By The Related Press
BELGRADE, Serbia — Russia’s overseas minister Sergey Lavrov has praised Serbia for refusing to impose sanctions towards Moscow over its aggression in Ukraine, saying the Balkan ally has made “a sensible alternative.”
“We deeply respect the Serbian individuals, Serbian tradition, Serbian historical past and dedication to conventional mates,” Lavrov instructed a gaggle of Serbian journalists in a video convention. “We're positive that they are going to proceed to make sensible decisions on this state of affairs.”
Though Serbia voted in favor of a UN decision condemning Russia’s invasion, Belgrade has refused to hitch america and the European Union in imposing extensive ranging sanctions towards Moscow.
Lavrov stated the sanctions are “an try by america to impose its hegemony” within the Balkans and added that the West “is attempting to isolate Russia” within the area that has seen a devastating warfare within the Nineteen Nineties.
Though formally looking for EU membership, Serbia has been forging shut political, financial and navy ties to Russia.
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KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:
— Ukraine might declare neutrality to safe peace, Zelenskyy says
— Russia is shifting its focus to grinding down Ukrainian forces within the east
— Holocaust survivors flee from Ukraine to Germany for security
— Ukrainian welders flip donated automobiles into military transport
— Ukraine warfare threatens meals provides in fragile Arab world
— ‘My private tragedy’: Ukrainians brace for an assault on Odesa
— Go to https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine for extra protection
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OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:
ANKARA, Turkey —A aircraft carrying members of a Russian delegation has landed in Istanbul forward of talks with Ukrainian negotiators geared toward ending the month-long warfare.
Turkey’s personal DHA information company stated the Russian authorities aircraft landed at Istanbul Airport on Monday. The face-to-face talks between the 2 sides are scheduled to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Ukraine might declare neutrality, probably settle for a compromise on contested areas within the nation’s east, and provide safety ensures to Russia to safe peace “immediately.” He stated solely a face-to-face assembly with Russia’s chief might finish the warfare.
Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov stated Monday that the 2 presidents might meet, however solely after the important thing components of a possible deal are negotiated.
Earlier talks have did not make progress on ending the warfare that has killed 1000's and pushed greater than 10 million Ukrainians from their houses — together with nearly 4 million from their nation.
NATO-member Turkey has shut relations with each Ukraine and Russia. Earlier this month, it hosted a gathering between the 2 nations’ overseas ministers.
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MOSCOW — Russian shares have slumped as its inventory market resumed buying and selling of all firms after a monthlong halt following the invasion of Ukraine.
The benchmark MOEX index slid 2.2% Monday after the Moscow Trade reopened for all of its a number of hundred listed firms, however with restrictions nonetheless in place to restrict volatility.
The final full buying and selling session in Moscow was on Feb. 25, a day after the index tumbled by a 3rd after President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine.
Costs whipsawed final week when the trade tentatively reopened for 2 days of restricted buying and selling, with buyers allowed to commerce solely 33 of the MOEX index’s 50 firms.
Some restrictions remained in place Monday to stop one other massive selloff. The each day session is shortened to 4 hours and there's a ban on short-selling, which primarily entails betting on inventory costs to go down. Foreigners are also unable to promote shares till Friday.
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SOFIA, Bulgaria — Russia makes use of native stage corruption as a device of affect within the Balkan area, Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov stated after a gathering of leaders from southeast Europe NATO members.
The prime ministers of Bulgaria, Romania, the Republic of North Macedonia, and Montenegro condemned Russia’s navy aggression and voiced assist for Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Petkov stated the leaders mentioned “eradicating cash laundering and serving to one another combat corruption,” which he stated was “utilized by Russia to affect the area.”
Talks additionally centered on strengthening the cooperation as NATO allies on the bloc’s jap flank, in addition to on decreasing the dependence on Russian power provides, countering Russia’s faux information, bettering cyber safety and widening mutual commerce.
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COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Danish brewery group Carlsberg says it has determined to drag out of Russia, saying it’s “the best factor to do within the present setting.”
The announcement got here hours after its competitor, Dutch brewing large Heineken, stated it was doing the identical.
The Copenhagen-based Carlsberg stated Monday it “may have no presence in Russia.” Its enterprise in Russia will not be included within the Danish brewer’s income and working revenue, and the enterprise “will likely be handled as an asset held on the market till completion of the disposal.”
