French Foreign Minister To Attend Moscow's Victory Day Celebrations
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says he plans to take part in Moscow’s May 9 celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
Fabius announced his visit in a radio interview on May 6.
Although Moscow invited 68 heads of state and leaders of international organizations, only about 20 have confirmed their attendance amid international condemnation for Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and Russia’s support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.
They include Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cuban President Raul Castro, as well as United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The Moscow celebrations are highlighting the Soviet Union’s role in the allied victory.
Russia plans to march 16,000 soldiers in a Red Square parade along with hundreds of military units -- including new Koalitsiya-SV howitzers artillery pieces and new Armata T-14 tanks.
Based on reporting by Reuters, TASS, and Europa-1
That concludes our live-blogging of the Ukraine crisis for Tuesday, May 5. Thanks for reading. Check back here tomorrow morning for more of our continuing coverage.
U.S. Concerned Over 'Callous' Treatment Of Savchenko
By RFE/RL
The United States said it is concerned over the “callous and outrageous” treatment by Russia of detained Ukrainian pilot and parliament member Nadia Savchenko.
Speaking at a May 5 news briefing in Washington, State Department spokesperson Jeff Rathke called on Russia to release Savchenko and all other “hostages” immediately.
“We reiterate our serious concerns over her treatment in detention and reports that she is gravely ill while she remains a hostage to Russian authorities," Rathke said.
Earlier on May 5, Savchenko's lawyer said on Twitter that Russian authorities have extended the preliminary inquiry into Savchenko's case until November 13. A decision on the expected extension of her detention is due to be taken May 6.
Savchenko has been jailed in Russia since July, when she says she was illegally brought into the country after being abducted by separatists in Ukraine. She is charged with complicity in the killing of two Russian journalists who died in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, as well as illegal border crossing.
She denies guilt and conducted a hunger strike for more than 80 days to protest her incarceration.