Latest news on Russia and the war in Ukraine

One ship bring 6,800 metric lots of wheat left Ukraine’s port of Chornomorsk under the Black Sea GrainInitiative The ship is predestined for Italy.

The offer, which developed a humanitarian sea passage for farming exports, was extended on Wednesday a day prior to its expiration.

Since August 1, almost 1,000 ships bring more than 30.3 million metric lots of farming items and foods have actually left Ukraine for international ports, according to figures supplied by the United Nations.

— Amanda Macias

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated his nation had a “special relationship” with Russia and its leader Vladimir Putin, talking to CNN throughout an interview Friday.

“We are not at a point where we would impose sanctions on Russia like the West have done. We are not bound by the West’s sanctions,” Erdogan informed CNN. “We are a strong state and we have a positive relationship with Russia.”

He included that “Russia and Turkey need each other in every field possible,” which the U.N. and Turkey- brokered Black Sea Grain Corridor Initiative, in which he played an essential function assisting to open important Ukrainian grain exports obstructed by Russia’s intrusion, “was possible because of our special relationship with President Putin.”

Ahead of Turkey’s overflow governmental election vote on May 28, Erdogan is leaning into his picture of a strong nationalist leader that presses back versus Western supremacy, regardless of Turkey belonging to NATO.

Erdogan has actually played a moderating function in between Ukraine and Russia because the war started, sending out help and weapons to Ukraine, however has likewise considerably broadened its trade ties with Russia, making numerous Western leaders unpleasant.

Read the complete story here.

— Natasha Turak

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that extra sanctions imposed versus Russia will just increase unity throughout the country.

“We’re seeing just how aggressive the external pressure now being exerted on Russia is, on our entire society. Almost the entire arsenal is directed against us — economic, military, political, informational forces, and the most powerful anti-Russian propaganda is being deployed,” Putin stated in an address prior to extra sanctions were revealed, according to an NBC News translation.

The Russian leader included that “attacks on our history, culture, spiritual values do not stop.”

Putin’s remarks came hours prior to the United States and G-7 members revealed collaborated sanctions on Russia.

— Amanda Macias

The Biden administration enforced a multitude of sanctions targeting methods which Russia has actually averted such procedures because its full-blown intrusion of Ukraine.

The brand-new U.S. sanctions, which were taken in coordination with G-7 members and global allies, likewise target defense market supply chains supporting the Kremlin’s continuous war and energy sector companies with links to Russia.

The Department of Treasury released sanctions on 22 people and 104 entities in more than 20 nations and broadened sanction authorities in order to target extra sectors of the Russian economy.

Meanwhile, the Department of State designated almost 200 people, entities, vessels and airplane with links to theKremlin The Department of Commerce likewise obstructed 71 entities “to prevent Russia from accessing goods it needs for the battlefield.”

“From the beginning of President Putin’s illegal and unprovoked war, our global coalition has focused on supporting Ukraine while degrading Russia’s ability to conduct its invasion,” composed Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in a release revealing the brand-new financial procedures.

“Today’s actions will further tighten the vise on Putin’s ability to wage his barbaric invasion and will advance our global efforts to cut off Russian attempts to evade sanctions,” Yellen included.

Russia is the world’s most approved nation following rounds of collaborated financial procedures enforced in the wake of Moscow’s intrusion of Ukraine last February.

— Amanda Macias

Ukrainian civilians preserve their lives under extreme conditions in Kharkiv, where structures have actually burned, collapsed and been left messed up about 15 months after Russia started its intrusion.

-Muhammed Enes Yildirim|Anadolu Agency|Getty Images

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday said on Twitter that he was beginning his very first check out to Saudi Arabia and was prepared to take Kyiv’s cooperation with Riyadh to a “new level,” according to a Google translation.

Earlier in the day, Saudi news firm Al-Hadath stated that Zelenskyy had actually shown up in Saudi port city Jeddah, dealing with the Red Sea, and would participate in the 32 nd Arab League top of May 19.

Saudi Arabia has actually preserved a fragile diplomatic balance throughout the war, with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in September securing the release of numerous foreign fighters caught by Russia throughout the dispute.

Riyadh is a close ally of Russia in the prominent OPEC+ oil manufacturers’ bloc, however has in the previous enacted a U.N. resolution to condemn Moscow’s addition of a swathe of Ukrainian areas.

— Ruxandra Iordache

Leaders of Kyiv’s allied G-7 powers on Friday stated they have actually devoted to more sanctions on Russia, along with mentioning they have “ensured Ukraine has the budget support it needs for 2023 and early 2024.”

They again condemned Russia’s full-blown intrusion of Ukraine, worrying peace can not be attained without the “complete and unconditional withdrawal” of Russian forces.

“We are imposing further sanctions and measures to increase the costs to Russia and those who are supporting its war effort,” the group stated in a declaration, laying out objectives to more target those who run in crucial sectors such as production, building and transport.

