UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations on Friday stated humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths had “frank and constructive discussions” with Russian officers as a part of U.N. efforts to succeed in a deal on agricultural exports amid an escalating meals disaster.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric advised reporters that Griffiths held conferences with officers within the ministries of international affairs and protection on Wednesday and Thursday centered on in search of methods to facilitate the export of grain and different meals from Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea to world markets.
His conferences adopted a Monday go to to the Russian capital by Rebeca Grynspan, the secretary-general of the U.N. Convention on Commerce and Improvement, who’s specializing in getting Russian grains and fertilizer to world markets.
Dujarric stated Friday that “now we have seen numerous optimistic feedback come from numerous capitols.”
However he stated “there are numerous transferring items on this puzzle” and he was not able to substantiate stories of a attainable assembly in Istanbul on June 8 when Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov visits Turkey, or that there might be “an remark mechanism” based mostly in Istanbul however run by the U.N. for grain exports from Ukraine.
Dujarric did verify that U.N. Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres spoke to Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, an in depth Russian ally, on Friday about export points.
He wouldn’t verify Belarusian media stories that they mentioned the potential of exporting Ukrainian grain by Belarus in change for entry for Belarusian merchandise to be exported by ports in Germany, the Baltics and Poland.
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KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:
— Lethal secret: Digital warfare shapes Russia-Ukraine warfare
— Analysts assume Russia could also be in Ukraine to remain after 100 days of warfare
— AP PHOTOS: Russian malls half-empty after Western corporations exit
— At 100 days, Russia-Ukraine warfare by the numbers
— US and allies: Maintain Russia accountable for Ukraine crimes
— Russian Orthodox chief skips EU sanctions because of Hungary’s Orban
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Observe AP’s protection of the warfare in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:
MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday blamed america and Europe for the vitality issues they’re going through, saying they stoked fears about local weather change to spice up help for renewable vitality however then underinvested.
Talking on Russian TV, Putin stated these international locations adopted a short-sighted insurance policies that relied too closely on renewable vitality sources reminiscent of photo voltaic, wind and hydrogen.
These applied sciences weren’t but prepared for large deployment or have been too costly, he stated, and Europe and america downplayed the function of what they have been supposed to interchange: hydrocarbons. The outcome was under-development and under-investment in vitality, and a rise in costs, in response to Putin.
Exacerbating the issue, in his view, is that Europeans – regardless of Moscow’s warnings – declined to take care of 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 linked in any strategy 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 seek out alternate options now that they’ve adopted sanctions — together with vitality embargoes — in opposition to Moscow for its navy operation in Ukraine.
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MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday blamed the West for rising world meals and vitality crises and repeated his authorities’s affords of secure passage for ships exporting grain from Ukraine if mines are faraway from the waters.
“In fact, we are actually seeing makes an attempt to shift the accountability for what is occurring on the world meals market, the rising issues on this market, onto Russia,” he advised Russian TV. “I have to say that that is an try, as our folks 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 – lowering 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 vitality 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 have been demined, Russia wouldn’t assault grain shipments and steered they may very well be made out of the Ukrainian port of Berdyansk or different international locations, reminiscent of Belarus. Berdyansk is underneath Russian occupation.
“We gained’t reap the benefits of the scenario of demining to undertake any sea assaults,” Putin stated.
These have been Putin’s most in depth feedback so far on the rising meals disaster.
Putin’s positions on these points battle with explanations given by Ukraine and its allies.
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GENEVA — Switzerland’s authorities on Friday stated it gained’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 warfare materials to a rustic at warfare.
The manager Federal Council confirmed the choice, reported in Swiss media this week, on Friday simply because the Swiss authorities additionally introduced that it might permit the switch of some navy tools to Germany and Britain as they replenish provides that the 2 international locations have despatched to Ukraine.
The announcement testified to the wonderful line Swiss authorities are treading to carry to Switzerland’s authorized requirement to stay impartial as specified by the Conflict Materiel Act, which bars the switch of Swiss-made weapons programs, ammunition and different warfare 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.
