The European Union is pitching member states on a new package of sanctions that for the first time would extend strict trade curbs to several Chinese companies as it seeks to crack down on firms that are supplying Russia with banned products.
(Bloomberg) — The European Union is pitching member states on a new package of sanctions that for the first time would extend strict trade curbs to several Chinese companies as it seeks to crack down on firms that are supplying Russia with banned products.
Russia attacked the Kyiv region with 35 Iranian-made Shahed drones overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force said on Telegram. All the drones, which came from the Bryansk region of Russia, were shot down by air defense. The Odesa region was attacked overnight by missiles and aid groups said some humanitarian aid depots were hit.
The head of the Wagner mercenary group said he’d been promised sufficient ammunition by Russia’s military to continue a campaign in Bakhmut in Ukraine’s east, walking back a threat to abandon the battle.
Key Developments
- EU Proposes Curbs on Several Chinese Firms for Aiding Russia
- Wheat Climbs as Concern Mounts Over Ukraine Grain Export Deal
- Binance Faces US Probe of Possible Russian Sanctions Violations
- Hard Red Winter Wheat Climbs as Ukraine Export Deal Worry Mounts
(All times CET)
Russia Attacked Aid Depots in Ukraine, Charity Says (6:48 p.m.)
Russian missile attacks Sunday night severely damaged warehouses with humanitarian aid in the Odesa and Kherson regions, relief organization Project HOPE said on its website.
No staff was injured and the organization will continue its programs in Ukraine, Project HOPE said.
Earlier on Monday, the Ukrainian branch of the International Red Cross reported its storage facility with humanitarian aid burned down in the Odesa region after being hit by a Russian missile.
Ukraine Says Russia Expanding Evacuations in South (5:35 p.m.)
Russia is expanding the evacuation of occupied areas in Ukraine’s south, moving families from Skadovsk, a city on the Black Sea coast near Crimea, as well as from nearby towns, the Ukrainian army’s general staff said on Facebook.
Last week, Ukraine reported Russia evacuating civilians from Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhia region and the regions of Berdyansk and Prymorsk on the Azov Sea coast ahead of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Italy’s Eni Starts Litigation With Gazprom (4:50 p.m.)
Italian oil company Eni said Gazprom’s reduction of gas deliveries since last June are subject to arbitration proceeding, according to responses to shareholders questions released ahead of its annual meeting. Eni said its long-term contracts with Gazprom are still in force.
Italy imported around 40% of its gas from Russia before the invasion of Ukraine and almost dropped to zero as of April 2023. Eni aims to fully replace Russian gas by 2025.
Ukraine Says Russia Blocked Ship Inspections, Urges UN to Act (4 p.m.)
Russia refused to register ships bound for Ukrainian ports to pick up grain or to conduct inspections of those ships on Monday, Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry said on Facebook.
“Russia’s destructive acts made it impossible to draw up inspection plan,” the ministry said. As of Monday, 90 vessels are awaiting inspection in Turkish territorial waters, of which 62 are to be loaded.
According to the ministry, permanent interruption of the grain corridor’s operation is hurting Ukraine’s agricultural exports. Less than 3 million tons of products were exported through the corridor in April — one of the lowest indicator since the grain deal was signed.
EU Targets Russian Oil Transfers at Sea (3:30 p.m.)
The EU proposed prohibiting access to its ports for vessels that attempt to circumvent sanctions on Russian oil as it seeks to deter transport of its crude and products below the price caps set by the Group of Seven nations.
Ship-to-ship transfers have become pivotal in moving Moscow’s oil to the market after the EU’s ban on seaborne Russian crude in early December.
The measure is part of a broader package of sanctions on Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine, according to EU documents seen by Bloomberg.
Ukraine Sees Some Russian Tactical Gains in Offensive (2 p.m.)
Russian forces have some “tactical successes” near Avdiyivka, Bakhmut and Lyman, which are the main focus points of their offensive, Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s military media center said on Telegram. Russia is aiming to capture the cities of Bakhmut and Maryinka, as well as block supply routes to Ukrainian forces in Avdiyivka, all of which are in the country’s eastern area known as Donbas.
