The EU plans to significantly increase tariffs on Ukrainian goods after the current duty-free deal lapses on June 6, the Financial Times reported on May 14, citing undisclosed diplomatic sources.
The blockade ended at 10:30 p.m. local time. Truck traffic in both directions is now moving as usual, according to Ukraine's State Border Guard's statement.
Russia seems to be preparing a significant offensive in Ukraine as it is moving troops toward key positions on the front, the Financial Times reported on May 13, citing undisclosed Ukrainian intelligence officials.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, but said both leaders are ready to fly to Istanbul if Russian President Vladimir Putin chooses to attend the talks there.
Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's chief of staff, said that the new pontiff had a phone call with Zelensky on Monday, during which the pope expressed willingness to facilitate meetings between global leaders and vowed to support efforts for "a just and lasting peace."
In an interview with French broadcaster TF1 on May 13, Macron discussed new Russia sanctions and stationing French nuclear weapons in other European countries as a deterrent against Russia.
Performing their song "Bird of Pray," Ukrainian band Ziferblat passed the Eurovision semi-finals on May 13, qualifying Ukraine for the grand final on May 17.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that a Russian delegation will be in Istanbul on May 15 for direct peace talks with Ukraine. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov will likely represent Russia.
The move follows Ukraine's ratification of the minerals agreement, deepening U.S.-Ukraine economic ties and signaling expanded U.S. involvement in Ukraine's long-term recovery.
"Ukraine has initiated a coordinated campaign to vilify Hungary in order to undermine our initiative to hold a poll on (Kyiv's) EU membership," Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.
Russian forces are reportedly using the occupied port city of Berdiansk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast to steal transport stolen Ukrainian grain. Sep. 9, 2022. (Photo credit: STRINGER/AFP via Gett
Russia is implementing measures in occupied Ukrainian regions that will allow it to export stolen agricultural products, including grain, to China, Ukraine's National Resistance Center reported on July 8.
So far, Russia has been disguising stolen Ukrainian grain as its own harvest and exporting it to Syria and Turkey, the National Resistance Center said.
The Russian software tools are able to automate the process of collecting and analyzing information on agricultural products, which can then be exported outside the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).
“The introduction of these programs will allow it to expand the geography of looted exports, in particular to China,” the National Resistance Center alleged.
In mid-May 2018, China and the EEU member states agreed to cut trade barriers.
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly accused Russia of stealing grain from the occupied territories since last year.
Russian cargo ships have been spotted severaltimes loading stolen agricultural products in the occupied port city of Berdiansk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Local farmers are reportedly coerced into selling grain at low prices. If farmers refused to sell their products, Russian forces would confiscate the stocks.
Ukraine is one of the world's leading grain producers and exporters. Its supplies feed countries across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
When Russia unleashed its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it blocked or occupied all of the country's seaports.
Although Turkey and the U.N. brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July 2022 to ensure the transit of Ukraine grain, Russia has repeatedly attempted to sabotage the deal, and a looming global food crisis persists.
Alexander Khrebet is a reporter with the Kyiv Independent. He covers Ukraine’s foreign policy, alleged abuse of power in the country’s military leadership, and reports on the Russian-occupied territories. Alexander is the European Press Prize 2023 winner, the #AllForJan Award 2023 winner and Ukraine's 2022 National Investigative Journalism Award finalist. His was published in the Washington Times and Atlantic Council.
Oleg Sukhov
