Day 59: German chancellor warns NATO against direct confrontation with Russia

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has warned that NATO must avoid a direct military confrontation with Russia that could lead to a third world war.

Scholz, who is facing growing criticism at home and abroad for his government's apparent reluctance to deliver heavy battlefield weapons to Ukraine, made the remarks in an interview with Der Spiegel.

"To avoid an escalation towards NATO is a top priority for me. That's why I don't focus on polls or let myself be irritated by shrill calls. The consequences of an error would be dramatic," he said. "That's why it is all the more important that we consider each step very carefully and coordinate closely with one another." 

He went on to say that he would continue to strive “to prevent an escalation that would lead to a third world war.” noting, “There must be no nuclear war.” 

Scholz also defended his decision not to immediately end German imports of Russian gas in response to Russia' military operation in Ukraine.

"I absolutely do not see how a gas embargo would end the war. If (Russian President Vladimir) Putin were open to economic arguments, he would never have begun this crazy war," he said.

"Secondly, you act as if this was about money. But it's about avoiding a dramatic economic crisis and the loss of millions of jobs and factories that would never again open their doors."

Russia's defense ministry said on Saturday that its forces had shot down a Ukrainian Su-25 fighter jet and destroyed three MI-8 helicopters at an airfield in
Ukraine's Kharkiv region. 

Ukraine would also make a fresh attempt to evacuate civilians from Mariupol, the devastated port city largely controlled by Russian forces, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on Telegram.

In a phone call to President Vladimir Putin Friday, EU chief Charles Michel appealed for humanitarian access to Mariupol.

"Strongly urged for immediate humanitarian access and safe passage from Mariupol and other besieged cities all the more on the occasion of Orthodox Easter," Michel tweeted.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said Russian forces have resumed airstrikes on and are trying to storm the Azovstal steel works where Ukraine's remaining forces in Mariupol are holding out.

"The enemy is trying to strangle the final resistance of the defenders of Mariupol in the Azovstal area," Arestovych said on national television.

The governor of Luhansk said all the Ukrainian-controlled cities in the eastern region were constantly being shelled by Russian forces on Saturday and the barrage was intensifying.

Serhiy Haidai said Ukrainian forces were leaving some settlements there in order to regroup but that the move did not amount to a critical setback. 

Zelensky: Ukraine invasion only the beginning 

Meanwhile Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday claimed that Russia's operation was just the beginning and that Moscow is eyeing other countries.

"All the nations that, like us, believe in the victory of life over death must fight with us. They must help us, because we are the first in line. And who will come next?" Zelensky said in a video address late Friday.

Day 58: Russia says to take full control of Donbas, Southern Ukraine

A top Russian general says the country plans to take full control of Donbas and Southern Ukraine as part of the second phase of the military operation.

Rustam Minnekayev, deputy commander of Russia's central military district, said full control over southern Ukraine would provide access to Transnistria, a breakaway Russian-occupied part of Moldova in the west.

Moscow, Minnekayev said on Twitter, had now "acknowledged that the goal of the 'second phase' of the war is not victory over the mythical Nazis, but simply the occupation of eastern and southern Ukraine. Imperialism as it is."

In recent days, Zelensky has said his country ravaged by war needed more heavy weapons to defend itself against Russia’s military operation.

He once again asked Western nations to impose further sanctions against Moscow to more weaken its economy.

He accused the Russian army of committing many atrocities in Ukraine, including in the port city of Mariupol while speaking in a video address to the Portuguese parliament.

He did not provide concrete evidence of the atrocities during the speech.

On Thursday, US President Joe Biden unveiled a new package of $800 million in military aid for Ukraine.

It includes 72 155mm howitzers, 72 armored vehicles to tow them, 144,000 rounds of ammunition, and more than 120 "Phoenix Ghost" tactical drones recently developed by the US Air Force, according to the Pentagon.

Speaking at the White House on Thursday, Biden said he will ask Congress next week for supplemental appropriations to fund more military and economic aid for Ukraine.

The new military package will bring the total amount the Biden administration has spent arming the former Soviet republic to $4 billion.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also said Ukrainian soldiers have traveled to Britain to learn how to use UK-supplied armored vehicles in the war.

The UK has taken a leading role in arming and training Ukraine's forces, especially for anti-tank missiles. Johnson earlier this month became the first G7 leader to visit Kiev since Russia launched its offensive on February 24.

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