- The European Union’s govt arm backs Ukraine’s uncover to be granted EU candidacy set up of dwelling.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the European Payment’s recommendation will reveal Ukraine closer to victory.
- Kyiv says its forces bear struck a Russian navy tugboat transporting soldiers and ammunition to the occupied Zmiinyi Island, in total is known as Snake Island, off Ukraine’s southwestern hover.
- The governor of Ukraine’s jap Luhansk web web page says civilian evacuations from bunkers below the Azot chemical plant in Severodonetsk are impossible amid heavy combating.
Right here are primarily the latest updates:
Ukraine to scrap visa-free scoot for Russians from July 1
Ukraine is scrapping visa-free entry for Russians and can require them to design visas to enter the country from the origin of next month, Zelenskyy has launched.
“Per a resolution that’s planned by the Cabinet of Ministers, Ukraine will introduce a visa regime for Russian voters from July 1, 2022,” the Ukrainian leader acknowledged.
Reporter’s Notebook: Witnessing battle crimes in Kharkiv
Click here to read Al Jazeera’s Assed Baig memoir of the harrowing scenes he witnessed in Ukraine’s 2nd city, at the side of obvious abuses by both aspect.
Russia would be ’emboldened’ if Ukraine’s EU candidacy uncover fails: AJE correspondent
Al Jazeera’s Charles Stratford, reporting from Kyiv, says there is a “accepted sense” in Ukraine and amongst its Western allies that if the European Payment’s candidacy recommendation does no longer undergo then Russian President Vladimir Putin would be “emboldened”.
“So it is a definite step, but there are very strict conditions which can also be being demanded of Ukraine with recognize to tackling corruption and with recognize to the guideline of law,” Stratford acknowledged.
“Its complete pretty procedure shall be scrutinised by Brussels and it once in some time has to conform with the criteria that Brussels items out,” he added.
EU candidate set up of dwelling will abet Ukraine defeat Russia: Zelenskyy
The European Payment’s resolution to signify granting Ukraine European Union candidate set up of dwelling will abet Kyiv in defeating Russia’s invasion, Zelenskyy says.
“It’s the 1st step on the EU membership direction that’ll for sure reveal our victory closer. Grateful to @vonderleyen & each and every [EU] member for a historical resolution,” the Ukrainian leader tweeted.
He added that he expected EU authorities leaders to approve the proposal at their upcoming summit in Brussels next week.
I commend the definite @EU_Commission Conclusion on 🇺🇦’s candidate set up of dwelling. It’s the 1st step on the EU membership direction that’ll for sure reveal our Victory closer. Grateful to @vonderleyen & each and every EC member for a historical resolution. I demand the definite consequence from #EUCO next week.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 17, 2022
‘Satan in the element’ on Ukraine EU membership uncover: AJE correspondent
Al Jazeera’s Dominic Kane, reporting from Berlin, says “the satan is in the element” over the European Payment’s transfer to reccomend Ukraine be granted candidate set up of dwelling in its uncover to be a part of the EU.
“[If a candidate], the Ukrainians must follow several varied criteria but the last phrase ones are they must uncover that they’ve a actual democracy, a functinioning market financial system and that the guideline of law pertains at some point of their country,” Kane acknowledged.
“And they must test in to aceepting all aspects of EU legislation and that choices joining the Euro [currency] when or if they be a part of the EU,” he added.
Kane additionally famed there had been a preference of assorted countries “which bear all been waiting as candidates to change into people of the EU for a extraordinarily substantial time”.
“So what this represents is a step forward [for Ukraine] … but there’s loads restful forward, absolute self belief of about that,” he acknowledged.
Eurovision 2023 can’t lag forward in Ukraine: Organisers
The 2023 Eurovision Tune Contest can’t be held in Ukraine given the battle, the European Broadcasting Union has launched.
