[ad_1]
By The Related Press
BERLIN — Germany’s power minister says the Group of Seven main economies have agreed to reject Russia’s demand to pay for Russian power imports in rubles.
Robert Habeck advised reporters Monday that “all G-7 ministers agreed utterly that this (could be) a one-sided and clear breach of the prevailing contracts.”
Habeck mentioned after a web based assembly with G-7 power ministers that “fee in ruble shouldn’t be acceptable and we are going to urge the businesses affected to not observe (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s demand.”
Requested by reporters earlier Monday if Russia might lower fuel provides to European clients in the event that they reject the demand to pay for the Russian fuel in rubles, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned that “we clearly aren’t going to produce fuel totally free.”
___
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:
— Ukraine seeks face-to-face talks with Russia to safe peace “directly”
— Holocaust survivors flee from Ukraine to Germany for security
— Ukrainian welders flip donated autos into military transport
— Ukraine conflict threatens meals provides in fragile Arab world
— The Oscars have second of silence, and a plea, for Ukraine
— ‘My private tragedy’: Ukrainians brace for an assault on Odesa
— Go to https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine for extra protection
___
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:
BERLIN — German authorities are contemplating whether or not to prosecute individuals who use the “Z” image to point out assist for Russia’s assault on Ukraine.
Russian troops in Ukraine have painted the letter Z on the aspect of autos and it has been adopted by some in Russia as a logo of assist for what the Kremlin describes as a “particular navy operation” within the neighboring nation.
A spokesman for the German Inside Ministry mentioned Monday that safety providers are conscious the image can be getting used at rallies in Germany.
The spokesman, Marek Wede, advised reporters in Berlin that the letter can underneath sure circumstances be thought of an indication of assist for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“The Russian assault on Ukraine is a criminal offense and whoever publicly approves of this conflict can thereby turn into criminally liable,” Wede mentioned.
He added that federal authorities welcomed bulletins by some German states to research whether or not particular person situations of the “Z” use represent prison acts.
___
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — Slovenia says it has reinstated a diplomatic consultant in Kyiv and reopened the nation’s embassy in Ukraine.
The ministry says Slovenia’s embassy in Kyiv reopened on Monday after the arrival of the interim cost d’affaires Bostjan Lesjak. Slovenia’s ambassador to Ukraine stays in Rzeszow, a city on the Polish-Ukrainian border.
Slovenia’s transfer comes after Prime Minister Janez Jansa urged European Union international locations to revive their presence in Kyiv in assist for Ukraine. Jansa visited Kyiv this month together with the prime ministers of Poland and the Czech Republic.
He mentioned on Twitter on Monday that “we’re again.” Jansa provides that “the Slovenian and European flags flutter once more in entrance of the Slovenian Embassy in Kyiv.”
Slovenia’s Overseas Ministry mentioned that Lesjak mentioned upon arrival that town was abandoned, and that alarms and detonations may very well be heard within the distance.
___
LVIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne has quoted the mayor of Mariupol as saying that round 160,000 folks stay within the besieged port metropolis, and {that a} “humanitarian disaster” would ensue if extra evacuations are usually not doable.
Vadym Boychenko mentioned Monday that Russian forces have been stopping civilians from evacuating from town and had been turning again some who tried to make it out.
The town, which had a pre-war inhabitants of greater than 400,000, has seen a few of the worst situations since Russian forces invaded Ukraine on Feb.24. Russian forces have pounded town, and scores of civilians have been unable to flee, with no entry to necessities and lower off from communication with the shelling of cell, radio and TV towers.
___
MOSCOW — The Kremlin has voiced concern about U.S. President Joe Biden’s remark concerning the Russian President Vladimir Putin and mentioned it’s going to rigorously observe his rhetoric.
Capping a four-day journey to Europe Saturday, Biden mentioned of Putin: “For God’s sake, this man can not stay in energy,” phrases the White Home instantly sought to downplay.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov advised reporters Monday that Biden’s assertion “undoubtedly causes alarm.” He added that the Kremlin will rigorously monitor the U.S. president’s statements.
Peskov mentioned beforehand that “it’s lower than the president of the U.S. and lower than the People to resolve who will stay in energy in Russia.”
___
MOSCOW — Russia’s international minister says the presidents of Russia and Ukraine might meet for talks solely after the important thing parts of a possible deal are negotiated.
Sergey Lavrov mentioned Monday that “the assembly is critical as soon as we’ve readability concerning options on all key points.”
