Ukraine recalls ambassador, Trump calls Putin a ‘genius’

“There are individuals who work with people to protect the country. We appreciate the hard work of such people,” President Zelensky said in a video address on the evening of March 30. “Meanwhile, there are people who are wasting their time and just working to keep their seats. Today, I signed the first decree to recall such people, the Ukrainian ambassadors to Morocco and Georgia.”

“If there are no arms, sanctions or restrictions on Russian businesses, go find other work,” Zelensky added. “I expect concrete results in the coming days from the ambassadors. in Latin America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa”.

President Volodymyr Zelensky in a speech on the evening of March 30. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

Also in his speech, the President of Ukraine rejected Russia’s commitment to reduce military activities, and emphasized that Russian troops are still adjusting their forces to attack the eastern Donbass region. Ukraine.

“We don’t trust anyone, not even a fancy saying,” Mr. Zelensky said. “We will not give anything away. We will fight for every inch of territory.”

Ukraine says first evacuation convoy is arriving in Mariupol

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said today (March 31) that Kiev has sent about 45 buses to Mariupol to evacuate civilians from this devastated city. Of these, 17 buses will travel from Zaporizhzhia, which is about 220 kilometers northwest of Mariupol.

“We have received a notification from the International Committee of the Red Cross that Russia has confirmed that it is ready to open its doors to humanitarian convoys to the city of Mariupol and to transit in Berdiansk. 45 buses have been dispatched to the corridor area in Mariupol,” Vereshchuk said in a video posted on Telegram.

“We will do everything possible to ensure that buses will arrive in Mariupol today to pick up those who have not been able to leave the city,” he said.

A Ukrainian man stands next to his friend’s grave in Mariupol. Photo: Reuters

Before that, the Ministry of Defense Russia announced a ceasefire today (March 31) to allow civilians to evacuate from Mariupol. A humanitarian corridor from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhia, through the Russian-controlled port of Berdiansk, will open from 10 am on 31 March (ie 2 pm Hanoi time).

“For this humanitarian operation to be successful, we propose to do it with the direct participation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),” the announcement said. said by the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Foreign Ministers of Russia, Ukraine will meet within the next 2 weeks

Speaking in a television interview, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu revealed that talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba could take place within the next two weeks.

“Maybe a higher-level meeting, at least at the foreign minister’s level, will take place within the next week or two,” Cavusoglu said.

Delegations of Russia and Ukraine at peace talks in Istanbul (Turkey) on February 29. Photo: AP

In addition, the Turkish Foreign Minister also commended billionaire Roman Abramovich’s support for the Russia-Ukraine negotiations, calling them “sincere” efforts to end the conflict. between the two countries.

Former President Trump explains calling Putin a ‘genius’

Former US President Donald Trump On March 30, he explained about calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a “genius” in an interview on a radio program on February 22.

“There are fake news that say I call Putin a ‘genius’. In fact, I call his increase in troops on the border with Ukraine before the war started, because I think that thanks to that move, He will easily negotiate a great deal with Russia,” Trump said.

Former US President Donald Trump at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Florida in February. Photo: Reuters

“Unfortunately, Putin has gone too far, he acted like that when he saw the weak foreign policy of the Biden administration. Fake news said I called Putin a genius when the war was going on. No , I was describing the great negotiating leverage he had, before he made the unfortunate decision to send troops into Ukraine. added.

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