“The safety and operational ensures required for a broadcaster to host, organise and invent the Eurovision Tune Contest below the ESC Ideas can’t be fulfilled by UA:PBC,” ESC acknowledged on Twitter, citing Ukraine’s public broadcaster.
“The EBU would admire to thank UA:PBC for his or her wholehearted cooperation and dedication in exploring all eventualities in the weeks since Kalush Orchestra’s bag on 14 Would possibly well in Turin and share their sadness and disappointment that next year’s Contest can’t be held in Ukraine,” it added, noting it became once in talks to host the annual tournament in the United Kingdom as an different.
Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra received this year’s contest last month, with the UK’s entry coming 2nd.
The EBU has issued the statement below concerning the hosting of next year’s Eurovision Tune Contest
Discover it on-line here ➡️ https://t.co/kPWQzTM218#Eurovision #ESC2023 pic.twitter.com/9AV5X9R1Be
— EBU (@EBU_HQ) June 17, 2022
European Payment recommends EU ‘candidate set up of dwelling’ for Ukraine
The European Payment says it has instructed Ukraine be formally named a “candidate” for joining the EU, a transfer that can also open up a years-lengthy direction in direction of joining the bloc.
“Certain, Ukraine must be welcomed as a candidate country – here relies totally on the figuring out that pretty work has been performed but major work additionally stays to be performed,” Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the EU’s govt arm, acknowledged.
Within the intervening time, Moscow acknowledged it became once intently following Ukraine’s efforts to turn honest into a member of the bloc, namely in the light of elevated defence cooperation at some point of the EU.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the insist “requires our heightened consideration, because we’re all responsive to the intensification of discussions in Europe close to strengthening the defence factor of the EU”.
Kremlin: Russia’s predominant intention in Ukraine stays protection of Donbas
The Kremlin says the intention of its “particular defense pressure operation” in Ukraine stays the protection of the inhabitants of the jap Donbas web web page.
In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged Russia’s predominant honest in Ukraine became once to “set up and stable” the Donbas from what he called “barbaric assaults” by Kyiv’s defense pressure.
France ‘no longer receiving any Russian gas by technique of pipelines’
France has no longer received any pure gas from Russia by technique of pipeline since June 15, network operator GRTgaz says, after Russian energy huge Gazprom warned this week it would sharply minimize deliveries to Europe.
Gazprom acknowledged the supply reductions by technique of the Nord Stream pipeline are the final consequence of repair work, but EU officials imagine Moscow is punishing allies of Ukraine.
France gets round 17 percent of its gas from Russia through network connections with Germany, which relies heavily on Russian offers and has criticised Gazprom’s transfer as “political”. Offers had already been reduced by 60 percent for the reason that origin of this year, sending costs soaring.
However GRTgaz acknowledged there became once no trouble to French offers for the time being, with reserves at 56 percent capability when compared with 50 percent in June in total.
Slovak gas importer sees Russian deliveries minimize by half of
Slovakia’s gas importer SPP became once informed by Russia that its deliveries of gas would be reduced by half of, its chief govt became once quoted as saying.
“Reducing the deliveries by a half of does no longer damage us for the time being. We’re working with a sensible trouble that they’re going to seemingly be minimize fully,” SPP boss Richard Prokypcak became once cited as saying by Slovak data web web page Dennik N.
SPP became once no longer straight accessible for command.
Macron sceptical on deal to salvage grain out of Ukraine’s Odesa port
French President Emmanuel Macron says he’s open to talking to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin as segment of efforts to strike a deal to salvage grain out of the Ukrainian port of Odesa but that he sees puny likelihood of an agreement.
“We now must chat with Russia on meals security and it (discussions) may maybe presumably also be justified by liaising abruptly with the UN secretary accepted to salvage grains out of Odesa,” Macron informed BFM TV on his plan abet from Ukraine.
“However I don’t imagine loads in this direction, because I already had talks just a few weeks previously with President Putin, but he didn’t must settle for a UN resolution on this subject.”
