Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin visits occupied Kherson as G7 condemns nuclear plan

Vladimir Putin has visited security forces in parts of occupied Ukraine, as G7 foreign ministers in Japan condemned a Russian plan to station nuclear weapons in Belarus.

The Kremlin said early on Tuesday that Mr Putin visited the Kherson and Luhansk regions, attending a military command meeting and visiting a national guard headquarters.

In Kherson, the Kremlin said he heard reports from commanders of the airborne forces and the "Dnieper" army group as well as other senior officers who briefed him on the situation in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Luhansk are three regions that Mr Putin proclaimed annexed last September, which was rejected by Ukraine and its Western allies.

Meanwhile, G7 foreign ministers condemned Russia’s plan to station nuclear weapons in Belarus as "unacceptable".

Stepping up pressure on Kyiv and its Western supporters, Mr Putin said last month said Russia would station shorter-range, so-called tactical nuclear weapons in close ally Belarus, which also borders Ukraine.

"Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and its threat to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus are unacceptable," the ministers said in a communique on Tuesday.

Key Points

• Putin 'turning back to Wagner' amid Russian military failures in Ukraine

• Egypt made a U-turn on rockets for Russia, offered shells to Ukraine instead – US leak

• Russia diverting resources towards Bakhmut, speeds up offensive – MoD

• Wagner ‘takes two new districts in Bakhmut' after Kyiv warns of ‘unprecedented’ battles

• British-Russian sentenced to 25 years in jail for criticising Putin’s war

Putin visits occupied Ukraine

08:12 , Katy Clifton

Vladimir Putin has visited military headquarters in Russian-controlled Ukraine, the Kremlin said this morning, where he discussed the war with a general from Russia’s airborne troops who has reportedly taken up a powerful new role in the invasion.

Moscow claims to have annexed four Ukrainian regions but its forces are locked in a grinding artillery battle in the eastern Donbas with heavy losses on both sides, while they have been forced to pull back in southern Kherson, which Mr Putin visited.

Dressed in a heavy blue jacket, Mr Putin, 70, was shown on Russian state television descending from a military helicopter in Russian-held Ukraine and greeting senior military commanders.

The Kremlin said Mr Putin attended a military command meeting in Kherson region. He heard reports from commanders of the airborne forces and the "Dnieper" army group and other senior officers on the situation in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

“It is important for me to hear your opinion on how the situation is developing, to listen to you, to exchange information,” Putin told the commanders, including colonel-general Mikhail Teplinsky, commander of Russia’s airborne troops.

British military intelligence said on Sunday that Teplinsky had been given a major role in the war.

“Teplinsky, commander of Russia’s corps of airborne troops, the VDV, has highly likely returned to a major role in Ukraine,” British military intelligence said. “Teplinsky is likely one of the few senior Russian generals widely respected by the rank-and-file.”

Putin 'turning back to Wagner' amid Russian military failures in Ukraine

04:51 , Arpan Rai

Vladimir Putin is again helping the Wagner Group of mercenaries by providing arms and ammunition along with political recognition after the conventional Russian military forces failed to meet a 1 April deadline to capture Luhansk and Donetsk, experts monitoring the war said.

“Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin is seemingly regaining some favour with Russian president Vladimir Putin, likely as a result of the Russian conventional military’s inability to accomplish the tasks Putin had set for it during the winter offensive in Donbas,” the Institute for the Study of War said in its latest assessment of the Russian offensive in Ukraine.

It added that the Wagner forces are likely “receiving reinforcements, ammunition, and political recognition – which is a stark deviation from the Kremlin’s previous efforts to expend Wagner forces and Prigozhin in Bakhmut since at least January 2023”.

On the battle field, Wagner has been asked to train mobilised personnel to reinforce Wagner’s positions in Bakhmut.

“Prigozhin also confirmed that Russian airborne forces (VDV) are operating alongside Wagner and indicated that Wagner is actively receiving artillery shells. Prigozhin advocated for Wagner to receive more artillery shells, which indicates that Prigozhin has reestablished his supply of ammunition from the Russian ministry of defence,” the US-based think-tank said.

