Live: Russia intensifies push for Donbas; Ukraine war to colour WHO international meeting

Issued on: 22/05/2022 – 07:24

7:17am: Russia intensifies an offensive in the eastern Donbas region 

After ending weeks of resistance by the last Ukrainian fighters in the strategic southeastern city of Mariupol, Russia is waging what appears to be a major offensive in Luhansk, one of two provinces in Donbas.

Russian-backed separatists already controlled swathes of territory in Luhansk and the neighbouring Donetsk province before the Feb. 24 invasion, but Moscow wants to seize the last remaining Ukrainian-held territory in Donbas.

6:30: Ukraine war, pandemic push to colour WHO international meet

The Ukraine war looms large as the World Health Organization opens its main annual assembly Sunday, threatening to overshadow efforts on other health crises and a reform push aimed at preventing future pandemics.

The UN health agency will kick off its 75th World Health Assembly Sunday afternoon, convening its 194 member states for their first largely in-person gathering since Covid-19 surfaced in late 2019.

The agenda will remain focused on the continuing coronavirus crisis and efforts to avert future pandemics.

But the war raging in Ukraine and rebukes of Russia for its invasion are expected to take centre stage.

Kyiv and its allies will present a resolution during the assembly harshly condemning Russia’s invasion, and especially its more than 200 attacks on healthcare, including hospitals and ambulances, in Ukraine. 

It is also to voice alarm at the “health emergency in Ukraine”, and highlight the dire impacts beyond its borders, including how disrupted grain exports are deepening a global food security crisis.

10:07pm: Ukraine rules out ceasefire or concessions to Russia

Ukraine on Saturday ruled out agreeing to a ceasefire with Russia and said Kyiv would not accept any deal with Moscow that involved ceding territory.

Acknowledging that Kyiv’s stance on the war was becoming more uncompromising, presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said making concessions would backfire on Ukraine because Russia would hit back harder after any break in fighting.

9:45pm: Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked Italian PM to impose more sanctions on Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he talked to Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi on Saturday and stressed the importance of imposing more sanctions on Russia and unblocking Ukrainian ports.

Zelensky tweeted that he had also thanked Draghi for his “unconditional support” of Ukraine’s bid to become a member of the European Union.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)