Lavrov’s feedback observe Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s assertion that he’s prepared to debate Ukraine’s neutrality and safety ensures with Russian President Vladimir Putin to safe peace “directly.” Zelenskyy added that solely a face-to-face assembly with Russia’s chief might finish the conflict.
Russian and Turkish negotiators are set to carry one other spherical of talks in Istanbul, Turkey on Tuesday to attempt to draft an settlement.
Talking in a web based interview with Serbian media, Lavrov alleged that Ukraine solely need to “imitate talks” whereas Russia wants particular outcomes that might be secured by the international locations’ leaders.
___
BEIJING — China says the U.S. ought to take critically Beijing’s considerations about punishing financial sanctions towards Russia.
China, which has what it calls a “no limits” partnership with Moscow, has strongly objected to the sanctions, saying they are going to worsen the worldwide financial outlook with out bringing an finish to the battle.
Overseas Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin mentioned at a every day briefing Monday that China and different nations consider “folks of all international locations don’t have any duty to pay for geopolitical conflicts and nice energy video games.”
“The issue now shouldn’t be about who desires to assist Russia bypass sanctions, however concerning the regular financial and commerce relations between international locations, together with China, and Russia have been unnecessarily broken,” Wang mentioned.
“We urge the U.S. to take China’s considerations critically when coping with the Ukraine challenge and relations with Russia, and to not injury China’s reputable rights and pursuits in any manner,” Wang mentioned.
___
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — European Union judicial coordination company Eurojust says it has helped Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine to ascertain a joint investigation group to probe conflict crimes, crimes towards humanity and different crimes dedicated in Ukraine.
The Hague-based company mentioned Monday that the three nations signed an settlement on Friday establishing the group. Eurojust says it offered authorized and technical assist.
Eurojust says the principle purpose of the group is to “assist the gathering of proof and its swift and safe change between companions, in addition to the transmission of knowledge and proof.”
Eurojust provides that the group will assist the three nations cooperate with Worldwide Prison Courtroom prosecution workplace, which additionally has opened an investigation in Ukraine.
Throughout the first month of Russia’s conflict towards Ukraine, Polish prosecutors mentioned they’d collected some 300 witness testimonies from refugees pouring over the border.
Joint investigation groups assist nations pool assets and information throughout complicated worldwide investigations. The Netherlands and different international locations arrange such a group to research the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airways flight MH17 over japanese Ukraine.
___
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Dutch brewing big Heineken says it’s pulling out of Russia amid Moscow’s ongoing conflict towards Ukraine.
The corporate mentioned Monday that its enterprise in Russia “is now not sustainable nor viable within the present setting. Consequently, we’ve determined to depart Russia.”
It mentioned it’s looking for an “orderly switch of our enterprise to a brand new proprietor in full compliance with worldwide and native legal guidelines.”
Heineken will proceed to pay its 1,800 employees in Russia by means of the top of the yr. The corporate says it won’t revenue from the sale of its Russian operations and expects to take a 400 million-euro ($438 million) cost because of this.
Amid worldwide outrage and sanctions that adopted Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, the Netherlands-based brewer halted new investments and gross sales to Russia and ended manufacturing, gross sales and promoting of its Heineken model beer there.
The corporate mentioned Monday that it continues to “hope {that a} path to a peaceable end result emerges within the close to time period.”
___
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s protection ministry says navy groups are working to disable a second naval mine that was detected floating off Turkey’s Black Coastline.
On Monday, the ministry mentioned Underwater Defence Groups that have been dispatched to the location off the coast of Igneada, close to the border with Bulgaria, had managed to safe the mine and have been now working to “neutralize” it.
On Saturday, authorities closed the Bosporus — the landmark waterway between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara — to site visitors as a precaution because the Turkish coast guard responded to reviews of a drifting mine-like object which was later “neutralized.”
The sighting of the explosive units follows warnings that mines laid on the entrances to Ukrainian ports might break away in heavy climate and cross the Black Sea.
On March 18, Turkey issued a Navtex alert advising ships to maintain a “sharp look out” and report any doable mines that had drifted from ports resembling Odesa.
___
GENEVA — The Workplace of the UN Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights says it has recorded 1,119 civilian deaths and 1,790 folks injured since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.
The UN company mentioned Sunday most casualties have been brought on by use of explosive weapons with a large affect space, together with shelling from heavy artillery and multiple-launch rocket methods, and missile and air strikes. It mentioned it believes precise figures are “significantly larger,” given delays in acquiring info and in corroborating the reviews.
Of these killed, 224 have been males, 168 girls, 15 women and 32 boys. The intercourse of one other 52 youngsters and 628 adults has not but been decided.
