QUICK READ 8-5: Completed evacuation of priority group of civilians from Azovstal

Civilians evacuate from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol – Photo: REUTERS

* Evening 7-5, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said about 300 civilians had been evacuated from the Azovstal plant in Mariupol.

Meanwhile, the Military Command Ukraine Russia is still attacking the Azovstal steel plant complex in the city of Mariupol. The President of Ukraine said that he is actively diplomacy to save the number of soldiers still trapped in the factory.

The Azovstal steel factory complex with a fortified underground system is currently the last stronghold of Ukrainian forces in Mariupol after pro-Russian forces claimed to have “liberated” this southern port city.

* Speaking at newspaper events Financial Times in Washington on May 7, CIA Director William Burns said: The war in Ukraine will affect China’s calculus towards Taiwannamely Ukraine’s fierce resistance to Russia and the economic costs that Russia is bearing.

However, that does not change Chinese President Xi Jinping’s long-term goals for Taiwan.

* G7 leaders including Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US will hold an online meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky on May 8, the day before Russia celebrates Victory Day, according to Reuters news agency.

2S1 Gvozdik self-propelled howitzers of the Ukrainian forces opened fire at a location in the Kharkov region on May 7 – Photo: REUTERS

* According to Reuters news agency, Britain will provide an additional 1.3 billion pounds ($1.6 billion) in aid to Ukraine. The British government has sent anti-tank missiles, air defense systems and other weapons to Ukraine.

The new aid round doubles previous UK spending commitments to Ukraine. According to Reuters, the extra money comes from a reserve used by the government for emergencies.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office said he plans to meet top defense company executives later this month to discuss increasing production in response to the war in Ukraine. The British government has so far granted visas to more than 86,000 Ukrainian refugees.

* Reuters news agency quoted World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as saying that WHO stands with the Ukrainian people in the conflict with Russia.

WHO has recorded 200 attacks on medical facilities in Ukraine.

* The director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William Burns said that Russian President Vladimir Putin believes he cannot lose in Ukraine and is determined to step up the war.

* According to CNN, Russia fired six cruise missiles at the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa on May 7. Ukrainian forces say Russia is not only wreaking havoc on the region’s infrastructure, but also putting psychological pressure on civilians.

The first statement of the Security Council on Ukraine adopted in 2 minutes

TTO – It took Norway and Mexico more than 2 months to draft the content of the declaration as well as to convince the countries in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). However, it only took 2 minutes for 15 out of 15 members to approve the statement in the meeting on May 6.