By The Related Press
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraineian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the Russian blockade of Ukrainian sea ports prevents Kyiv from exporting 22 million tons of grain.
In his nightly tackle Tuesday, Zelenskyy stated the result’s the specter of famine in nations depending on the grain and will create a brand new migration disaster. He fees that “that is one thing the Russian management clearly seeks.”
Zelenskyy accuses Moscow of “intentionally creating this drawback in order that the entire of Europe struggles and in order that Ukraine doesn’t earn billions of {dollars} from its exports.”
He calls Russia’s claims that sanctions don’t enable it to export extra of its meals “cynical” and a lie.
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:
— Russian, Ukrainian troops combat block by block in key metropolis
— EU leaders divided over Russia oil embargo, spy an answer
— Struggle in Ukraine provides to meals value hikes, starvation in Africa
— Russia gives overseas debt fee system much like gasoline one
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Comply with AP’s protection of the struggle in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:
KYIV, Ukraine — The Ukrainian president says a complete of 32 media staff have been killed in Ukraine because the starting of the Russian invasion.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in his nightly tackle Mondaythat the quantity consists of French journalist Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff.
The French information broadcaster BFM TV says Leclerc-Imhoff was hit by shrapnel whereas overlaying a Ukrainian evacuation operation.
In his discuss, Zelenskyy stated: “Somewhat greater than a month in the past I gave an interview to this very TV channel. It was my first interview to the French media throughout the full-fledged struggle. My honest condolences to colleagues and household of Frédéric.”
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Russian state gasoline big Gazprom confirmed on Monday it should halt gasoline provides to a Dutch gasoline dealer beginning Tuesday resulting from its refusal to pay for deliveries in rubles, a requirement to European nations Russian President Vladimir Putin put ahead earlier this yr.
GasTerra, based mostly within the northern Dutch metropolis of Groningen, introduced the shutoff Monday. It stated the transfer means Gazprom is not going to ship some 2 billion cubic meters of gasoline by Oct. 1, the date the availability contract ends.
In its assertion cited by the Russian state information company Tass, Gazprom stated that GasTerra has not paid for the gasoline equipped in April.
The Dutch dealer stated it has purchased gasoline from different suppliers in anticipation of a doable Gazprom shutoff and Dutch Local weather and Power Minister Rob Jetten stated in a press release that the federal government understands the cutoff will “haven’t any impact on the bodily supply of gasoline to Dutch households.”
GasTerra is a personal firm that’s owned by the Dutch arms of vitality giants Shell and Esso and the Dutch authorities.
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KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has requested France to not succumb to Russian “blackmail” over meals provides at a gathering with French Overseas Minister Catherine Colonna.
Zelenskyy’s workplace says in its abstract of the Monday talks that Russia is utilizing meals safety points in an try and have worldwide sanctions eased. Ukraine has accused Russia of looting grain and farm gear from areas its troops maintain in Ukraine and of obstructing Ukraine’s exports of grain.
Zelenskyy’s workplace says he and Colonna mentioned sanctions, weapons provides and Ukrainian aspirations to affix the European Union.
Ukraine Overseas Minister Dmytro Kuleba says it’s vital Colonna additionally visited Bucha, the sight of Russian atrocities.
Moscow has pressed the West to raise sanctions in opposition to it over the struggle in Ukraine, in search of to shift the blame for a rising meals disaster worsened by Kyiv’s lack of ability to ship grain whereas beneath assault. Britain has accused Russia of “making an attempt to carry the world to ransom,” insisting there can be no sanctions aid.
Ukraine says it’s grateful to France for supporting sturdy sanctions.
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PARIS — A French information broadcaster says a 32-year-old French journalist has been killed in Ukraine whereas “overlaying a humanitarian operation.”
BFM TV says the journalist was fatally hit by shell shrapnel whereas overlaying the Ukrainian evacuation operation on Monday. The broadcaster says Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff was in an armored car close to Sievierodonetsk, a key metropolis within the Donbas area.
French President Emmanuel Macron has paid tribute to Leclerc-Imhoff. Macron tweeted the journalist “was in Ukraine to point out the fact of the struggle.” Macron says, “Aboard a humanitarian bus, alongside civilians pressured to flee to flee Russian bombs, he was fatally shot.”
