Night of war at a glance: Zelenskiy calls Russia “state of terror” – EU sanctions take effect

A night of war at a glance
Zelensky calls Russia a “state of terror” – EU sanctions are taking effect

7/15/2022 7:14 am

After the attack on the center of Vinnytsia, Ukrainian President Zelensky spoke about terrorism with many dead civilians and compared it to German and American cities. The European Union is evaluating sanctions against Russia. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Baerbach did not want to “double-threat” himself. A night of war at a glance.

Separatists declare victory – Kiev denies

In eastern Ukraine, Russian-backed separatists say they have advanced further towards the small town of Soledar. The separatists in Luhansk said the villages of Stryabivka and Nova Kamyanka, on the eastern outskirts of Soledar, had been captured. In Kiev, information was conflicting. “Overall, we have repelled enemy attacks over the past week, and not a single meter of Ukrainian soil has been lost,” Oleksiy Khromov, deputy head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of Ukraine, told a news conference in Kyiv. An evening report by the General Staff indicated shelling of Soledar and the northeastern suburb of Yakovlivka.

Zelenskyj should classify Russia as a “terrorist state”.

President Volodymyr Zelensky described Russia as a “terrorist state” after a rocket attack on the center of the western Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia, which killed several civilians. “No other country in the world poses a terrorist threat like Russia,” Zelensky said in his video address. No other country in the world dares to destroy “peaceful cities and everyday human life” every day with its rockets and artillery, Zelensky said.

Zelensky said the attack once again showed that Russia should be officially classified as a “terrorist state” and that those responsible should be brought before a war crimes tribunal. A medical center was also attacked. “And if someone attacks a medical center in Dallas or Dresden – (…) isn’t that terrorism?”

EU: Sanctions against Russia work

EU sanctions against Russia are coming into effect, according to data that has been kept secret until now. As confirmed by experts from the European Union Commission, targeted trade restrictions now affect Russian export transactions, which before the war amounted to more than 73 billion euros a year. In percentage terms, this is 48 percent of Russia’s previous exports to the EU. Additionally, within about four months, some 13.8 billion euros worth of Russian assets were frozen — for example by oligarchs and other supporters of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. Billions worth of Russian central bank reserves are also no longer accessible.

Baerbock against softening constraints

Union External Affairs Minister Annalena Barbach has said that the economic sanctions imposed on Russia cannot be eased. Even such a move would not ensure gas supplies from Russia, “but we would be doubly threatened,” the Green politician said in a debate with citizens in Bremen. Accepting that one would violate international law “in the most heinous way” would be “an invitation to all those who trample on human rights, freedom and democracy”. Therefore, Beierbach insisted that Germany would support Ukraine “as long as we need it.” “That is why we will abide by these restrictions while ensuring that our community is not divided.”

Schulze hopes to export grain

After reconciliation in the dispute over grain exports from Ukraine, Development Minister Svenja Schulz warned not to be too optimistic. “An agreement on safe transport options for grain from Ukraine by sea will be a relief to starving people around the world,” the SPD politician told Germany’s Editorial Network. Every ton of grain that comes out and is available in the world market helps. “But the experience with Putin shows you shouldn’t believe that.”

On Friday it will be important:

• Foreign Minister Baerbach is attending a donor conference in Romania in the Republic of Moldova, which has been affected by the war in neighboring Ukraine. Like Ukraine, Moldova has been an official candidate for EU membership since June. The country of 2.6 million people has been caring for hundreds of thousands of refugees since the Russian offensive on Ukraine began in late February.
• G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors are meeting in Bali, Indonesia. The main focus is on the global consequences of the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko attends the opening session.

And you can find all the developments with us Live ticker of Ukraine war According to