Latest news about Russia and the war in Ukraine

Russia has suggested that it will find other importers of its oil after the European Union’s decision to impose a partial ban.

“As she said yesterday, #Russia will find other importers,” Russian diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov said via Twitter. His comments refer to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

He added, “It is worth noting that she is now contradicting her statement yesterday. The very rapid change in mentality indicates that #EU is not in good shape.”

The EU’s von der Leyen said the bloc’s sixth round of economic measures against the Kremlin will effectively cut about 90% of Russia’s oil imports by the end of the year. She added that the European Union would soon return to the issue of the remaining 10% of the pipeline’s oil.

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– Sam Meredith

Russian forces claimed to have captured a third of the city of Severodonetsk, while continuing their offensive in the Donbass region of Ukraine.

The Donbass region refers to two eastern regions of Ukraine, Luhansk and Donetsk – a major strategic, political and economic target of the Kremlin.

“We can already say that a third of the city is already under our control,” said Leonid Bashnik, President of the Russian-backed Luhansk People’s Republic, Tell Russian state information agency TASS.

Pasnik admitted that Russian forces were not able to advance as quickly as hoped for into the main eastern city, with fighting currently raging in an urban area.

– Sam Meredith

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 32 media workers have been killed since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.

Among them is French journalist Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff, a French journalist working for BFM TV, who has suffered from Fatal injury to the neck while riding in an armored evacuation vehicle Sky News reported that it was bombed by Russian forces.

“A little more than a month ago, I gave an interview to this very TV channel,” Zelensky said in his nightly speech. “This was my first interview with the French media during a full-scale war.”

“My sincerest condolences to Frederic’s colleagues and family,” Zelensky said.

– Chelsea Ong

Crude oil prices rose during Asian hours afterwards European Union leaders agreed to ban about 90% of Russian oil by the end of 2022.

Charles Michel, president of the European Council, says the move will immediately affect 75% of Russia’s oil imports.

The ban is part of the sixth EU sanctions package against Russia since its invasion of Ukraine.

He explained that “the European Council agrees that the sixth package of sanctions against Russia will include crude oil, as well as petroleum products, which are delivered from Russia to member states, with a temporary exception for crude oil transported through a pipeline.” May 31 statement from European Council.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a press conference that this temporary exception includes the remaining Russian oil that has not yet been banned.

– Weezin Tan

The sale of a British soccer team owned for 19 years to a Russian-Israeli billionaire linked to Vladimir Putin.

There was a consortium led by Todd Boehle, co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers Chelsea Football Team Bought From Roman Abramovich, the billionaire who was sanctioned by the British government for his ties to Putin after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in a deal worth 4.25 billion pounds ($5.38 billion).

Abramovich put his Chelsea squad up for sale on March 2, a week after the invasion and just days before the British government added his name to the list of Russian oligarchs subject to sanctions. Among other conditions, the sanctions prevented Chelsea from signing new players or offering new contracts.

With team ownership now new, these restrictions will be lifted.

– John Rosever