#War #Ukraine #Developments
Here are the latest developments in the war in Ukraine:
– Russia attacks port of Odessa after grain deal: Kyiv –
Ukraine says Russian missiles hit the port of Odessa, a key Black Sea terminal, a day after Moscow and Kyiv signed a deal to resume grain exports blocked by the war.
“The enemy attacked the Odessa seaport with Kalibr cruise missiles. Two of the missiles were shot down by air defenses. Two hit the port infrastructure,” says Sergiy Bratchuk, a representative of the Odessa region, in a statement on social media.
Russia and Ukraine signed the landmark deal with the United Nations and Turkey to unblock grain exports in Istanbul a day earlier.
Up to 25 million tons of wheat and other grains have been blocked in Ukrainian ports by Russian warships and mines laid by Kyiv to stave off a feared amphibious attack.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko said the strike was “Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s spit in the face of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Turkish President Recep (Tayyip) Erdogan, who have made tremendous efforts to get the deal signed.” reach”.
One of the deal’s backers, Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar says Ankara is “concerned” about the attacks, but adds that Russian officials denied Turkey any involvement in the attack.
“The Russians have told us that they have absolutely nothing to do with this attack and are looking into the matter very closely,” says Akar.
Russia has not yet officially commented.
– Zelenskyy accuses Russia of violating agreements –
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy has accused Russia of routinely violating agreements after the Odessa attack.
“This proves only one thing: no matter what Russia says and promises, it will find ways not to implement it,” Zelenskyy said at a meeting with US lawmakers, according to a statement by the Ukrainian presidency.
– UN and EU condemn strike in Odessa –
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack “unequivocally”.
“The Secretary-General unequivocally condemns the strikes reported today in the Ukrainian port city of Odessa,” his deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said in a statement.
“Full implementation (of the agreement) by the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Turkey is imperative,” Haq adds.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has criticized what he called Russia’s “reprehensible” missile attack.
“The hitting of a key grain export target a day after the signing(s) of the Istanbul Accords is particularly reprehensible and again demonstrates Russia’s utter disregard for international law and obligations,” he tweeted.
– Two Americans die in Ukraine –
Two Americans have died in Ukraine’s eastern Donbass region, according to the US State Department.
“We can confirm the recent deaths of two US citizens in the Donbass region of Ukraine. We are in contact with the families and providing all possible consular support,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
The State Department says it has no further information “out of respect for families at this difficult time.”
The brunt of fighting in Ukraine over the past few months has centered on the industrial Donbass region.
Social Tags:
#War #Ukraine #Developments
