Global Courant 2023-04-19 07:55:47
As the conflict enters its 420th day, we review key developments.
This is the situation on Tuesday, April 19, 2023:
To fight
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited Ukrainian troops in Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, according to his office. Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited military headquarters in Ukraine’s Kherson and Luhansk regions, the Kremlin said. In September, Russia claimed to have annexed the areas it partially occupies. Russian forces are stepping up their use of heavy artillery and airstrikes in the besieged eastern city of Bakhmut, the commander of Ukrainian ground forces said. A Russian artillery strike killed one person and wounded nine in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.
Diplomacy
The industrial powers of the Group of Seven (G7), meeting in Japan, said they were determined to intensify sanctions against Russia and would support Ukraine “for as long as it takes” as it defends itself. A Russian court has denied bail to Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is imprisoned in Moscow on espionage charges. The Russian Foreign Ministry has summoned the ambassadors of Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States after they condemned the conviction of opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was sentenced to 25 years by a Russian court. Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu and his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu agreed to continue close high-level communications and improve the cooperation mechanism between the two countries’ armies. Swiss President Alain Berset said the country condemned Moscow’s war in Ukraine in the strongest terms and committed to providing humanitarian aid and implementing sanctions against Russia.
Politics
Russian lawmakers voted to introduce life sentences for those convicted of treason.
Economy
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to discuss the Black Sea grain deal with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres next week during a visit to New York, Russia’s state news agency TASS reported. Poland agreed to lift a ban on the transit of Ukrainian grain and food products, but Ukraine said a war deal that would allow it to safely ship grain from Black Sea ports remains under threat. Poland is proposing a new sanctions package against Russia, including a ban on imports of pipeline oil and diamonds, according to a document seen by Reuters news agency. Swedish alcohol brand Absolut Vodka has stopped exporting to Russia after calls to boycott the brand in Sweden and on social media.
Weapons
Egypt planned to produce missiles for Russia, but then halted the effort and decided to supply ammunition to Ukraine after consultations with US officials, the Washington Post reported. (TagsToTranslate)News