“We will starve Russia of G7 technology, industrial equipment and services that support its war machine,” the bloc stated, repeating strategies to decrease Russian earnings and Moscow’s resourcing to advance its war in Ukraine.

The group stated it had “dramatically” decreased its dependence on Russian energy and products following the export restriction and its rate cap plan on Moscow’s seaborne petroleum and oil items, and included objectives to “continue to work closely together to restrict trade in and use of diamonds mined, processed or produced in Russia.”

Read more here.

— Ruxandra Iordache

The U.K. federal government has actually officially exposed more sanctions versus Russia, targeting the theft and resale of Ukrainian grains, significant energy and arms-shipping business, and business linked to Russian state-owned atomic energy business Rosatom that are “producing advanced materials and technology.”

The brand-new classifications cover 86 people and business.

The U.K. federal government likewise verified the statement of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak– who remains in Japan for the Group of Seven top– who stated the U.K. was prohibiting imports on Russian diamonds and copper, aluminum and nickel.

The U.K. and its G-7 allies are set to reveal brand-new sanctions versus Russia after G-7 conversations, to decrease the Kremlin’s coffers and stall Moscow’s development in its full-blown intrusion of Ukraine.

— Ruxandra Iordache

A train interruption in the area of the base of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet might impact products and shipments of weapons, such as Kalibr cruise rockets, Britain’s Ministry of Defense stated in its everyday intelligence upgrade.

A train was hindered near Simferopol in the Crimean Peninsula, obstructing the path to Russia’s BSF base at Sevastopol after the disturbance of “unauthorized individuals,” Russian state news firm Tass reported. Russian authorities are presently working to attend to the event.

“Any sabotage in this area will further increase the Kremlin’s concerns about its ability to protect other key infrastructure in Crimea,” the British Ministry of Defense stated. “The peninsula retains a vital psychological and logistical role in enabling Russia’s war in Ukraine.”

Russia got into and annexed the peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.

— Ruxandra Iordache

European Council President Charles Michel signified the EU’s desire to think about sanctions on Russian diamonds in an interview ahead of the Group of Seven top in Hiroshima, Japan, this weekend.

“We are now focused on shutting the door on loopholes. And continuing to cut Russia off from critical supplies. We will restrict trade in Russian diamonds. Russian diamonds are not forever,” he stated.

The EU has actually up until now disappointed taking actions versus Russian diamonds, however has actually executed numerous waves of sanctions versus Russian banking, trade and energy because the start of Moscow’s full-blown intrusion of Ukraine.

The U.K. on May 18 revealed objectives to restriction Russian diamonds, together with imports of Russian- origin copper, aluminum and nickel.

— Ruxandra Iordache

A Ukrainian security authorities validated that the nation’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will participate in the Group of Seven top in Hiroshima, Japan, face to face this weekend, in line with an earlier report from the Financial Times.

“Very important things will be decided there and it is therefore the presence of our president that is absolutely essential in order to defend our interests,” stated Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, in remarks reported by Reuters.

Officials of the world’s 7 wealthiest countries are anticipated to go over tighter sanctions on Russia, with Britain on May 18 revealing objectives to restriction Russian diamonds, along with imports of Russian- origin copper, aluminum and nickel. It likewise prepares more sanctions on 86 extra individuals and business. The EU is similarly targeting trade constraints on Russian diamonds, according to European Council President Charles Michel.

— Ruxandra Iordache

A senior Biden administration authorities, who spoke on the condition of privacy per guideline developed by the White House, stated G-7 members are intending on presenting brand-new sanctions and export controls on Russia.

“Tomorrow you will hear a powerful statement of unity, strength and commitment in our response to Russia’s war of aggression,” the senior administration authorities stated on a teleconference with press reporters.

“We have taken an array of actions to hold Russia accountable in coordination with our G-7 partners, we’ve put in place the largest set of sanctions and export control actions ever imposed on a major economy,” the authorities stated of the collaborated rounds of sanctions troubled Moscow because the start of the war in late February.

The authorities stated that the Biden administration will likewise be “rolling out a substantial package of our own” however decreased to offer particular information besides the sanctions will attend to evasion loopholes.

— Amanda Macias

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will participate in the Group of Seven conferences face to face on Sunday, Financial Times reported, pointing out individuals informed on the preparations on Friday.

The surprise see follows the president was anticipated to participate in the conferences practically rather.

Zelenskyy’s journey to Hiroshima is “aimed at hardening western resolve in support of Ukraine and winning over other non-G7 attendees at the summit, including India and Brazil,” the Financial Times report stated.

— Jihye Lee

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated on Thursday that Moscow had actually consented to restore the Black Sea grain offer for 2 months although it did not see outcomes when it pertained to executing the parts of it which use to Russia.

Speaking at an interview with his Ugandan equivalent, Lavrov stated the offer was targeted at reinforcing the food security of the world’s poorest individuals.

Lavrov rejected that Russia’s renewal of the part Turkish- brokered offer was connected to governmental elections inTurkey

— Reuters