Moscow expects a big jump in energy export earnings in 2022
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Western sanctions would have no effect on the country’s oil exports and predicted a big jump in energy supplies this year.
“Given the level of prices that has been established as a result of Western policies, we have not suffered budgetary losses,” he told Bosnian Serb television, quoted by the foreign ministry.
“On the contrary, this year we will significantly increase the profits from the export of our energy resources.”
On Monday, European Union leaders agreed in principle to cut 90% of Russia’s oil imports by the end of this year to punish Moscow for invading Ukraine.
“Oil, generally speaking, is not an object of politics, there is a demand for it … we have alternative markets for sales, where we are already increasing sales,” Lavrov said.
– Reuters
Supported by the front line, Ukraine is trying to secure a place in the World Cup
Ukrainian footballers celebrate and applaud their fans after the match.
Lee Smith Action images through Reuters
Away from the battlefields and Russian invaders, Ukrainian footballers released from military service are trying to fulfill their mission to bring their country to the World Cup.
As they prepare to face Wales in the playoffs on Sunday, they will have a little extra inspiration in their locker room in Cardiff from a flag sent by soldiers on the front line.
Since Wednesday, when Ukraine beat Scotland in the semi-final playoffs, players have continued to exchange messages with friends defending their homeland in a 100-day war.
“We all hope that Ukraine will be liberated very soon and return to an independent state,” said Ukrainian midfielder Alexander Karavaev through an interpreter in the Welsh capital.
“It’s a great positive stimulus and brings positive emotions, because everyone believes and sees how the whole world is united around us.”
The Dynamo Kyiv player still has a family in the southern city of Kherson, which was captured by Russia at the beginning of the war.
“They can’t watch the match because there is no connection and no internet,” Karavaev said. “But they communicate through messages and read the news.”
Keeping Ukraine high in the titles can be achieved in part by the men who qualified for the first World Cup in 2006. But it may take time for their compatriots on the front line to find the result in Wales.
“The situation in Ukraine is really difficult and not everyone has the opportunity to watch football,” said coach Alexander Petrakov through an interpreter. “I don’t communicate with soldiers, but the team writes to the soldiers and even received a war flag, which they promised to hang in the locker room.”
– Associated Press
The wife of Russian billionaire Melnichenko is challenging EU sanctions
Andrei Melnichenko, billionaire and owner of EuroChem Group AG, walks between the sessions of the third day of the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Friday, June 4, 2021.
Andrey Rudakov Bloomberg | Getty Images
The European Union’s decision to extend sanctions against Russian billionaire Andrei Melnichenko to his wife is “irrational” as she has never had Russian citizenship or resided in Russia, a spokesman for the couple said on Saturday.
Alexandra Melnichenko, who was born in Belgrade and has Serbian and Croatian citizenship, “will vigorously challenge the ill-fated decision against her,” the spokeswoman said in a statement to Reuters, declining to give a name.
Reuters reported last month that Melnichenko ceded ownership of coal company SUEK AO and fertilizer company EuroChem Group AG to his wife on March 8th, a day before the EU put him on the sanctions list.
The EU sanctioned Melnichenko’s wife on Friday as part of the sixth round of sanctions against Russia for waging war against Ukraine. The EU said Alexandra Melnichenko “makes good use of her husband’s wealth and benefits”.
This step could disrupt the activities of SUEK and EuroChem, as sanctions include the freezing of its assets.
EuroChem produces about 5% of the world’s fertilizer production.
– Reuters
“Russia has no place in UNESCO,” Zelensky said after the destruction of cultural sites
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky spoke at a joint briefing with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, Latvian President Egils Levits and Estonian President Alar Karis (not pictured) as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues in Kyiv, Ukraine. April 13, 2022.
Valentin Ogirenko Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for Russia’s removal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, known as UNESCO, following the destruction of historical monuments and cultural sites in Ukraine.
“Russian artillery struck the Svyatohirsky Lavra in the Donetsk region again today. Destroy the All Saints Monastery. It was consecrated in 1912, “Zelenski wrote in a post on social media, translated by NBC News.