Ukrainian Inside Ministry adviser Anton Gerashchenko says one other French journalist was wounded together with a Ukrainian girl who was accompanying them.
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MOSCOW — The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken on the cellphone to Turkish chief Recep Tayyip Erdogan and mentioned the scenario in Ukraine, amongst different issues.
In response to the Kremlin’s readout of the Monday name, “the emphasis was positioned on the problems of making certain protected navigation within the Black and Azov Seas, eliminating the mine menace of their waters.”
The readout says Putin “famous the readiness of the Russian facet to facilitate the unimpeded maritime transit of products in coordination with Turkish companions.” It says, “This additionally applies to the export of grain from Ukrainian ports.”
Ukraine has accused Russia of looting grain and farm gear from areas its troops maintain in Ukraine and of obstructing Ukraine’s exports of grain.
The Kremlin says Putin “confirmed” to Erdogan that Russia can export “vital quantities of fertilizers and agricultural merchandise” if sanctions in opposition to it are lifted.
Moscow has pressed the West to raise sanctions in opposition to it over the struggle in Ukraine, in search of to shift the blame for a rising meals disaster worsened by Kyiv’s lack of ability to ship grain whereas beneath assault. Britain has accused Russia of “making an attempt to carry the world to ransom,” insisting there can be no sanctions aid.
A high U.S. diplomat has blasted the “barbarity,” “cruelty” and “lawlessness” of Russia’s invasion.
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WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is suggesting that there aren’t any plans for the U.S. to ship long-range rocket techniques to Ukraine, amid studies that the transfer is being thought-about.
Biden informed reporters exterior the White Home on Monday that “we aren’t going to ship to Ukraine rocket techniques that may strike into Russia.”
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Safety Council, stated that it was a “cheap” determination.
He stated that “in any other case, if our cities come beneath assault, the Russian armed forces would fulfill (their) menace and strike the facilities the place such felony selections are made.”
Medvedev added that “a few of them aren’t in Kyiv.” And he stated that “there isn’t a want for an extra rationalization.”
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BRUSSELS — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is welcoming a proposal for the European Union to slap an embargo on Russian oil transported by ship and to exempt oil pumped overland by Ukraine to his nation.
Orban says the thought is a “good strategy.” However he needs ensures that “within the case of an accident with the pipeline” Hungary would “have the appropriate to get Russian oil from different sources.”
Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria depend on Russian oil and are reluctant to impose sweeping sanctions on crude. Russia provides greater than 60% of Hungary’s oil.
Orban’s remarks got here Monday at a rare EU summit targeted on serving to Ukraine, with sanctions a transparent focus of consideration.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala additionally says {that a} ban on “sea-transported oil has our help.”
Fiala says his nation “merely can not afford a scenario after we’d lack some oil merchandise.”
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BRUSSELS — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he’s assured {that a} “good answer” to a standoff over a proposed European Union embargo on Russian oil will likely be discovered “in the end.”
Scholz stated as he arrived at an EU summit Monday that Europe’s unity up to now within the face of Russia’s assault on Ukraine sends a very good sign “and I’m very assured that we are going to accomplish that sooner or later too.”
Divisions have emerged over whether or not to focus on Russian oil in a brand new sequence of sanctions, with Hungary main objections. However Scholz stated he noticed talks being performed “with a will to succeed in an settlement.”
He didn’t tackle particulars of a doable answer however stated the EU’s energy lies in fixing issues collectively and he’s “firmly satisfied that we are able to proceed discussing a very good answer with one another at present and tomorrow.”
Scholz stated: “Nobody can predict whether or not this can truly be the case, however every little thing I hear sounds as if there could possibly be a consensus, and in the end there will likely be one.”
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VILNIUS, Lithuania — Lawmakers from NATO nations are calling for an answer to move grain and different merchandise from Ukraine to get round a Russian blockade of Black Sea ports.
Spanish lawmaker Zaida Cantera stated that “Africa and the Center East import round 50% of those merchandise” and that, based mostly on U.N. information, “Africa will face famine.” Cantera stated that ”may result in extra migrants arriving within the southern elements of Europe.”
She spoke on the NATO parliamentary meeting, which was moved to the Lithuanian capital after initially being slated for Kyiv.
