al jazeeraBy Edna Mohamed Moscow does not recognise the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, the Kremlin says, after reports suggested the court was seeking arrest warrants for Russians connected to the war.
A Ukrainian official tells Reuters that Kyiv will stick to last year’s 120-day extension of the Black Sea grain deal after Russia said it would only agree to a 60-day extension.
A Russian missile attack on residential buildings in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk killed at least one and wounded three people, Ukraine’s president said.
Moscow has not been informed about the investigation progress of last year’s Nord Stream pipeline blasts and has handed in a report to prove this to the United Nations, Russia’s deputy UN ambassador, said.
Situation in eastern Ukraine ‘very painful’, says Zelenskyy
In Zelenskyy’s Monday night address, he said the situation in eastern Ukraine was “very tough” and “very painful”.
“As always, today I was in touch with our commanders and intelligence. It is very tough in the east, very painful. We need to destroy the enemy’s military might, and we will,” he said.
“Bilohorivka and Maryinka, Avdiivka and Bakhmut, Vuhledar and Kamyanka – and all other places where our future is being decided. Where our future, the future of all Ukrainians, is being fought for.”
Zelenskyy also expressed gratitude for those fighting for the country and those on the frontline.
Russia moves to extend censorship laws to ‘volunteer’ groups
Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, voted to approve an amendment that would punish those found guilty of discrediting “volunteer” groups fighting in Ukraine, extending a law that censors criticism of Russia’s armed forces during the war.
The amendment is seen as a move to “protect” fighters working for the private Wagner Group.
Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin has welcomed the proposals.
US Governor: More involvement in Ukraine is not in national interest
Becoming “further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia” is not a vital US national interest, said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in comments released on Monday.
On Monday, Fox News host Tucker Carlson posted on Twitter responses to a questionnaire from Republican presidential candidates and possible hopefuls on the war in Ukraine.
“While the US has many vital national interests … becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them,” DeSantis replied.
“The Biden administration’s virtual ‘blank check’ funding of this conflict for ‘as long as it takes,’ without any defined objectives or accountability, distracts from our country’s most pressing challenges,” he said.
Public opinion polls show DeSantis as the most potent threat to former Republican President Donald Trump as the party’s nomination for the 2024 presidential contest.
Russian missile strike in Kramatorsk kills one and wounds three: Zelenskyy
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Telegram that a Russian missile strike on several residential buildings in Kramatorsk killed one and wounded three people.
Zelenskyy said, “Kramatorsk. A Russian missile hit the city centre. Six high-rise buildings were damaged. At least three people were injured. One person died. My condolences to the family! Rescue operations are still ongoing.”
“The evil state continues to fight against the civilian population. Destroying life and leaving nothing human. Every strike that takes an innocent life must result in a lawful and just sentence that punishes murder. It will definitely be that way,” he added.
Ukraine to stick to 120-day grain deal extension
A senior Ukrainian government official said that Ukraine would stick to an agreement signed last year on a 120-day extension of the Black Sea grain deal.
“We will follow the agreement strictly,” the official anonymously told the Reuters news agency.
Russia’s TASS news agency cited Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko as saying the deal had been extended for 60 days.
But Ukraine argues the July agreement clearly states that extensions are possible for a minimum of 120 days, and the original contract should be changed if parties want shortened terms.
“The Russians realised that 60 days (extension) is not legally possible, so they are trying to find a way out,” the senior Ukrainian government official said.
Mr.BadGuy
Publisher
These soldiers are from a country whose president is a Jew Zelensky. Orthodox churches are also being destroyed in this country. Synagogues are not touched. Surprisingly, it turns out that Jews get along well with the Bandera Nazis.