Nevertheless, the Swiss government stated it might permit the export of some components for hand-held anti-tank weapons and anti-aircraft weapons elements sought by Germany and Italy. It acknowledged these components might find yourself in Ukraine, however the components concerned would characterize lower than half the worth of the entire weaponry’s worth.
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REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. — President Joe Biden on Friday stated he thinks a “negotiated settlement” might be crucial to finish Russia’s warfare in Ukraine.
Requested whether or not Ukraine ought to hand over a few of its territory to Russia to be able to finish the warfare and produce peace to the area, Biden stated his coverage continues to be that america is not going to make any choices 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 sooner or later alongside the road there’s going to should be a negotiated settlement right here.” He stated he doesn’t know what such an settlement would seem like however that the U.S. will proceed to assist Ukrainians defend themselves.
Biden commented from Delaware on Friday, the one centesimal day of Russia’s invasion.
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PARIS — A French particular person was killed “in fight” in Ukraine, the International Ministry stated Friday.
The ministry didn’t elaborate in its written response to a journalist’s query concerning the loss of life 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 warfare 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 hitch a world brigade quickly after Russia invaded the nation Feb. 24.
The variety of French volunteers is just not recognized.
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GENEVA — A Ukrainian ambassador stated Russia is taking part in “starvation video games” with the world by attempting to depict sanctions in opposition to Moscow as the rationale 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 by Ukraine’s embattled or captured ports, Filipenko stated Russia has sought to pin the blame for the blockage on Ukraine and Western sanctions which have been levied by the hundreds in opposition to Moscow.
“Russia has performed starvation video games not too long ago to place the blame on Ukraine and others for blocking Ukrainian meals exports,” she stated.
Filipenko stated Ukrainian forces have been intensely motivated to guard their homeland and would someday win the warfare. She echoed calls from different high Ukrainian officers for extra weapons.
“We’re combating for freedom of Europe and the entire world. So the following 100 days might be very busy for all of us,” she stated.
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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 warfare crimes in Bucha and the siege of Mariupol.
The EU froze the belongings of 65 folks and imposed journey bans on them. The bloc has now focused nearly 1,160 folks, 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-Normal Mikhail Mizintsev, often known as the ‘Butcher of Mariupol,’ have been amongst these on the record.
It stated Omurbekov “was main the actions of his navy unit and nicknamed ‘the Butcher of Bucha’ as a result 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 lots of of kids.”
EU international coverage chief Josep Borrell stated “there will be no impunity for warfare crimes.”
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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 arise 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 folks at a time of nice problem and worldwide political pressure.”
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KYIV, Ukraine — A regional governor in japanese Ukraine says intense combating is constant in a key city that has confronted an enormous Russian offensive.
Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai advised 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 have been additionally pummeling the close by metropolis of Lysychansk that has remained underneath 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 advised the AP that the Russians have been shelling a key freeway linking Lysychansk with Bakhmut, however that it remained underneath Ukrainian management.
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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 Heart, a Kyiv-based think-tank, stated Friday that “the Russians are combating for each block and each road” 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 combating 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.”
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MOSCOW — The Kremlin says it can 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 warfare Friday, President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated Russian troops have succeeded of their foremost job 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 items, 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 hitch Russia, saying that it’s going to depend upon how the scenario evolves. Peskov and different Russian officers have stated repeatedly that it will likely be as much as the residents of these areas to find out their standing.
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KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his nation gained’t cease its resistance in opposition to the Russian invasion.
Zelensky on Friday issued a video message to mark 100 days of warfare. Surrounded by different high officers, Zelenskyy appeared defiant.
“Our group is far bigger,” says Zelenskyy. “The Ukrainian Armed Forces are right here. Most significantly, our persons are right here.”
“We have now defended Ukraine for 100 days already,” he provides.” Victory might be ours!”
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