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Russian bank seeks to regain access to SWIFT as part of grain talks.

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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said that Moscow was hoping to reconnect Rosselkhozbank, a state agricultural bank, to the SWIFT international messaging network as part of UN talks on Ukrainian grain exports, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

Russian banks were disconnected from SWIFT in February after joint sanctions agreements between the European Union, US, UK, and Canada.

The Black Sea grain deal, crucial for the continued export of much-needed Ukrainian grain by sea to Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, is set to expire on Nov. 19.

Russia exited the deal prematurely after the harbor in Sevastopol was attacked by Ukrainian drones, but rejoined on Nov. 2 when Ukraine, Turkey, and the United Nations chose to continue grain shipments regardless.

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The Kyiv Independent news desk

We are the news team of the Kyiv Independent. We are here to make sure our readers get quick, essential updates about the events in Ukraine. Feel free to contact us via email with feedback and news alerts.

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During a meeting with Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal on July 12, President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the need to take additional "more decisive" steps to protect Ukraine's energy infrastructure and emphasized the importance of robust winter preparedness plans for communities and regions.

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Yulia Svyrydenko, who replaced former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in July 2025, will now take on a new role leading cooperation with Ukraine’s key partners, Zelensky announced on social media.

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Once promoted by the Kremlin as a symbol of Russia’s resurgence and a premier tourist destination, the peninsula now faces mounting pressure from Ukrainian drone strikes targeting military infrastructure, logistics, and supply routes.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 11 that he is preparing changes to Ukraine’s “diplomatic efforts” to accelerate weapons deliveries from allies, as Ukraine's stockpile of Patriot air defense missiles has run dry.

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