Stay updates | Putin says West guilty for power disaster | Well being and Health

Talking on Russian TV, Putin stated these international locations adopted a short-sighted insurance policies that relied too closely on renewable power sources reminiscent of photo voltaic, wind and hydrogen.

These applied sciences weren’t but prepared for large deployment or had been too costly, he stated, and Europe and america downplayed the position of what they had been supposed to switch: hydrocarbons. The consequence was under-development and under-investment in power, and a rise in costs, in line with Putin.

Exacerbating the issue, in his view, is that Europeans – regardless of Moscow’s warnings – declined to keep up long-term pure fuel provide contracts with Russia.

The upper pure fuel costs additionally elevated fertilizer prices. Pure fuel is closely utilized in fertilizer manufacturing.

“However we warned about that, and it’s not related in any technique to Russia’s navy operation in Donbass,” Putin added.

A number of European international locations are closely depending on Russia oil and pure fuel and have been dashing to search out alternate options now that they’ve adopted sanctions — together with power embargoes — in opposition to Moscow for its navy operation in Ukraine.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:

— Lethal secret: Digital warfare shapes Russia-Ukraine struggle

— Analysts assume Russia could also be in Ukraine to remain after 100 days of struggle

— AP PHOTOS: Russian malls half-empty after Western corporations exit

— At 100 days, Russia-Ukraine struggle by the numbers

— US and allies: Maintain Russia accountable for Ukraine crimes

— Russian Orthodox chief skips EU sanctions because of Hungary’s Orban

Observe AP’s protection of the struggle in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday blamed the West for rising international meals and power crises and repeated his authorities’s provides of protected passage for ships exporting grain from Ukraine if mines are faraway from the waters.

“After all, we at the moment are seeing makes an attempt to shift the accountability for what is going on on the world meals market, the rising issues on this market, onto Russia,” he informed Russian TV. “I need to say that that is an try, as our individuals say, to shift these issues from a sick to a wholesome head.”

As reported by the state-run Tass information company, Putin additionally stated Western sanctions in opposition to Russia would solely worsen world markets – decreasing the harvest and driving up costs.

He stated inflation stemmed from the unprecedented greenback “printing press” throughout the coronavirus pandemic and blamed short-sighted European insurance policies for under-investment in alternate options to conventional power provides and worth will increase.

The Kremlin chief stated Russia wasn’t blocking grain shipments from Ukraine and that the West is utilizing Russia as a scapegoat for its issues.

Putin pledged that if the waters had been demined, Russia wouldn’t assault grain shipments and instructed they could possibly be created from the Ukrainian port of Berdyansk or different international locations, reminiscent of Belarus. Berdyansk is beneath Russian occupation.

“We received’t benefit from the scenario of demining to undertake any sea assaults,” Putin stated.

These had been Putin’s most in depth feedback to this point on the rising meals disaster.

Putin’s positions on these points battle with explanations given by Ukraine and its allies.

GENEVA — Switzerland’s authorities on Friday stated it received’t honor a request by Denmark to ship almost two-dozen Swiss-made armored personnel carriers to Ukraine, citing Swiss “neutrality legislation” that bans the export of struggle materials to a rustic at struggle.

The chief Federal Council confirmed the choice, reported in Swiss media this week, on Friday simply because the Swiss authorities additionally introduced that it could permit the switch of some navy gear to Germany and Britain as they replenish provides that the 2 international locations have despatched to Ukraine.

The announcement testified to the advantageous line Swiss authorities are treading to carry to Switzerland’s authorized requirement to stay impartial as specified by the Warfare Materiel Act, which bars the switch of Swiss-made weapons programs, ammunition and different struggle materials to a rustic concerned in a world battle.

Denmark had requested that Switzerland switch 22 Swiss-made Piranha III wheeled armored personnel carriers, which Denmark had procured and saved in Germany, to Ukraine.

Beforehand, the Swiss rejected a German request to ship Swiss-made 35mm ammunition for Gepard anti-aircraft weapons to Ukraine.

Nonetheless, the Swiss government stated it could permit the export of some elements for hand-held anti-tank weapons and anti-aircraft weapons parts sought by Germany and Italy. It acknowledged these elements might find yourself in Ukraine, however the elements concerned would signify lower than half the worth of the overall weaponry’s worth.

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. — President Joe Biden on Friday stated he thinks a “negotiated settlement” might be crucial to finish Russia’s struggle in Ukraine.

Requested whether or not Ukraine ought to surrender a few of its territory to Russia with the intention to finish the struggle and convey peace to the area, Biden stated his coverage continues to be that america won’t make any selections about Ukraine with out Ukraine.