In 2021, Carlsberg reported income and working revenue in Russia of 6.5 billion kroner ($959 million) and 682 million kroner ($101 million) respectively. The Danish brewer generates round 10% of its gross sales in Russia, the place it operates a number of breweries and has about 8,400 workers which might be laid off.
Heineken stated earlier Monday that it was looking for an “orderly switch of our enterprise to a brand new proprietor in full compliance with worldwide and native legal guidelines.”
Heineken will proceed to pay its 1,800 workers in Russia by the tip of the 12 months. The corporate says it is not going to revenue from the sale of its Russian operations and expects to take a 400 million-euro ($438 million) cost because of this.
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MOSCOW — Main impartial Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, which is edited by Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitry Muratov, says it's suspending operations after receiving warnings from Russian authorities.
The newspaper reported being warned by Roskomnadzor, the state communications regulator.
“After this we're stopping the discharge of the newspaper on the web site, on (social) networks and on paper — till the tip of the ‘particular operation on the territory of Ukraine,’” the newspaper stated in a press release Monday.
Russia strictly limits how media can describe occasions in Ukraine, which it labels a “particular navy operation.” A number of different Russian media shops have already opted for suspending operations somewhat than face heavy restrictions on what they will report, and the Kremlin has additionally blocked a number of overseas information shops.
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BERLIN — Germany’s power minister says the Group of Seven main economies have agreed to reject Russia’s demand to pay for Russian power imports in rubles.
Robert Habeck instructed reporters Monday that “all G-7 ministers agreed utterly that this (can be) a one-sided and clear breach of the prevailing contracts.”
Habeck stated after an internet assembly with G-7 power ministers that “cost in ruble just isn't acceptable and we'll urge the businesses affected to not observe (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s demand.”
Requested by reporters earlier Monday if Russia might lower fuel provides to European prospects in the event that they reject the demand to pay for the Russian fuel in rubles, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that “we clearly aren’t going to provide fuel totally free.”
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BERLIN — German authorities are contemplating whether or not to prosecute individuals who use the “Z” image to indicate assist for Russia’s assault on Ukraine.
Russian troops in Ukraine have painted the letter Z on the facet of automobiles and it has been adopted by some in Russia as an emblem of assist for what the Kremlin describes as a “particular navy operation” within the neighboring nation.
A spokesman for the German Inside Ministry stated Monday that safety providers are conscious the image can also be getting used at rallies in Germany.
The spokesman, Marek Wede, instructed reporters in Berlin that the letter can underneath sure circumstances be thought-about an indication of assist for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“The Russian assault on Ukraine is a criminal offense and whoever publicly approves of this warfare can thereby turn into criminally liable,” Wede stated.
He added that federal authorities welcomed bulletins by some German states to research whether or not particular person cases of the “Z” use represent prison acts.
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LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — Slovenia says it has reinstated a diplomatic consultant in Kyiv and reopened the nation’s embassy in Ukraine.
The ministry says Slovenia’s embassy in Kyiv reopened on Monday after the arrival of the interim cost d’affaires Bostjan Lesjak. Slovenia’s ambassador to Ukraine stays in Rzeszow, a city on the Polish-Ukrainian border.
Slovenia’s transfer comes after Prime Minister Janez Jansa urged European Union nations to revive their presence in Kyiv in assist for Ukraine. Jansa visited Kyiv this month together with the prime ministers of Poland and the Czech Republic.
He stated on Twitter on Monday that “we're again.” Jansa provides that “the Slovenian and European flags flutter once more in entrance of the Slovenian Embassy in Kyiv.”
Slovenia’s International Ministry stated that Lesjak stated upon arrival that the town was abandoned, and that alarms and detonations might be heard within the distance.
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LVIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne has quoted the mayor of Mariupol as saying that round 160,000 individuals stay within the besieged port metropolis, and that a “humanitarian disaster” would ensue if extra evacuations should not doable.
Vadym Boychenko stated Monday that Russian forces had been stopping civilians from evacuating from the town and had been turning again some who tried to make it out.
Town, which had a pre-war inhabitants of greater than 400,000, has seen among the worst situations since Russian forces invaded Ukraine on Feb.24. Russian forces have pounded the town, and scores of civilians have been unable to flee, with no entry to necessities and lower off from communication with the shelling of cell, radio and TV towers.
