The Russia-Ukraine conflict is now in its 400th day.
Thursday, March 30, 2023
Ukraine has said Russia’s upcoming presidency of the United Nations Security Council this week was “a bad joke”.
“Russian UN Security Council presidency on April 1 is a bad joke. Russia has usurped its seat; it’s waging a colonial war; its leader is a war criminal wanted by the ICC for kidnapping children,” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter.
“The world can’t be a safe place with Russia at UNSC,” he added.
The presidency rotates every month between the 15 member states.
Russia would hold little influence on the decisions but be in charge of setting the agenda.
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Russian UN Security Council presidency on April 1 is a bad joke. Russia has usurped its seat; it’s waging a colonial war; its leader is a war criminal wanted by the ICC for kidnapping children. The world can’t be a safe place with Russia at UNSC #BadRussianJoke #InsecurityCouncil
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 30, 2023
1023 GMT — French court opposes extradition of Ukraine billionaire Zhevago
A French court has ruled Ukrainian billionaire Kostyantyn Zhevago should not be extradited over accusations of embezzlement, a spokesperson for Zhevago said.
Zhevago, who controls London-listed iron pellet producer Ferrexpo, was arrested at a French ski resort in December at the request of Ukraine, which wants him over the disappearance of $113 million from the now bankrupt lender Finance & Credit Bank. Zhevago denies any wrong-doing.
Zhevago had been released on bail for $1.1 million following his initial arrest near Chambery in France.
0928 GMT — Japan to provide $470M to Ukraine for reconstruction, restoration of energy infrastructures
Japan has decided to provide two aid packages totalling $470 million to Ukraine for the reconstruction of the country and energy recovery.
Japan’s Ambassador to Ukraine Matsuda Kuninori and Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration Oleksandr Kubrakov signed the aid agreement, a statement by the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
The statement said that the aid will provide Ukraine with the equipment necessary to conduct de-mining and debris clearance, which it said are “prerequisites for recovery and reconstruction,” as well as livelihood reconstruction.
0928 GMT — Recalling Bucha deaths, Zelenskyy describes ‘horrific’ year in Kiev region
Ukraine’s president has said the past year had been “the most horrific” in the lives of many residents of the Kiev region, where Russian troops are accused of committing war crimes before withdrawing a year ago.
“For many residents of the Kyiv region, the past year has become the most horrific in their entire lives. And the liberation of the Kyiv region has become a symbol of the fact that Ukraine will be able to win this war,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote in English on the Telegram messaging app.
Zelenskyy wrote his Telegram post under video footage showing heavily damaged buildings and vehicles that had been destroyed in Bucha and Irpin.
Events that couldn’t be imagined in the XXI century.
troops, heading to Kyiv, sowed death and destruction in Bucha and Irpin. For many residents of the Kyiv region, it was the most horrific moment in life. But the liberation of these cities became proof that Ukraine will win. pic.twitter.com/rSJ6HuL7iY
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 30, 2023
0928 GMT — Ukraine is ‘determining factor’ in China-EU ties: EU chief
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has warned China that its approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine would be central to shaping Beijing’s ties with Europe.
“We have to be frank on this point. How China continues to interact with Putin’s war will be a determining factor for EU-China relations going forward,” the European Commission head said.
0919 GMT — Wall Street Journal reporter detained in Russia on espionage charge
A US journalist working for the Wall Street Journal has been arrested in Russia on charges of spying for Washington, Russia’s FSB security services said.
The FSB security services said they had “halted the illegal activities of US citizen Evan Gershkovich,” saying the Wall Street Journal reporter was “suspected of spying in the interests of the American government”.
Their statement confirmed that Gershkovich, 31, was working with press accreditation issued by the Russian foreign ministry. But the statement said he had been detained for gathering information “on an enterprise of the Russian military-industrial complex”.
READ MORE: Wall Street Journal reporter Geshkovich detained in Russia for espionage
0911 GMT — Russia in contact with IAEA on ‘evolving’ idea of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant safety zone
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has said that Moscow was still talking to the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency about the idea of a safety zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant that is controlled by Russian forces in Ukraine, Russian news agencies reported.