Ukraine: Evacuation from Severodonetsk chemical plant ‘impossible’
The governor of Ukraine’s Luhansk web web page says the evacuation of 568 civilians sheltering in bunkers below the Azot chemical plant in the embattled city of Severodonetsk is for the time being impossible because of shelling and heavy combating.
In a post on Telegram messenger, he acknowledged there had been 38 childhood taking safe haven in the bunkers at the chemical plant.
Evacuation from #Azot plant in #Severodonetsk now impossible. It is bodily that you may maybe presumably maybe presumably also imagine, but it completely is amazingly unhealthy because of constant shelling and combating. If any individual went out, they may maybe bear a 99% likelihood of demise. 568 folks, at the side of 38 childhood for the time being taking refuge in plant pic.twitter.com/xN5IgIPZc2
— Serhiy Hayday (@serhey_hayday) June 17, 2022
Ukraine says it hit Russian naval tugboat with missiles
Ukraine says it has hit a Russian naval tugboat transporting soldiers, weapons and ammunition to the Russian-occupied Zmiinyi Island south of the Odesa web web page with missiles.
Odesa web web page governor Maksym Marchenko named the tugboat because the Vasiliy Beg.
There became once no command from Moscow on the Ukrainian issue.
Italy’s Eni faces additional squeeze on Russian gas offers
Italy’s Eni says this can earn most efficient half of of the gas provide volumes it had requested from Russia’s Gazprom on Friday after experiencing a shortfall in the two old days.
“Towards a day-to-day gas seek data from by Eni of round 63 million cubic meters, Gazprom launched that this can most efficient provide 50 percent of what became once requested, with true quantities delivered nearly unchanged from the old day,” the ability huge acknowledged on its web web page.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged on Thursday that reductions in provide had been no longer premeditated and had been associated to repairs disorders, but Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi brushed aside his rationalization.
“Both Germany and us, and others, imagine these are lies. Indubitably they are making a political employ of gas admire they are the utilization of grain for political employ,” Draghi informed a data convention honest through a disclose over with to Kyiv with his German and French counterparts.
Russian superyacht Amadea arrives in Honolulu from Fiji
A Russian-owned superyacht seized by the US arrived in Honolulu Harbor on Thursday flying an American flag.
The US last week received a beautiful fight in Fiji to make a selection the $325m vessel and straight sailed it to Hawaii. The FBI has linked the Amadea to the Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov.
The ship grew to turn honest into a intention of Job Drive KleptoCapture, launched in March to make a selection the resources of Russian oligarchs to keep stress on Russia to complete the battle in Ukraine.
Ukraine battle accelerating Russia’s authoritarianism trajectory: UK
The battle in Ukraine has accelerated Russia’s lengthy-duration of time inner trajectory in direction of authoritarianism, the UK’s defence ministry has acknowledged.
“In most recent weeks, the Duma has started the project to introduce a 20-year sentence for Russians who wrestle in opposition to the Russian Federation,” the ministry acknowledged in its intelligence briefing on Twitter.
Even when talking out in opposition to the invasion is being criminalised and despite the bulk of Russians saying they enhance what Moscow calls its “particular defense pressure operation”, many Russians are passively and actively displaying opposition, the UK acknowledged.
“Migration choices suggest that 15,000 Russian millionaires (in US bucks) are seemingly already attempting to go the country,” it acknowledged, adding that had been this exodus to proceed, it would exacerbate the battle’s injury to Russia’s financial system.
Most up-to-date Defence Intelligence update on the insist in Ukraine – 17 June 2022
Discover out extra concerning the UK authorities’s response: https://t.co/pljjAjMaRI🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/b1WU2PBxHY
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) June 17, 2022
‘We didn’t invade Ukraine’: Russia’s FM
Russia’s international minister has acknowledged that his country “didn’t invade Ukraine”.
