Summary
We’ll be closing this blog shortly. Here is a roundup of today’s developments.
The council of the EU on Saturday announced fresh sanctions against Belarus due to its involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Ten Ukrainians held prisoner for years by Russia were released with the Vatican’s mediation, president Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced.
The Kremlin refused to comment after Donald Trump has said that if re-elected in November, he will settle its war against Ukraine.
Russia has lost 541,560 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s armed forces reported on Saturday as part of their rolling update on casualties.
At least one person was killed and 12 were injured in Dnipro, after a Russian strike destroyed the top four floors of an apartment building on Friday evening, regional head Serhii Lysak said.
Ukraine has lost 80% of its thermal and a third of its hydroelectric power in Russian strikes, Zelenskiy said.
Russia has taken control of village of Shumy in the Donetsk region, Russian-state media reported.
Belarus has increased air defence forces along Ukraine border following rising drone activity.
Council of the EU announces fresh sanctions against Belarus
The council of the EU has introduced new sanctions against Belarus due to its involvement in Russia war against Ukraine.
The council on Saturday adopted measures targeting the Belarusian economy, which it said aim to echo several of the sanctions already in place against Russia.
The measures target trade with Belarus, as well as prohibiting the provision of certain services to the state. It will be illegal to import gold and diamonds from Belarus, as well as helium, coal and mineral products including crude oil. The move also bans the export of certain goods, including luxury products, to Belarus.
It has also broadened the ban on the road transportation of goods within the EU, by trailers and semi-trailers registered in Belarus.