“The extent of Putin’s trust and favour for Prigozhin is unclear at this time, but it is likely that Putin halted the Russian MoD’s efforts to avenge Wagner by denying Wagner reinforcements and ammunition,” the ISW said.

Russia increases shelling, air strikes in Bakhmut - Ukrainian general

09:30 , William Mata

Russian forces are stepping up their use of heavy artillery and air strikes in the devastated eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, the commander of Ukraine‘s ground forces said on Tuesday.

Fighting in and around Bakhmut has for months been the epicentre of the war in Ukraine.

“Currently, the enemy is increasing the activity of heavy artillery and the number of air strikes, turning the city into ruins,” General Oleksandr Syrskyi said in a statement.

He said Russia, which launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year, remained committed to taking Bakhmut “at any cost” but was suffering significant losses in the battle for the city.

Reuters could not confirm the battlefield situation. Russia says Ukrainian forces have also suffered heavy losses in Bakhmut.

Poland and Ukraine to resume grain transit talks

09:00 , William Mata

Poland and Ukraine will resume negotiations early on Tuesday to try to reopen the transit of food and grains, the Polish agriculture minister told public radio station PR1.

Reuters reported two countries held talks on Monday over bans by central eastern European countries seeking to shelter their farmers from the impact of an influx of cheaper Ukrainian grain.

Some Black Sea ports were blocked after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and large quantities of Ukrainian grain has been trapped in Central Europe because of logistical bottlenecks.

“We are talking with the EU as well as with Ukraine to find solutions. We want these products to go to Europe, but go deep into Europe,” agriculture minister Robert Telus said.

“We talked yesterday, there were long talks. Today we are also sitting down for talks...These are typically technical talks to find a solution and let this transit go to Europe,” he added.

Russian strategic bombers 'carry out patrol flights’

07:30 , Katy Clifton

Russia’s defence ministry has said this morning that two Russian strategic bombers - those capable of carrying nuclear warheads - carried out routine patrol flights over the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea, off Russia’s Far East.

The statement was reported by the TASS news agency.

Egypt made a U-turn on rockets for Russia, offered shells to Ukraine instead – US leak

07:17 , Arpan Rai

A new Pentagon leak has found that Egypt revoked its plans to share thousands of rockets with Russia after talks with senior US officials and instead offered to provide artillery shells for Ukraine.

The idea to give rockets to Vladimir Putin was ditched in early March by Egyptian president Abdel Fatah El-Sisi, reported the Washington Post.

The US ally then decided to sell 155mm artillery shells to Ukraine via Washington despite the ammunition stockpiles running low in the US.

Egypt’s president had reportedly ordered 40,000 rockets to be discreetly shipped to Russia, according to some of the classified US intelligence documents that were recently leaked on social media.

Discussions between high-level Egyptian officials about the sale of weapons to Russia were found in the series of classified files, reported The Washington Post.

The leaked documents made their way to gaming social media platform Discord in February and March.

EU investigates after 3 countries ban Ukraine grain imports

07:04 , AP

Slovakia became the third European Union country to ban food imports from Ukraine on Monday, deepening the challenge for the bloc as it works to help Ukraine transport its grain to world markets, reports Vanessa Gera.

Slovakia followed Poland and Hungary, both of which announced bans Saturday on Ukrainian food imports until 30 June. They did so in response to rising anger from farmers who say that a glut of grain in their countries is causing them economic hardship.

The EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, manages trade on behalf of the 27 member countries and objects to them taking unilateral or uncoordinated measures.

EU investigates after 3 countries ban Ukraine grain imports

Russia diverting resources towards Bakhmut, speeds up offensive – MoD

06:58 , Arpan Rai

Russia is likely reorganising its forces and diverting its troops and ammunition in the direction of Bakhmut, the British defence ministry said today as it noted heavy fighting along the Donbas front line.

“However, there is a realistic possibility that Russia has reduced troop numbers and is decreasing offensive action around Donetsk city, most likely to divert resources towards the Bakhmut sector,” the MoD said in its latest intelligence update.