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MOSCOW — The Kremlin has voiced concern about U.S. President Joe Biden’s remark concerning the Russian President Vladimir Putin and stated it is going to rigorously observe his rhetoric.
Capping a four-day journey to Europe Saturday, Biden stated of Putin: “For God’s sake, this man can not stay in energy,” phrases the White Home instantly sought to downplay.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov instructed reporters Monday that Biden’s assertion “undoubtedly causes alarm.” He added that the Kremlin will rigorously monitor the U.S. president’s statements.
Peskov stated beforehand that “it’s less than the president of the U.S. and less than the People to resolve who will stay in energy in Russia.”
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MOSCOW — Russia’s overseas minister says the presidents of Russia and Ukraine might meet for talks solely after the important thing components of a possible deal are negotiated.
Sergey Lavrov stated Monday that “the assembly is critical as soon as now we have readability concerning options on all key points.”
Lavrov’s feedback observe Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s assertion that he’s prepared to debate Ukraine’s neutrality and safety ensures with Russian President Vladimir Putin to safe peace “immediately.” Zelenskyy added that solely a face-to-face assembly with Russia’s chief might finish the warfare.
Russian and Turkish negotiators are set to carry one other spherical of talks in Istanbul, Turkey on Tuesday to attempt to draft an settlement.
Talking in an internet interview with Serbian media, Lavrov alleged that Ukraine solely need to “imitate talks” whereas Russia wants particular outcomes that might be secured by the nations’ leaders.
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BEIJING — China says the U.S. ought to take severely Beijing’s issues about punishing financial sanctions towards Russia.
China, which has what it calls a “no limits” partnership with Moscow, has strongly objected to the sanctions, saying they are going to worsen the worldwide financial outlook with out bringing an finish to the battle.
International Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated at a each day briefing Monday that China and different nations consider “individuals of all nations haven't any duty to pay for geopolitical conflicts and nice energy video games.”
“The issue now just isn't about who needs to assist Russia bypass sanctions, however concerning the regular financial and commerce relations between nations, together with China, and Russia have been unnecessarily broken,” Wang stated.
“We urge the U.S. to take China’s issues severely when coping with the Ukraine difficulty and relations with Russia, and to not harm China’s official rights and pursuits in any means,” Wang stated.
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THE HAGUE, Netherlands — European Union judicial coordination company Eurojust says it has helped Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine to determine a joint investigation workforce to probe warfare crimes, crimes towards humanity and different crimes dedicated in Ukraine.
The Hague-based company stated Monday that the three nations signed an settlement on Friday establishing the workforce. Eurojust says it offered authorized and technical assist.
Eurojust says the principle purpose of the workforce is to “assist the gathering of proof and its swift and safe trade between companions, in addition to the transmission of knowledge and proof.”
Eurojust provides that the workforce will assist the three nations cooperate with Worldwide Felony Courtroom prosecution workplace, which additionally has opened an investigation in Ukraine.
Inside the first month of Russia’s warfare towards Ukraine, Polish prosecutors stated they'd collected some 300 witness testimonies from refugees pouring over the border.
Joint investigation groups assist nations pool assets and data throughout advanced worldwide investigations. The Netherlands and different nations arrange such a workforce to research the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airways flight MH17 over jap Ukraine.
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ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s protection ministry says navy groups are working to disable a second naval mine that was detected floating off Turkey’s Black Coastline.
On Monday, the ministry stated Underwater Defence Groups that had been dispatched to the location off the coast of Igneada, close to the border with Bulgaria, had managed to safe the mine and had been now working to “neutralize” it.
On Saturday, authorities closed the Bosporus — the landmark waterway between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara — to visitors as a precaution because the Turkish coast guard responded to studies of a drifting mine-like object which was later “neutralized.”
The sighting of the explosive units follows warnings that mines laid on the entrances to Ukrainian ports might break away in heavy climate and cross the Black Sea.
On March 18, Turkey issued a Navtex alert advising ships to maintain a “sharp look out” and report any doable mines that had drifted from ports equivalent to Odesa.
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GENEVA — The Workplace of the UN Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights says it has recorded 1,119 civilian deaths and 1,790 individuals injured since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.
The UN company stated Sunday most casualties had been attributable to use of explosive weapons with a large affect space, together with shelling from heavy artillery and multiple-launch rocket programs, and missile and air strikes. It stated it believes precise figures are “significantly increased,” given delays in acquiring data and in corroborating the studies.
