President Biden and leaders of the Group of Seven countries will meet virtually with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a forum chaired by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday, the White House said.

The leaders will discuss the latest developments in Ukraine, the global impact of the Russian invasion and additional sanctions that may be levied on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime, the White House said. Biden will be in Wilmington, Del.

German government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann told reporters that the meeting will cover current issues, particularly Ukraine. She said Sunday’s meeting will take place on the 77th anniversary of the German surrender during World War II.

Given what has gone on in Ukraine, “the cohesion of the G-7 is more important than ever,” Hoffmann said.

KOSICE, Slovakia — First lady Jill Biden visited a refugee processing center here Sunday, meeting with local officials overseeing the site and talking with Ukrainian refugees about their experiences in Slovakia.

Biden heard emotional stories from families who left Ukraine but nevertheless expressed a strong desire to return to their home country.

Victoria Kutocha, a mother of three whose husband remained in Ukraine to fight in the military, told Biden of her journey to Slovakia and her outrage at Russia’s explanation for its invasion.

“They come to our land,” she told Biden. “They kill us, but they say we protect you.”

Hugging her 7-year-old daughter, Yulie, Kutocha described the difficulty explaining to her children why they had to leave their home. She said, “It is impossible.” I try to keep them secure. It’s my mission.”

“It’s senseless,” the first lady said.

One man who proudly showed Biden his forearm, which was tattooed with the names of his children, said he tried to stay and defend Kharkiv, but left after two months because it became dangerous. Through an interpreter, he stated that “It might not be the same but we will go back to Kharkiv.”

“I’m surprised you are going to return because of the bombings,” Biden said to him.

A separate interpreter responded: “He wants to find a job, maybe stay in Slovakia until the war ends.”

The first lady later visited a school in Kosice, where she met Slovakian and Ukrainian mothers and their children as they made art projects for Mother’s Day. As part of the Slovakian welcome custom, Biden had bread dipped in salt upon his arrival.

One child ran over to Biden to give her his artwork that included a cat on it. Biden spoke of Willow’s cat and said “I have one.”

Biden then went around the classroom, asking the mothers about the assistance they had received in Slovakia and wishing them a happy Mother’s Day. Biden said that the American people were with Ukraine’s mothers.

As many as 60 people were buried under rubble and presumed dead after Russian forces bombed a school in the Luhansk region that was serving as a bomb shelter, Ukrainian officials said Sunday.

About 90 people were hiding in the basement of a school in the eastern Ukrainian village of Bilohorivka when Russian forces attacked. The governor of the region said that thirty people had been rescued, with seven others injured. Two bodies were also found under the rubble.

Serhiy Haidai, the governor of the Luhansk region, said it was likely that all 60 people buried under the rubble are dead. He said that authorities fought for almost four hours to put out a flame from a Russian bomb.

Writing on his Telegram channel on Sunday, he condemned the “cynical” attack on “a school with a bomb shelter.” The Washington Post could not verify the accuracy of the assertions.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned what it described as a “brutal war crime” and accused Moscow of “constantly repeating the tragedy of World War II,” ahead of Russia’s commemoration of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany on Monday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Britain’s commitment of 1.3 billion pounds ($1.6 billion) in additional military aid for Ukraine amid concerns that Russia will launch an even harsher assault on the country in light of its Victory Day holiday on Monday.

Russia is attacking not just Ukraine, but “threatening peace and security across Europe,” Johnson said in a statement, according to Reuters. The package includes $375 million in military aid that was announced last week.

The new pledge comes as Johnson and other leaders in the Group of Seven nations — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States — are set to meet virtually on Sunday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Victory Day holiday, celebrated in Russia on May 9, commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over the Nazis during World War II. This year, some have speculated that Russian President Vladimir Putin could mark the date by unleashing renewed attacks or ordering a general mobilization of soldiers, as his invasion has faltered with lagging military campaigns and embarrassing losses.

Kyiv’s defense of Mariupol appeared to be nearing an end this weekend as the last of the civilian women, children and elderly were evacuated from the Azovstal steel plant, the last stronghold of Ukrainian resistance in the key port city.

Beyond the evacuation of the more than 300 civilians, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and a Ukrainian commander at the plant have appealed for the evacuation of fighters and their wounded, who have been holed up for weeks in the plant, mostly in its dark and dingy subterranean levels.

