BELGRADE, Serbia – Waving Ukrainian flags, greater than 1,000 individuals marched in Serbia’s capital on Friday in help of Ukraine on the primary anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the nation.

The gathering in Belgrade was organized by a Ukrainian group in Serbia, and the Ukrainian embassy. Members held banners studying ‘Peace for Ukraine’ and ‘Cease the struggle in Ukraine.’

The rally was attended by Western diplomats, however not Serbian authorities officers. The Balkan nation is a standard ally of Russia, and it stays the one nation in Europe that has not joined Western sanctions towards Russia.

Earlier on Friday, police prevented a bunch of anti-war activists from reaching the Russian embassy in Belgrade. That they had sought to ship a pink cake with a cranium on prime, to represent Russia’s aggression of Ukraine.

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KEY DEVELOPMENTS:

— Ukraine chief pledges push for victory on struggle anniversary

— US commits $2 billion in drones, ammunition, assist to Ukraine

— ‘Folks’s courtroom’ endorses Putin indictment for aggression

— China requires Russia-Ukraine cease-fire, peace talks

— Pleasure amid sorrow: 1st birthdays muted for Ukrainian dad and mom

— Tallying Ukraine toll an elusive job

— Comply with AP’s protection of the struggle anniversary in Ukraine

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OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:

BRASILIA, Brazil – Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is urging nations that aren’t concerned within the battle between Russia and Ukraine to take up the job of main talks to revive peace between them.

On the anniversary of Russia’s invasion, the Brazilian chief wrote Friday on social media that “it’s pressing {that a} group of nations, which aren’t concerned within the battle, tackle duty for heading negotiations to reestablish peace.”

Lula has floated the proposal since taking workplace Jan. 1, and has introduced it up with Presidents Joe Biden of the US and France’s Emmanuel Macron.

Lula has obtained criticism from some analysts and members of the worldwide neighborhood for not taking a stronger stance towards Russia.

He informed reporters that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz requested Brazil ship munitions to Ukrainian forces, which he declined to do. Lula has stated he favors peace, and doesn’t need to get pulled into the struggle.

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Russian media and rights teams say police in varied components of Russia have detained protesters who took to the streets with antiwar slogans or flowers to mark the primary anniversary of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Not less than eight individuals had been detained Friday after taking flowers to a monument to victims of political repression in Yekaterinburg, Russia’s fourth-largest metropolis, in keeping with the OVD-Data authorized assist group, which tracks political arrests.

It stated two individuals had been detained in St. Petersburg after bringing flowers to a monument honoring Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko.

In Siberia, 5 individuals had been detained within the metropolis of Barnaul, together with a person who picketed on a central sq. with a placard studying “Cease being silent,” the Sibir.Realii information outlet stated. It stated a lady within the metropolis of Komsomolsk-on-Amur was detained for protesting with a banner saying: “We’re mourning. Forgive us, we screwed up our nation.”

Russians all throughout the nation actively protested towards the struggle in Ukraine throughout the first week of the invasion. Massive rallies shortly fizzled after 1000’s had been detained, however single-person protests — and detentions — endured all year long.

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ANKARA, Turkey – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has thanked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for Ukraine’s assist in responding to the devastating earthquake that hit components of Turkey and Syria.

The Turkish chief, in a name Friday with Zelenskyy to debate the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, additionally reiterated his willingness to assist contribute to a attainable cease-fire or foster negotiations to finish the battle, Ergodan’s workplace stated.

Erdogan additionally hailed Ukraine’s “solidarity” with Turkey within the aftermath of the earthquake. Ukraine despatched a search staff to Turkey that assisted efforts to rescue quake survivors.

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STOCKHOLM – Sweden’s authorities says it can ship as much as 10 German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

The dedication is aimed to bolster related bulletins lately from different European nations to ship within the high-tech, broadly-deployed tanks to assist Kyiv meet its calls for for higher firepower towards Russian forces.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson informed a press convention Friday the transfer by Sweden adopted a call by Germany final month to ship greater than a dozen of its Leopards to Ukraine and green-light different Western allies to ship them, too.

Sweden stated it additionally intends to donate components of its HAWK and IRIS-T air protection programs to Ukraine. Sweden is searching for NATO membership.

The Worldwide Institute for Strategic Research, in a current take a look at Leopards in nationwide arsenals, stated Sweden has 120 of the tanks.

On Thursday, neighboring Finland stated it can hand over three Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine as a part of its newest assist package deal to Kyiv.

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KYIV, Ukraine – Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki says his nation has delivered 4 superior Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

Morawiecki informed a information convention in Kyiv Friday that the tanks have really arrived and aren’t simply pledges on paper.

The prime minister stated Poland will present extra Leopard tanks quickly, in addition to numerous upgraded, Soviet-era T-72 tanks.

