Ukraine war in the live blog: That was day 34

Dear readers, we’re finishing for today star-Live blog and wish you a good night. We’ll be back for you on Wednesday.

The US Department of Defense has great skepticism responded to Russia’s announcement of its military activities against the Ukrainian capital Kyiv to “radically” reduce. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said only a “small number” of Russian soldiers had left Kyiv so far. This is not a “retreat” but a “repositioning” of the troops. There is a threat of a “major offensive against other regions in Ukraine,” Kirby said. “That doesn’t mean that the danger for Kyiv is over.”

US President Joe Biden responded to the Russian announcement that it would significantly reduce hostilities in northern Ukraine, reluctant to respond. Speaking at the White House, he said he did not want to evaluate the statements until he saw “the actions” of the Russian armed forces. Until there is an actual change, dhe continued to put pressure on Moscow with “tough sanctions”. and the Ukrainian military will also continue to be supported, according to Biden.

Russian forces have in western Ukraine Starokostiantyniv military airport shot at and those there Fuel stocks completely destroyed. “We have been under rocket fire since the first day of the war, but today the attack was very serious and caused significant damage,” said the city’s mayor Mykola Melnychuk. As a result, the city’s entire fuel supplies were destroyed. In recent days, Russian attacks have destroyed several Ukrainian fuel depots.

British authorities have Luxury yacht owned by a wealthy Russian citizen arrested in London. According to the National Crime Agency, it is the first time a superyacht has been chained in British waters. Authorities did not say who the owner was. According to British Transport Minister Grant Shapps, the futuristic-looking luxury ship called “Phi” is worth almost 45 million euros. According to the manufacturer, the yacht has a swimming pool and a wine cellar on board.

According to Vladimir Medinsky, Russia’s negotiator in the peace negotiations with Ukraine, the announced military de-escalation around Kyiv and Chernihiv is not a ceasefire. “This is not a ceasefire, but our efforts to gradually de-escalate the conflict, at least in these directions.”Medinski said in an interview with the Russian state broadcaster RT after talks in Istanbul.

Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin had previously promised that Russian troops wanted to significantly reduce hostilities on the northern front near Kyiv and Chernihiv. “Russia has taken two big steps towards peace,” Medinsky said. Ukraine has also taken a step forward with proposals formulated in writing. However, the head of the Russian delegation also made it clear that Moscow expects further accommodation.

Against the background of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine Poland to stop importing coal from Russia. The cabinet has passed appropriate legislation, said a government spokesman in Warsaw. “We are aware that this may raise legal questions. Unfortunately, the doubts are justified, but we can no longer wait for the EU to react on this matter.” Poland’s national conservative PiS government has been calling for a European embargo on oil, gas and coal from Russia since the outbreak of war.

Belgium has expelled 21 Russian diplomats on charges of espionage. They are involved in “espionage and influence operations that threaten national security,” Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmès said on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/Sophie_Wilmes/status/1508811031711293444
According to her, the diplomats work for the Russian embassy and consulate. You have to leave the country within 15 days, Wilmès said, according to the Belga news agency. “This decision is not a sanction, but is solely related to our national security.” The diplomatic channels remained open.

The Dutch Foreign Minister had previously announced that 17 Russian diplomats would be expelled on charges of espionage.

According to data from Russia’s negotiator Vladimir Medinsky Ukraine wants to negotiate the possibility of joining the EU in exchange for concessions to Moscow during the ongoing peace negotiations. According to the Ukrainian proposal: “The Russian Federation has no objections to Ukraine’s efforts to join the European Union.”said Medinski after new negotiations with the Ukrainian side in Turkey.

Medinski said that Kyiv, on the other hand, held out the prospect of not joining NATO, as demanded by Moscow, while guaranteeing security guarantees. However, these guarantees would not apply to the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea annexed by Russia in 2014, nor to the eastern Ukrainian separatist areas of Luhansk and Donetsk, which Russia wants to have recognized as independent states.

The Netherlands has expelled 17 Russian diplomats on charges of espionage. This was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague. According to information from the security services, the diplomats were spies, Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said on the radio. They would have collected information under the “diplomatic cover”. According to the minister, the Russian ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Ministry and informed.

The expulsion was made with a view to “Dutch security,” said Hoekstra. The changed international situation as a result of the Ukraine war also played a role. The minister did not want to give any details about the allegations. The Russians would have to leave the country within the next two weeks.

Notwithstanding the announcement to reduce attacks on Kyiv and Chernihiv, Russia wants to continue its “special military operation”.. “It’s going strictly according to plan,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, according to the Interfax agency. The tasks and goals would continue to be met.

The peace negotiations between the two countries are still about the “demilitarization of Ukraine, denazification,” said Zakharova. In addition to a possible neutrality of Ukraine and the associated security guarantees, “recognition of today’s territorial realities” would also be discussed. Moscow demands that Kyiv recognize the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea as part of Russia and the Luhansk and Donzek oblasts as independent states. Ukraine continues to categorically reject this.

the Turkish government sees the results of the peace negotiations in Istanbul as clear steps towards an end to the war in Ukraine. At the talks of the Russian and Ukrainian delegations “the most significant advances” been achieved since the talks began, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. He added that the war must “end now”. As a result of the talks, Russia announced that it intends to significantly reduce its “military activities” in Ukraine near Kyiv and Chernihiv. Moscow began its war of aggression in Ukraine a month ago. It was the first announcement of such a withdrawal from the Russian side.

The Kremlin holds the next one Dialogue between Russia and the USA necessary despite recent discord over statements by US President Joe Biden. But Biden’s “personal insults” to Russian President Vladimir Putin would have a “negative impact” on relations between the two countries, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in Moscow, according to the Interfax agency. “Nevertheless, dialogue between Russia and the United States is necessary in any case,” emphasized Peskov. “This is not only in the interest of both countries, but in the interest of the whole world.” Sooner or later Russia and the US will have to talk about strategic stability and security issues.

Biden called Putin a “dictator” during a speech in Warsaw on Saturday evening and concluded with the words: “For God’s sake, this man cannot stay in power.” The White House immediately stressed that this was not a call to overthrow Putin.

US President Joe Biden will hold a new phone call with several European leaders today to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The White House announced that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi were to take part. The conversation at 9:15 a.m. local time (3:15 p.m. CEST) will deal “with the latest developments in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” it said. Progress had previously been made in the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul, according to both sides.