What has happened in the last hours
These are the most important news at 8:00 p.m. on the 526th day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine:
Brussels warns of the risk of a major food crisis due to the Russian blockade of Ukrainian grain. The withdrawal of Russia from the agreement that gave outlet to Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea leads the world to the serious risk of aggravating the food crisis already suffered by countries in the Horn of Africa or others such as Afghanistan. The accusation appears in the letter that the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, has sent to the G-20 countries and developing countries to which he asks for “support to urge Russia to return to negotiations , as well as to stop attacks on agricultural infrastructure in Ukraine”.
Putin and the geopolitics of grain. Since leaving the agreement to export grain, Russia has increased its exports by 60% compared to last year, according to the Russian Grain Union. Moscow’s main customer has been Saudi Arabia (with 578,000 tons), followed by Turkey (518,000); Egypt (467,000), and Israel (345,000). “And there are new buyers in Latin America. Brazil or Peru did not buy from us and now they do”, they celebrated from the Russian Grain Union. In total, 33 countries received wheat shipments in July, seven more than a year ago.
Blinken calls for measures so that Russia does not use food as a “weapon of war”.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged UN member countries to ask Russia to stop blackmailing the international community with the Black Sea. The US is going to give a special battle during this month of August, in which it has to preside over the UN Security Council.
Russia claims that more than 230,000 people have enlisted in its army since January. The deputy secretary of the Russian Security Council and former president of the country Dmitri Medvedev has assured that 231,000 people have enlisted in the Russian army since the beginning of the year. The contracts of the new soldiers have been achieved thanks to a recruitment campaign published on social networks and through posters on the street. In addition to their salaries, the new recruits will retain their civilian employment while serving in the military and their bank credit will remain frozen.
Germany refuses to send long-range missiles to Ukraine. The German Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, has reiterated the reluctance of the Berlin government to send cruise missiles that Kiev claims to fight against Russian troops, unlike other European countries, such as the United Kingdom and France, which have. facilitated. According to Pistorius, at the moment “it is not a priority.”
Zelensky’s top adviser is calling for F-16 fighters and more tanks. In order to continue with its counteroffensive against Russia, Ukraine needs hundreds of armored vehicles, more air defense systems and F-16 fighter jets, said the adviser to the office of the Ukrainian presidency, Mikhailo Podoliak. The main aide to the Ukrainian president has added that, in order to damage Russia’s logistics bases, Ukrainian forces need long-range missiles.
A Russian court sentences a citizen for his messages of support for Ukraine.A Russian court has sentenced a man who had displayed banners denouncing the Russian offensive in Ukraine to one and a half years in prison, in a new example of the crackdown on critical voices in Russia. Dmitri Skurikhin, a 48-year-old entrepreneur, has been sentenced for “discrediting” the army, the Lomonosov district court of the Leningrad region reported.
And another Russian judge fines Apple for failing to remove “inaccurate content” about the war.A Moscow court has fined Apple 400,000 rubles (3,895 euros) for not removing content it considers “inaccurate” about the invasion of Ukraine, which Russia calls a “special military operation.”