On the finish of their one-day gathering, the NATO lawmakers authorised a decision calling for stronger sanctions in opposition to Russia and an elevated provide of weapons to Ukraine.
Ruslan Stefanchuk, the speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, stated throughout the assembly that his nation is not going to settle for any “land for peace” offers with Russia.
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BARCELONA, Spain — NATO Secretary-Normal Jens Stoltenberg says subsequent month’s summit in Madrid will likely be a “historic” alternative to strengthen the alliance within the face of Russian aggression in opposition to Ukraine.
Talking at a gala in Madrid to mark Spain’s fortieth yr as a NATO member, Stoltenberg stated he appeared ahead to welcoming Sweden and Finland on the summit on June 29-30.
He stated that “on the Madrid summit we’ll chart the way in which forward for the following decade.” He added that “we will even be joined by Finland and Sweden, who’ve simply made historic purposes to affix our alliance.”
However the chief of the 30-member alliance didn’t tackle Turkey’s reluctance to opening the doorways to Sweden and Finland.
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MOSCOW — Russia says it might use an association much like that used for funds for its gasoline provides to pay its dollar-denominated overseas money owed.
The Vedomosti enterprise day by day on Monday quoted Finance Minister Anton Siluanov as saying that Russia will provide the holders of its Eurobond obligations a fee system bypassing Western monetary infrastructure.
Russia beforehand has provided pure gasoline prospects to determine an account in {dollars} or euros at Gazprombank, then a second account in rubles. The importer would pay the gasoline invoice in euros or {dollars} and direct the financial institution to change the cash for rubles.
The system goals to keep away from a threat of funds for gasoline being frozen as a part of Western sanctions in opposition to Russia for its actions in Ukraine.
Siluanov informed Vedomosti {that a} comparable mechanism will likely be set for Eurobond holders, with a suggestion to open overseas forex and ruble accounts at a Russian financial institution.
“In funds for gasoline, we’re credited with overseas forex and it’s transformed into rubles,” Siluanov was quoted as saying. “The Eurobond settlement mechanism will work in the identical means, simply within the different course.”
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LVIV, Ukraine — The mayor of a Ukrainian metropolis on the epicenter of the Russian offensive says that fierce avenue battles are occurring there.
Sievierodonetsk Mayor Oleksandr Striuk informed The Related Press in a phone interview Monday that “Russian troops have entered the town and avenue preventing is occurring.” He added that the Ukrainian defenders had been preventing to push the Russians out.
Striuk added that “the Russian troops have superior a couple of blocks towards the town middle.”
He stated that “we have now no energy and no communications. Town has been fully ruined.”
The mayor stated that 12,000-13,000 civilians left within the metropolis are sheltering in basements and bunkers to flee relentless Russian bombardment. He stated that “the variety of victims is rising each hour, however we’re unable to depend the useless and the wounded amid the road preventing.”
Striuk stated that 1,500 residents of the town have died because the begin of the struggle.
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KYIV, Ukraine — The Ukrainian band that gained the Eurovision Tune Contest says it has offered the trophy at public sale to boost funds to purchase gear for the Ukrainian navy.
Kalush Orchestra stated on social media that the trophy was offered within the on-line public sale late Sunday for $900,000 to a cryptocurrency group throughout a live-streamed fundraising occasion.
“Mates, you’re unreal!,” Kalush Orchestra stated in an Instagram put up. “Because of everybody who donated.”
Serhiy Prytula, a Ukrainian TV presenter who hosted the public sale, stated on Twitter {that a} additional 11 million hryvnia ($370,000) was raised in an internet raffle for the pink bucket hat which Kalush Orchestra frontman Oleh Psiuk wore throughout the Eurovision efficiency. He stated the hat was gained by a person within the Czech Republic. Prytula stated the funds can be used to purchase a drone.
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MOSCOW — Professional-Russian authorities in southern Ukraine say that two civilians had been wounded by an explosion that they blamed on Ukraine.
Halyna Danylchenko, who was appointed mayor of the town of Melitopol after its takeover by Russian troops, stated that Monday’s explosion wounded two native volunteers who had been concerned in deliveries of humanitarian help to metropolis residents. She stated that they had been hospitalized.
Nobody has claimed accountability for the explosion, which Danylchenko blamed on Ukraine and denounced as a “cynical terror assault by the Kyiv regime” in remarks broadcast by Russian state tv.