It added that Bakhmut has witnessed creeping advances by Russian MoD and Wagner Group forces.

The frontline in the town centre largely follows the main railway line, the MoD said.

“Ukraine is generally holding Russia’s envelopment from the south along the line of Korsunskovo Street, the old main road west out of town. For both sides, the exact sequencing of any major drawdown of their units around Bakhmut has become a critical question, with Ukraine wanting to free-up an offensive force while Russia likely aspires to regenerate an operational reserve,” the ministry said.

More than 80,500 Russian war crimes recorded in Ukraine – official

06:40 , Arpan Rai

More than 80,500 Russian war crimes, crimes of aggression by Moscow’s forces have been recorded in Ukraine, the war-hit country’s prosecutor general’s office said.

The Russian forces have committed 80,840 war crimes and crimes of aggression in Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February last year, the prosecutor general’s office said yesterday.

G7 warns of ‘severe consequences’ against nuclear weapons use in Ukraine

06:35 , Arpan Rai

The Group of Seven industrial powers have warned of “severe consequences” if nuclear weapons are used in Ukraine as their foreign ministers met in Tokyo today.

The group, which comprises the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada, called Russia’s threat to put nuclear weapons in Belarus “unacceptable”.

Any use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons in Ukraine “would be met with severe consequences”, the G7 said.

The alliance said that they are more united than ever as they also slammed China’s added pressure on Taiwan in addition to Russia’s threat to station nuclear weapons in Belarus.

The G7 communique highlights how the dual issues of Russian military intervention and fears of similar action by China against Taiwan have been a focus of the three-day meeting.

What we know about the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia

06:11 , Andy Gregory

American journalist Evan Gershkovich, a 31-year-old reporter for The Wall Street Journal, has been arrested and detained in Russia on suspicion of espionage, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

My colleague Joe Sommerlad has this explainer on his arrest:

What we know about arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia

US ambassador to Russia makes first visit to jailed WSJ reporter

05:14 , Andy Gregory

Washington’s ambassador to Russia has made her first visit in jail to Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter accused by Moscow of spying.

"This is the first time we've had consular access to Evan since his wrongful detention over two weeks ago,” said Lynne Tracy in a short statement in Russian on Telegram.

“He feels well and is holding up. We reiterate our call for Evan's immediate release.”

Ukraine gearing up for next Ramstein meeting, says Zelensky

04:20 , Arpan Rai

Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine is readying for a second Ramstein meeting of what he referred to as an “anti-war coalition”.

The first round of Ramstein discussions happened in January this year, which saw defence leaders from across the world gathering at Ramstein Air Base in Germany as they hammered out future military aid to Ukraine.

“By the way, we are already preparing for another Ramstein meeting. I held preparatory meetings. And we expect solidly grounded decisions that will meet the prospects on the battlefield. Quite ambitious prospects, which we are approaching with all our might.

“Moreover, we are approaching them not only for ourselves, not only for Ukraine but also for our entire anti-war coalition,” Mr Zelensky said.

He added: “The aggressor must lose. And this is our joint responsibility with our partners – to gain more time for peace, that is, to be as active as possible now in providing weapons and ammunition to speed up our joint victory.”

RAF Typhoons intercept Russian fighter jets and spy plane near Nato airspace

04:13 , Andy Gregory

Russia blocking 50 ships of Ukrainian grain in Black Sea, says EU chief

04:01 , Arpan Rai

Russia is “once again” holding up Ukrainian grain in the Black Sea and blocking the grains onboard at least 50 ships, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.

The European Union will “continue facilitating exports through the EU solidarity lanes” on Ukraine-EU land borders, the top official said, adding that the route has “brought 25 billion tons of grain to the world”.

This is the second time Russia has been accused of blocking grain shipment from Ukraine after invading the country in February last year.

In May last year, satellite images showed two Russian carrier ships loading up mounds of grain in Ukraine even as the global food supplies remained threatened by Moscow’s invasion.

Moldova warns Russia not to meddle in its internal affairs ahead of election

03:02 , Reuters

Moldova has warned Russian politicians not to meddle in its internal affairs, after barring a Russian delegation from entering the country ahead of a regional election.