He stated “it’s their territory” and “I’m not going to inform them what they need to and shouldn’t do.”

However the U.S. chief additionally stated “it seems to me that in some unspecified time in the future alongside the road there’s going to need to be a negotiated settlement right here.” He stated he doesn’t know what such an settlement would appear like however that the U.S. will proceed to assist Ukrainians defend themselves.

Biden commented from Delaware on Friday, the a centesimal day of Russia’s invasion.

PARIS — A French individual was killed “in fight” in Ukraine, the Overseas Ministry stated Friday.

The ministry didn’t elaborate in its written response to a journalist’s query in regards to the dying of a French volunteer fighter within the Kharkiv area.

The ministry, which holds digital written briefings, famous that Ukraine “within the totality of its territory is a struggle zone.” France advises anybody in opposition to going there “regardless of the motive.”

French are amongst quite a few international fighters who headed to Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s name for volunteers to affix a world brigade quickly after Russia invaded the nation Feb. 24.

The variety of French volunteers just isn’t recognized.

GENEVA — A Ukrainian ambassador stated Russia is enjoying “starvation video games” with the world by attempting to depict sanctions in opposition to Moscow as the explanation that grain can’t transit the Black Sea – and never Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Yevheniia Filipenko, Ukraine’s envoy to the U.N. workplace in Geneva, spoke in an interview on the 100-day mark since Russian navy forces invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.

As grain exports dry up via Ukraine’s embattled or captured ports, Filipenko stated Russia has sought to pin the blame for the blockage on Ukraine and Western sanctions which were levied by the hundreds in opposition to Moscow.

“Russia has performed starvation video games lately to place the blame on Ukraine and others for blocking Ukrainian meals exports,” she stated.

Filipenko stated Ukrainian forces had been intensely motivated to guard their homeland and would someday win the struggle. She echoed calls from different high Ukrainian officers for extra weapons.

“We’re preventing for freedom of Europe and the entire world. So the subsequent 100 days might be very busy for all of us,” she stated.

BRUSSELS — The European Union says it has focused Russian navy officers linked to atrocities in Ukraine in its newest spherical of sanctions, together with high brass accused of struggle crimes in Bucha and the siege of Mariupol.

The EU froze the belongings of 65 individuals and imposed journey bans on them. The bloc has now focused nearly 1,160 individuals, together with President Vladimir Putin, pro-Kremlin oligarchs and different high officers over Russia’s actions in Ukraine since 2014.

The EU stated Friday that Colonel Azatbek Omurbekov and Colonel-Common Mikhail Mizintsev, often known as the ‘Butcher of Mariupol,’ had been amongst these on the checklist.

It stated Omurbekov “was main the actions of his navy unit and nicknamed ‘the Butcher of Bucha’ because of his direct accountability in killings, rapes and torture in Bucha,” on the outskirts of Kyiv.

It accused Mizintsev “of orchestrating the bombardments of town of Mariupol, killing hundreds of civilians, together with the shelling of a Mariupol maternity hospital and a theatre, killing tons of of kids.”

EU international coverage chief Josep Borrell stated “there might be no impunity for struggle crimes.”

CHISINAU, Moldova — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has paid an official go to to Moldova, which borders Ukraine, in a public present of help for the nation witnessing Russia’s ambitions within the area up shut and sheltering hundreds of Ukrainian refugees.

Sánchez stated Spain would rise up for Moldova’s territorial integrity, in a reference to Transnistria and Russia’s navy presence there.

Transnistria is a disputed, Russian-backed breakaway state that borders southwestern Ukraine. Professional-Russian forces broke it off from Moldova in 1992, and Russian troops have been stationed there ever since, ostensibly as peacekeepers.

Sánchez assured President Maia Sandu at a press convention Friday in Chisinau, the capital, that Moldova has Spain’s “resounding” help and “our dedication to solidarity with the Moldovan authorities and the Moldovan individuals at a time of nice issue and worldwide political rigidity.”

KYIV, Ukraine — A regional governor in japanese Ukraine says intense preventing is continuous in a key city that has confronted an enormous Russian offensive.

Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai informed The Related Press that “fierce battles are persevering with in Sievierodonetsk,” the place about 13,000 residents left within the metropolis are sheltering in basements to flee relentless Russian bombardment.

Haidai stated Friday that the Russian forces had been additionally pummeling the close by metropolis of Lysychansk that has remained beneath Ukrainian management. Some 20,000 residents, or about one-fifth of Lysychansk’s pre-war inhabitants, have remained within the metropolis which has seen 60% of its residential buildings and civilian infrastructure shattered by the Russian shelling. Haidai stated a civilian was killed within the Russian shelling of Lysychansk on Friday.