“We declared a particular defense pressure operation because we had fully no varied plan of explaining to the West that dragging Ukraine into NATO became once a criminal act,” Sergey Lavrov informed the BBC.
When asked about Russia’s relationship with the United Kingdom, Lavrov acknowledged there became once no room for manoeuvre any extra.
“Because Johnson and Truss issue publicly that ‘we must defeat Russia’, ‘We must reveal it to its knees’. Properly, lag on, attain it,” he acknowledged.
“Russia isn’t squeaky dapper. Russia is what it is miles & we’re no longer ashamed of revealing who we’re.” In an unfamiliar interview, I question of International Minister Sergei Lavrov on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Producers @BBCWillVernon @LizaShuvalova Cameras @AntonChicherov @LizaVereykina pic.twitter.com/yFccy6Vtiu
— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) June 16, 2022
One ineffective, six injured in Mykolaiv: Governor
One person has been killed and six extra injured in a morning missile attack on Mykolaiv, the web web page’s governor has acknowledged.
A piece of one is among these injured, Vitaliy Kim acknowledged on Telegram, adding that four residential excessive-upward thrust structures and an infrastructure facility had been damaged by the attack.
Russia says stories it is miles taking stolen Ukraine grain to Syria are deceptive: RIA
Moscow’s representative to Syria has labelled as “deceptive” stories that Russian-flagged ships had been seen taking Ukraine’s grain to ports in Syria, direct data company RIA stories.
Reuters had earlier reported on satellite photos from Maxar Technologies displaying that Russia had been transporting Ukraine’s grain, harvested last season, to Syria over the last couple of months.
“Right here’s extra deceptive, unconfirmed and unrealistic data,” RIA quotes Alexander Lavrentyev as saying.
“The predominant reserves are located in the Nikolaev [Mykolaiv] and the Odesa regions. Russian ships attain no longer bear salvage admission to to those ports, because they are below the withhold watch over of Ukraine,” Lavrentyev added.
Air strikes hit Mykolaiv: Mayor
Russian forces struck Mykolaiv with rockets on Friday morning, the port city’s mayor has acknowledged.
“Houses had been damaged. Rescuers, medics and communal workers are engaged on the characteristic. I will expose you additional concerning the implications of the shelling later,” Oleksandr Syenkevych wrote on Telegram.
Air raid sirens had been activated in the Mykolaiv web web page early on Friday and several residents reported explosions on social media.
Ukraine Siren Alert [17/06/2022]
07: 45: 06
Mykolaiv oblast: Mykolayiv
Миколаївська область: Миколаїв#Ukraine – Message became once generated the utilization of municipal data pic.twitter.com/lT9wA7Gyf8— Ukraine Siren Alerts (@UkraineAlert) June 17, 2022
Russian watch caught in search of to infiltrate ICC: Netherlands
The Dutch intelligence carrier has uncovered a Russian defense pressure agent attempting to employ a unfaithful id to infiltrate the Global Criminal Court (ICC) which is investigating accusations of battle crimes in Ukraine.
Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov created an clarify conceal memoir courting abet years to are trying and enter the Netherlands as a Brazilian national for an internship at the Hague-primarily based mostly ICC in April, the company’s head informed the Reuters data company on Thursday.
Be taught extra here.
Russian financial system ‘received’t be as it became once’: Central bank head
The head of the Russian central bank has warned that the country’s financial system faces stress from in a international country that can also persist indefinitely, dampening hopes that conditions can also return to what they had been earlier than Russia sent troops into Ukraine.
“It seems to me that it’s glaring to every person that it received’t be as it became once earlier than,” Elvira Nabiullina acknowledged at a session of the St Petersburg Global Economic Forum, an annual showpiece gathering aimed at traders.
“External conditions bear modified for a lengthy time certainly, if no longer forever,” she acknowledged.