Ukraine Should Get Concrete Path to Join NATO, Estonia Says (1:45 p.m.)
NATO allies need to spell out the concrete steps for Ukraine to become a member of the military alliance and move beyond repeating the standing position that it’s welcome to join the bloc, according to Estonia’s top diplomat.
“It’s not enough anymore just to repeat the already existing position that Ukraine is welcomed to NATO,” Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said in an interview. “We must move forward to give a strong message” about Ukraine’s next steps when leaders gather in Vilnius this summer, he said.
EU Proposes First Curbs on Chinese Firms for Aiding Russia (1:10 p.m.)
The European Commission has asked member states to target about 35 more entities, including businesses in mainland China and Hong Kong, as well as companies in Uzbekistan, Armenia and the United Arab Emirates, according to documents seen by Bloomberg.
The EU’s executive arm says those targeted are “directly supporting Russia’s military and industrial complex in its war of aggression against Ukraine.” It calls for “stricter export restrictions regarding dual-use goods and technology, as well as goods and technology which might contribute to the technological enhancement of Russia’s defense and security sector,” one of the documents says. The mechanism is separate from the designation of individuals and entities on whom travel bans and asset freezes are imposed.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said his country’s economic trade with Russia was “completely above board” at a press briefing in Beijing on Monday. The Financial Times earlier reported the names of the Chinese firms being targeted.
Ukrainian Red Cross Says Missile Strike Burned Stockpile (1:05 p.m.)
A storage facility containing humanitarian aid that belonged to the Ukrainian branch of the International Red Cross burned down in the Odesa region after it was hit by a Russian missile on Monday morning, the mission said on its website.
A Red Cross mobile hospital was damaged in Mykolayiv during missile attack on May 7. So far, 25 facilities of the Red Cross in Ukraine, including offices, stockpiles and logistics hubs, were either damaged or completely ruined by Russian attacks since the beginning of the Russian invasion.
Lithuania’s Defense Council Backs Infantry Division Plans (12:30 p.m.)
Lithuania decided to expand its military by building its first infantry division in the country by 2030 in response to Russia’s projected buildup in the region.
“The aim is to have a fully operational division assisted by allies in Lithuania, which could conduct defense operations and implement plans envisaged in collective defense documents,” Kestutis Budrys, chief presidential defense adviser, told reporters Monday after a meeting of the country’s State Defense Council.
Consumers in Six Ukrainian Regions Face Power Cuts after Shelling: Ministry (11:45 a.m.)
Thousands of consumers in the Kherson, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions were without electricity after Russian mass shelling Monday, the Ukrainian energy Ministry said in an emailed statement.
“Repair teams restore the power supply where the situation allows,” the ministry said. Strikes on the Kyiv and Odesa regions did not lead to energy infrastructure damage.
Zelenskiy Sets May 9 as Day of Europe in Ukraine (11:20 a.m.)
In a further break from the Soviet past and from Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy asked parliament to move the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in the Second World War to May 8. Previously, Kyiv celebrated the event together with Russia on May 9.
“Unfortunately, evil has returned,” Zelenskiy said in a video address. “And all those old evils that modern Russia is bringing back will be defeated just as Nazism was defeated.” Zelenskiy also set May 9 as a Day of Europe to commemorate “our historic unity – the unity of all Europeans who destroyed Nazism and will defeat ruscism.”
Ukraine Downs all 35 Russian Drones, Missiles Hit Odesa Region (8:20 a.m.)
Russia attacked the Kyiv region with 35 Iranian-made Shahed drones overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force said on Telegram. All the drones, which came from the Bryansk region of Russia, were shot down by air defense.
The Odesa region was attacked overnight by eight missiles, the southern military command said on Facebook. Missiles hit a plant in the Odesa region and a recreation facility on the Black Sea coast. The missiles were launched from Tu-22M3 bombers.
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