A theatre in Ukraine’s capital has reopened for the first time since Russian forces invaded the country, and tickets sold out for Sunday’s performance.
Russian gas producer Gazprom said its supply of gas to Europe through Ukraine via the Sudzha entry point was seen at 40.9 million cubic metres (mcm) on Tuesday versus 40.1 mcm on Monday.
Russia has begun turning over the bodies of Ukrainian fighters killed at the Azovstal steelworks, the fortress-like plant in the destroyed city of Mariupol where their last-ditch stand became a symbol of resistance against Moscow’s invasion.
The United States on Monday accused Russia of trying to “intimidate” American correspondents in Moscow, who were summoned by the Russian Foreign Ministry and threatened with reprisals because of US sanctions.
Read more news on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis here.
ANKARA
Turkey says removal of Russia sanctions for grain exports ‘legitimate’
Turkey’s foreign minister on Wednesday called Russian demands for an end to sanctions to help grain onto the world market “legitimate”.
“If we need to open up the international market to Ukrainian grain, we see the removal of obstacles standing in the way of Russia’s exports as a legitimate demand,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Ankara.
Sanctions imposed on Moscow’s financial system have impeded the export of Russian grain and fertiliser.
Lavrov arrived in Ankara on Tuesday amid stark warnings of global food shortages partly blamed on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. – AFP
ROME
Italy warns Ukraine port blockade could kill ‘millions’
Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio warned Wednesday that millions of people could die of hunger unless Russia unblocked Ukraine’s ports, as he hosted talks among Mediterranean ministers on the food crisis.
“The next few weeks will be crucial to resolving the situation,” Di Maio said after a virtual meeting involving Turkey and Lebanon among other countries, as well as G7 president Germany and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation. – AFP
UKRAINE
Lavrov says onus is on Ukraine to de-mine ports to allow grain shipments
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday the onus was on Ukraine to solve the problem of resuming grain shipments by de-mining its ports.
Lavrov said no action was required on the Russian side because it had already made the necessary commitments.
“We state daily that we’re ready to guarantee the safety of vessels leaving Ukrainian ports and heading for the (Bosphorus) gulf, we’re ready to do that in cooperation with our Turkish colleagues,” he said after talks with his Turkish counterpart. – Reuters
KYIV
Ukrainian forces may have to pull back in Sievierodonetsk: Governor
Ukraine’s military may have to pull back to stronger positions in the embattled eastern city of Sievierodonetsk, but they will not give up the city and fierce fighting raged there on Wednesday, the region’s governor said.
Ukraine expects Russia to step up its bombardment of Sievierodonetsk and to mount a huge offensive where Moscow is focusing all its efforts, the governor, Serhiy Gaidai, said on television.
“Fighting is still going and no one is going to give up the city even if our military has to step back to stronger positions. This will not mean someone is giving up the city – no one will give up anything. But it’s possible (they) will be forced to pull back,” he said. – Reuters
ANKARA
Lavrov in Turkey to discuss plan to ship Ukrainian grain
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is due to hold talks Wednesday with Turkish officials on a plan that could allow Ukraine to export its grain through the Black Sea to global markets amid an escalating food crisis.
Ukraine is one of the world’s largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, but the war and a Russian blockade of its ports have halted much of that flow, endangering food supplies to many developing countries. Many of those ports are now also heavily mined. – AP
KYIV
Zelensky defiant as Russia claims Severodonetsk gains
Russia claimed its forces have taken full control of residential neighbourhoods in eastern Ukraine’s Severodonetsk, as President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed the “heroic defence” of the Donbas region will persist against the odds.
The strategic city is currently the focus of Russia’s offensive after their forces were repelled from other parts of Ukraine following the February invasion.
Intense street fighting has raged for days, with the situation on the ground changing rapidly. – AFP
NOVI PETRIVTSI (UKRAINE)
Bread factory holds tough as Ukraine hopes for recovery
Located near the capital Kyiv, the Tsar-Khlib factory continued production even as Russian troops advanced, keeping city residents fed despite a missile attack on a neighbouring facility.
At one point, the factory was less than eight kilometres (five miles) from the front line, and many of the factory’s workers were stranded in territory held by Russian forces. Most of its clients had fled to safety.
In the end, the immediate crisis passed, as Russian troops withdrew from the area at the end of March. – AP
KYIV
Russia claims advances in Ukraine amid fierce fighting
Russia on Tuesday claimed to have taken control of 97% of one of the two provinces that make up Ukraine’s Donbas, bringing the Kremlin closer to its goal of fully capturing the eastern industrial heartland of coal mines and factories.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Moscow’s forces hold nearly all of Luhansk province. And it appears that Russia now occupies roughly half of Donetsk province, according to Ukrainian officials and military analysts. – AP
KYIV
Kyiv’s Theater on Podil opens to sold out performances
A theatre in Ukraine’s capital has reopened for the first time since Russian forces invaded the country, and tickets sold out for Sunday’s performance.
Theater on Podil was the latest cultural institution in Kyiv to resume operations. Movie theatres and the National Opera opened their doors at the end of May. – AP
KYIV
Russia claims partial control of flashpoint Ukraine city
Russia on Tuesday reported its forces had taken full control of residential neighbourhoods in Ukraine’s flashpoint city of Severodonetsk, after Kyiv said its troops were fighting on in the eastern hub despite being outnumbered.
“The residential areas of the city of Severodonetsk have been fully liberated,” Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told a defence ministry meeting.
The Russian army was still seeking to establish control over the city’s “industrial zone and the nearest settlements”, Mr. Shoigu added, amid conflicting reports of who is in control of what. – AFP
MOSCOW
Russian Parliament votes to exit European Court of Human Rights
The Russian State Duma on June 7 passed a pair of Bills ending the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECHR) jurisdiction in Russia, after Russia announced plans to exit the court amid the conflict in Ukraine.
The Russian Parliament approved two Bills, one removing the country from the court’s jurisdiction and a second setting March 16 as the cut-off point, with rulings against Russia made after that date not to be implemented. – Reuters
TOKYO
Japan, NATO step up ties amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Japanese and NATO officials agreed Tuesday to step up military cooperation and joint exercises as they shared concerns that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is causing a deterioration of the security environment in Europe and Asia.
Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi said after meeting with NATO Military Committee chief Rob Bauer that Japan hopes to strengthen its ties with European countries and welcomes NATO’s expanded involvement in the Indo-Pacific region.