Russia’s Minister of Economic Increase, Maxim Reshetnikov, informed the same session that the prognosis is for Russia’s dreadful domestic product to fall by 7.8 percent this year, but “in the last month, there’s been a wave of making improvements to assessments and prognoses”.
UK sanctions Russia’s minister to blame for compelled ‘transfer and adoption’ of Ukraine’s childhood
The UK’s new round of sanctions on Russian officials includes Moscow’s childhood’s rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, for her characteristic in the “compelled transfer and adoption of Ukrainian childhood”, a press originate from the international ministry says.
The statement describes Russia’s treatment of childhood in Ukraine as “barbaric” and says that “Lvova-Belova has been accused of enabling 2,000 weak childhood being violently taken from the Luhansk and Donetsk regions”.
Russia’s Ministry of International Affairs acknowledged in mid-Would possibly well that bigger than 190,000 childhood had arrived in Russia from Ukraine’s Donbas web web page, at the side of about 1,200 coming from orphanages in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk folks’s republics.
Ukraine has accused Russia of forcibly and illegally deporting bigger than 200,000 childhood – some with families, others who had lost their dad and mom in the battle and others from orphanages.
💬 Russia’s Presidential Commissioner for Young folks’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova: Bigger than 190,000 childhood had arrived in Russia from Donbass by early Would possibly well, at the side of about 1,200 coming from orphanages in the Donetsk and Lugansk Other folks’s Republics.
🔗 https://t.co/785sa8QGsc pic.twitter.com/jG7lVg03hm
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) Would possibly well 12, 2022
Moscow-sanctioned leader of Australian direct says he received’t be bullied by Putin
The head of the direct of South Australia has responded to Moscow’s most recent dwelling of sanctions, which ban him among bigger than 200 Australian voters from dealings with Russia, by saying he’s potentially no longer bullied by Putin.
“In a single day I grew to change into the main Premier blacklisted by Vladimir Putin,” Peter Malinauskas wrote on Twitter.
“Whereas travelling to Russia wasn’t on my bucket list, it seems this resolution has been made in response my authorities’s sturdy stance in standing up for Ukraine,” he acknowledged.
“Vladimir Putin, I received’t be bullied, the Dispute Authorities received’t be bullied and I will proceed to arise for democracy,” he added.
In a single day I grew to change into the main Premier blacklisted by Vladimir Putin.
It formula I can’t disclose over with Russia.
Whereas travelling to Russia wasn’t on my bucket list, it seems this resolution has been made in response my authorities’s sturdy stance in standing up for Ukraine.
— Peter Malinauskas (@PMalinauskasMP) June 16, 2022
Ukraine says Russian peace talks proposals are an are trying and deceive world
Ukrainian peace talks negotiator brushed aside Russia’s most recent feedback about being willing to resume negotiations as “an are trying and deceive the arena.”
Mykhailo Podolyak acknowledged in an on-line post on Thursday that Russia wished to present the impression of being willing to chat whereas planning to stab Ukraine in the abet.
Kyiv would for sure return to the negotiations but most efficient at the valid time, he added.
A satellite image shows fields of artillery craters near Slovyansk
Maxar Technologies has released a satellite image displaying fields peppered with artillery craters northwest of town of Slovyansk, in the Donetsk web web page.
Russian forces resumed advancing in direction of Slovyansk previously week aiming to make a selection town as well as within reach Kramatorsk. The checklist became once taken on June 6.
The Institute for the Glance of Battle acknowledged on Thursday that Moscow’s troops launched “unsuccessful assaults northwest” of town.
Europe energy security at no instantaneous trouble: EC
Europe’s energy security is never any longer at instantaneous trouble because Russia cutting back gas offers to extra European countries on Thursday, a European Payment spokesperson has acknowledged.
“Per our switch with the national authorities this morning by technique of the Gas Coordination Workforce, there’s never this form of thing as a indication of an instantaneous security of provide trouble,” the spokesperson acknowledged, adding that Brussels and countries’ national authorities had been monitoring the insist intently.
