Latest news on Russia and the war in Ukraine

The EU flag was given the flooring of the Ukrainian parliament in Kyiv and raised following a video address by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

“You have gained the endorsement and respect of all EU member states,” she stated. “Ukraine now has a very clear European perspective, it is a candidate country for the EU.”

Ukraine officially ended up being a prospect nation for the EU recently, a significant action in signing up with the bloc as part of a procedure that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated “should not take years or decades.”

Matti Maasikas, ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, tweeted a video of the flag-raising, composing, “Moving to tears – the EU flag is been brought to the plenary hall of @ua_parliament. To stay.”

— Natasha Turak

A Russian rocket strike in Ukraine’s southern Odesa area eliminated 18 individuals, amongst them 2 kids, the regional guv stated.

“As a result of a night missile strike by Tu-22 strategic aircraft from the Black Sea in the Belgorod-Dniester district of Odesa region, three X-22 missiles hit an apartment building and a recreation center,” Odesa local guv Maksym Marchenko composed on his Telegram channel, according to a Google translation.

“As of 9am, 18 victims were identified, including 2 children, and 31 people were hospitalized, including 4 children and a pregnant woman. Another 8 sought medical help. 8 people were rescued from the rubble, including 3 children. Rescue work continues.” he included.

CNBC has actually not had the ability to individually validate the details. Moscow has actually rejected obligation for the strike.

Odesa is a tactically crucial port city where much of Ukraine’s exports are shipped through the BlackSea Those food exports have actually been immobilized by Russia’s navy which is managing and obstructing important shipping paths, sending out worldwide food rates skyrocketing.

— Natasha Turak

American basketball gamer Brittney Griner, who has actually been apprehended in Russia becauseFeb 17, came to a Moscow court for her trial. The Olympic gold medalist was implicated by Russian authorities of having marijuana oil in her baggage and smuggling the narcotic product, a criminal offense that might draw a 10- year prison sentence.

U.S. authorities argue that Griner is being wrongfully apprehended. U.S. nationwide security consultant Jake Sullivan stated today that the professional athlete is being “wrongfully detained, unjustly detained, and we have made that clear as an official determination of the U.S. government.”

— Natasha Turak

An iron drape in between Russia and the West is basically currently here, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated, explaining the political and financial wall that has actually formed following Russia’s intrusion of Ukraine.

“As far as an iron curtain is concerned, essentially it is already descending,” Lavrov stated after talks with Belarus’s foreign minister, according to a translation by AFP.

He included that the EU made no effort to comprehend Russia’s interests, stating it’s “interested in what has been decided in Brussels. And what has been decided in Washington has been decided in Brussels.”

Since early March and the imposition of various sanctions on Russia by the West, which cut off numerous travel, financing and service ties, numerous historians have actually conjured up the so-called “iron curtain” in explaining global relations.

The term was very first promoted by previous British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1946 to explain the political, military, and ideological barrier set up by the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin to seal itself off from the West.

— Natasha Turak

U.S. President Joe Biden has actually vowed to assistance Ukraine for as long as required. He was speaking at the end of a NATO top in Madrid that saw the alliance accept enormously increase its troop existence in eastern Europe.

When asked throughout a brand-new conference Thursday if there was any limitation to U.S. costs on help for Kyiv, Biden responded, “We’re gonna stick with Ukraine, and all of the allies will stick with Ukraine, as long as it takes, and in fact make sure they are not defeated.”

Biden likewise revealed a brand-new $800 million military help plan for the nation as the war enters its 5th month.

— Natasha Turak

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Ukrainian forces following the freedom of Snake Island, a remote island off the south of Ukraine.

“Undoubtedly, the main word today is ‘Snake.’ Apparently, there was just as much talk about Zmiinyi (Snake) Island only on the day when the Russian ship arrived there. Then the ship left forever and now the island is free again,” Zelenskyy stated through the Telegram messaging platform, according to an NBC News translation.

Ukrainian authorities stated previously that Russian soldiers left Snake Island, which was taken by Russian forces on the very first day of the intrusion. Russia’s Ministry of Defense likewise validated the withdrawal.

— Amanda Macias

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau states his federal government will increase Canada’s troop existence in Latvia as part of NATO’s dedication to enhance its deterrence steps along Russia’s border.

Trudeau made the statement at the close of the three-day NATO top inMadrid He did not provide particular numbers.

Canada leads NATO’s battlegroup in Latvia of around 2,000 soldiers in overall. Albania, the Czech Republic, Italy, Montenegro, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain likewise supply soldiers to the group.

“We will be bolstering our military deployment in Latvia and work with other allies to be able to rapidly augment our current strength to our combat capable brigade when required,” Trudeau stated.

Trudeau stated his federal government likewise wishes to send out up to 39 armored battle assistance lorries to Ukraine in addition to 6 extra drone cams to assist combat the Russian intrusion.

— Associated Press