Volodymyr Zelensky rules out talks with Russia if land is annexed
Vladimir Putin has vowed to stablilise the situation in the four regions Moscow formally annexed earlier today, hinting at the challenges Russia has faced in asserting its control.
“We proceed from the fact that the situation will be stabilised, we will be able to calmly develop these territories,” Putin said in televised remarks.
Putin, speaking at an award ceremony for teachers, also said he had great respect for the Ukrainian people.
“We always, and even today despite the current tragedy, hold great respect for the Ukrainian people, Ukrainian culture, language, literature and so on,” he said.
It comes after president Volodymyr Zelensky said his soldiers were moving rapidly to push back Russian forces in the war-hit country’s south, recapturing territory in several regions.
“The Ukrainian army is carrying out a pretty fast and powerful advance in the south of our country as part of the current defence operation. Dozens of settlements have already been liberated from the Russian sham referendum this week alone,” Mr Zelensky said.
EU’s von der Leyen pitches temporary gas price caps
Ursula von der Leyen is suggesting that the EU should consider a temporary limit on gas prices and a cap on the cost of gas used to generate power.
The president of the European Commission made the suggestions in a letter to leaders of member nations, saying that the bloc should make clear that it’s “not ready to pay whatever price for gas” amid the war in Ukraine.
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission
(AP)
She wrote: “We should consider a price limitation in relation to the TTF (the Dutch Title Transfer Facility) in a way that continues to secure the supply of gas to Europe and to all Member States and that would demonstrate that the EU is not ready to pay whatever price for gas.”
Such a cap would be temporary while the EU works on launching a new gas price benchmark, she said.
On Friday, EU leaders will meet in Prague to discuss whether to cap gas prices.
Irishman Rory Mason dies aged 23 while fighting in Ukraine
A 23-year-old Irishman has been killed while fighting in Ukraine, his family has confirmed.
Rory Mason, from Dunboyne in Co Meath, died while fighting for Ukraine’s International Legion near the Russian border.
He was enlisted in the legion last March, soon after the Russian invasion of Ukraine started.
Mr Mason is survived by his parents Rob and Elizabeth, a 22-year-old brother, and a 21-year-old sister.
His family learnt of his death from the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is providing consular assistance.
Mr Mason’s family said that information on his death is limited and their priority at this point is to repatriate his remains.
Rory Mason ‘had an inability to turn the other way in the face of injustice’
(Family handout/PA)
His father said: “Rory was a private young man of drive, purpose and conviction.
“Though we are deeply saddened at his death, we are enormously proud of his courage and determination and his selflessness in immediately enlisting to support Ukraine.
“Rory was never political but he had a deep sense of right and wrong and an inability to turn the other way in the face of injustice.
“He had a long-standing interest in eastern Europe, in travel, and in learning new languages, including Russian.
“... Rory was our son and we will miss him enormously. As our family is still trying to come to terms with Rory’s death, we would appeal for privacy at this difficult time.”
Military retreats don’t affect annexation plans, says Kremlin
There is no contradiction between incorporating Ukrainian territories into Russia and military retreats, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.
“They will be with Russia forever and they will be returned”, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
On the run: Russia anti-war TV reporter confirms she has fled house arrest
A Russian TV journalist who shot to fame after staging an anti-war protest during a live broadcast has confirmed she has escaped house arrest over charges of spreading fake news.
In March, just weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine, Marina Ovsyannikova staged a walk out in front of studio cameras during an evening news broadcast on the flagship Channel One, wielding a DIY-placard that read, “Stop the war” and “They’re lying to you”.
Despite receiving a hefty 30,000 rouble (£460) fine for her demonstration, the 44-year-old continued her oppostion to the war.
Marina Ovsyannikova was detained over charges of spreading fake news
Russian oil price cap will give buyers leverage, says US official
A price cap that G7 countries want to impose on Russian oil will provide buyers with leverage to get better prices, a US treasury official has said.
The US has held “positive dialogue” with China and India, two major importers of Russian crude, Ben Harris, assistant secretary for economic policy at the treasury, told the Energy Intelligence Forum.
The price cap, whose details have yet to be hammered out, will be set at a level that will retain an incentive for companies to produce, he added.
“The intention of the price cap is to preserve trade of Russian oil but at lower prices,” Harris said.
Ukraine to bid for World Cup with Spain and Portugal
The three nations announced their collaborative bid at a media conference at Uefa’s headquarters in Nyon on Wednesday.
Ukraine could host one of the groups if the joint bid is successful
Moscow says it expelled Lithuanian diplomat in retaliatory move
Moscow has expelled a Lithuanian diplomat in a retaliatory move, Russia’s foreign ministry has confirmed.
In a statement posted on its website, the ministry said that it “reserves the right to take additional measures” in response to what it called Lithuania’s “unfriendly steps”.
European and other Western countries have expelled hundreds of Russian diplomats since Moscow first invaded Ukraine on 24 February, many of them for alleged spying.
Putin vows to ‘stabilise situation’ in four annexed regions
Vladimir Putin has vowed to stablilise the situation in the four regions Moscow formally annexed earlier today, hinting at the challenges Russia has faced in asserting its control.
“We proceed from the fact that the situation will be stabilised, we will be able to calmly develop these territories,” Putin said in televised remarks.
Putin, speaking at an award ceremony for teachers, also said he had great respect for the Ukrainian people.
“We always, and even today despite the current tragedy, hold great respect for the Ukrainian people, Ukrainian culture, language, literature and so on,” he said.
Moscow says it is holding positions in Kherson region amid Ukrainian advance
Russia’s forces are holding positions in Ukraine‘s Kherson region and “repelling attacks by superior enemy forces”, Moscow’s defence ministry has said – a day after confirming major territorial losses in the southern province.
In its daily briefing, the ministry said its forces had launched airstrikes on the settlements of Dudchany and Davydiv Brid, confirming the loss this week of the two key villages, which its forces had controlled since March.
Any Russian objects found on occupied territory ‘legitimate targets’, says Kyiv
Any “Russian objects” on occupied Ukrainian territory are legitimate military targets, a senior Ukrainian presidential aide has said.
“Any Russian objects on occupied territories are legitimate military targets for attack by (Ukraine‘s) Armed Forces,” presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on Twitter.
“Any counteroffensive and de-occupation of territories falls under the concept of defensive war. This is an absolute axiom for both the leadership of Ukraine and our allies, he added.