Russian ships taking Ukraine’s grain to Syria: Satellite tv for laptop image company
Russian-flagged ships had been carrying Ukraine’s grain that became once harvested last season and transported to Syria over the last couple of months, US satellite imagery company Maxar Technologies has acknowledged.
Air strikes in Lysychansk assassinate at the least four: Governor
The demise toll after an air strike hit a building in Lysychansk, the set up civilians had been sheltering, has risen to four, the governor of the Luhansk web web page has acknowledged.
“The rescue operation is restful ongoing,” Serhiy Haidai wrote on Telegram on Thursday night. In spite of all the pieces seven folks had been injured in the attack, he acknowledged.
Haidai acknowledged a separate air strike on Thursday hit a sanatorium building in Lysychansk and collapsed it, presumably causing additional casualties.
“It is seemingly that there are folks trapped below the rubble,” he acknowledged of the 2nd strike, adding that a rescue effort became once additionally below plan there.
Australia’s PM received’t issue if he’ll disclose over with Kyiv: Sky News
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has remained coy over whether or no longer he would settle for Zelenskyy’s invitation to chat over with Ukraine later this month, Sky News stories.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia previously acknowledged Zelenskyy had extended the invitation when he congratulated Albanese on the Labor Accumulate together’s election bag on Would possibly well 21. However Albanese informed Sky News he had most efficient read concerning the invitation in the paper.
“That’s the facts, the extent to which it’s near at this point in time,” he acknowledged.
“Test up on, I’m going to NATO as a precedence because Australia is de facto the last phrase non-NATO contributor to the efforts to enhance sovereignty in Ukraine and enhance the folks of Ukraine standing up in disagreement thuggish unlawful behaviour of Russia,” he informed Sky News.
Russian separatists in Luhansk willing to open hall for Azot evacuation: Interfax
Pro-Russian militia in Luhansk issue that they, along with the Russian Federation, are willing to chat about opening humanitarian corridors for civilians to exit the Azot chemical plant in Severodonetsk, subject to a ceasefire from Ukraine, the Russian Interfax data company has reported.
The self-proclaimed Luhansk Other folks’s Republic’s (LPR) Ambassador to Russia, Rodion Miroshnik, acknowledged Ukrainian militants disrupted the humanitarian hall on Wednesday by shelling from a mortar and tank, in step with Interfax.
Luhansk separatists issue evacuation efforts failed in Severodonetsk
The authentic-Russian militia of the separatist self-proclaimed Luhansk Other folks’s Republic (LPR) has acknowledged efforts to evacuate folks to security from the jap entrance line city of Severodonetsk bear failed, in a video released on Thursday.
The Reuters data company became once in a group up of dwelling to geolocate the video to damaged shopfronts in central Severodonetsk. One shot showed a lady dragging luggage exterior a damaged supermarket, and one more showed a person walking by a storefront with an insurance coverage company logo.
Russia had informed Ukrainian forces holed up in town’s Azot chemical plant to lay down their hands from Wednesday morning – an ultimatum omitted by Kyiv’s soldiers.
Ukraine says bigger than 500 civilians, at the side of 40 childhood, remain alongside soldiers within the chemical factory, sheltering from weeks of Russian bombardment. Russian-backed separatists issue as much as 1,200 civilians would be inside of.
Russia’s Ukraine invasion shows aggression in opposition to all of Europe: Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy has acknowledged that Russia’s invasion amounted to aggression in opposition to all of Europe and that the extra weapons Ukraine receives from the West, the faster this is in a position to be in a group up of dwelling to liberate its occupied land.
“Each day of delay or postponed choices is a probability for the Russian defense pressure to assassinate Ukrainians or assassinate our cities,” he acknowledged at a data convention on Thursday.
“There is an instantaneous correlation: the extra highly effective weapons we earn, the faster we are in a position to liberate our folks, our land.”