Of these killed, 224 had been males, 168 ladies, 15 ladies and 32 boys. The intercourse of one other 52 youngsters and 628 adults has not but been decided.
The report stated allegations of many civilian casualties within the besieged southern metropolis of Mariupol and in Volnovakha, Izium, Popasna, Rubizhne and Trostianets had been nonetheless being corroborated and should not included within the newest totals.
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LONDON — Russian forces have made no vital progress up to now 24 hours amid persevering with provide issues and aggressive resistance from Ukrainian fighters, U.Ok. protection officers say.
Poor morale and a scarcity of momentum have compounded the issues dealing with Russian forces, Britain’s Ministry of Protection stated in its newest intelligence briefing.
Heavy preventing continues round Mariupol as Russian forces attempt to seize the port on the Sea of Azov, which connects to the Black Sea, the ministry stated in a briefing posted on Twitter.
Earlier, the ministry stated Russia was sustaining a blockade of Ukraine’s Black Coastline, reducing off maritime commerce with the nation. The Russian navy can also be launching “sporadic” missile strikes towards targets in Ukraine, the ministry stated.
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BEIJING — China’s ambassador to the U.S. says that of all events involved within the Ukraine, solely China has Russia’s ear.
Qin Gang’s feedback to the Phoenix Tv channel, which has shut ties with China’s ruling Communist Get together, come as Beijing’s tacit assist for Moscow is receiving growing scrutiny from Washington and others.
China has refused to criticize Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and even seek advice from it as such. It has additionally vigorously opposed punishing financial sanctions imposed on Moscow by the West.
Qin stated China was uniquely positioned to assist peacefully resolve what he referred to as “the disaster.”
“Now, all events involved are in severe confrontation with Russia besides China. Solely China has the ear of Russia,” Qin instructed the channel’s “Discuss With World Leaders” program in an interview broadcast on Sunday.
Qin blamed NATO’s eastward growth for having provoked Russia. “Russia feels duped by NATO on its eastward growth. It feels threatened and cornered,” Qin stated.
Whereas Beijing claims it's neutral within the battle, Chinese language state media has repeated false and unsupported claims made by Moscow.
Phoenix has itself obtained consideration for embedding a reporter with Russian troops who has produced a gentle stream of pro-Moscow studies.
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LVIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s priorities on the Ukrainian-Russian talks in Turkey this week will likely be “sovereignty and territorial integrity,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed his nation Sunday in his nightly deal with.
“We're on the lookout for peace, actually, immediately,” he stated. “There is a chance and a necessity for a face-to-face assembly in Turkey. This isn't unhealthy. Let’s see the result.”
This week, he stated, “I'll proceed to attraction to the parliaments of different nations” to remind them of the dire state of affairs in besieged cities like Mariupol.
Zelenskyy additionally instructed impartial Russian journalists Sunday that his authorities would contemplate declaring neutrality and providing safety ensures to Russia, repeating earlier statements. That would come with retaining Ukraine nuclear-free, he stated.
He instructed the reporters that the difficulty of neutrality — and agreeing to remain out of NATO — must be put to Ukrainian voters in a referendum after Russian troops withdraw. He stated that a vote might happen inside a number of months as soon as Russian troops depart.
Russia shortly banned Zelenskyy’s interview from being revealed. Roskomnadzor, which regulates communications for Moscow, issued the ban Sunday, saying there might be motion taken towards the Russia-based media shops that took half, which included “these which are overseas media shops appearing as overseas brokers.”
Zelenskyy responded by saying Moscow was afraid of a comparatively quick dialog with journalists. “It could be humorous if it weren’t so tragic,” he stated, in accordance with the Ukrainian information company RBK Ukraina.
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BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says that neither NATO nor U.S. President Joe Biden purpose to result in regime change in Russia.
Biden stated of Russian President Vladimir Putin throughout a speech on Saturday that “this man can not stay in energy.” The White Home and different U.S. officers rushed to make clear that Biden wasn’t really calling for Putin to be toppled.
Requested throughout an look Sunday on ARD tv whether or not Putin’s elimination is in reality the actual purpose, Scholz replied: “This isn't the purpose of NATO, and in addition not that of the American president.”
Scholz added: “We each agree utterly that regime change just isn't an object and purpose of coverage that we pursue collectively.”