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Putin compares himself to Peter the Great, a Russian tsar from the 18th century

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Vladimir Putin’s admiration for Peter the Great is well-known, but he now appears to have his own notions of “Greatness.”

He has openly compared himself to the Russian tsar, equating Russia’s invasion of Ukraine today with Peter’s expansionist wars three centuries ago, and admitting that his own war is a land grab in his strongest statement yet. Mr Putin’s apparent empire-building ambitions are bad news for Ukraine, and his comments have enraged other neighbours, including Estonia, which called them “completely unacceptable.”

When the remarks were made, Russia’s president was meeting with young scientists and entrepreneurs. Prior to discussing IT and tech development, he discussed politics and power, specifically the new battle for geopolitical dominance that he sees. He told his small audience that Peter the Great was a role model in that speech.

“You might think he was fighting with Sweden, seizing their lands,” Mr Putin said, referring to Peter’s Northern Wars, which he launched as he forged a new Russian Empire at the turn of the 18th century. “But he didn’t seize anything; he reclaimed it!” he argued, pointing out that Slavs had lived in the area for centuries.

Mr Putin concluded, “It appears it has fallen to us, too, to reclaim and strengthen,” with a near-smirk that made it clear he was referring to Ukraine and his goals there. He claimed that Peter’s rule was proof that Russia had grown stronger as a result of its expansion.

Mr Putin has been citing Russia’s past a lot lately, and it’s always been carefully curated to suit his current cause. He wrote a massive essay several months before launching his attack on Ukraine in which he essentially argued against the country’s historical right to exist. When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Putin falsely claimed that the invasion was a “special operation” limited to the eastern Donbas region in order to “de-Nazify” Ukraine and reduce the perceived threat to Russia.

Putin is selective in his use of history. Though a ruthless autocrat, Peter the Great was a huge admirer of Western ideas, science, and culture, famously constructing St Petersburg as a “window on Europe” and travelling the continent in search of knowledge to aid Russia’s modernization.

Putin’s increasingly repressive rule gradually shut that window to the West, and the war in Ukraine has slammed it shut completely. The idea of a Russian leader visiting Holland or Greenwich in search of ideas and inspiration, as the Tsar did in the past, now seems implausible. A series of words flashed up behind them as Putin lectured the young entrepreneurs on an 18th century tsar: ‘future,’ ‘confident,’ and ‘victory.’

In the face of Western condemnation and sanctions, Russia is determined to project defiance, and Putin himself appeared relaxed rather than threatened. However, history may have taught us something else.

From the Baltics to the Black Sea, Peter the Great eventually conquered land. Russia, on the other hand, had been fighting its Great Northern War for 21 years.

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Russia’s new version of McDonald’s unveils logo

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As it prepares to reopen its restaurants on Sunday, the Russian fast food chain that was formerly known as McDonald’s in the country has unveiled its new logo.

A circle and two lines appear in the new branding, which are said to represent a burger and two French fries. Although a number of options have reportedly been considered, the company has not yet revealed the name of the chain. McDonald’s announced in May that it would leave Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine.

According to Russian state-owned news agency TASS, which cited Sistema PBO, the firm that manages the business previously owned by McDonald’s, the Russian chain is set to reopen 15 restaurants this weekend.

“The logo’s green background represents the high quality of products and service that our guests have come to expect,” a Sistema PBO spokesperson told TASS.

The new logo, according to social media users, still looks like a “M.” Others speculated that the new logo was inspired by Bangladesh’s flag, which has a dark green background and a red circle in shades similar to the new logo. Sistema PBO has submitted eight potential names for the new chain to Rospatent, the Russian government agency in charge of intellectual property, according to the newspaper Izvestia.

“Tot Samyi,” which means “the same,” and “Svobodnaya Kassa,” which means “available cash register,” are among the names reportedly being considered. McDonald’s, Sistema PBO, and Rospatent did not respond to requests for comment from the BBC right away.