“The occupiers know exactly which object was shelled,” Zelenski wrote. “They know that there are no military targets on the territory of the Svyatohirsk Lavra. It is known that there are about 300 people fleeing hostilities, including 60 children. However, the Russian army is shelling the laurels, like the whole Donbass. other territory and any other site of Ukraine that can be reached. They don’t care what they turn into ruins. “
Zelensky said the Ukrainian parliament had called on UNESCO to abolish Russia’s membership in the organization. He added: “No country, except Russia, has destroyed so many monuments, cultural and social sites in Europe since World War II.
“Every church burned by Russia in Ukraine, every school blown up, every memorial destroyed proves that Russia has no place in UNESCO,” Zelensky said. He added that Ukraine expects a “logical and fair response from the UN and UNESCO”.
“This is the United Nations and its statutes do not provide for association with terrorists. “Russia’s isolation must be complete, it must be held accountable for its crimes,” Zelensky said.
“Jessica Dickler.”
Putin says Russia has destroyed dozens of US weapons in Ukraine, RIA reports
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting of the presidium of the Kremlin Council of State in Moscow, Russia, May 25, 2022.
Sergey Guneev Satellite Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin, commenting on the US decision to send new weapons to Ukraine, said that Russia is easily coping and is already destroying a dozen weapons supplied by America, the state news agency RIA reported.
Putin did so in an interview with national television, RIA reported. It should be shown on Sunday.
– Reuters
Ukraine’s foreign minister says “Russia is the one to be humiliated” following Macron’s comments
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba spoke while making a statement with the leader of the parliamentary group of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) Rolf Mützenich and the leader of the PSD Lars Klingbeil, after a meeting against the Russian invasion of Ukraine in Berlin, Germany. May 12, 2022
Michele Tantusi Reuters
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba responded to recent statements by French President Emmanuel Macron that Russia should not be humiliated in order to pave the way for a diplomatic solution to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Calls to avoid humiliating Russia can only humiliate France and any other country that calls for it. Because it is Russia that is humiliating itself. We all better focus on how to put Russia in its place. This will bring peace and save lives, “the foreign minister tweeted.
Kuleba’s tweet came after Macron said in an interview with regional newspapers that “we should not humiliate Russia so that on the day the fighting stops, we can build an exit ramp through diplomatic means.”
Macron continued to work to facilitate talks between Kyiv and Moscow, saying “France’s role is to mediate.”
“Jessica Dickler.”
The NATO chief talks to Erdogan about the accession of Finland and Sweden
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks at a press conference with European Parliament President Roberta Mezzola (not pictured) at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, on 28 April 2022.
Johanna Jeron Reuters
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with the Prime Minister of Finland and spoke with the President of Turkey as he sought to overcome Turkish resistance to the accession of Finland and Sweden to the alliance.
Stoltenberg, who visited Washington this week, tweeted that he had met with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin while there and discussed “the need to respond to Turkey’s concerns and move forward” with applications for membership of Finland and Sweden.
Russia’s war in Ukraine has prompted Scandinavian countries to apply to join NATO, but Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Sweden and Finland of backing Kurdish extremists seen by Turkey as terrorists.
Stoltenberg said he had a “constructive telephone conversation” with Erdogan, called Turkey a “valuable ally” and praised Turkey’s efforts to mediate in a deal to ensure the safe transportation of grain supplies from Ukraine amid global food shortages caused by the Russian invasion. . Stoltenberg tweeted that he and Erdogan would continue their dialogue without giving details.
– Associated Press
The art of war: 101 days later, street artists show their support for Ukraine
It has been 101 days since Russia invaded Ukraine, and street artists around the world continue to create works showing support for Ukraine and condemnation of Russia. See the full collection here.
Ukrainian soldiers take pictures of a mural entitled “Saint Javelin”, dedicated to the British portable surface-to-air missile, which was found on the side of an apartment building in Kyiv on May 25, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. The work of illustrator and artist Chris Shaw is related to the Javelin rocket, donated to Ukrainian troops to fight the Russian invasion.
Christopher Furlong | …
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