Polish President Andrzej Duda informed a Nationwide Safety Council earlier Friday he was pleased that Poland was the primary nation to supply the superior tanks to Ukraine.

Poland has pledged 14 German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and Germany has promised an equal quantity.

Different tank donor nations embody Canada which as despatched personnel to coach Ukrainians.

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BUCHAREST, Romania – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a reminder of how the “current and future can change straight away” and known as for Moscow to be held accountable for crimes its forces have dedicated in Ukraine.

Iohannis stated in a message posted on-line Friday that harmless individuals have misplaced their lives, others have misplaced their properties and noticed colleges and hospitals destroyed whereas many others needed to flee the violence for the sake of their kids.

He stated Ukrainians have “impressed the entire world” with their braveness and that they defend the liberty and safety of the entire of Europe.

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MOSCOW – The Russian International Ministry is warning Ukraine and its Western allies that an assault on Russian troops in Moldova’s breakaway area of Transnistria can be construed as an assault on Russia itself and set off an “satisfactory response.”

The ministry stated in a press release “We’re warning the U.S., NATO nations and their Ukrainian proxies from any additional adventurous steps.”

Friday’s warning got here a day after the Russian Protection Ministry alleged that Ukraine was planning a “provocation” in Transnistria, the place Russia has maintained about 1,500 “peacekeeping” troops for the reason that Moscow-backed area broke away in a 1992 civil struggle.

Citing intelligence knowledge with out presenting any proof, the Russian army alleged that Ukrainian troopers disguised as Russian troops deliberate to launch a false flag operation designed to apportion blame Russia for invading Ukraine from Transnistria. Kyiv would the then use that as a pretext to invade the territory.

Moldova’s Protection Ministry stated there are “no direct threats” to the nation’s safety. It urged residents to stay calm, including that it’s working with different authorities to “forestall any try at destabilization.”

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BUCHAREST, Romania — Moldova’s President Maia Sandu says Ukrainians are usually not solely combating Russia for a “free and dignified life” but additionally for the “freedom of the complete continent.”

In a message posted on-line on the struggle’s first anniversary Friday, Sandu stated “there isn’t a higher injustice than being invaded and killed in your personal residence” and praised Ukrainians who “rose up, conquered their fears and have become invincible” within the face of Russian aggression.

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SOFIA, Bulgaria – A senior European Union official says the complete democratic world will win the struggle in Ukraine and that Russia have to be stopped now as a result of it “will go so far as it may well” if left unopposed.

European Fee Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis stated Friday it is the primary time in EU historical past that the bloc is offering army help to a rustic in time of struggle.

Dombrovskis stated that Brussels is dedicated to help Ukraine for so long as it takes, including that the bloc is popping out with a brand new package deal of sanctions towards Moscow “which can be biting onerous and contributing to sustained financial recession in Russia.”

However he warned that each EU nation should apply the sanctions in the event that they’re to be efficient, together with seizing and freezing Russian belongings. Dombrovskis stated the EU is engaged on “authorized options” to make use of seized Russian belongings to finance Ukraine’s reconstruction.

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LONDON – Britain’s King Charles III has praised the “outstanding braveness and resilience” of Ukrainians throughout a 12 months of struggle.

In a message to mark Friday’s first anniversary of Russia’s invasion, the king stated “the individuals of Ukraine have suffered unimaginably from an unprovoked full-scale assault on their nation.”

Charles stated he had met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Buckingham Palace earlier this month to specific his “private help” for Ukraine’s individuals.

The king, who took the throne in September after the dying of his mom Queen Elizabeth II, stated it was “heartening that the UK, together with its allies, is doing all the pieces attainable to assist at this most troublesome time.”

He added that he’s hopeful the outpouring of solidarity from throughout the globe “might deliver not solely sensible assist, but additionally power from the data that, collectively, we stand united.”

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BERLIN – A wrecked Russian tank introduced from Ukraine has been placed on show exterior the Russian Embassy in Berlin to mark the anniversary of Moscow’s invasion.

The T-72 tank was placed on show in Berlin’s Unter den Linden boulevard, in entrance of the embassy.

The tank was dropped at Berlin by a personal group, which stated that the Ukrainian protection ministry’s army historical past museum loaned the automobile and helped it with logistics. It says the automobile was hit within the Kyiv area within the early levels of the struggle.

One of many organizers, Wieland Giebel of the Berlin Story group, stated that the entire world acknowledge that many Germans stand behind Ukraine.

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BELGRADE, Serbia – Serbian police have prevented a bunch of antiwar activists from reaching the Russian embassy to presenting a skull-adorned cake in commemoration of the primary anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine.

Activists left the cake soaked in pink dye on the pavement close to the embassy in central Belgrade. Activists additionally needed handy embassy workers a requirement for Russian President Vladimir Putin to face trial for genocide.

