Overview: Ukraine completes questionnaire Von der Leyen and Mariupol no longer exist, according to foreign minister
These are the main developments from Saturday evening and the night from Sunday to Monday:
- Ukraine has completed the questionnaire that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen symbolically handed to President Volodymyr Zelensky last Friday during her visit to Kiev, his office reports. The list should be the starting point for conversations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU, as far as von der Leyen is concerned, in an accelerated process. Zelensky employee Ihor Zhovska said on Ukrainian television that he was hopeful of a positive reception by the European Commission: “We expect a positive recommendation…and then the ball is in the EU member states’ court”.
- After a weeks-long offensive by Russian troops, the Ukrainian port city is gone Mariupol† Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Koeleba said this in an interview with CBS News. “The city no longer exists,” he said. “The remnants of the Ukrainian army and a large group of civilians are surrounded by Russian forces. They continue their struggle, but from the way the Russian army behaves in Mariupol, it seems that they have decided to raze the city at all costs.”
- IMF director Kristalina Georgieva says he has had good conversations with Volodymyr Zelensky about the reconstruction of Ukraine. According to her, it is of great importance that Ukraine’s partners continue to provide economic support in order to lay the foundations for recovery and rebuilding “a modern and competitive Ukraine”.