The report mentioned allegations of many civilian casualties within the besieged southern metropolis of Mariupol and in Volnovakha, Izium, Popasna, Rubizhne and Trostianets have been nonetheless being corroborated and are usually not included within the newest totals.
___
LONDON — Russian forces have made no important progress previously 24 hours amid persevering with provide issues and aggressive resistance from Ukrainian fighters, U.Ok. protection officers say.
Poor morale and an absence of momentum have compounded the issues going through Russian forces, Britain’s Ministry of Protection mentioned in its newest intelligence briefing.
Heavy preventing continues round Mariupol as Russian forces attempt to seize the port on the Sea of Azov, which connects to the Black Sea, the ministry mentioned in a briefing posted on Twitter.
Earlier, the ministry mentioned Russia was sustaining a blockade of Ukraine’s Black Coastline, reducing off maritime commerce with the nation. The Russian navy can be launching “sporadic” missile strikes towards targets in Ukraine, the ministry mentioned.
___
BEIJING — China’s ambassador to the U.S. says that of all events involved within the Ukraine, solely China has Russia’s ear.
Qin Gang’s feedback to the Phoenix Tv channel, which has shut ties with China’s ruling Communist Social gathering, come as Beijing’s tacit assist for Moscow is receiving growing scrutiny from Washington and others.
China has refused to criticize Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and even discuss with it as such. It has additionally vigorously opposed punishing financial sanctions imposed on Moscow by the West.
Qin mentioned China was uniquely positioned to assist peacefully resolve what he referred to as “the disaster.”
“Now, all events involved are in critical confrontation with Russia besides China. Solely China has the ear of Russia,” Qin advised the channel’s “Speak With World Leaders” program in an interview broadcast on Sunday.
Qin blamed NATO’s eastward growth for having provoked Russia. “Russia feels duped by NATO on its eastward growth. It feels threatened and cornered,” Qin mentioned.
Whereas Beijing claims it’s neutral within the battle, Chinese language state media has repeated false and unsupported claims made by Moscow.
Phoenix has itself acquired consideration for embedding a reporter with Russian troops who has produced a gradual stream of pro-Moscow reviews.
___
LVIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s priorities on the Ukrainian-Russian talks in Turkey this week can be “sovereignty and territorial integrity,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy advised his nation Sunday in his nightly tackle.
“We’re on the lookout for peace, actually, directly,” he mentioned. “There is a chance and a necessity for a face-to-face assembly in Turkey. This isn’t unhealthy. Let’s see the result.”
This week, he mentioned, “I’ll proceed to enchantment to the parliaments of different international locations” to remind them of the dire state of affairs in besieged cities like Mariupol.
Zelenskyy additionally advised unbiased Russian journalists Sunday that his authorities would think about declaring neutrality and providing safety ensures to Russia, repeating earlier statements. That would come with conserving Ukraine nuclear-free, he mentioned.
He advised the reporters that the problem of neutrality — and agreeing to remain out of NATO — must be put to Ukrainian voters in a referendum after Russian troops withdraw. He mentioned {that a} vote might happen inside a couple of months as soon as Russian troops go away.
Russia rapidly banned Zelenskyy’s interview from being revealed. Roskomnadzor, which regulates communications for Moscow, issued the ban Sunday, saying there may very well be motion taken towards the Russia-based media retailers that took half, which included “these which can be international media retailers appearing as international brokers.”
Zelenskyy responded by saying Moscow was afraid of a comparatively quick dialog with journalists. “It will be humorous if it weren’t so tragic,” he mentioned, in response to the Ukrainian information company RBK Ukraina.
___
BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says that neither NATO nor U.S. President Joe Biden purpose to result in regime change in Russia.
Biden mentioned of Russian President Vladimir Putin throughout a speech on Saturday that “this man can not stay in energy.” The White Home and different U.S. officers rushed to make clear that Biden wasn’t really calling for Putin to be toppled.
Requested throughout an look Sunday on ARD tv whether or not Putin’s removing is in actual fact the actual purpose, Scholz replied: “This isn’t the purpose of NATO, and likewise not that of the American president.”
Scholz added: “We each agree utterly that regime change shouldn’t be an object and purpose of coverage that we pursue collectively.”
Scholz final month introduced an enormous improve in German protection spending. On Sunday, he confirmed a report by the Bild am Sonntag newspaper that the federal government is contemplating buying a missile protection defend alongside the strains of Israel’s “Iron Dome.”
[ad_2]
Source link