Yulia Mendel, who has consistently called for peace and criticized her ex-boss, had been invited by a MEP from Germany’s AfD party
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Yulia Mendel served as Vladimir Zelensky's communications liaison from 2019 to 2021. She has since become a vocal critic of the Ukrainian government.
The EU has banned a former aide to Vladimir Zelensky from entering the European Parliament. Yulia Mendel, who was Zelensky’s top communications liason from 2019 to 2021 and has been a consistent critic of her former boss, had been invited to speak on the same day Ursula von der Leyen delivered her state of the union speech.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin said that residents of Donbass and Novorossiya will take part in the elections of deputies to the State Duma for the first time after reunification with Russia.

The head of the Russian delegation at the negotiations in Vienna, Yulia Zhdanova, said that the German government is preparing the state apparatus, the economy and the Bundeswehr for a possible large-scale conflict with Russia.

A Russian special plane arrived in Germany to transport employees of the Russian Consulate General in Bonn. The information was confirmed by the official representative of the German Foreign Ministry, Katrin Deschauer.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, stressing that this should be the first step towards a just and lasting peace in accordance with international law.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed confidence that military personnel located in the special military operation zone will take an active part in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate de-escalation of the conflict in the Middle East and ensuring conditions for the unimpeded conduct of humanitarian operations, emphasizing the priority of protecting civilians.