A standard Slavic ally, Serbia has maintained pleasant relations with Russia regardless of the invasion. Whereas formally searching for European Union entry, Belgrade has refused to affix Western sanctions designed to punish Moscow for the aggression.

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TALLINN, Estonia – NATO Secretary-Basic Jens Stoltenberg says Russian President Vladimir Putin is “making ready for extra struggle” and that he needs a Europe through which Russia “can dictate what neighbors do.”

Stoltenberg made the remarks Friday within the Estonian capital the place he was joined by EU Fee president Ursula von der Leyen to commemorate the Baltic nation’s independence day.

Von der Leyen stated Putin has failed to realize any of his strategic targets and that Russia is turning into more and more remoted, citing Thursday’s U.N. Basic Meeting vote approving a nonbinding decision that requires Russia to finish hostilities in Ukraine and withdraw its forces.

Stoltenberg additionally stated that he has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to attend a NATO summit in Lithuania in July, expressing hope that the Ukrainian chief can attend in individual.

NATO will maintain a summit in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, Jul. 11-13.

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BERLIN – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked Germany for its help within the first 12 months of Russia’s invasion and stated his nation can “finish Russian aggression this 12 months.”

Zelenskyy spoke in a video message to a memorial occasion in Berlin Friday led by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and attended by Germany’s prime politicians and the Ukrainian ambassador.

Zelenskyy, who spoke by means of an interpreter, stated that “now’s the time when, with our braveness and our weapons, we will restore peace and create a traditionally essential safeguard towards each aggression.”

Steinmeier led a minute of silence for the victims of the struggle. He stated that “Germany isn’t at struggle, however this struggle considerations us … Russia’s struggle of aggression has wrecked the European safety order.”

He pledged that Kyiv can depend on Germany.

The German parliament on Friday changed one of many German flags atop its Reichstag constructing – which often has three German flags and one European Union flag – with a Ukrainian flag. A Ukrainian flag additionally was raised exterior the chancellery.

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WARSAW, Poland – Poland’s Protection Minister Mariusz Blaszczak says that “preventive limitations” are being put up alongside the nation’s borders with Russia and Belarus.

Blaszczak posted on Twitter Friday that the limitations had been parts of a “technique of protection and deterrence.”

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KYIV, Ukraine – Ukraine’s presidential workplace says that Russian strikes within the final 23 hours have killed a minimum of three civilians and wounded 19 others.

The workplace stated Friday that intense combating continued to rage round Bakhmut, Vuhledar and Avdiivka within the japanese Donetsk area, the place two civilians had been killed and 7 others wounded..

Russian forces focused 18 cities or villages within the Donetsk area with air and artillery strikes over the past 24 hours, together with the town of Kramatorsk that hosts Ukrainian army headquarters for the area.

The governor of the neighboring Luhansk area, Serhii Haidai, stated that heavy combating continued to rage round Kreminna, the place the Russians briefly broke by means of Ukrainian defenses earlier than being pushed again by the Ukrainian forces. Haidai stated Russian forces had been regrouping and bringing extra personnel and weapons to the area after struggling heavy losses in unsuccessful assaults.

Russian assaults additionally focused the city of Kupiansk and close by villages within the northeastern Kharkiv area, the place seven individuals had been wounded Not less than one civilian was killed and three others wounded by the Russian assaults within the southern Kherson area. Within the metropolis of Kherson, Russian artillery struck the town hospital, however nobody was injured.

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MOSCOW – A senior Russian official says Moscow ought to seize as a lot Ukrainian territory as attainable to safe a secure peace.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Safety Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin, stated Friday that if Russia fails to completely defeat Ukraine, an eventual peace settlement will probably be unstable and set the stage for hostilities to erupt once more sooner or later.

Medvedev charged that the U.S. would name the pictures in future peace talks, aiming to “weaken Russia as a lot as attainable.”

He argued on his messaging app channel that Russia ought to “push threats … as far-off as attainable, even when it had been the border of Poland.”

Medvedev, who served as Russian president in 2008-2012 when Putin wanted to shift into the prime minister’s job due to time period limits, has grow to be one of the crucial hawkish members of Putin’s entourage.

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LONDON – Britain has slapped extra sanctions on corporations that offer Russia’s battlefield tools on the primary anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine.

The U.Ok. stated Friday it can bar export to Russia of all gadgets it has used within the struggle, together with plane components, radio tools, and digital elements of weapons.

The record contains executives of a number of Russian banks and protection corporations, in addition to Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy firm, Rosatom.

Additionally sanctioned are 5 executives from Iran’s Qods Aviation Trade, which makes armed drones that Moscow has used to assault Ukraine’s infrastructure.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will lead a nationwide minute of silence for Ukraine Friday morning, gathering exterior 10 Downing St. with Ukraine’s ambassador and a contingent of Ukrainian troops.

