Macron's criticism, Egyptian aid to Russia, and a live shooting: last night's highlights
Macron is criticized in the US and Europe after saying he needs to reduce dependence on the US; a leaked US document says Egypt secretly planned to supply missiles to Russia; a bank employee shoots four colleagues and broadcasts it live in the US. Here is what you may have missed from the previous night.
Egyptian assistance to Russia
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, one of the United States's closest allies in the Middle East, recently ordered his subordinates to produce up to 40,000 missiles for secret delivery to Russia. This is stated in US intelligence documents leaked online.
The Washington Post writes that the revelations in the document, if true, raise the question of whether the United States should continue to protect and support Egypt. Washington has been providing Cairo with more than a billion dollars a year in security assistance for decades.
Criticism of Macron
Several diplomats and parliamentarians in the United States and Europe have criticized French President Emmanuel Macron's remarks that Europe should distance itself from tensions between Washington and Beijing over the situation with Taiwan, The Financial Times reports.
The Associated Press writes that Macron's comments on Europe's priorities for Taiwan “raised questions about the EU's relations with both the United States and China”.
Live shooting
A bank employee shot and killed four of his colleagues and wounded 9 other people at his workplace in the American city of Louisville, Kentucky. He broadcasted all of this live on television. The attacker was fatally wounded at the scene.
“The suspect was broadcasting live, and unfortunately, it is tragic to know that this incident was there and recorded. We hope to be able to remove this footage,” the police said.
Bulgaria is discussing the transfer of MiGs to Ukraine
The Bulgarian Ministry of Defense has confirmed that it is negotiating the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, provided that it receives modern combat aircraft from its Western partners. They emphasized that they are not going to give the fighters to Ukraine for free.
Fighting in the south
On the southern front, the occupiers continue to move away from the contact line to maximize the distance beyond the reach of Ukrainian weapons, the Operational Command “South” said.
At the same time, Ukrainian defenders are trying to maintain fire control over the transportation routes so that the Russians cannot use them, even to retreat such a long distance.
Other news:
- Denmark plans to deliver Ceasar howitzers to Ukraine in May and the first Leopard 1 tanks by summer;
- The Ministry of Defense approved the composition of the Anti-Corruption Council. It consists of 15 members;
- The US calls on Russia to release the detained WSJ journalist and demands access to him;
- In 2022, almost 10 thousand places were renamed in Ukraine and 145 monuments were demolished;
- Russians shelled Sumy Oblast 9 times, five communities came under fire;
- Ukraine needs at least 5,000 specialists to demine its territories.