He informed the AP that the Russians have been shelling a key freeway linking Lysychansk with Bakhmut, however that it remained beneath Ukrainian management.

LVIV, Ukraine — A Ukrainian navy analyst says a Russian offensive in japanese Ukraine has slowed down amid staunch Ukrainian resistance.

Mykola Sunhurovsky of the Razumkov Middle, a Kyiv-based think-tank, stated Friday that “the Russians are preventing for each block and each avenue” within the japanese metropolis of Lysychansk, including that “it has disadvantaged them of the initiative.” Lysychansk, the executive heart of the japanese Luhansk area has change into an area of fierce preventing this week because it has confronted an enormous Russian assault.

Sunhurovsky charged that “the Russian offensive within the area has began to decelerate, they’ve misplaced too many forces and want a tactical break.”

He famous that “time is working in Ukraine’s favor as provides of Western weapons are growing, making the Kremlin nervous,” however added that Western provides have taken time to succeed in Ukraine, forcing Kyiv to “drag out time within the east to build up forces for a counter-offensive.”

MOSCOW — The Kremlin says it is going to press on with its navy operations in Ukraine till its objectives are met.

Requested how the Kremlin views progress in Ukraine 100 days into the struggle Friday, President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated Russian troops have succeeded of their most important process of defending civilians in areas on Ukraine’s east managed by Moscow-backed separatists.

Peskov stated that Russian forces have “liberated” many areas in Ukraine from the “pro-Nazi” Ukrainian navy and nationalist models, including that “this work will proceed till all of the objectives of the particular navy operation are achieved.”

Talking throughout a convention name with reporters, Peskov was evasive when requested whether or not Russian authorities are planning to carry referendums in these areas to affix Russia, saying that it’s going to rely upon how the scenario evolves. Peskov and different Russian officers have stated repeatedly that will probably be as much as the residents of these areas to find out their standing.

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his nation received’t cease its resistance in opposition to the Russian invasion.

Zelensky on Friday issued a video message to mark 100 days of struggle. Surrounded by different high officers, Zelenskyy appeared defiant.

“Our staff is far bigger,” says Zelenskyy. “The Ukrainian Armed Forces are right here. Most significantly, our persons are right here.”

“We now have defended Ukraine for 100 days already,” he provides.” Victory might be ours!”

BERLIN — The German authorities has rejected strategies by Russia that western sanctions and never Moscow’s struggle in Ukraine are guilty for the worldwide scarcity of grains.

A Overseas Ministry spokeswoman informed reporters in Berlin Friday that “the hazard could be very massive that Russia will strive, that President Putin will attempt to set up a story that it’s the West that’s liable for the famine threatening Africa.”

“It is a narrative that we need to strongly resist,” stated spokeswoman Andrea Sasse.

Responding to an AP query about Putin’s assembly with Senegal’s President Macky Sall in Sochi Friday, Sasse stated it was a reality that the specter of famine in elements of the world and that some international locations might be minimize off from grain imports are “a results of the Russian struggle of assault and never the results of western sanctions.”

A spokesman for Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Wolfgang Buechner, rejected what he known as Putin’s “anti-western propaganda” claiming that the West’s financial and monetary insurance policies in addition to “anti-Russian sanctions” are liable for the issue.

ZAGREB, Croatia — Croatia’s international ministry says a Croatian citizen has been wounded in Ukraine and might be transferred to Croatia.

Croatia’s state HRT tv says that the person was preventing as a volunteer in Ukraine. The international ministry informed the station that the person is protected and receiving medical consideration.

No different particulars had been instantly obtainable.

Final month, Croatian authorities stated that Russian troops detained a Croatian citizen who was preventing alongside Ukrainian fighters in Mariupol.

MOSCOW — The Kremlin says that Ukrainian grain provides to world markets might be on the agenda for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s talks with the chairman of the African Union, Senegalese President Macky Sall.

Ukraine is among the world’s largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil. Ukrainian authorities and their Western supporters have accused Russia of endangering world meals provides with a naval blockade of Ukraine’s ports. Russia has denied blocking the ports and stated Ukraine wanted to take away sea mines to permit protected transport.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated Putin plans to offer Sall a “detailed rationalization” of Russia’s view of the scenario and “clarify once more what’s happening there, who mined the ports, what is important to do to permit the grain circulation to renew.”

African international locations imported 44% of their wheat from Russia and Ukraine between 2018 and 2020, in line with U.N. figures. Wheat costs have spiked 45% on account of the war-related disruption of provides, in line with the African Growth Financial institution.