moscow: Deputy Defense Minister arrested
While the agreement on children was being discussed, Moscow experienced moments of internal turbulence. Russian Deputy Defense Minister, Timur Ivanov, he was arrested not for corruption, as initially reported, but for treason, according to sources cited by the independent Russian media outlet iStories. This event has raised questions about the internal stability of the Russian government and the implications for the ongoing conflict.
OK from the USA to aid, Moscow's reaction
After half a year of delays and debates, the Congress of United States ha aid package approved $61 billion military for Ukraine. This long-discussed and delayed move reinvigorated the spirit of Ukrainian forces, who achieved major successes on the battlefield, including the destruction of Russian air defenses and oil refineries.
However, the Kremlin he downplayed the impact of this aid, arguing that it will not change the course of the conflict. At the same time, theEuropean Union confirmed its commitment to Ukraine, providing a second tranche of financing worth 1,5 billion euros.
Attacks and tensions on the battlefield
While negotiations were being held on the diplomatic tables, on the battlefield there was continuous violence. Odessa and the region of kherson were the scene of attacks, with five children injured according to Unicef. Kharkiv was hit by Russian missiles, causing damage to residential buildings and injuring six people. Odessa was also again the target of Russian missile attacks, with one woman injured and around 30 houses damaged by the shock wave.
Meanwhile, the Victory March on May 9th was canceled in several Russian cities for security reasons.