The delegation led by Rustam Minnikhanov, governor of Russia’s Tatarstan region, had been due to attend a forum in semi-autonomous Gagauzia region, which holds elections on 30 April to name the head of its government.

Moldova, which applied to join the European Union last year alongside its neighbour Ukraine, has repeatedly accused Russia of trying to destabilise the country, something Moscow denies.

Mr Minnikhanov arrived in an official Tatarstan government plane but was not allowed off the aircraft. Police said in a statement his trip aimed to bolster support for a pro-Russian candidate standing at the elections.

“Supporting a candidate at local elections in Moldova is not a valid reason and the authorities ask Russian bureaucrats to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of our country,” the border guard service said.

Russia has ‘interest’ in Ukraine war ending as soon as possible, says Lavrov

01:53 , Andy Gregory

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has claimed during a visit to Brazil that Moscow wants its war in Ukraine to end as soon as possible.

At a news conference with his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira, Mr Lavrov thanked Brazil for its “understanding of the genesis of the situation in Ukraine” and said Russia had “an interest” in the conflict ending as soon as possible.

Russia has repeatedly said that any settlement of the conflict must acknowledge the “realities” of its unilateral annexation of four Ukrainian regions, which its armed forces partly control.

British nationals not safe in Russia, warns senior MP

Tuesday 18 April 2023 00:41 , PA

British nationals are not safe in Russia, a senior MP has warned, after a British-Russian opposition leader was jailed for 25 years by a Moscow court.

Conservative MP Alicia Kearns, who chairs the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, urged the government to call any British nationals living in Russia home.

She described the sentencing of outspoken Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza as “a farce” and said ministers should be “working to get him out”.

Video report: Vladimir Kara-Murza: Putin critic found guilty of treason

Monday 17 April 2023 23:33 , Andy Gregory

New Zealand PM to attend Nato summit as Albanese mulls joining him

Monday 17 April 2023 22:42 , Andy Gregory

New Zealand premier Chris Hipkins has announced he will attend the upcoming Nato summit in July, while Australia’s leader said he was still considering whether to travel.

Both countries have a decades-long relationship with the military alliance which has taken on greater importance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with both attending last year’s summit in Madrid as non-member participants.

Mr Hipkins said he would seek to advance a trade agreement with the European Union while at the July summit in Vilnius.

Local media previously reported that Australia’s Anthony Albanese would not travel to the summit, but he told ABC on Monday that no decision had been made, adding: “I haven’t had a chance yet to talk to the Nato secretary general ... I will give it consideration.

“I attended last year in Madrid and subject to logistical arrangements, then I would be very pleased to accept the invitation.”

Russia’s Lavrov thanks Brazil’s Lula for his words on Ukraine war

Monday 17 April 2023 21:51 , Andy Gregory

Russia’s foreign minster has thanked Brazil for its efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine ahead of a visit with president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose remarks on Vladimir Putin’s war have unnerved Washington.

Sergei Lavrov and Brazil’s foreign relations minister Mauro Vieira addressed journalists after a meeting in Brasilia, discussing plans to boost meat exports to Russia and secure fertiliser imports for Brazilian farmers.

Mr Lavrov will meet later on Monday with Lula, who has proposed forming a group of nations not involved in the Russia-Ukraine war to broker peace and discussed the matter in China with counterpart Xi Jinping last weekend.

“The United States needs to stop encouraging war and start talking about peace,” Lula said upon his return. “We are trying to build a group of countries without any involvement in the war, that don’t want the war and defend world peace to have a discussion with both Russia and Ukraine,” he said in separate remarks to journalists.

“But we also have to talk to the United States and European Union. That is, we have to convince people that peace is the way.”

US cannot take dollar’s dominance for granted, warns ECB president

Monday 17 April 2023 21:04 , Andy Gregory

Though it remains unchallenged for now, the United States cannot take the US dollar’s continued role as the go-to currency for world trade for granted, the president of the European Central Bank has warned.