Melitopol was captured by Russian forces early within the marketing campaign.
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MOSCOW — Authorities in a Russia-backed separatist area in jap Ukraine say a minimum of 5 civilians have been killed in new Ukrainian shelling.
The separatist authorities stated these killed throughout the shelling of the town of Donetsk included a 13-year outdated boy. They stated one other 13 civilians have been wounded in shelling Monday that broken three faculties within the metropolis.
Donetsk Mayor Alexei Kulemzin stated that the Ukrainian forces apparently used U.S.-supplied artillery techniques within the assault.
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An official put in by Russia within the Kherson area of southern Ukraine says grain from the realm is being despatched to Russia.
Kirill Stremousov, the deputy head of the Russia-backed administration for the Kherson area, informed Russia’s Tass state information company on Monday that grain from final yr’s harvest was being delivered to Russian consumers.
“There’s area for storing (the following crop) though clearly there may be a whole lot of grain right here,” Stremousov was quoted as saying. “Now persons are partially exporting, having reached agreements with those that are shopping for from the (Russian) facet.”
Tass additionally reported that Stremousov stated sunflower seeds could possibly be despatched to Russian processing vegetation to make sunflower oil.
Ukraine has accused Russia of looting grain and farm gear from territories held by its forces and the U.S. has alleged Russia is jeopardizing international meals provides by stopping Ukraine from exporting its harvest.
Russian troops overran many of the Kherson area within the early weeks of the struggle and have tightened their grip on the realm since. Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin visited the area earlier this month and advised it may change into a part of “our Russian household.”
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MOSCOW — The Russian navy says it has struck a shipbuilding manufacturing facility in Ukraine’s south.
Russian Protection Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov stated Monday {that a} Russian artillery strike on the shipyard within the port of Mykolaiv destroyed Ukrainian armored autos parked on its territory.
Konashenkov stated that Russian artillery hit 593 areas of focus of Ukrainian troops and gear and 55 artillery batteries over the past 24 hours.
He added that the Russian air drive hit three command posts and 67 troop areas.
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KYIV, Ukraine — A regional governor says an intense battle is occurring for the important thing metropolis of Sievierodonetsk in jap Ukraine.
Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai stated that that Russian forces have entered the outskirts and had been pushing towards close by Lysychansk. He stated Monday that two civilians had been killed and one other 5 had been wounded within the newest Russian shelling.
The Ukrainian navy additionally stated that Russian forces had been reinforcing their positions on northeastern and southeastern outskirts of Sievierodonetsk and bringing extra gear and ammunition into the realm to press their offensive.
Sievierodonetsk has been a key goal of the Russian offensive in Ukraine’s jap Donbas industrial heartland. Town has served as the executive middle for the Luhansk area, which makes up Donbas along with the neighboring Donetsk area.
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BERLIN — Germany’s governing events and the primary opposition occasion have reached a deal to maneuver forward with a giant improve in protection spending that Chancellor Olaf Scholz introduced three months in the past.
Scholz informed German lawmakers three days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began that the nation would commit 100 billion euros ($107 billion) to a particular fund for its navy and lift its protection spending above 2% of GDP — a measure on which it had lengthy lagged.
Scholz wished to anchor the particular fund within the structure. That requires a two-thirds majority in each homes of parliament, that means that the chancellor wanted help from the center-right opposition Union bloc.
Talks on the problem grew to become mired in particulars, however the two sides reached an settlement Sunday night time that clears the way in which to carry the fund to parliament. Amongst different issues, funding for cyberdefense and help for companion nations will come from Germany’s common price range, not the particular fund.
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MOGADISHU, Somalia — Households throughout Africa are paying about 45% extra for wheat flour as Russia’s struggle in Ukraine blocks exports from the Black Sea.
Some nations like Somalia get greater than 90% of their wheat from Russia and Ukraine. That’s forcing many individuals to substitute wheat for different grains. However the United Nations is warning that the value hikes are coming as many elements of Africa are going through drought and starvation.
The U.N. already had warned that an estimated 13 million folks had been already going through extreme starvation within the wider Horn of Africa area on account of a persistent drought. The World Meals Program chief say’s Russia’s struggle on Ukraine is “piling disaster on high of disaster” for the world’s poor.