Putin says authorities must enhance domestic vehicle industry
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his authorities to discontinuance abet up with new measures to enhance the domestic vehicle industry, which has seen sales tank since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine.
Amid a crunch on seek data from from Russian investors and severe logistics complications because Western sanctions slapped on Moscow, vehicle sales slumped a sage 83.5 percent in Would possibly well, in step with figures from the Association of European Businesses (AEB).
Mariupol ‘deadliest predicament in Ukraine’: UN
In spite of all the pieces 1,348 folks had been killed in Mariupol for the reason that origin of the battle, making it the “deadliest predicament in Ukraine”, Michelle Bachelet has acknowledged, adding the demise toll is seemingly “hundreds better”.
UN’s high human rights official additionally acknowledged that nine out of 10 residential structures and six out of 10 non-public properties had been damaged or destroyed, citing the attack on the theatre in March as an emblematic instance.
Bachelet raised insist over the “filtration” project in town the set up arbitrary determinations, intimidation and humiliation, which can also amount to sick-treatment, had been reported.
The Ukrainian coordinator of the humanitarian hall effort, Tetiana Lomakina, acknowledged her fatherland “is purposefully grew to change into honest into a ghetto for the Ukrainians the set up the genocide takes predicament at an accelerated saunter”. She acknowledged the civilian demise toll is at 22,000 and that “47,000 had been forcefully transferred to Russia or varied occupied territories.”
Macron asked French producer to invent bigger howitzer manufacturing: Reuters
Emmanuel Macron has asked French hands producer Nexter to invent bigger the manufacturing of Caesar howitzers as he promised to ship six extra of the weapon systems to the Ukrainian military, a source discontinuance to France’s defence ministry acknowledged, the Reuters data company stories.
Macron, earlier than his disclose over with to Kyiv on Thursday, entreated Nexter “to test its organisation as a plan to work in a ‘wartime’ mode as a plan to invent Ceasars essential extra rapidly for the French military”, the source informed Reuters.
Macron on Thursday pledged to ship six extra Ceasar howitzers out of French military stocks to Ukraine, adding to the 12 previously delivered. The French military in complete holds no longer as much as 80 such artillery weapon systems.
UK to host Ukrainian leaders to chat about reconstruction
The UK will welcome representatives from Ukraine and enterprise leaders on Friday to chat about how UK corporations can abet rebuild key infrastructure in Kyiv.
Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan will see to advertise collaboration between British corporations in infrastructure, energy and transport, and Ukrainian public and non-public organisations to abet repair damaged and destroyed infrastructure.
Trevelyan will additionally impart adjustments to replace resolve measures, at the side of reallocating ring-fenced market salvage admission to for steel imports from Russia and Belarus to varied countries at the side of Ukraine.
Russian pranksters posing as Ukraine president trick J.Okay. Rowling
A pair of Russian pranksters bear printed fragments of an interview they performed with British writer J.Okay. Rowling whereas posing as folks with sympathies in direction of neighbouring Ukraine.
Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stoliarov, who’re in total is known as ‘Vovan and Lexus’ on their present on the Russian video platform Rutube, printed the video at the St. Petersburg Global Economic Forum.
The pranksters informed their viewers they’d puzzled Rowling on “waste custom” and her opinions in direction of Russia, whereas additionally pretending to quiz questions about behalf of Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Harry Potter writer, who received favorite criticism on social media and beyond after making feedback about transgender rights, acknowledged she supported more difficult sanctions on Russia honest through the interview.
Macron decries ‘battle crimes’ on ‘Ukraine’s soil’
Emmanuel Macron has decried the battle crimes committed in Ukraine and promised to connect to blame the perpetrators.
“The complete world has witnessed the battle crimes committed on Ukraine’s soil,” Macron acknowledged in a tweet.
“We can remain mobilised to invent certain that the perpetrators of these crimes are held to blame and punished primarily based totally on global law. Our consultants are on the entrance line to earn the evidence,” he added.