Speaking to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Christine Lagarde warned that a more splintered and less efficient world economy will make it harder for central banks to contain inflation.

Her speech comes as China, Russia and other countries seek to wean themselves off dependence on the US, which has sought to use its dominance to impose sanctions, most notably on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine last year.

Lagarde: US-China split may weaken growth and fuel inflation

Jailed British-Russian dissident’s wife ‘baffled’ by lack of UK sanctions against jailers

Monday 17 April 2023 20:14 , Andy Gregory

The wife of a British-Russian opposition leader jailed for 25 years has said she is “baffled” that those involved in his trial have not yet been sanctioned by the UK.

Vladimir Kara-Murza was sentenced to prison by a court in Moscow after he was convicted of treason and denigrating the Russian military in proceedings the Kremlin critic called a show trial.

The dissident’s wife, Evgenia Kara-Murza, said that while she was “grateful” for the support of the Foreign Office, which has condemned the decision, she feels the UK should do more.

“I would very much like to see the British Government actually doing something in Vladimir’s case,” Ms Kara-Murza said. “I would like to see the British Government introduce sanctions against the violators of my husband’s rights. Canada has already introduced sanctions even though he is not a Canadian citizen”, as have the US and Latvia.

She added: “I know that the UK authorities have had a list of the violators for months, so I am honestly baffled that these sanctions have not been introduced.”

Ukraine infrastructure minister to visit Turkey to discuss deal

Monday 17 April 2023 19:33 , Andy Gregory

Ukrainian infrastructure minister Oleksandr Kubrakov will visit Turkey on Tuesday to discuss the status of a deal that allows the safe wartime export of grain from several Ukrainian Black Sea ports, the Turkish defence ministry said on Monday.

Kubrakov will meet Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar in the central Turkish city of Kayseri, a ministry statement said.

The UN-brokered Black Sea grain export deal was renewed for 60 days last month, but Russia has been signalling it may not agree to extend it further unless the West removes obstacles to the export of Russian grain and fertiliser.

Ukraine said on Monday the grain accord was in danger of “shutdown” after Russia blocked inspections of participating ships in Turkish waters.

Ukrainian Black Sea ports were blockaded after Russia’s invasion last year, but access to three of them was cleared last July under a deal engineered by the United Nations and Turkey.

Kubrakov will visit at the invitation of Akar, the ministry statement said, adding that ministers will discuss several bilateral issues including the Black Sea grain initiative.

Russia claims two new districts in Bakhmut after Kyiv warns of ‘unprecedented’ battles

Monday 17 April 2023 18:47 , Andy Gregory

The Wagner mercenary group has captured two districts in the centre and northwest of Bakhmut, Russia's Defence Ministry claimed today.

“Bloody battles unprecedented in recent decades are taking place in the middle of the city’s urban area,” Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesperson for Ukraine’s eastern military command said on Saturday.

“Our soldiers are doing everything in bloody and fierce battles to grind down [the enemy’s] combat capability and break its morale. Every day, in every corner of this city, they are successfully doing so,” he told the 1+1 television channel.

Volodymyr Zelensky’s forces have clung on in the frontline city in a seemingly successful bid to inflict heavy losses on Vladimir Putin’s armies, but Britain’s Ministry of Defence warned on Friday that Ukraine had been forced to concede some ground after being bombarded with “particularly intense” artillery fire last week.

Russia’s attack on the Donetsk city has been “re-energised”, amid greater cooperation between troops with Moscow’s defence ministry and the Wagner mercenary group, the ministry said, citing UK intelligence.

Ukrainian forces “face significant resupply issues but have made orderly withdrawals from the positions they have been forced to concede”, it added.

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich to appeal against arrest

Monday 17 April 2023 18:00 , William Mata

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich will appeal on Tuesday against his arrest and detention in Moscow’s most notorious former KGB prison on charges of espionage, according to court documents - Reuters has said.

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said on March 30 it had detained Gershkovich in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg and had opened an espionage case against him for collecting what it said were state secrets about the military industrial complex.

Gershkovich, the first American journalist detained in Russia on espionage charges since the end of the Cold War, and the Journal have denied he was involved in espionage, as has the United States.

