Russian Invasion

Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Dmitry Medvedev. AP  

 

Russian Invasion|Russian Reactions 

Medvedev: Negotiations impossible with Zelenskyi  

 

Negotiations with Ukraine are "impossible" as long as President Volodymyr Zelenskyi is in power, says the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council and former president Dmitry Medvedev. This is reported by the news agency TASS, writes Reuters. 

 

Medvedev also states that he believes that the war in Ukraine will be protracted. 

 

- This conflict will last for a very long time. For decades, probably. This is a new reality, he says.  

 

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi. Mads Claus Rasmussen / Ritzau Scanpix 

 

The Russian InvasionThe Battles  

106 soldiers in Bachmut released after prisoner exchange 

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy states that 106 Ukrainian soldiers captured by the Russian military in Bakhmut have been released after a prisoner exchange, TT reports.  

 

During his evening speech on Thursday, Zelensky stated that they are grateful that the soldiers are back.  

 

- They were reported as missing. But we found them. We took them home. Eight officers, 98 soldiers and sergeants, says Zelensky. 

 

It is unclear how many prisoners of war were handed over to Russia in the exchange.  

 

Russian mercenaries in Mali. AP 

 

The Russian invasion|The response of the outside world  

The US imposes sanctions on the Wagner group in Mali  

 

The United States imposes sanctions on the leader of the paramilitary Wagner group Ivan Maslov in Mali, reports CNN.  

 

In a statement, the US Treasury Department accused the Wagner group of sending weapons from West Africa to the Russian army in Ukraine. 

 

With false documentation, drones, weapons and mines are purchased from foreign suppliers and sent on to Russia, they write.  

 

The Wagner Group is already established in several African countries such as Sudan, Libya and the Central African Republic. 

 

 

Republican Michael McCaul AP  

 

The Russian invasion Sweden's NATO application  

Republican: The US has received a Turkish promise about Sweden 

 

Republican Michael McCaul, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has changed his mind and is now open to allowing Turkey to buy F16 fighter jets once they approve Sweden's NATO application. 

 

This is reported by Politico. According to McCaul, they have received assurances that Sweden will be ratified after the Turkish election on Sunday, regardless of who wins.  

 

The proposal is said to have the support of President Joe Biden, but the issue of the sale has been hugely charged in the US Congress. 

 

 

Vladimir Putin and Olaf Scholz in Moscow. Mikhail Klimentyev / AP  

 

The Russian invasion. The outside world's response  

Germany opens for new talks with Putin  

 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is open to new talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he says in an interview with the German Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger.  

 

The last time the two world leaders spoke was during an hour-long phone call last December. Then Scholz called on Putin to withdraw his troops from Ukraine, and Putin in turn accused the Western countries of pursuing a "destructive policy". 

 

Scholz says he will call the Russian president soon. 

 

- It's been a while since my last phone call. But I plan to talk to Putin in due course, says Scholz to the newspaper.