Russia-Ukraine Latest Updates: Thousands Evacuated From Sumy
A senior Ukrainian official says authorities have evacuated thousands of people from the eastern city of Sumy
Blinken discusses Ukraine’s security needs with foreign minister
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has discussed Ukraine’s security needs with Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, the US Department of State has said.
They also discussed the continuing diplomatic efforts to stop the war as well as the damage to infrastructure and the resulting civilian deaths and injuries.
“We both agreed it is important to ensure safety and security of nuclear facilities in Ukraine,” the Ukrainian foreign minister said in a tweet.
11 hours ago (20:23 GMT)
Getting planes to Ukraine still under discussion: US
US Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has said the idea of arming Ukraine with warplanes transferred from Poland was still being considered.
“Exactly how to do that is still under discussion,” McConnell told reporters, adding that most senators supported the move.
The US last week rejected an offer by Poland to transfer Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jets to boost Ukraine’s air force in its defence against invading Russian forces.
11 hours ago (20:07 GMT)
War in Ukraine takes centre stage at Hungary’s election rallies
The war in Ukraine has taken centre stage in Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s election campaign as the populist leader attempts to win a fourth consecutive term.
“It is in our interests to not be a sacrificial pawn in someone else’s war. We can’t win anything in this war, but we have everything to lose,” Orban said.
Hungary has sought to balance its fraught relationship with its allies in the European Union and the NATO military alliance with its close ties to Russia.
Orban has agreed to back the sanctions imposed on Russia by the EU and condemned Moscow’s violent assault on Ukraine.
11 hours ago (19:56 GMT)
At least three million people have fled Ukraine: UN
At least three million people have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, according to a tally by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).
Poland has taken in the largest share of the refugee population. An estimated 1.8 million people have crossed the border since the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24.
Biden signs budget bill providing additional aid to Ukraine
US President Joe Biden has signed a bill providing $13.6bn in additional military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine as part of a $1.5 trillion government spending measure.
“Putin’s aggression against Ukraine has uniting people all across America, united our two parties in Congress, and united the freedom loving world,” Biden said.
Roughly half the $13.6bn will arm Ukraine and cover the Pentagon’s costs for sending US troops to other Eastern European nations that might see the war spill past their borders. Much of the rest will be allocated to humanitarian and economic assistance, strengthening regional allies’ defences and protecting their energy supplies and cybersecurity needs.
12 hours ago (19:21 GMT)
Russian anti-war TV protester says interrogation lasted 14 hours
Russian editor Marina Ovsyannikova, who brandished a banner reading, “They are lying to you here” during a prime-time news broadcast on state TV, said she was questioned for 14 hours, not allowed to contact relatives and denied legal help.
“I was in a tough situation, I will speak more tomorrow I just need to rest today,” Ovsyannikova said following a court hearing at Moscow’s Ostankinsky district court.
13 hours ago (18:29 GMT)
Prime ministers of Poland, Czech Republic and Slovenia arrive in Kyiv
The prime ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia have arrived in Kyiv, according to Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
“We must stop the tragedy that is happening in the East as soon as possible,” Morawiecki wrote on Facebook.
“This is why, together with (Polish) Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski and Prime Ministers Petr Fiala and Janez Jansa, we are in Kyiv.”
The visit was aimed at confirming the support of the European Union for Ukraine and to present a broad package of support for the country.
13 hours ago (18:22 GMT)
Ukraine tells IAEA Russia preventing it from answering Chernobyl questions
The Ukrainian nuclear regulator has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it is unable to provide information on radioactive waste facilities at Chernobyl due to Russian control of the site.
“The regulator said for the first time today that information it received regarding Chornobyl was ‘controlled by the Russian military forces’ and therefore it could not ‘always provide detailed answers to all’ of the IAEA’s questions,” the IAEA said in a statement, adding that was also the case at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
13 hours ago (18:05 GMT)
More than 600 buildings destroyed in Ukrainian city of Kharkiv: Mayor
More than 600 buildings have been destroyed in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city in the east of the country, since the start of Russia’s invasion, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said.
“Schools, nurseries, hospitals, clinics have been destroyed. The Russian army is constantly shelling [us] from the ground and the air,” he said in a televised interview.
Jonah Hull, reporting from Lviv, said Russian forces were “razing whole residential districts to the ground” in Kharkiv, a city of 1.5 million from which many residents have now fled.
13 hours ago (17:52 GMT)
Turkish FM to hold ceasefire talks in Russia, Ukraine
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will fly to Russia and Ukraine this week as Ankara facilitates ceasefire talks between the two warring sides, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said.
“We are sending our foreign minister to Russia today. He will hold talks in Moscow tomorrow. He will travel to Ukraine on Thursday,” Erdogan told journalists after a cabinet meeting.
“[Cavusoglu] will continue our efforts to achieve a ceasefire and peace through talks with both sides.”
14 hours ago (17:29 GMT)
Russia halts grain, sugar exports to ex-Soviet republics
Russia has put a stop on exports of grain and white and raw cane sugar to four former Soviet countries to secure domestic supplies and avoid a spike in prices.
The temporary ban affects countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, a Moscow-led trade club that includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.
The restrictions on grain exports expire on June 30 and those on sugar on August 31, the government said, adding that the decision was taken “to protect the domestic food market given the situation of external restrictions”.