Ukraine and Russia: What you need to know right now

Ukraine said it urgently needed more weapons to fend off Russian advances in the south and the east, an appeal aimed at the West as the leaders of Germany, France and Italy are expected to visit Kyiv.


Reuters | Updated: 16-06-2022 05:53 IST | Created: 16-06-2022 05:53 IST
Ukraine and Russia: What you need to know right now

Ukraine said it urgently needed more weapons to fend off Russian advances in the south and the east, an appeal aimed at the West as the leaders of Germany, France and Italy are expected to visit Kyiv. FIGHTING * The head of Ukraine's military said Russia had concentrated its main strike forces in the north of Luhansk region and were trying to attack simultaneously in nine directions. * Russia's defence ministry accused Ukrainian forces of disrupting efforts to allow civilians to escape from a chemical plant in Sievierodonetsk, scene of a weeks-long battle. Reuters was unable to verify the claim. * Two U.S. citizens who travelled to Ukraine as volunteer fighters against Russian forces have been missing for a week and are feared captured, family members said. A White House national security spokesperson said if the reports are true, the United States "will do everything we can" to get them back. * U.S. President Biden announced another infusion of $1 billion in weapons for Ukraine that includes anti-ship rocket systems, artillery rockets, howitzers and ammunition. Russia's U.N. Ambassador denounced Western countries for supplying weaponry to Ukraine.

DIPLOMACY * The leaders of the European Union's three biggest countries, Germany, France and Italy, are expected in Kyiv to show their backing for Ukraine. * The European Union's executive is expected to propose on Friday that Ukraine become a formal candidate for membership of the bloc, diplomats and officials say. ECONOMY * Russia said it has offered "safe passage" for Ukraine grain shipments from Black Sea ports but is not responsible for establishing the corridors and Turkey suggested that ships could be guided around sea mines. * A food security crisis stoked by the Ukraine war is set to push more people to flee their homes in poorer countries, driving record levels of global displacement even higher, the head of the U.N. refugee agency said. * Russian people and companies are using entities in Georgia to bypass Western sanctions, a group of Ukrainian lawmakers said on a visit to Washington, but they did not provide further details or specific examples. The Georgian embassy in Washington said the accusations were "completely false". (Compiled by Grant McCool)

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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