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WTO chief warns of global food crisis in wake of Ukraine conflict

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According to the head of the World Trade Organization, a food crisis sparked by the Ukraine war could last for years if no action is taken. Wheat and fertiliser shortages could be particularly damaging to African countries, according to WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Because of the war, millions of tonnes of grain are sitting in warehouses and Ukrainian ports, unable to be exported. As grain prices rise, she described it as “really sad.” Ukraine is a major global wheat exporter, accounting for 9% of the global market. It also controls 42 percent of the global sunflower oil market and 16 percent of the global maize market.

Between 20 and 25 million tonnes of wheat are stuck in Ukraine due to gridlock caused by a Russian blockade of Black Sea ports and Russian and Ukrainian mines along the coast, while global grain prices continue to rise. Wheat prices were up 59 percent from last year, sunflower oil was up 30%, and maize was up 23 percent, according to Ms Okonjo-Iweala.

The UN is leading efforts to establish a “grain corridor” for tankers leaving Odessa and other Ukrainian ports, with a Turkish naval escort. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, on the other hand, has stated that Ukraine must clear mines from its Black Sea ports.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has stated that it requires “effective security guarantees” before it can begin shipments, citing concerns that Moscow could use the potential corridor to launch a sea attack on Odessa. Ukraine produces enough food to feed 400 million people on a regular basis, but Russia is accused of turning it into a stealth missile, with blockaded ports reducing exports to a trickle.

Several countries in the Middle East and Africa, in particular, will be affected by supply shortages. Libya and Eritrea import more than 40% of their wheat from Ukraine, while Lebanon imports more than 60%.

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Berlin: One dead and others hurt as car drives into pedestrians

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A car slammed into a crowd on a busy Berlin street, killing at least one person and injuring eight others. It’s unclear whether the incident, which occurred around 10:30 a.m. local time (08:30 a.m. GMT), was intentional or unintentional, according to emergency officials.

The driver was arrested at the scene, according to a police spokesperson. The incident occurred in western Berlin, on one of the city’s busiest shopping streets. According to reports, the vehicle veered off the road and climbed the sidewalk before crashing into a storefront.

A silver Renault Clio crashed through a display window in a cosmetics store, according to images from the scene. There are also photos of what appears to be a body in the middle of the road, covered in blankets.

According to Berlin police, around 130 emergency workers are on the scene. Mayor Franziska Giffey of Berlin said on Twitter that she was “deeply affected” by the incident and that “police are working flat out to clarify the matter.”

“Throughout the day, I’ll get a sense of the situation on the ground. I’d like to express my gratitude to the more than 130 emergency services who responded quickly and provided care to those who were affected “she continued.

The actor John Barrowman tweeted that he was nearby when the incident occurred, and that the car had repeatedly mounted the footpath before crashing into the storefront, according to a video posted from the scene.

“The police presence is astounding. They’re removing the debris from the area “”, said the actor. “Right now, helicopters are flying in to airlift people.” The incident occurred near the busy intersection of Rankestrasse and Tauentzienstrasse in west Berlin.

The area is directly across from Breitscheidplatz, where a truck driver deliberately drove his lorry into a crowd of people at a Christmas market, killing 12 people.

The attack, which was carried out by an unsuccessful asylum seeker, was later claimed by IS. Italian police shot and killed the assailant later.

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EU blames Russia for the food crisis, prompting a walkout

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After the European Council president blamed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for causing a global food crisis, Russia’s UN ambassador stormed out of a UN Security Council meeting. Russian food supplies are being used as a “stealth missile” against the developing world, according to Charles Michel, forcing people into poverty.

Mr Michel was accused of spreading lies by Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia. Food has become stranded at Ukrainian ports as a result of the conflict. Ukraine exports a lot of cooking oil as well as grains like maize and wheat. Russia also exports a large quantity of grains and fertiliser. Because of the lack of these exports, the cost of alternatives has skyrocketed.

