Ukraine Russia war news latest: Crimea port under drone attack today as Moscow reports no damage

Russia‘s Black Sea Fleet repelled a drone assault on the Crimean port of Sevastopol within the early hours of Monday, the Moscow-installed governor of town stated via social media.

“In keeping with the newest info: one floor drone was destroyed … the second exploded by itself,” governor Mikhail Razvozhaev wrote on the Telegram messaging app. “Now town is quiet.”

No harm was reported, Razvozhaev added.

Passenger ferry transport had been suspended within the Black Sea port metropolis, Russia‘s Interfax information company reported, citing Sevastopol transport authorities. No purpose was given, however the company stated site visitors had been suspended prior to now on account of drone assaults or storms.

Sevastopol, together with the remainder of the Crimean peninsula, was declared annexed by Russia in 2014 however is internationally recognised as a part of Ukraine.

There was no speedy response from Ukraine. Kyiv nearly by no means publicly claims accountability for assaults inside Russia and on Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine.

EU international coverage chief Josep Borrell expressed confidence on Monday that the bloc would finalise a plan inside days to purchase ammunition for Ukraine after Kyiv expressed frustration at wrangling amongst EU member states.

“Sure, nonetheless there’s some disagreement. However I’m certain everyone will perceive that we’re in a scenario of utmost urgency,” Borrell advised reporters as he arrived for a gathering of EU international ministers in Luxembourg.

“I’m certain that within the following days we are going to attain (an settlement),” he stated.

Ukrainian International Minister Dmytro Kuleba expressed frustration in a tweet final week that the landmark deal sealed final month for EU international locations to collectively purchase artillery shells for Kyiv has not but been applied on account of disagreements over how a lot of the enterprise has to remain inside Europe.

“For Ukraine, the price of inaction is measured in human lives,” he warned on Thursday.

Kuleba was anticipated to make his case on to EU international ministers at Monday’s assembly, addressing them by video hyperlink on the state of the battle triggered by Russia‘s invasion final 12 months.

Artillery rounds, significantly 155mm shells, have develop into crucial to the battle as Ukrainian and Russian forces wage an intense battle of attrition. Officers say Kyiv is burning via extra rounds than its allies can presently produce.

The joint procurement plan is a part of a multi-track EU deal to get 1 million artillery shells or missiles to Ukraine inside 12 months and ramp up European munitions manufacturing, accredited by international ministers final month.

The primary component is probably the most speedy. It units apart 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) to reimburse EU governments for sending munitions to Ukraine from present shares.

Borrell burdened that monitor was up and working. He stated EU international locations had already requested reimbursements for ammunition value 600 million euros ($660 million).

However the second monitor, value one other 1 billion euros to fund joint procurement, has but to be finalised.

EU officers have stated they hope to signal the primary contracts with arms companies on the finish of subsequent month.

Russia stated Sunday that the US has denied visas to journalists who wished to cowl International Minister Sergey Lavrov‘s journey to New York, and Lavrov recommended that Moscow would take robust retaliatory measures.

There was no speedy remark from the U.S. State Division in regards to the declare of refused visas. The journalists aimed to cowl Lavrov’s look on the United Nations to mark Russia’s chairmanship of the Safety Council.

“A rustic that calls itself the strongest, smartest, free and truthful nation has chickened out and accomplished one thing silly by exhibiting what its sworn assurances about defending freedom of speech and entry to info are actually value,” Lavrov stated earlier than leaving Moscow on Sunday.

“Make sure that we won’t overlook and won’t forgive,” he stated.

* Turkey’s defence minister stated he deliberate to fulfill his Syrian, Russian and Iranian counterparts in Moscow on Tuesday, state-owned Anadolu information company stated, amid efforts to rebuild Ankara-Damascus ties after years of animosity throughout the Syrian battle.

* The European Union should speed up its joint procurement of ammunition for Ukraine, Finland’s International Minister Pekka Haavisto stated.

* Russia stated on Saturday it was expelling greater than 20 German diplomats in a tit-for-tat transfer.

A personal letter written by King Charles to Donald Trump is about to be revealed with out the monarch’s permission.

It types a part of a brand new ebook which wherein Mr Trump will reveal his correspondence with different world leaders, public figures and celebrities.

The autocrats could also be exaggerating after they tout their ‘no-limits’ friendship, however Beijing is certainly keen to step up its help if the Russian regime reaches the brink of collapse, specialists inform Arpan Rai

Within the final minutes of their assembly in Moscow final month, Xi Jinping declared that his Russian counterpart was driving the sort of geopolitical adjustments not seen on the planet in additional than 100 years.

When Mr Xi prolonged his proper hand for a proper farewell, Vladimir Putin grasped it with each arms and wished him a secure journey, standing there beaming till the Chinese language convoy had left the premises.

Latest remarks by China’s ambassador to France questioning the sovereignty of former Soviet states akin to Ukraine are completely unacceptable, international ministers for the Czech Republic and Lithuania stated earlier than a gathering with EU colleagues on Monday.

“It’s completely unacceptable”, Czech International Minister Jan Lipavsky stated forward of the Luxembourg assembly. “I hope bosses of this ambassador will make this stuff straight.”

Requested about his place on whether or not Crimea is a part of Ukraine or not, Chinese language ambassador to Paris Lu Shaye stated in an interview aired on French tv on Friday that traditionally it was a part of Russia and had been supplied to Ukraine by former Soviet chief Nikita Khrushchev.

“These ex-USSR international locations don’t have precise standing in worldwide legislation as a result of there isn’t a worldwide settlement to materialize their sovereign standing,” Shaye added.

Lithuanian International Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis additionally stated such feedback had been “completely unacceptable” and stated the three Baltic international locations will formally ask China for clarification to examine if its place has modified.

France, Ukraine and the three Baltic states all expressed dismay at Lu’s feedback over the weekend.

Nonetheless, in its newest intelligence replace on Saturday, the MoD stated: The Russian state is struggling to keep up consistency in a core narrative that it makes use of to justify the battle in Ukraine: that the invasion is analogous to the Soviet expertise within the Second World Struggle.”

The son of the Kremlin spokesman has stated he served with the Wagner mercenary group for six months in Ukraine.

Nikolai Peskov, son of Dmitry Peskov, stated it was his “responsibility”.

In an interview with pro-Kremlin every day Komsomolskaya Pravda, the 33-year-old stated he “couldn’t sit to 1 aspect watching as mates and others went off there”.

After making his choice, he stated that he requested his well-connected father to assist be part of the group.

The Wagner Group is named a “non-public army group” and has skilled and deployed 1000’s of convicted criminals in Ukraine.

The brief reply: it relies on how the time period is outlined, says Karen DeYoung, who speaks to specialists on Washington’s continued involvement in Ukraine, and what its long-term targets may be.