Since February 24, 2022, Meduza has been broadcasting live about the Russian-Ukrainian war. We publish your messages every day because we are certain that we need to keep talking about war. Share with us your thoughts about war. What emotions are you feeling? How does war affect your life and your attitude to the world? If you have a war story, tell it. The feedback form is at the end of this article. You can read the previous day’s review here.
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US President Donald Trump has largely distracted himself from the big war between Russia and Ukraine, focusing on the conflict in the Middle East. As Politico wrote, after two months of war with Iran, Ukraine and the European security issue have faded into the background for the White House.
After Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 29, a senior White House official said he could not remember the last time he heard anyone talk about the Russia-Ukraine war. He said the focus is definitely on Iran.
The chief US negotiators involved in the dialogue with Russia and Ukraine, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are “working primarily on Iran,” the official told Politoco. Meanwhile, negotiators continue to maintain some contacts with their Russian and Ukrainian colleagues. Witkov and Kushner are in no hurry to come to Kyiv; He writes Ukrainian publication Kyiv Independent, because they fear that resuming negotiations will not lead to results.
“The situation seems to have stalled and needs new momentum,” an unnamed European official told Politico. The newspaper’s second source in Europe told the newspaper that the consequences of the war in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz “have a very negative impact on Ukraine and Europe.” “If anything, it has strengthened Europe’s resolve to support Ukraine,” the source said.
Meanwhile, Politico’s third interlocutor fears that Ukraine may be left without further supplies of US weapons, “taking into account the needs of the United States.” Financial Times sources also say: According to them, the Pentagon has warned European allies that it will significantly delay the supply of several missile systems, including HIMARS and NASAMS, used by Ukraine in a major war with Russia.
According to Politico, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has given up trying to persuade the United States to remain involved, and is instead developing a strategy for how to move forward without it. As the publication wrote, Zelensky has become more cautious in his statements regarding additional US involvement and is now relying on Türkiye as a platform for the next round of negotiations with Russia.
US presidential administration spokeswoman Olivia Wells told reporters that Donald Trump and his team are “working to reach an agreement to ensure that Iran never obtains nuclear weapons, and to continue making progress toward ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.” She added: “The president remains optimistic that there will eventually be a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia that will put an end to the senseless killings.”
Some European officials told Politico that Donald Trump should be the catalyst when it comes to ending Russia’s war with Ukraine. One source said that American intervention was necessary because “they have influence.”
“It would be great if American negotiators visited Kiev. At the very least, the United States should continue to support Ukraine militarily and intelligence. But I think the Europeans can play a bigger role and bring new dynamics to the negotiations, provided that the Americans continue to support Ukraine and help ensure everything they agreed to. “Ultimately, Trump wants this war to end,” the European official added.
Ukraine
Vladimir Zelensky said that on May 1, Ukraine recorded “quite specific activity” by Belarus in several parts of the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. Zelensky did not specify what type of activity he was talking about.
“We record everything carefully, we control everything, and if necessary, we will respond,” Zelensky said. “Ukraine is ready to defend its people and its sovereignty, and everyone who tries to be drawn into any aggressive activity against Ukraine should understand this.”
Two weeks ago, on April 17, the President of Ukraine announced that military activity had increased in Belarus: according to intelligence data, artillery positions began to be prepared in the border areas of Belarus and roads were built in the direction of Ukraine.
“We believe that Russia may once again try to drag Belarus into its war,” Zelensky said at the time. President of Ukraine Alexander Lukashenko called for “mistakes” not to be made.
War in pictures. Kharkov region
War through the eyes of Medusa readers
Medusa’s readers live in different countries and have different attitudes toward war. We publish your messages to see this event through your eyes. Our editors try to represent all viewpoints, even if they do not match the editorial position. However, in accordance with the Medusa Law, we do not publish messages that contain “hate speech,” justify the killing of civilians, or express direct support for an aggressive war.
Anonymous reader (Russia). I grew up listening to “Do the Russians Want War,” “The Buchenwald Ultimatum,” and “The Enemies Burned My Hut.” I saw the inscription “Peace to the World” on every house. We were brought up in the army like this: “We guard the peace.” But it seems that I was born and lived alone in the Soviet Union. Everyone around me received the news with great enthusiasm and even joy because our neighbors, relatives, brothers, sisters and parents are our enemies. At the beginning of the war, I tried to talk to my colleagues and friends, but in front of me there was a wall of propaganda so thick that I couldn’t even see a crack. Now I try not to talk about war. When I am asked to help in war, I simply leave without speaking. In the Soviet Union I lived without fear. Today I’m afraid.