In his nightly address on Saturday, Zelensky said Ukraine is working on a plan to evacuate troops and secure humanitarian corridors for the residents of Mariupol and surrounding settlements. We are currently preparing for the second phase of the evacuation mission. This will include the treatment and transport of wounded people as well as medical personnel. Our military is also being evacuated. All heroes who defend Mariupol,” he said, adding, “This is extremely difficult.”

Russia is still aiming to capture the plant, which would give Moscow full control over Mariupol, allowing it to establish a land bridge with annexed Crimea.

Maj. Serhiy Volyna, whose forces are trapped at the plant under a constant barrage of Russian fire, made a plea on Facebook for “everyone to make the maximum effort to evacuate the military.” He described life at the plant as “some hellish reality show.”

“The only difference is that this is not a movie, and we are not fictional characters!” Volyna wrote. This is the real deal! Pain, suffering, hunger, torment, tears, fear, death — all real!”

KOSICE, Slovakia — First lady Jill Biden arrived here Sunday morning on the fourth stop of a four-day trip to Eastern Europe, serving as an unusually personal emissary from the White House as it demonstrates U.S. support for NATO allies, especially those nearest Russia’s war zone in Ukraine.

She is set to celebrate Mother’s Day with mothers and children before visiting the Slovakia-Ukraine border crossing in Vysne Nemecke. Biden will visit refugee processing centres and speak with refugees and aid workers. Biden will visit refugee processing centers and meet with refugees. She also visits a Greek Catholic church that provides support for refugees, first responders and volunteers.

Biden flew to Kosice from Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, where she met with U.S. Embassy staff on Saturday. On Sunday, Biden will return to Bratislava.

The first lady will conclude her trip Monday at the presidential palace in Bratislava, where she will meet Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova.

Annabelle Timsit contributed to this report.

A national museum dedicated to an 18th-century philosopher revered by Ukrainians was destroyed in a Russian strike late Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly video address.

The attack on the Hryhorii Skovoroda museum near Kharkiv, the latest blow to Ukraine’s cultural heritage sites, is “beyond words,” Zelensky said.

“A missile. The museum must be destroyed. Museum of the philosopher and poet who lived in the 18th century. The person who taught the people how to live a Christian life and how to get to know oneself. It seems like this is a grave danger to modern Russia — the museums, Christianity’s attitude towards life, and self-knowledge.

The shells struck the roof, wounding a 35-year-old man who was a caretaker for the site, the region’s governor, Oleh Synyehubov, said in a Telegram post on Saturday. Although the strike caused the destruction of the building, most museum valuables were moved to safe places.

Photos from news services showed the building’s bombed-out interior surrounding a Skovoroda statue.

2022 marked 300 years since the birth of the philosopher. The museum was built in Skovoroda’s honor, where he spent the last few years.

Zelensky said the Russian army has destroyed or damaged nearly 200 cultural heritage sites.

RIGA, Latvia — Ahead of Russia’s most patriotic and somber holiday, Victory Day on Monday, there is no victory in the war against Ukraine but plenty of rumors that President Vladimir Putin will order a general mobilization of soldiers to secure one.

Analysts see mobilization as Russia’s best hope to turn the tide and defeat Ukraine, by reinforcing demoralized forces and plowing them back into the war. The risks of admitting the failures in the current military campaign and sparking opposition within the country are too high.

Several top Russian officials have sought to quash the rumors. “No, no. “No, no.

Kyiv residents can return to their city more safely after Monday, the mayor said, amid concerns that the Ukrainian capital will be a target during Russia’s Victory Day celebrations.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko was asked in a radio interview whether Kyiv residents should leave the city Sunday and Monday, when some have speculated that Moscow could unleash renewed attacks or order a general mobilization of soldiers.

He said he did not recommend that Kyiv residents outside the city return, saying Russia’s goal is to capture the capital. Klitschko stated that while nothing can be guaranteed, it’s probably safer to go home after Monday’s Victory Day.

About 2.2 million of the city’s prewar 3.5 million residents are left in the city, he said.

Some returned after Russian forces pulled out of the capital region after a failed attempt to capture it. Since then, Kyiv has lurched back to life.

Updates from key cities: Ukrainians brace for Russian Victory Day as troops gain ground in Kharkiv

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Women and children evacuated from Mariupol steel plant

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