News Trending War

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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News Trending War

Russia Ukraine War: Fourth Russian general killed in Ukraine conflict

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Another Russian general has been killed in the fighting, according to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. Although he did not name the officer, a Ukrainian interior ministry adviser said Maj Gen Oleg Mityaev was killed by the far-right Azov Battalion.

Ukrainian media reported that Gen Mityaev was killed near Mariupol. He is the fourth Russian general to be reported killed, prompting some to wonder why such senior military figures are stationed so close to the front lines. Analysts estimate that around 20 generals are leading Russian operations in Ukraine, implying that one-fifth of Russia’s generals have been killed in action if all reported deaths are confirmed.

Because of the high number of casualties, some experts believe that the generals were not simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, but that Ukraine is likely targeting top-ranking Russian officers. “This is not an accident, in my opinion. One is an accident, but the rest are planned “, Georgetown University’s Rita Konaev said.

A source close to President Zelensky told the Wall Street Journal that Ukraine had a military intelligence team dedicated to targeting Russia’s officer class. “They’re looking for high-profile generals, pilots, and artillery commanders,” the source said. With Ukraine’s military outmanned, Ms Konaev believes that targeting high-ranking officials could be an important part of the information war.

Maj Gen Oleg Mityaev is said to have died near Mariupol, a city in southeast Ukraine that has seen some of the most intense fighting so far. The far-right Azov Battalion claims responsibility for his death. He was the commander of the Russian army’s 150th motorised rifle division, which was formed in 2016 and is based near the Ukrainian border in the Rostov region. Although Russia denies that its military was involved in fighting in separatist-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine, Ukraine claims that the unit was created to participate in the conflict there.

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News Trending War

Ukraine Russia War: If Oil Ban Remains in Place, May Cut Gas Supplies

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If the West goes ahead with a ban on Russian oil, Russia has threatened to shut down its main gas pipeline to Germany.

The rejection of Russian oil, according to Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, would have “catastrophic consequences for the global market,” causing prices to more than double to $300 a barrel. As a means of punishing Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, the US has been discussing a possible ban with allies. On Monday, however, Germany and the Netherlands both rejected the plan.

The EU imports roughly 40% of its gas and 30% of its oil from Russia, and there are no easy alternatives if supplies are disrupted.

While the UK would not be directly affected by a supply disruption because it imports less than 5% of its gas from Russia, it would be affected by rising global market prices as European demand grows. Russia is the world’s second-largest gas producer and third-largest oil exporter, and any sanctions against its energy sector would be disastrous for the country’s economy.

Although sanctioning Russia’s oil and gas exports is appealing, “practically it is challenging,” according to Nathan Piper, head of oil and gas research at Investec.

Ukraine has urged the West to impose an oil and gas embargo, but there are concerns that this would drive up prices. Fears of an embargo pushed Brent crude oil up to $139 (£106) a barrel on Monday, its highest level in nearly 14 years.

Brent crude prices were little changed on Tuesday, with a barrel costing $121, up 3%.

Meanwhile, wholesale gas prices increased to 565p per therm from 501p earlier in the day.

Following a volatile Monday caused by US discussions about a potential Russian oil and gas ban, UK stock markets rose slightly in early trading.

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News Trending

Ivan Kuliak, a Russian gymnast being investigated for wearing a pro-war symbol

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Ivan Kuliak, a Russian gymnast, is being investigated after wearing a national war symbol on his leotard while competing on the podium in Qatar on Saturday.

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) announced that it had initiated disciplinary proceedings against Kuliak for his “shocking behaviour” at the Apparatus World Cup in Doha. Kuliak took bronze in the parallel bars final and stood next to gold medalist Illia Kovtun of Ukraine, who had a letter ‘Z’ taped to his chest. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the letter Z has become symbolic, and it has been seen painted on the sides of tanks and military vehicles, as well as worn by pro-war politicians in Russia.

This weekend was the last chance for Russian and Belarussian gymnasts to compete after their countries were sanctioned by the FIG following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Athletes, officials, and judges from Russia and Belarus will be barred from competing in FIG or FIG-sanctioned competitions beginning Monday.

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News Trending War

Evacuation of Mariupol Halted Due to the Death of Civilians Near Kyiv

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Three civilians were killed while attempting to flee Irpin, a town just outside Kyiv.

A photographer for the New York Times captured a heartbreaking image of three members of a family of four – a mother and two children – lying dead on the pavement, while Ukrainian soldiers try to save the wounded father’s life.

Due to the graphic nature of the image, we are not publishing it here.

According to the newspaper, the children were a teenage son and an eight-year-old daughter.

The family had fled the fighting, carrying a suitcase and a few backpacks, as well as their small dog.

A mortar attack was launched at them.

Russian forces have been firing mortar shells at evacuating civilians, including children, who were using an already-collapsed bridge.

After a railway track was hit and damaged on Saturday, Ukraine accused Russian forces of deliberately targeting the evacuation routes from Irpin.

In addition to Irpin, heavy fighting has recently erupted in the small towns of Hostomel and Bucha to the northwest of Kyiv.

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News War

Russia has taken control of Ukraine’s nuclear plant following shelling

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After being shelled, Russia has taken control of a nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

A fire broke out at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, and Ukraine claimed Russian troops shelled it. The facility is now safe, according to authorities, and radiation levels are normal. World leaders have accused Russia of putting an entire continent’s safety at risk, and Ukraine’s president has accused Russia of “nuclear terror.” US Vice President Joe Biden urged Moscow to halt its military activities near the site, while Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Russia’s “horrific attacks” must end “immediately.”

The “reckless” attack, according to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, could “directly threaten the safety of all of Europe.” All three leaders spoke by phone with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. Meanwhile, Mr Zelensky stated that Russia desired a repeat of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. According to Ukraine’s nuclear inspectorate, buildings surrounding one of the plant’s six power units have been damaged without compromising its safety. Workers at the plant said the fire, which has since been extinguished, started outside the plant’s perimeter at a training building, and that only one of the plant’s six reactors was operational.

Despite the harsh international sanctions, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin stated that his offensive was proceeding “strictly according to schedule and plan.”

He has placed his nuclear forces on high alert in response to the West’s “aggressive statements.”

On Friday, Western ministers will meet in Brussels for crisis talks in order to demonstrate their support for Ukraine.

The UK Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, called it “one of the most important days of diplomacy,” with allies ready to “tighten the vice around Putin’s war machine” by targeting the Russian economy with additional sanctions.

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News Technology Trending

Ukraine Invasion: Facebook Access Restricted by Russia

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During the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has restricted access to Facebook due to the platform’s stance on the accounts of several Moscow-backed news outlets. Roskomnadzor, Russia’s communications regulator, accused the network of “censorship” and violating “Russian citizens’ rights and freedoms.”

Facebook stated that it would not stop fact-checking and labelling content from state-owned news outlets. The announcement came just one day after Russia launched its attack on Ukraine. It’s unclear what the regulator restrictions mean or how much Facebook parent company Meta’s other platforms – WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram – are affected. The regulator had demanded that Facebook remove the restrictions it imposed on state news agency RIA, state TV channel Zvezda, and pro-Kremlin news sites Lenta.Ru and Gazeta.Ru on 24th February.

Many state-owned Russian media outlets have painted a largely positive picture of Russia’s military advances in Ukraine, describing the invasion as a “special military operation” forced on Moscow. On 24th February, Meta announced the establishment of a “special operations centre” to monitor content related to the Ukrainian conflict.

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