Reside weblog: Brazil rejects US criticism, defends Russia ties

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Brazil pushed again towards US criticism that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is parroting Russian and Chinese language propaganda on the Ukraine battle as he held talks with Moscow’s high diplomat. 

Lula’s assembly with Sergei Lavrov in Brasilia follows state visits to China and the Center East, throughout which Lula stated the US ought to “cease encouraging warfare and begin speaking about peace” in Ukraine.

He additionally acknowledged Kiev shares the blame for the battle, which started when Russian forces poured into Ukraine in February 2022.

Within the Brazilian capital, Lavrov thanked Lula for his discussions final week on in search of to assist mediate peace talks.

However Lula’s current remarks on Ukraine sparked criticism from the White Home.

“On this case, Brazil is parroting Russian and Chinese language propaganda with out in any respect wanting on the info,” US Nationwide Safety Council spokesman John Kirby advised reporters.

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1614 GMT — Poland, Ukraine agree on deal to permit Ukrainian grain transit: minister

Poland and Ukraine have struck a deal to permit Ukrainian grain to transit by way of Poland after Warsaw banned imports in response to protests from farmers.

“We have now managed to arrange mechanisms that may imply that not even a tonne of grain stays in Poland. The products will transit by way of Poland,” Agriculture Minister Robert Telus stated following talks in Warsaw with Ukrainian officers.

1548 GMT — Moscow warns US towards ‘subversive exercise’ in Russia

Russia has warned US ambassador Lynne Tracy that it might quash makes an attempt to “incite discord” within the nation, the overseas ministry in Moscow stated in a press release. 

Tracy was summoned to the ministry over “provocative statements ‘in assist'” of opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was on Monday sentenced to 25 years in jail. 

“It was emphasised that any steps taken by the American facet aimed toward inciting discord and enmity in Russian society, in addition to utilizing the diplomatic mission to cowl up subversive work, can be severely suppressed,” the ministry stated.

1424 GMT — Russia says Ukraine peace plans from different international locations that think about its pursuits ‘deserve consideration’

Any peace proposal for the Ukraine warfare from third international locations that takes under consideration Moscow’s pursuits “deserves consideration,” the Kremlin has stated.

“In fact, they need to be heard, and Russia is prepared to do that. For us, the principle factor is to make sure our personal pursuits,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated at a information briefing.

On Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s proposal, he stated it was too early to make any assessments.

“It’s too early to offer any assessments since you nonetheless have to have info, know the nuances. And our overseas minister (Sergey Lavrov) now has the chance to get these nuances,” Peskov stated.

1237 GMT — Zelenskyy visits the frontline Ukraine city of Avdiivka

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited the closely shelled frontline city of Avdiivka within the nation’s east, his official web site stated.

Zelenskyy visited “superior positions” within the city near the Russian-occupied metropolis of Donetsk, and wished troops a cheerful Orthodox Easter, the web site stated. 

Zelenskyy was pictured sitting with troopers at a desk laid with conventional Easter desserts. Orthodox Easter was celebrated on Sunday.

The go to was introduced hours, after the Kremlin stated Russian President Vladimir Putin had on Monday, visited two frontline areas.

1215 GMT — Switzerland’s president rejects ammunition exports to Ukraine

President Alain Berset on Tuesday rejected requires Switzerland to permit ammunition exports to Ukraine, citing the nation’s long-held precept of neutrality.

Talking at a joint information convention with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Berset stated his authorities strongly condemned Russia’s warfare on Ukraine and regards it as a grave violation of worldwide legislation.

Nevertheless, he additionally underlined that Switzerland can not present navy assist to both facet in a battle, attributable to its neutrality and corresponding legal guidelines.

1205 GMT — Moscow summons western envoys over ‘gross interference’

Moscow stated on Tuesday it had summoned the US, British and Canadian ambassadors for “gross interference” in Russia’s home affairs.

Russia’s overseas ministry didn’t say exactly why the envoys have been known as in, however Moscow already blasted them for his or her assertion denouncing a 25-year sentence towards Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza on Monday.

The ambassadors have been summoned for “gross interference in Russia’s inner affairs and actions that don’t correspond to their diplomatic standing,” the overseas ministry stated in a press release carried by Russian information companies.

