Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 17. Comprehensive Xinhua News Agency reporters abroad reported that the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense confirmed on the 17th that the evacuation of the wounded Ukrainian troops from the Azov Steel Plant has been completed.

On the same day, Swedish Prime Minister Andersson and Finnish President Niinisto announced that the two countries would jointly submit an application to join NATO.

　　——Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Konashenkov issued a notice on the 17th that the Ukrainian army and the Ukrainian military force "Azov Battalion" who were besieged in the Azov Steel Plant in Mariupol, Ukraine, began on the 16th. surrender.

Over the past day and night, a total of 265 armed people surrendered, including more than 50 seriously wounded.

The wounded were taken to the hospital in Nova Azovsk in the Donetsk region for treatment.

　　——The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense issued a statement on the 17th confirming that the evacuation of the wounded Ukrainian troops from the Azov Steel Plant has been completed.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Anna Maliar said in a statement that more than 50 seriously wounded Ukrainian troops have been sent to Nova Azovsk for treatment.

Another 211 people were sent to the Russian-controlled town of Olenivka through humanitarian corridors and will be returned to Ukrainian-controlled territory through a detainee exchange procedure.

　　—— Swedish Prime Minister Andersson held a joint press conference with visiting Finnish President Niinisto on the 17th, announcing that the two countries will jointly submit an application to join NATO on the 18th.

The Swedish government also issued a press release on the same day that Andersson and Niinisto would travel to Washington on the 19th to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden. The trip will discuss issues such as the two countries' application to join NATO and transatlantic relations.

　　——Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov said in an interview with Russian TV on the 17th that the decision of Finland and Sweden to join NATO is "a serious historical mistake".

The decision of the two countries is not to strengthen their own security, but to lose a large part of their sovereignty.

　　——The website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the 17th saying that the Russian side met with the Finnish ambassador to Russia on the same day and expressed strong protest to the Finnish side expelling two Russian embassy staff members, implementing an anti-Russian policy and providing weapons to Ukraine. It was decided to no longer allow two staff members of the Finnish Embassy in Russia to remain in Russia.

　　- RIA Novosti quoted Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov as saying on the 17th that Ukraine has actually withdrawn from the Russia-Ukraine negotiation process.

On the same day, Podoljak, an adviser to the Ukrainian President's Office, said that the Ukrainian-Russian negotiation process had been suspended.

　　——According to the announcement issued by the German government on the 17th, German Chancellor Scholz had a phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky that day.

Both sides agreed that in order to achieve a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine through negotiations, it is necessary for Russia to immediately cease hostilities and withdraw its troops from Ukraine.

　　——The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the 17th saying that NATO and EU member states in the Council of the Baltic States abandoned the principles of equal dialogue and turned the organization into a tool for implementing anti-Russian policies.

In response to hostilities, Russia decided to withdraw from the organization.

　　——Russian President Vladimir Putin said on the 17th that European countries have imposed more and more sanctions on Russia in the field of oil and natural gas, which has caused energy inflation, and Russia cannot be blamed for this.

In the long run, rejecting Russian energy means that Europe will become the world's most expensive region for energy.

　　——Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Konashenkov issued a report on the 17th that since the launch of the special military operation, the Russian army has destroyed a total of 168 Ukrainian aircraft, 125 helicopters, 912 drones, and 309 sets of air defense missile systems. , 3134 tanks and other armored vehicles, 385 multiple rocket launchers, 1542 field artillery and mortars and 2983 special military vehicles.

　　——According to the website of the Ukrainian President, Ukrainian President Zelensky held a video meeting with the President of the International Monetary Fund Georgieva on the 16th.

During the meeting, Zelensky called on the International Monetary Fund to speed up financial assistance to Ukraine and actively participate in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.

(Participating reporters: Liu Kai, Li Chao, Li Dongxu, Li Ming, Chen Chang, Zhao Bing, He Miao, Fu Yiming) (End)