President Zelenskyi gives a speech in The Hague. Zelenskyi wants a clear signal for Ukraine to join NATO after the war ends. Drones attack Kyiv, Odesa overnight.
Zelenskyi makes speech on visit to The Hague
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi gave a speech at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague during an unannounced visit to the Netherlands on Thursday. He called for establishing a “full-fledged tribunal” to bring Russia to justice for its war in Ukraine. He said Ukraine would not agree to the creation of a hybrid tribunal. Zelenskyi said that Putin, for whom an ICC arrest warrant had been issued, must face justice.
“We all want to see a different Vladimir here, in The Hague. The one who deserves to be sentenced for his criminal actions right here, in the capital of international law. I’m sure we will see that happen, when we win. And we will win, (…) not just on the battlefield. (…) We can defeat aggression as a criminal idea that originates in the mindset of someone who is used to impunity. Impunity is the key that opens the door to aggression,” Zelenskyi said.
Zelenskyi wants clear signal for Ukraine to join NATO after war ends
At a NATO summit in Vilnius, Ukraine’s expectation is for a prospect in sight of joining NATO, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi told a joint news conference with prime ministers of the Netherlands and Belgium in The Hague.
Zelenskyi urged the allies to do more than just promise Ukraine its door is open.
“We are realists. We know that we will not be in NATO during the war. But during the war we want to get a very clear message that we will be in NATO after the war,” he said.
Responding to journalists’ questions, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte quoted NATO Secretary General as saying that “Ukraine’s rightful place is in the Euro-Atlantic family” and “Ukraine will eventually become a NATO member”.
“The Netherlands supports Ukraine’s NATO aspirations. What we’re working on now, ahead of the Vilnius summit is to make sure that we take a step, that we do not go back to the wording from the Bucharest [summit] etc. But (that) we take a clear step. What exactly it will be, it will be negotiated in the next four to six weeks,” Rutte said.Ukraine must be NATO’s 33rd member after Sweden joins the Alliance, President Zelenskyi earlier said in Helsinki.
Drones attack Kyiv, Odesa overnight
An air raid alert was declared in a number of Ukrainian regions overnight into May 4. An all-clear was issued several hours later. Ukraine’s air defenses shot down 18 of 24 Iranian-made Shahed drones that Russia launched. Also, a reconnaissance drone was destroyed. All enemy targets were identified and shot down in the airspace around the capital, the Kyiv city military administration said. Debris fell in three neighborhoods in the capital. There were no reports of any casualties.
Ukraine’s air defenses also intercepted 12 of 15 Shahed-131/136 drones that Russia launched on Odesa overnight into May 4. Three drones struck a university campus, causing a fire that was later extinguished. There were no casualties.
Ukraine’s Air Force did not confirm reports of Russia using ballistic missiles in a recent attack. Yet, a spokesperson did not rule out the possibility completely.
Crimes against journalists during the full-scale russian invasion. Ukraine in Flames #420
During the war, the rights of thousands and thousands of people are massively violated. It is journalists and the media that increase the chances of each individual victim that their story will be heard. Documenting war crimes by journalists helps establish the truth and bring the perpetrators to justice. russia is not interested in the presence of journalists and documentation of military operations on the frontline or on temporarily occupied territories. A passport of a citizen of another state cannot protect a media person from capture or torture either. Watch Ukraine in flames #420 to find out about the persecution of journalists and how russia kidnaps, tortures, arrests and kills correspondents, who record russia’s committed crimes and violations of international humanitarian law.
Guests:
- Tetiana Pechonchyk, Head of the Board of the Human Rights Centre ZMINA
- Andrii Yakovliev, Lawyer, Managing Partner at Umbrella Law Firm