As Russia’s war on Ukraine stretches into its fourth week, the humanitarian crisis in Mariupol is worsening, and air raid sirens are increasing heard in western Ukraine.
In comments yesterday evening, President Zelenskiy called the ongoing blockade of Mariupol „a terror that will be remembered for centuries” as the situation for residents of the city becomes increasingly dire. According to Ukrainian officials and international aid organizations, it is not possible to deliver humanitarian aid to the cities of the Kherson region, and not safe to try and evacuate civilians due to ongoing Russian attacks.
The death toll of Friday’s rocket attack on a Ukrainian marine barracks in Mykolaiv is still being assessed, with reports yesterday that some 40 marines had been killed while they slept.
On a more positive note, Ukrainian soldiers have reportedly pushed Russian troops back from Kyiv some 70 kilometers, according to comments made yesterday by Oleksandr Motuzianyk, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, New York Times
Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly „not ready” to talk to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, despite repeated calls for dialogue and a direct appeal by Zelenskiy himself.
According to Ibrahim Kalin, the principal adviser and spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, „Putin believes his position for the talks is not yet strong enough to start them.”
Kalin made the comments in an interview yesterday with Turkish daily Hurriyet, going on to express his belief that the meeting would happen „at some point” and a peaceful compromise would finally be reached. „We cannot afford another Cold War because it would be destructive and costly for all sides (…),” he assessed.
In a telephone conversation with Putin on Thursday, President Erdogan suggested that Ankara be the site of his peace talks with Zelenskiy. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba later confirmed that Ankara was attempting to organize direct talks between the two leaders.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, PAP
Poland has begun preparations to develop its own air defense system, according to comments made yesterday by Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak.
His comments came a day after UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced Britain was deploying its Sky Sabre missile defense system to Poland and sending an additional 100 troops. On Friday, Błaszczak told public broadcaster TVP that the first tranche of the Sky Sabre air defense system would arrive in Poland in the next few weeks.
Błaszczak went on to note that the decision to expand Poland’s anti-aircraft system is possible due to the recent adoption of the homeland defense bill.
Under the new law, Poland plans to increase defense spending from 2.2% of GDP in 2022 to 3% of GDP in 2023 and increase the Polish armed forces by 300,000 troops, including 250,000 career soldiers.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, Radio Poland
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has called for a „Marshall Plan 2.0” for the reconstruction of Ukraine, an issue he plans to raise at the next meeting of the European Council.
Responding to Morawiecki’s proposal via social media, Mykhailo Podolak, an advisor to President Zelenskiy, called the plan „a moral responsibility for those who don’t want to stand by while Russian missiles hit our cities.” He went on to call Poland „a true friend of Ukraine.”
The European Council is set to meet later this week (March 24-25, 2022) in Brussels. In addition to reconstruction financing, Morawiecki plans to propose a total EU ban on trade with Russia, with the goal of „forc[ing Russia to consider whether it would be better to stop this cruel war.”
Source: Radio Gdańsk, Radio Poland, PAP
Lechia Gdańsk has returned to the winner’s circle after three straight losses, defeating Górnik Łęczna 2-0 last night at home in Gdańsk.
German winger Christian Clemens scored his debut goal for Lechia in the first minute of added time in the first half, with Polish forward Łukasz Zwoliński following up with a second stinger at the 77-minute mark.
Lechia is currently ranked fourth in the Ekstraklasa league and will face off against 10th-ranked Legia Warszawa on April 2nd in Warsaw.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Iga Świątek will face off against Maria Sakkari tonight at 9 pm Warsaw time in the finals of the Indian Wells tennis tournament in California.
If Świątek wins, it would be her second tournament win this season and her third WTA 1000 title.
Source: wtatennis.com
Weather
Today will be mostly sunny, with very little chance of rain and light winds coming from the east. Temperatures will be slightly cooler than yesterday, with a high around 8°C, or 47°F, dropping to below freezing overnight with a low of -2°C or 28°F. Slightly warmer weather is expected tomorrow, with clear skies continuing throughout the week.
Posłuchaj:
Elizabeth Peck/MarWer