Sunak may also urge Western allies to ship extra weapons to offer Ukraine a “decisive benefit on the battlefield” throughout a convention name of Group of Seven leaders.

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KYIV, Ukraine – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has awarded prime state honors to troopers and different Ukrainians who helped save lives, together with well being and vitality employees.

In Friday’s ceremony exterior Kyiv’s St Sophia Cathedral marking the primary anniversary of Russia’s invasion, Zelenskyy supplied reward to troopers and abnormal Ukrainians combating again towards Russian troops saying, “we’re pleased with you … let this satisfaction course by means of trenches and squares.”

Some troopers posthumously had been awarded Ukraine’s highest honor, Hero of Ukraine, for “private heroism and nice labor achievements.” Members of the family of the fallen troopers had been readily available to simply accept the consideration.

Additionally acknowledged had been women and men working regional vitality enterprises and well being facilities, together with in Ukraine’s embattled east and south.

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BERLIN – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Russian President Vladimir Putin has failed in his goals a 12 months after Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine.

Scholz stated in a video message Friday marking the anniversary that Germany will proceed to firmly stand by Ukraine. He stated it isn’t weapons deliveries which can be prolonging the struggle, however Putin’s insistence on attaining his “imperialist goal.”

The German chancellor stated the earlier Putin realizes that he will not obtain this goal, the higher the possibility of ending the struggle quickly, including, “It’s in Putin’s hand – he can finish this struggle.”

Scholz assist Putin has failed as a result of he counted on division however Ukraine is extra united than ever and the European Union additionally stands united.

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BRUSSELS — The NATO army alliance is affirming its dedication to face by Ukraine and assist it defeat Russia on the primary anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion.

“We stay decided to keep up coordinated worldwide strain on Russia,” ambassadors from the 30 alliance nations stated in a press release Friday.

“Russia’s efforts to interrupt the resolve of the courageous individuals of Ukraine are failing. One 12 months on, Ukrainians are combating valiantly for freedom and independence. We stand with them.”

The envoys additionally reaffirmed their “iron-clad” intent to come back to the protection of any member nation ought to Russia contemplate broadening the struggle.

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KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s protection chief has congratulated the nation’s armed forces for rebuffing an enemy “that terrified the entire world,” referring to Russia’s failed try and launch a full-scale invasion that may take management of Ukraine.

“Our troopers and the complete Ukrainian individuals took up a struggle many on the earth thought of hopeless,” Oleksiy Reznikov stated in an handle posted on Fb on Friday.

“You rebuffed the enemy’s military, which terrified the entire world. Nevertheless it turned out to be powerless towards Ukrainians, who’re defending their residence and their family members, combating for his or her land,” he added.

Reznikov stated Kyiv will struggle till it takes again all territory captured or annexed by Russia, and till the hazard from Moscow is “eradicated.

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KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s military chief, Valery Zaluzhny, says his nation’s resilience towards Russia’s invasion “rests on our individuals,”

“Peculiar heroes amongst us. They’re individuals who took up arms to guard their households, their properties and their state from the enemy’s unprovoked and unjustified aggression,” he wrote on Fb Friday.

“They’re people who find themselves now, at this second, beating again the occupier, holding the road, freezing in our chilly however pricey, homeland, saving the lives of their compatriots, serving to the military nonetheless they will,” he wrote.

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark — The 5 Nordic prime ministers say Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “has brought on unimaginable struggling, dying, and destruction on a scale not seen on our continent since World Struggle II.”

In a joint assertion on the one-year anniversary of the invasion, the federal government leaders of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden stated that “Russia’s brutal aggression” was “the gravest risk to Euro-Atlantic safety in a long time.”

The implications of the struggle “are felt far and vast. Financial stability, vitality and meals safety are critically threatened with extreme penalties for the least developed nations,” they stated.

“Ukraine’s wrestle is our wrestle,” they stated within the assertion.

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WASHINGTON — White Home nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan throughout a CNN city corridor on Thursday confirmed that Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volydymyr Zelenskyy mentioned Ukraine’s request for fighter jets throughout the U.S. president’s current go to to Kyiv.

Zelenskyy has requested the U.S. for F-16s, one thing that Biden has declined to produce.

Sullivan underscored that the administration has been centered on offering Ukraine with the weaponry they imagine is most wanted within the present and coming levels of the struggle.

He advised, nonetheless, that the F-16 request might be revisited.

“They’re about to mount a major counteroffense,” Sullivan famous, referring to expectations that Ukraine will mount a spring offensive. “From our perspective, F-16s are usually not the important thing functionality for that offensive. It’s the stuff that we’re transferring quickly to the entrance strains now.”