The complete world has witnessed the battle crimes committed on Ukraine’s soil. We can remain mobilized to invent certain that the perpetrators of these crimes are held to blame and punished primarily based totally on global law. Our consultants are on the entrance line to earn the evidence.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 16, 2022
US has no longer asked Russia about two missing People
The United States has acknowledged it has no longer asked Russia about two US voters reported missing after travelling to Ukraine to wrestle in opposition to Russian forces and acknowledged there are stories of a third missing American.
“As of as of late, now we bear no longer raised this yet with the Russian Federation … (We) haven’t seen the rest from the Russians indicating that two such persons are of their custody,” US Dispute Division spokesman Ned Tag informed reporters, describing stories concerning the two men as unconfirmed.
Alexander Drueke, 39, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Andy Huynh, 27, of Hartselle, Alabama, went to Ukraine as volunteer opponents in opposition to Russian forces, had been missing for a week, and are feared captured, relatives bear acknowledged.
EU leaders’ disclose over with to Ukraine became once ‘historical’: Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described the debate over with to Kyiv by the leaders of Germany, France and Italy — all criticised previously by Kyiv for enhance viewed as too cautious — as “historical” and acknowledged “huge steps” had been made honest through their meeting.
“These days is a if truth be told historical day. Ukraine has felt the enhance of 4 highly effective European states. And in explicit enhance for our circulation in direction of the European Union. Italy, Romania, France and Germany are with us,” he acknowledged, honest through his night take care of.
“All four leaders … enhance Ukraine’s candidacy. Clearly, all associated procedures must be followed, all EU member states must be a part of. However at our meeting as of late an infinite step became once made,” Zelenskyy acknowledged.
The leaders, who had been joined by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, toured Irpin, a town northeast of the capital devastated soon after the invasion began on February 24, the set up withdrawing Russian forces left in the abet of our bodies littering the streets.
‘Contaminated violations’ took predicament in Mariupol: UN
The intensity and extent of the demise and destruction in Mariupol urged that “serious violations” of worldwide humanitarian law and “dreadful violations” of worldwide human rights law occurred honest through the fight for the Ukrainian city, the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights has acknowledged.
Michelle Bachelet made the statement as she supplied her company’s sage on the insist in Mariupol earlier than the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
She acknowledged that the “tragedy of Mariupol” became once some distance from over and outlined that the plump checklist of the devastation became once no longer yet certain.
European leaders abet Ukraine’s EU uncover
The leaders of France, Germany and Italy abet “instantaneous” European Union candidate set up of dwelling for Ukraine amid their ongoing disclose over with to Kyiv.
“All four of us enhance the set up of dwelling of instantaneous candidate for accession,” French President Macron informed a joint data convention with his EU colleagues.
Furthermore, he acknowledged Ukraine must “withstand and secure” the battle and has launched that France will donate six additional lengthy-vary artillery systems.
Russia’s battle of ‘unbelievable cruelty’: Scholz
The Ukrainian town of Irpin, admire Bucha earlier than it, has turn honest into a symbol of the “cruelty” of Russia’s battle in Ukraine and its mindless violence, German Chancellor Scholz acknowledged on a disclose over with to the Kyiv suburb, adding that the battle must end.
“Irpin, admire Bucha, has turn honest into a symbol of the unbelievable cruelty of the Russian battle, of mindless violence,” Scholz wrote on Twitter. “The brutal destruction of this city is a warning: this battle must end.”
#Irpin ist wie #Butscha längst ein Symbol für die unvorstellbare Grausamkeit des russischen Kriegs geworden, für sinnlose Gewalt. Die brutale Zerstörung in dieser Stadt ist ein Mahnmal – dieser Krieg muss zu Ende gehen. pic.twitter.com/DEPZUfh9OY
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) June 16, 2022
Be taught the full updates from June 16 here.