The UN secretary-general presented a “way forward” to allow the extension of the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports, his services indicated on Monday after a meeting with the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs . While Josep Borrell, the head of European diplomacy, called on Monday to provide ammunition more quickly to Ukraine.
Ukrainian cereals: the head of the UN proposes a “way” to extend the agreement
Antonio Guterres on Monday handed Sergei Lavrov “a letter for President Vladimir Putin, outlining a proposed way forward to improve, extend and expand” the agreement which since last July allows the export of cereals Ukrainians via the Black Sea despite the conflict, the statement said. A similar letter was sent “to the two other signatories” of this agreement considered essential for world food security, Ukraine and Turkey.
The “Black Sea initiative for grain exports” was renewed for a second time on March 19. But Russia had then insisted on a 60-day extension, not the tacit renewal of 120 days, highlighting its objections to the application of a side agreement for its own exports of agricultural products, in particular fertilizers, still hampered by Western sanctions. In mid-April, Moscow had again threatened to suspend the Black Sea Initiative until May 18 if its demands were not met, including the end of obstacles to agricultural exports and the reconnection to the Swift international banking system of the Russian bank. specializing in agriculture Rosselkhozbank.
But “so far, there has not been much progress”, commented Sergei Lavrov in a press release from his ministry, regretting the absence of “willingness of Western countries to really do what is necessary to put in place successfully implemented” both parts of the file. “We will study the ideas that (the general secretary) gave us on paper,” he added.
The head of European diplomacy calls for providing more ammunition to Ukraine
According to Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the supply of ammunition to the Ukrainian army must be rapidly developed. “We know that Ukraine urgently needs ammunition and missiles, and it needs them to defend its territory,” said the head of European diplomacy on Monday after a meeting of ministers. Foreign Affairs of the EU in Luxembourg. “More than a thousand missiles have been delivered, as well as a number of munitions, the number of which continues to increase, but it is expected to increase more rapidly in the coming days,” he added.
While waiting for a “just peace” to be found in the conflict with Russia, Josep Borrell declared that the European Union would continue to support the defense of Ukraine. According to him, the EU has provided more than 13 billion euros in military support to Kyiv. An additional tranche of one billion euros for the joint purchase of new ammunition is being finalized. “There have been some disagreements, but the work continues. We are not waiting for the legal document to be completed to start working,” he added. Furthermore, Josep Borrell declared that “more than 16,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained” by the European Union. “The goal is still to train 30,000 soldiers by the end of the year.”
Returned from Ukraine with weapons, two ultra-right activists sentenced to six months in prison
The two men were tried for carrying and possessing weapons during a preliminary appearance hearing with prior admission of guilt (CRPC). In addition to the prison sentences, they received a ban on possessing a weapon subject to authorization for five years. According to the prosecution, which confirmed information from the newspaper The Parisianthey were arrested at Paris-Bercy station, when a Flixbus got off from Lviv.
The two men were in possession in particular of optics and ammunition magazines classified as weapons of war, and declared to have fought in Ukraine, added the public prosecutor, who specified that neither of the two had previously appeared before the criminal court. . They were on file for undermining the security of the territory and were as such monitored by the DGSI, confirmed two sources familiar with the matter. The DGSI has identified, according to a police source, 400 French people who have gone to fight in Ukraine, including around thirty of them known to belong to the ultra right.