According to a public Russian judicial document, Lefortovo District Court will hear on Tuesday a complaint filed by Gershkovich against the decision to keep him in custody in Lefortovo prison while the case is being investigated.

Kyiv aims for ‘first step’ of Poland transit for grain

Monday 17 April 2023 17:30 , William Mata

Kyiv aims to re-open food and grain transit via Poland as “a first step” to ending import bans at talks in Warsaw on Monday as countries halted grain from Ukraine to protect their local agriculture markets from an influx of supply.

Poland and Hungary announced bans on some imports from Ukraine on Saturday. Slovakia said on Monday it would do the same and other countries in central and eastern Europe said they were also considering action.

Some Black Sea ports were blocked after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February last year and logistical bottlenecks trapped large quantities of Ukrainian grain - cheaper than that produced in the European Union - in Central European countries.

Reuters reports.

Wife of jailed Putin critic says 25-year sentence is 'recognition' of his work

Monday 17 April 2023 16:58 , William Mata

The wife of Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza said on Monday that the 25-year prison sentence a Russian court handed him was recognition of the effectiveness of his work and showed that authorities fear him.

Evgenia Kara-Murza spoke at a Washington Post event about the sentence on charges of treason and other offences Kara-Murza denies committing.

State prosecutors also accused him of discrediting the Russian military after spreading "knowingly false information" about its conduct in what Moscow calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine.

"I understand that this sentence is the high recognition of the effectiveness of Vladimir’s work," she said at the event that was streamed online, alongside an attorney for her husband.

"He has proven time and again that he would not back down, that he would not abandon his fight, that he would not betray his country and betray his ideals, that he would keep on fighting."

Foreign office minister says further sanctions could follow after Vladimir Kara-Murza news

Monday 17 April 2023 16:52 , William Mata

Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell said officials are investigating the possibility of sanctioning everyone involved in the trial of British-Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza.

He said “the Government agrees with pretty much everything that (Tory MP Alician Kearns) has said, reiterating the Russian ambassador has been summoned “and is expected to arrive shortly”.

He said the UK is seeking to ensure consular access, and said: “Her Majesty’s Government condemn the politically motivated sentencing of Mr Kara-Murza and of all those who speak out against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

He called for his release, and said “politically the UK has been at the forefront of efforts to pressure Russian to release Mr Kara-Murza”.

Czech Agriculture Ministry will not ban Ukrainian grain imports

Monday 17 April 2023 16:30 , William Mata

The market impact of Ukrainian grain imports to neighbouring countries needs a European Union-wide solution and not individual bans on imports like those taken in Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, the Czech Agriculture Ministry said on Monday.

“The Czech Republic is for now not planning to ban imports of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural commodities from Ukraine,” the ministry said in a statement.

Reporting by Reuters.

Pictures from Ukraine: Monday, April 17

Monday 17 April 2023 16:00 , William Mata

Russia’s foreign minister arrives in Brazil for Ukraine peace talks

Monday 17 April 2023 15:58 , William Mata

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived to the Brazilian capital on Monday as Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s pushes a diplomatic approach for peace in Ukraine that has irked both Kyiv and the West.

The meeting between Lavrov and his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira was set in March, when they held a bilateral at the summit of the Group of 20 leading economies in New Dehli. They met Monday morning and, according to the foreign ministry’s website, both will meet with Lula in the afternoon.

Lula has refused to provide weapons to Ukraine while proposing a club of nations including Brazil and China to mediate peace. On Sunday, he told reporters in Abu Dhabi that two nations - both Russia and Ukraine - had decided to go to war, and a day earlier in Beijing said the U.S. must stop “stimulating” the continued fighting and start discussing peace.

Earlier this month, he suggested Ukraine could cede Crimea to end the war, which the spokesperson for Ukraine‘s foreign ministry, Oleg Nikolenko, rejected.

Jailed journalist ‘in good spirits’ after spying accusation

Monday 17 April 2023 15:35 , William Mata

Lynne Tracy, US ambassador to Russia, said on Monday she had made a first visit in jail to Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter accused by Moscow of spying, and had found him in good spirits.

