UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a major training initiative for Ukrainian soldiers during a surprise visit to Kyiv over the weekend.
Under the program, up to 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers could be trained outside the country every 120 days. According to Johnson’s office, each soldier would spend three weeks learning battle skills for the front line, as well as basic medical training, cyber-security, and counter-explosive tactics.
Johnson made the announcement after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the state of play at the front line and the need to ramp up supplies of heavy weapons and shore up Ukrainian air defenses.
After the meeting, Zelensky reported that the two countries “have a shared vision of how to move towards victory because that it is exactly what Ukraine needs – the victory of our state.”
Johnson’s unannounced visit was his second trip to Kyiv since Russia invaded Ukraine in February and the latest show of support for Zelensky.
Source: Radio Poland, Reuters
Russia is likely to renew its efforts to advance south of the eastern Ukrainian city of Izium, according to reports released yesterday by Britain’s Ministry of Defence (MoD).
In a post on Twitter, the MoD theorized that the Russians were attempting to penetrate deeper into the Donetsk region and encircle the embattled city of Severodonetsk from the north.
Hundreds of people are trapped in makeshift bomb shelters in Severodonetsk, including 530 people and 38 children currently sheltering in the besieged Azot chemical plant.
According to governor Serhiy Gaidai, “it is now impossible and physically dangerous to get out of the plant due to constant shelling and fighting.” Earlier this week, Gaidai claimed around 10,000 civilians remained in the city, which is controlled mostly by Russian forces.
The MoD has warned that If Ukrainian civilians in the region do not take up an offer to leave via a corridor, Russia is likely to claim justification in making less of a distinction between them and any Ukrainian military targets in the area.
Source: Radio Poland, Reuters
On Friday, EU finance ministers in Luxembourg tentatively approved Poland’s National Recovery Plan.
Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands called on the European Commission to carefully review whether Poland is fulfilling its commitments before any payments are made.
Last Monday, Polish President Andrzej Duda signed into law a bill that removes the disciplinary chamber for judges, a required step if the country is to benefit from EUR 35 billion in post-pandemic European Union funding.
Other commitments include changing the judicial disciplinary system and reinstating judges who had been suspended under existing regulations.
If Poland lives up to these commitments, it stands to receive EUR 23.9 billion in grants and EUR 11.5 billion in loans from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience funds, according to officials.
Source: Radio Poland, Radio Gdańsk
Polish tennis star Hubert Hurkacz advanced to the finals of the Halle Open tennis tournament in Germany after defeating Nick Kyrgios of New Zealand 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 yesterday.
The fifth-seeded Pole will face off against Daniil Medvedev of Russia today at 15:00 for the tournament title.
Source: atptennis.com
The annual Kashubian Days in Gdansk kicked off Thursday with the opening of the Kashubian Fair and the hoisting of the black and yellow Kashubian flag on Góra Gradowa in the city center.
Organized by the Kashubian-Pomeranian Association, Gdańsk Kashubian Days celebrate the presence of Kashubians in Pomerania and the 110th anniversary of the founding convention of the Young Kashubian Society.
This year’s Kashubian Fair will be held mainly on Ołowianka island in the Gdańsk city center. It will feature music, theatrical events, a jarmark of traditional food and handicrafts, and the premiere of a documentary film about Kashubia.
Today at 15:00, local guides will take participants on “a walk in the footsteps of Kashubia in Gdańsk,” starting at the corner of Gnilna and Rajska streets.
For more information on Kashubian Days, visit >>>GDAŃSK.PL<<<.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, gdansk.pl
Weather
Today will be partly cloudy and warm, with a slight chance of rain in the late evening and a strong breeze coming in from the north. Temperatures will peak around a high of 19°C, or 66°F, dropping to an overnight low of 12°C or 53°F. Cool, wet weather is expected again tomorrow, with a chance for some sunshine and warmer temps returning later in the week.
Elizabeth Peck/aKa