“Let’s be honest, Mr. Ambassador of the Russian Federation, the Kremlin is using food supplies as a stealth missile against developing countries,” Mr Michel said during a meeting of the UN Security Council in New York.

“The devastating effects of Russia’s war are reverberating around the world, raising food prices, pushing people into poverty, and destabilising entire regions.” “Russia is solely to blame for the current food crisis.”

He went on to say that he had seen for himself the millions of tonnes of grain stuck in the Ukrainian port of Odesa due to a Russian naval blockade.

Because of its military activities in Ukraine, Mr Michel also accused Russia of stealing grain and preventing crop planting and harvesting.

Mr Nebenzia stormed out as a result of his remarks. “You may leave the room,” Mr Michel said as he walked away. “Perhaps it’s easier not to listen to the truth. Mr Nebenzia told Reuters that he couldn’t stay because “Charles Michel came here to spread lies.”

In a separate meeting, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia was preventing Ukrainian grain exports from leaving the country and accused Russian forces of destroying agricultural infrastructure in Ukraine.

“There’s somewhere around 20 million tonnes of wheat trapped in silos near Odesa, and in ships literally filled with grain that are stuck in the Odesa port because of this Russian blockade,” Mr Blinken said during a virtual roundtable with philanthropists, non-governmental organisations, and private sector entities.

He agreed with Mr Michel that there were credible reports that Russia was “pilfering” Ukraine’s grain to sell for profit.

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Flight ban affects Russian foreign minister’s visit to Serbia due to Ukraine conflict

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Since three of Serbia’s neighbours have refused to let his plane use their airspace, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit to Serbia has been cancelled.

Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Montenegro, all EU members, have imposed a flight ban, as have Serbia and North Macedonia. In February, the EU imposed an airspace ban in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Mr. Lavrov has blamed the latest move on “the Brussels puppeteers.” Serbia has remained friendly with Russia despite the EU’s broad sanctions against the country. Days after the invasion on February 24, the EU and the UK imposed a blanket flight ban on Russian planes, including oligarchs’ private jets.

Serbia, like many other European countries, is heavily reliant on Russian gas. On the 6-7 June, Mr. Lavrov was scheduled to meet with President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade.

He called the decision “unprecedented” and said that “no one will be able to destroy our relations with Serbia” in a statement broadcast on Russian state news channel Rossiya 24.

“It appears that the Brussels puppeteers did not want to give us a platform so that we could confirm Russia’s position on the Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina problems in the capital of Serbia,” he added.

Serbia’s refusal to recognise Kosovo’s independence is backed by the Kremlin. The NATO bombing campaign against Serbia during the Kosovo war in 1999 enraged Russia.

Mr. Lavrov accused Nato and the EU of wanting to “turn the Balkans into their own project called closed Balkans” in a statement released on Monday. “Our diplomacy has yet to master teleportation,” a Russian foreign ministry source said of the decision to bar Mr Lavrov’s flight.

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‘Don’t humiliate Russia,’ Macron says, inciting outrage in Ukraine

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Ukraine’s foreign minister has slammed French President Emmanuel Macron for stating that Russia must not be humiliated as a result of its invasion. Mr. Macron stressed the importance of President Vladimir Putin having a way out of a “fundamental error.”

Allies, on the other hand, should “better focus on how to put Russia in its place” as it “humiliates itself,” according to Dmytro Kuleba. Mr Macron has spoken with Mr Putin on the phone several times in an attempt to broker a ceasefire and negotiations.

The French efforts to maintain contact with Putin contrast sharply with the US and UK positions. “Calls to avoid humiliating Russia can only humiliate France and every other country that would call for it,” Foreign Minister Kuleba said in a tweet.

Ukraine must not give Russia territorial concessions, according to Kyiv, because Russia’s invasion has been condemned internationally as a brutal aggression. Mr Macron had previously told French regional media that Russian President Vladimir Putin had “isolated himself.”

