Live blog: Switzerland rejects Denmark's arms request
Russia's offensive against Ukraine enters its 100th day with no end in sight to the fighting that has killed thousands, uprooted millions and reduced cities to rubble.
Switzerland rejects Denmark's arms request
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| Denmark's |
The announcement testified to the fine line Swiss authorities are treading to hold to Switzerland’s legal requirement to remain neutral as laid out in the War Materiel Act, which bars the transfer of Swiss-made weapons systems, ammunition and other war material to a country involved in an international conflict.
Denmark had requested that Switzerland transfer 22 Swiss-made Piranha III wheeled armored personnel carriers, which Denmark had procured and stored in Germany, to Ukraine. Previously, the Swiss rejected a German request to send Swiss-made 35mm ammunition for Gepard anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine.
Ukraine's foreign fighters join Sievierodonetsk battle
Foreigners fighting for Ukraine arrived in the embattled city of Sievierodonetsk in the eastern province of Luhansk this week, vowing to repel the Russian advance as Moscow pursues its push to seize the last Ukrainian-held territories in the east.
Since being driven back from the capital Kiev, Russia has launched a huge new assault in Luhansk and Donetsk, two provinces that make up the eastern region of Donbass.
Both sides have suffered punishing losses in the street-by-street battles but the stakes are high: If Sievierodonetsk falls, neighbouring Lysychansk would be the last city that Russia needs to have full control of Luhansk.
Putin made 'historic' error in Ukraine: Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron said his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin had committed a "historic and fundamental error" by attacking Ukraine and was now "isolated".
"I think, and I told him, that he made a historic and fundamental error for his people, for himself and for history," he said in an interview with French regional media.
"I think he has isolated himself," Macron said. "Isolating oneself is one thing, but being able to get out of it is a difficult path".
Ukraine has retaken about 20% of territory lost in Sievierodonetsk - regional head
Ukrainian forces have recaptured around 20 percent of the territory they lost in the city of Sievierodonetsk during fighting with Russia, the head of the eastern region of Luhansk said.
"Whereas before the situation was difficult, the percentage (held by Russia) was somewhere around 70 percent, now we have already pushed them back by approximately 20 percent," Serhiy Gaidai told national television.
Russia has poured forces into the battle for the city which Moscow must capture to achieve its stated aim of holding all of Luhansk province.
Putin says 'no problem' to export grain from Ukraine
Russia's President Vladimir Putin said there was "no problem" to export grain from Ukraine, after Moscow's operation in Ukraine raised fears of a global food crisis.
"There is no problem to export grain from Ukraine," he said in a televised interview, saying it could be done via Ukrainian ports, via others under Russian control, or even via central Europe.
Putin accused the West of "bluster" by claiming Moscow was preventing grain exports from Ukraine. He mentioned the possibility of exporting via the Ukrainian ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk on the Sea of Azov, which gives access to the Black Sea.
UN aid chief had 'frank, constructive' talks in Moscow on Ukraine grain exports
UN aid chief Martin Griffiths "had frank and constructive discussions" with Russian officials in Moscow on facilitating exports of Ukraine grain from Black Sea ports, a UN spokesperson said.
Griffiths met with Russian foreign affairs and defence officials on Thursday and Friday, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. Since Russia's attacks in Ukraine started, Ukrainian grain shipments from its Black Sea ports have stalled and more than 20 million tonnes of grain are stuck in silos.
"We've said clearly what we can do and what we cannot do," Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told Reuters on Friday. "We have not installed the mines in the coastal area, that was the Ukrainians. If they demine the area we are prepared to provide the safe passage for the ships carrying grain."