Britain said on Wednesday it had imposed new sanctions on 206 individuals in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including 178 who it said were involved in furthering Russian-backed segregation of Ukraine.
Kyiv said on Tuesday that ongoing talks with Russia to end the war were “extremely difficult” as Moscow accused Ukrainian negotiators of slowing down discussions by changing demands.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Tuesday that he had offered to visit Ukraine with other EU leaders, but Kyiv had told him his visit was “not wanted”.
Here are the latest updates:
Kyiv
Ukraine says missiles hit Russian flagship, crew evacuated
Ukrainian forces said they struck and badly damaged the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, and Russia said its crew was forced to evacuate as a result of the fire without admitting to an attack. The battle shifted to the east and around the battered town of Mariupol, where the defenders still stood outside.
Odessa Region Governor Maksim Marchenko said the Ukrainian guided missile cruiser Moskva was hit by two missiles and caused “serious damage”.
Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed that the ship was damaged, but not that it was hit by Ukraine – it said that the ammunition on board exploded as a result of the fire of as yet undetermined cause. The entire crew was evacuated, it added; Cruisers usually have about 500 on board. , AP
Kyiv
Neighbors back Ukraine, demand accountability for war crimes
Presidents of the four countries at Russia’s doorstep visited war-torn areas near the Ukrainian capital and demanded accountability for war crimes, as Kyiv and Moscow attacked what happened to a badly damaged missile cruiser, which was part of Russia. There are conflicting accounts of the main ship. Fleet in the Black Sea.
Wednesday’s visit by the leaders of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia was a strong display of solidarity of countries on the eastern side of NATO, three of them part of the Soviet Union such as Ukraine. They traveled to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv by train to meet their counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, and visited one of the nearby towns, Borodyanka, to find evidence of atrocities after Russian troops returned to focus on the country’s east. Had gone. , PTI
Ukraine
Moscow threatens to attack Kyiv as Russian flagship ‘severely damaged’
Russia’s Black Sea flagship involved in a naval attack on Ukraine has been “severely damaged” by an explosion, state media reported on Thursday, as Moscow threatened to attack Kyiv’s command centers. , AFP
United Nations
UN says Ukraine war threatens to destroy many poor countries
Russia’s war on Ukraine threatens to devastate the economies of many developing countries that are now facing even higher food and energy costs and increasingly difficult financial conditions, a UN task force has warned.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres released the report, saying the war is “supercharging” a crisis of food, energy and finance in poor countries already struggling to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and a lack of adequate access. were. money for economic recovery. , PTI
Washington
Joe Biden approves $800 million in new military aid for Ukraine
In anticipation of a new Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine, President Joe Biden has approved an $800 million package of military aid, including the first provision of additional helicopters and US artillery.
Ukrainians will also receive armored personnel carriers, armored Humvees, naval drone ships used in coastal defense, and equipment and equipment used to protect troops in chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological attacks.
Biden said in a statement on April 13, “This new package of assistance will include many of the highly effective weapon systems we have already provided and new capabilities in line with the broader attack that we hope Russia will launch in eastern Ukraine.” will do.”
Moscow
Russia to explore alternative to European energy market: Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Moscow would seek alternative markets for its energy exports after Western capitals cleared Russia of its military operation in Ukraine.
Since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Russia has faced unprecedented sanctions, including sanctions on its energy exports.
“We have all the resources and opportunities to find alternative solutions,” Mr Putin said during a televised government meeting on the development of the Russian Arctic. , AFP