“I believe, and I told him so,” he said, “that he made a historic and fundamental error for his people, for himself, and for history.” “Isolating oneself is one thing,” he continued, “but getting out of it is a difficult path.”Mario Draghi, Italy’s prime minister, has sided with Mr Macron, saying Europe wants “some credible negotiations.”

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Russian man accused of the assassination of Alexander Litvinenko dies from Covid

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Covid-19 has claimed the life of one of the main suspects in the assassination of former Russian spy and Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko.

Mr Litvinenko was fatally poisoned in London in 2006, according to UK authorities. Dmitry Kovtun was one of two men accused of poisoning him. Mr Kovtun died on Saturday at a hospital in Moscow, according to the Russian state news agency Tass.

Andrei Lugovoi, another suspect in the murder, posted on social media that his “faithful friend” had died.

Mr Litvinenko, a former KGB officer turned British citizen and outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was poisoned with a radioactive substance at a London hotel where he met the two men.

Shortly after the meeting, he became ill and was admitted to the hospital. His condition deteriorated, and he died on November 23, a few weeks later. The killing was “probably approved” by Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a UK public inquiry conducted ten years later. Mr Litvinenko accused President Putin of ordering his assassination from his deathbed. Russia has consistently denied any involvement in the assassination.

Mr. Kovtun was born in 1965 and attended Moscow’s Soviet command academy before joining the KGB’s protection unit. As the Soviet Union fell apart, he was serving in East Germany and fled to Hamburg with his first wife to seek political asylum. Mr Kovtun later returned to Russia, where Mr Lugovoi is said to have recruited him.

Mr Kovtun told the Interfax news agency after the UK report was released: “I had nothing to do with the death of Litvinenko. On the basis of the falsified and fabricated evidence, the outcome of the public inquiry published in London could not have reached any other conclusions.”

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At least three people have died in a train accident in Bavaria, Germany

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According to police, a train derailed in Germany’s south-eastern state of Bavaria, killing at least three people and injuring about 60 others. Three carriages of the train, which was carrying a large number of students, came off the tracks near Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

According to a police spokesperson, the cause of the accident is unknown. Several crumpled train carriages lie on their sides, according to images published by local media. A spokesperson for the Garmisch-Partenkirchen local authority told reporters that sixteen of the injured were in critical condition.

As rescue efforts continue, six helicopters have been dispatched to the scene, including three from the Austrian region of Tyrol. “People are being dragged through the windows,” according to police. It is not impossible, according to police, that a number of students celebrating the start of the summer vacation were among those injured.

The train had just left Garmisch-Partenkirchen for Munich when the accident occurred around 13:15 local time (11:15 GMT). According to Deutsche Bahn, a section of the route between Munich and Garmisch-Partenkirchen has been closed and traffic has been diverted.

When the train derailed, a US soldier stationed at a nearby air base was driving by. He told local media that the accident was “just awful – the train overturned suddenly.”

In 1998, a high-speed train derailed in Eschede, Lower Saxony, killing 101 people, making it Germany’s deadliest rail accident in modern times. The country’s most recent fatal crash occurred in February, when two trains collided near Munich, killing one person and injuring 14 others.

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Ukraine round-up: Long-range rockets and Kherson torture claims

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After President Joe Biden announced that his administration would supply Kyiv with new long-range missiles in the coming weeks, Russia accused the US of purposefully prolonging the war in Ukraine.

Mr. Biden wrote in the New York Times that the lethal aid would strengthen Ukraine’s negotiating position against Russia and increase the likelihood of a diplomatic solution. Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, accused the US of wanting to “fight Russia to the last Ukrainian” and said the move discouraged Kyiv officials from seeking a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

The weapons, which Ukraine has long requested, will help strike enemy forces within Ukraine more precisely and from a greater distance, according to President Biden.

Ukraine had promised not to use the new missiles to strike inside Russia, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who warned of a long conflict ahead.

The intervention comes as fighting in the eastern Donbas region heats up, with President Volodymyr Zelensky accusing Russia of “madness” after striking a chemical factory in the city.

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