Ukraine war latest: Vladimir Putin makes surprise trip to Crimea as arrest warrant issued

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Crimea to mark the ninth anniversary of the annexation of the Black Sea peninsula to Ukraine.

Mr Putin visited an art school and a children’s center on Saturday, the day after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Russian leader, accusing him of war crimes.

The court specifically charged him on Friday with being personally responsible for the abduction of Ukrainian children during Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country, which began nearly 13 months ago.

Russia annexed Crimea to Ukraine in 2014, a move most countries around the world considered illegal.

As the Russian-affiliated Wagner Group embarks on a mass recruitment drive, learn about the mercenary gang led by Vladimir Putin’s former caterer:

Russia has notified all parties to the Black Sea Grains Agreement that the agreement has been extended for 60 days and reiterated that it will not consider another extension until its concerns have been resolved. been resolved, Moscow said on Saturday.

Earlier, Turkey and the United Nations said the deal had been extended but did not say for how long. A Ukrainian government minister said it would last 120 days.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova released a copy of a letter from Russia’s permanent representation to the UN stating that Moscow would not object to the agreement being extended by 60 days until May 18.

“Consideration by the Russian side of a further extension of (the agreement) after the indicated date will only be possible subject to tangible progress” on the issue of the export of Russian food products and fertilizers, said he declared.

Russia says that although these exports have not been explicitly targeted by the West, sanctions on its payments, logistics and insurance sectors are creating obstacles

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s plans to meet Russian president Vladimir Poutine In Moscow next week highlighted China’s aspirations to play a bigger role on the world stage.

But they also revealed the perils of global diplomacy: Hours after the trip was announced on Friday, an international arrest warrant was issued for Putin on war crimes charges, which at least somewhat cut the veils of the great revelation from China.

“He clearly committed war crimes,” the US president said Friday, referring to the Russian leader.

Arpan Rai has more below:

Widespread Russian attacks have continued in Ukraine, following the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Commissioner for Children’s Rights.

Ukraine was attacked by 16 Russian drones on Friday evening, the Ukrainian Air Force announced in the early hours of Saturday.

Writing on Telegram, the air force command said 11 out of 16 drones were shot down “in the central, western and eastern regions”.

Among the targeted areas were the capital, Kyiv, and the western province of Lviv.

Kyiv city administration chief Serhii Popko said Ukrainian air defenses had shot down all drones heading towards the Ukrainian capital, while Lviv regional governor Maksym Kozytskyi said on Saturday that three of the six drones had been shot down, with the other three hitting a district. bordering Poland.

A deal allowing the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports that was due to expire on Saturday has been renewed, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said, while a Ukrainian government minister said the extension had been agreed for 120 days.

“The grain corridor agreement was due to expire today. Following our discussions with both parties, we secured an extension of this agreement,” Erdogan said in a speech in the western town of Canakkale. , without specifying the duration of the agreed extension.

Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said the deal had been extended for 120 days.

The pact was negotiated with Russia and Ukraine by the United Nations and Turkey in July – and renewed for another 120 days in November – to tackle a global food crisis that was fueled in part by Russia on February 24. 2022, the invasion of Ukraine and Blockade of the Black Sea.

Trainspotter Mikhail Korotkov’s blog was his passion – but closing up shop and leaving home seemed like the only option after photos he posted of his favorite target attracted unwanted attention, according to Robyn Dixon

8German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held the first round of government consultations in Tokyo on Saturday and agreed to strengthen economic and defense ties to better address China’s growing influence and security concerns world.

Kishida told a joint press conference after the talks that the parties agreed to strengthen supply chains in minerals, semiconductors, batteries and other strategic areas, to “counter coercion economy, state attempts to illegally acquire technology, and non-market practices,” apparently referring to China.

“Japan and Germany, two industrial nations that share fundamental values, must take global leadership to build the resilience of our societies,” Kishida said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Crimea on Saturday for a visit marking the ninth anniversary of Russia’s annexation of the peninsula from Ukraine, Russian state media reported.

We will have more on this story as time goes on.