RIA quoted him as saying that the idea was “evolving”. Interfax quoted Ryabkov as saying Moscow was in “constant contact” with IAEA chief Rafael Grossi.
0821 GMT — Far-right lawmakers walk out of Zelenskyy speech to Austrian parliament
Lawmakers from the pro-Russia, far-right Freedom Party have walked out of the lower house of Austria’s parliament during a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, protesting that it violated Austria’s neutrality.
Austria says its neutrality prevents it from military involvement in the conflict and while it supports Ukraine politically it cannot send the country weapons in its fight against Russia.
The Freedom Party (FPO), however, had warned days before that it would hold some form of protest against Zelenskyy’s address. Its lawmakers attended the start of the speech and then left.
Lawmakers who walked out of the chamber left small placards on their desks featuring the party logo and either “space for neutrality” or “space for peace”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy predicts that if Russia defeats Ukraine in Bakhmut, Russian President Vladimir Putin would set out to “sell” victory to international community pic.twitter.com/WhaaqooF6L
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) March 30, 2023
0733 GMT — China willing to work with Russian military on several fronts: Chinese defence ministry
China has said its military was willing to work together with the Russian military to strengthen strategic communication and coordination.
The two countries would work together to implement global security initiatives, said Tan Kefei, a spokesman at the Chinese defence ministry, at a regular press conference.
Tan said the two countries would deepen military trust and jointly safeguard international fairness and justice.
They will also furt her organise joint maritime, air patrols and joint exercises, Tan said.
0520 GMT — Russia sets conditions for peace talks with Ukraine
Russia said that Ukraine must stay “neutral” and refuse to join NATO and the European Union in order to begin peace talks on the war.
“We need a neutral and non-bloc status of Ukraine, its refusal to join NATO and the EU and confirmation of Ukraine’s nuclear-free status as well as recognition by Kyiv and the international community of new territorial realities,” Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said in an interview with Russian news network RTVI.
Galuzin said that Moscow believes a “comprehensive, just and sustainable peace in Ukraine and Europe” is possible once clashes between Russian and Ukrainian troops end, in addition to the supply of weapons by Western countries.
He said Ukraine has refused to consider a diplomatic settlement to the war and there have not been “significant changes” in Kyiv’s position as it “continues “to rely on a military solution to the conflict.”
0251 GMT — Singapore says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine violated UN charter
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has gravely violated the United Nations charter and international law.
Big powers have the responsibility of maintaining stable and workable relations with one another, and the most worrying is the state of relations between the United States and China, Lee said at the Boao forum in the southern Chinese island province of Hainan.
2239 GMT — Ukraine says Russian forces making progress in frontline Bakhmut
Russian forces have had some success in the eastern frontline city of Bakhmut, Ukrainian military officials said, adding that their fighters were still holding on in a battle that has lasted several months.
The mining city of Bakhmut and surrounding towns in the eastern industrial region of Donetsk have been the focal point of assault for much of the 13-month-long offensive by Russia of neighbouring Ukraine. Neither side yet has full control with heavy losses suffered by both.
“Enemy forces had a degree of success in their actions aimed at storming the city of Bakhmut,” the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in its regular report. “Our defenders are holding the city and are repelling numerous enemy attacks.”
Russian officials say their forces are still capturing ground in street-by-street fighting inside Bakhmut.
2100 GMT — Britain, Germany ‘stand with Ukraine’: Charles III
Britain and Germany stand united with Ukraine in its battle against Russia’s unprovoked offensive, Charles III said in Berlin on his first foreign visit as king.
“We stand side by side in protecting and advancing our shared democratic values. This is epitomised so clearly today as we stand together with Ukraine in defence of freedom and sovereignty in the face of unprovoked aggression,” he told a state banquet hosted by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Zelenskyy rejects calls for negotiation with Putin
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy has pushed back at those suggesting it was time for a negotiated settlement with Putin.
“We should get rid of the illusion that compromising with evil can give something to freedom, and enemies of democracy must lose,” Zelenskyy told second US-led democracy summit.
For our live updates from Wednesday (March 29), click here.
Source: TRTWorld and agencies
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