“This is the first time we’ve had consular access to Evan since his wrongful detention over two weeks ago. He feels well and is holding up. We reiterate our call for Evan’s immediate release,” Tracy said in a short statement in Russian on Telegram - according to Reuters.

Gershkovich was arrested last month in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg. His newspaper and Washington have rejected the charge of espionage, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

Temporary protection status to migrants drops

Monday 17 April 2023 15:30 , William Mata

The number of temporary protection status permits issued to Ukrainians in the European Union dropped in most member states in February, the bloc's statistics institute Eurostat said on Monday.

EU countries had issued over the course of 2022 more than 4 million permits to Ukrainian nationals, Eurostat data shows.

However, the influx seems to be gradually decreasing.

"The number of decisions granting temporary protection to Ukrainians in February fell in 19 of the 26 EU members with available data," Eurostat said.

Poland and Germany, each counting a total of about one million asylum seekers coming from Ukraine, saw in February a monthly drop of 3,540 and 3,080 permits to 24,905 and 25,125 respectively, the agency said.

Of them, more than 6,000 were under the age of 18 in Poland, and almost 8,000 in Germany.

Visit shows strengthening ties between Beijing and Moscow

Monday 17 April 2023 15:00 , William Mata

China’s defense minister on Monday toured the top Russian military academy on a visit to the Russian capital that underscored the increasingly close ties between Moscow and Beijing amid the fighting in Ukraine.

Russian president Vladimir Putin hosted Gen. Li Shangfu in the Kremlin on Sunday, noting that his trip follows a “very productive” three-day state visit to Moscow by Chinese leader Xi Jinping last month.

Putin emphasized that defense cooperation, including joint military drills, has helped “strengthen the trust-based strategic relationship” between the two countries.

International condemnation for Russia over imprisonment of journalist

Monday 17 April 2023 14:15 , William Mata

French and Norweigan governments have also both condemned Russia over the sentencing of Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison for treason.

According to Reuters, France said the Russian justice system had become a tool for oppression, adding that the sentencing was another illustration of the Russian authorities' campaign of repression against all voices critical of the Russian leadership and its war of aggression against Ukraine.

Norwegian foreign minister Anniken Huitfeldt said in a statement: "This is a deeply alarming and harsh sentence for exercising the right to freedom of expression.”

Call for WSJ reporter to be released

Monday 17 April 2023 14:07 , William Mata

The United States and more than 40 other countries said in a joint statement on Monday that they are deeply concerned over Russia’s detainment of a Wall Street Journal reporter and protested Moscow’s “efforts to limit and intimidate the media”.

They also said in the statement due to be read at the United Nations later on Monday by US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield: “We urge Russian Federation authorities to release those they hold on political grounds, and to end the draconian crackdown on freedom of expression, including against members of the media.”

EU condemns sentencing of Vladimir Kara-Murza

Monday 17 April 2023 13:45 , William Mata

The European Union on Monday condemned the sentencing of Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison, describing the Russian court ruling as “outrageous” and “politically motivated”.

“Today’s outrageously harsh court decision clearly demonstrates yet again the political misuse of judiciary in order to pressure activists, human rights defenders and any voices opposing Russia’s illegitimate war of aggression against Ukraine,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.

“We call on Russia to immediately and unconditionally release all those imprisoned for politically motivated charges.”

Ukraine rejects Iraq offer to mediate

Monday 17 April 2023 13:15 , William Mata

Iraq on Monday offered to mediate between Ukraine and Russia to try to find an end to the war in Europe, but Ukraine's top diplomat rejected the offer.

During a rare visit to Baghdad, foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba reiterated his country's position that it will not engage in any peace talks unless Russia withdraws from all Ukrainian territory.

The Kremlin wants Kyiv to acknowledge Russia's sovereignty over Crimea, which Moscow took over in 2014, and also to recognise September's annexation of the Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia.

Ukraine has rejected those demands and insists it will not hold talks with Russia until Moscow's troops pull back from all occupied territories.