President Volodymyr Zelenskiy held a high-level staff meeting focused on plans to protect Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and other critical facilities, as well as the defense of ports in Odesa and beyond. Ukraine’s energy grid was damaged extensively by Russian airstrikes last autumn and winter, leaving parts of the country without heat and power for days at a time. Separately, Ukraine’s army commander Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said he discussed security risks related to air strikes at civilian and por
(Bloomberg) — President Volodymyr Zelenskiy held a high-level staff meeting focused on plans to protect Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and other critical facilities, as well as the defense of ports in Odesa and beyond. Ukraine’s energy grid was damaged extensively by Russian airstrikes last autumn and winter, leaving parts of the country without heat and power for days at a time. Separately, Ukraine’s army commander Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said he discussed security risks related to air strikes at civilian and port infrastructure on the Danube River in a phone call with his Romanian counterpart on Friday.
Group of 20 leaders released 29-page joint statement after resolving final differences over references to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and US plans to host the annual summit in 2026. The final communique reflected a compromise between the US and its allies, which had sought tougher words to denounce Russia, and Moscow. Kyiv criticized the statement, which refrained from direct criticism of Russia by name, AFP reported.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is urging G-20 leaders to meet some of Russia’s demands to revive a deal that had allowed Ukrainian grain exports and eased global food prices. Zelenskiy met with Japan’s foreign minister to start negotiations on bilateral security guarantees.
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Markets
Brent oil held near $90 a barrel to post another weekly gain after supply curbs from OPEC+ leaders Saudi Arabia and Russia were extended. Russia also plans to reduce diesel exports from its key western ports by a quarter this month and keep more supplies at home.
Wheat prices fell in Chicago as Russia continued to ship massive quantities of the grain, even as it stymies Ukraine’s exports. Expectations for record Russian exports this season are keeping prices near the lowest since May.
Coming Up
- Putin summit with Kim Jong Un likely in Vladivostok next week
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