1130 GMT — Russian official hits again at G7 demanding nuclear ensures

A Russian safety official hit again at a joint assertion by the overseas ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) calling on Russia to offer ensures about refraining from using nuclear weapons.

“They demand that Russia give them some ensures about nuclear weapons, however the truth is, they’re hinting at a future nuclear battle between our nation and NATO,” deputy head of the Russian Safety Council Dmitry Medvedev stated in a message on Telegram.

Medvedev additional accused the G7 of being “liars,” claiming “they use nuclear weapons, however don’t repent.”

1100 GMT — Russian shelling kills one, wounds 9 in Ukraine’s Kherson: governor  

A Russian artillery assault killed one individual and injured 9 extra within the metropolis of Kherson in southern Ukraine, regional officers stated.

“The terrorist state launched an assault on peaceable Kherson residents. One individual died. 9 individuals from Kherson are injured. Our heroic docs are preventing for his or her lives and well being,” Oleksandr Prokudin, the governor, stated on Telegram.

Officers stated a market within the metropolis centre had been hit.

1052 GMT — Ukraine denies ship inspections have restarted underneath the Black Sea grain deal

Ukraine denied that Russian inspectors had restarted ship inspections underneath the Black Sea grain deal.

“Nothing has been resolved. There aren’t any inspections,” a senior Ukrainian official who requested to not be recognized advised Reuters.

Russia’s RIA information company reported earlier that inspections of ships shifting grains from Ukraine had restarted, citing a senior Russian overseas ministry official.

0540 GMT — Putin visits navy headquarters in Kherson

Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited navy headquarters and attended a navy command assembly in Ukraine’s Kherson area which is partly held by Russia, the Kremlin stated.

Putin acquired a briefing from commanders of the airborne forces and the “Dnieper” military group in addition to different senior officers, it stated in a press release.

Putin has additionally visited the nationwide guard headquarters in Ukraine’s japanese Luhansk area, one other a part of Ukraine that Moscow annexed final yr. 

The Kremlin didn’t say when Putin attended the conferences.

0414 GMT — Ship inspections restart underneath Ukraine grain deal: RIA

Inspections of ships shifting grains from Ukraine have restarted after a pause which threatened to close down the Black Sea delivery hall, the RIA information company cited the Russian overseas ministry as saying.

A ministry official quoted by RIA blamed the interruption on Ukraine’s failure to look at agreed procedures however stated the problem has been resolved.

Kiev stated the Türkiye-brokered initiative permitting the protected Black Sea export of Ukrainian grain was in peril of shutting down after Russia blocked inspections of taking part ships in Turkish waters.

It stays unclear if the grain deal, in place since final July, can be renewed, as Russia complains one other settlement, aimed toward facilitating its personal agricultural and fertilizer exports, has not been upheld.

0401 GMT — G7 vows to accentuate sanctions on Russia over warfare in Ukraine

Prime diplomats from the Group of Seven rich democracies vowed a unified entrance towards Russia’s warfare in Ukraine, saying on the shut of their conferences that they have been dedicated to boosting and implementing powerful sanctions towards Moscow. 

It was Russia’s assaults on Ukraine that highlighted the three-day summit on this sizzling spring resort city.

“There may be no impunity for warfare crimes and different atrocities similar to Russia’s assaults towards civilians and significant civilian infrastructure,” the ministers stated. 

“We stay dedicated to intensifying sanctions towards Russia, coordinating and totally implementing them,” the communique stated, and would assist Ukraine “for so long as it takes.”

0248 GMT — Russia’s Lavrov meets Lula as Brazil, US commerce barbs on Ukraine warfare

Russia’s overseas minister met in Brazil with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as Washington criticised the South American chief’s current remarks on US defence assist for Ukraine.

Lula is recent off a visit to China and the United Arab Emirates, throughout which he raised eyebrows within the West by accusing the US of “encouraging the warfare” in Ukraine.

He additionally stated the US and Europe “want to start out speaking about peace,” and that Kiev shares the blame for the battle, which started in February 2022.

His remarks echoed a line regularly utilized by Moscow and Beijing, which blame the West for the warfare.

For our reside updates from Monday (April 17), click on right here.