Update: UN Secretary-General visits Kyiv, Ukraine, NATO Secretary-General says Finland and Sweden can join NATO quickly
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, April 28 (Xinhua) Comprehensive Xinhua News Agency reporters abroad reported: United Nations Secretary-General Guterres visited the town of Borodyanka in Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine on the 28th. NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg said on the 28th that if Finland and Sweden decide to submit an application to join NATO, NATO will welcome it with “open arms” and the ratification process is expected to be quick.
——The United Nations Office for Humanitarian Coordination in Ukraine posted on social media on the 28th that UN Secretary-General Guterres visited the town of Borodyanka in Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine. Guterres arrived in Ukraine after his visit to Russia on the 27th. On the 28th, he will hold talks with Ukrainian President Zelensky and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba. Guterres posted on social media on the 27th that the United Nations will continue to work to expand humanitarian support and ensure the evacuation of Ukrainian civilians from conflict areas.
– NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg said at an event in the European Parliament on the 28th that if Finland and Sweden decide to submit an application to join NATO, NATO will welcome it with “open arms”. He said that Finland and Sweden have cooperated with NATO for many years, and the armed forces of the two countries also meet NATO standards. NATO will find a transitional arrangement for the joining of the two countries, and it is expected that the approval process will be soon.
——The Kremlin website issued a statement on the 28th saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a phone call on the same day, and the two sides said they would continue to discuss the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. During the call, the Russian side also thanked the Turkish side for its assistance in the exchange between Russia and the United States at Ankara Airport for Russian citizen Yaroshenko and American citizen Reid.
——Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zakharova said at a regular press conference on the 28th that Ukraine has not officially withdrawn from the negotiation process with Russia, and Russia is waiting for the materials that Ukraine may prepare to submit. However, the Ukrainian side’s current performance in the negotiations is frustrating. She also said that further incitement by Western countries to instigate Ukraine to attack Russian targets will inevitably lead to a tough response from Russia.
——Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Konashenkov reported on the 28th that since Russia launched a special military operation, the Russian army has destroyed 142 Ukrainian aircraft, 111 helicopters, 614 drones, and 276 sets of air defense missile systems , 2623 tanks and other armored vehicles, 299 multiple rocket launchers, 1146 field artillery and mortars, 2431 special military vehicles.
—— Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a meeting with visiting German Chancellor Scholz in Tokyo on the 28th. According to Kyodo News, the two sides agreed to condemn, sanction Russia and support Ukraine.
——Osnat Lubrani, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, posted on social media on the 28th that at the request of UN Secretary-General Guterres, she left for Zaporozhye, Ukraine, to carry out “hopeful” Preparations for the evacuation of Mariupol personnel.