Selenskyj is considering rejection for the Pope Fair celebration-Kyiv remains in the focus!

Selenskyj is considering rejection for the Pope Fair celebration-Kyiv remains in the focus!

The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj indicated that he may not take part in the funeral service for the late Pope Francis in Rome. In his explanation, Selenskyj emphasized that Ukraine can be represented by Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha and First Lady Olena Selenska, if he did not arrive. This happens against the background of a massive air raid by the Russian military on Ukraine on Thursday night, in which at least twelve people died in Kiev. Selenskyj emphasized that it is important to him to be in Ukraine in order to meet his role as a guide during the ongoing conflict.

At the funeral service, which is due to take place next Saturday, numerous state guests are expected, including US President Donald Trump. According to reports, Trump has not ruled out Selenskyj on the sidelines of the funeral service, although the two are no longer considered good acquaintances due to a past scandal in a conversation in February.

Current political and military developments

The situation in Ukraine remains tense. Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko expressed the possibility of forced area abrasion to Russia, which he regarded in a BBC interview as a temporary solution for peace. At the same time, Ukraine still leads fights against the Russian aggression and has so far complained more than 620 children killed since the beginning of the war. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that 41 were shot down during attacks with 103 Russian drones.

In another worrying report, it was announced that parts of American origin were discovered in a North Korean rocket fired by Russia on Kiev. In addition, Ukraine has set a foreign ship that belongs to the so -called "shadow fleet" of Russia. Such incidents illustrate the complexity of geopolitical relationships and the ongoing threat from the aggressor.

international context and NATO relationships

Ukraine has increasingly pushed for NATO in recent years, especially after the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014. This was a turning point in the NATO-UKRAINE relationships that fluctuated until then. The NATO summit in July 2023 recognized Ukraine as on an "irreversible path to euro-Atlantic integration". Laut Berichten lag die Unterstützung für einen NATO-Beitritt in der Ukraine zuletzt zwischen 80 und 92 Prozent. But despite these efforts, the conflict with Russia remains a central challenge.

In terms of ongoing negotiations on the end of the war, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lawrow said that the talks were on the right track. Nevertheless, the situation in Ukraine remains tense, not least due to the constantly increasing demands on the military and economic stability of the country.