Pope Francis celebrated Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square, decorated with 38,000 flowers from the Netherlands, and was joined by prelates and thousands of worshippers. His message of hope and peace invoked prayers for the Ukrainian and Russian people, and called for Israelis and Palestinians to forge a “climate of trust”.
Posts tagged as “Cathedral by Ukrainian”
Russian prosecutors have requested a 25-year prison sentence for Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza, in a case widely condemned by international human rights organizations. Kara-Murza has been a vocal opponent of President Vladimir Putin and has been arrested multiple times for his activism against the government. The sentencing request comes amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with Chinese President Xi Jinping expressing willingness to speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Gleb Karakulov, a former captain and engineer in Putin's elite security unit, has defected and labeled the Russian leader a "war criminal" for his actions in Ukraine. Karakulov said he had witnessed the "inhumanity and cruelty" of the Russian military in Ukraine, and that he could no longer remain silent. His defection and criticism of Putin is a rare event and is likely to be seen as a major blow to the Russian president's reputation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that if his nation does not win the battle in the key eastern city of Bakhmut, Russia could use the victory to build international support for a deal that could require Ukraine to make unacceptable compromises. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing since 2014, with both sides accusing the other of violating the ceasefire. The United Nations has called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and has urged both sides to return to the negotiating table. Zelenskyy's warning is a stark reminder of the potential consequences of a prolonged conflict.
In response to the West's increasing military support for Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced plans to station tactical atomic weapons in Belarus. The U.S. has not seen any indications that Russia is preparing to use its weapons, but Ukraine has called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to "counter the Kremlin's nuclear blackmail." It is unclear how the U.N. Security Council meeting will address the situation.
Nine years after Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, the plight of the Muslim minority in the region is highlighting a crackdown by the Kremlin. Rights groups are raising the alarm about Moscow's persecution campaign against the Crimean Tatars, and Ukraine is carrying out attacks in the region to make Russia's occupation as uncomfortable as possible. The Crimean Tatars' struggle to reclaim their homeland is ongoing, with the international community watching closely.
Key takeaways: Prince William made an unexpected trip to Poland to show support for the people of Ukraine and their freedom. He thanked the troops…
The US is accelerating the delivery of Abrams tanks to Ukraine to support their fight against Russia’s invasion. The older M1A1 model of America’s main battle tank will be sent instead of the newer M1A2 version, as it is easier for Ukrainian forces to learn to use and maintain. 65 Ukrainian soldiers are currently training on the systems at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and the tanks could be there before the end of the year.