Russia Imposes Travel Bans on 500 US Citizens in Response to Sanctions

As a response to new sanctions, Russia has prohibited 500 more US citizens from entering the country

Russia Imposes Travel Bans on US Citizens

As a response to new sanctions, Russia has prohibited 500 more US citizens from entering the country. This includes former President Obama. The White House has allowed Ukrainian pilots to be trained to fly F-16 fighter jets. Here are the developments from Friday:
Explosions at Mariupol Airport

The airport of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, which is occupied by Russian troops, has been rocked by a series of explosions. This was reported by the Russian state agency Tass, citing local authorities. Videos of the explosions circulated on social media, the cause and effects of which are not yet known. Neither the Russian nor the Ukrainian military have commented on the incident.

Russian forces captured the port city on the Sea of Azov last year after months of heavy fighting that destroyed large parts of it.

Moscow Imposes Travel Bans in Response to Sanctions

In response to a new round of sanctions by the US against Russia, Moscow has imposed a travel ban on 500 US citizens. This is a response to the “regular anti-Russian sanctions” by the government of US President Joe Biden, which aims to inflict maximum damage on Russia, the foreign ministry in Moscow said.

Former US President Barack Obama is among the list of politicians, both current and former, at position 268. The list also includes “heads of companies in the military-industrial complex that supply weapons to the regime in Kiev.”

Saudi Arabia: “Actively Neutral”

According to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, his country has decided on “active neutrality” regarding the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Ukrainian President Selenskyj had accused some Arab leaders of lacking support for his country against the Russian invaders.

“Unfortunately, some in the world and here in your circle turn a blind eye,” he said at the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia. This is the case with Ukrainians in Russian prisons and “illegal annexations.” Some participants in the Arab summit have a different view of the war on our country and refer to it – as now the Saudi minister as well – as a conflict.

Ukraine Reports Gains around Bachmut

According to its own statements, Ukrainian troops have gained ground in counterattacks around the city of Bachmut in the east of the country. “The enemy continues its storm attacks within the city,” said the spokesman for the Ukrainian Eastern Army Group, Serhij Tscherewatyj, on state television. The Ukrainian units, on the other hand, put pressure on Russian troops outside the city and continued to advance. “The situation in Bachmut is difficult but under control,” said Tscherewatyj. “We can recognize the enemy’s intentions, anticipate them, preempt them.” Gradually, the Russian troops are losing the initiative. Russian troops have been trying to conquer Bachmut for months.

Biden Approves F-16 Fighter Jet Training for Ukrainians

US President Joe Biden has approved plans to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets made in America. A senior US government official said this on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan. A decision about the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine will come at a later time.

G7 Reaffirms Commitment to Nuclear Disarmament

The leading democratic economic powers (G7) have committed themselves to nuclear disarmament for the first time in a joint statement at the summit in Hiroshima, Japan. In the “Hiroshima Vision” for nuclear disarmament, the heads of state and government sharply criticized Russia’s overt threat to use nuclear weapons in the war against Ukraine and expressed concern about China’s nuclear buildup.

Medvedev: Nearly 120,000 New Recruits in the Russian Army

According to Russian reports, 117,400 people have joined the country’s army this year so far. The RIA news agency quoted Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, who referred to data from the defense ministry. They are volunteers and conscripts alike.

Scholz welcomes “broad consensus” of G7 on Ukraine war

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has welcomed the decisions of the G7 summit to support Ukraine. After the first day of discussions in Hiroshima, Japan, Scholz stated that there was a “broad consensus” to support Ukraine both financially, humanitarian, and even with arms shipments, “as long as necessary.” The message to Russia is that “a fair peace is only possible if Russia understands that it must end this war and withdraw its troops.”

EU Foreign Policy Chief criticizes Indian business with Russian oil

The EU Foreign Policy Chief, Josep Borrell, has expressed concerns about India’s increasing business with Russian oil. Borrell cited figures showing that India’s oil imports from Russia rose from 1.7 million barrels per month in January 2022, to 63.3 million barrels per month in April 2023. India is also exporting more refined products made from Russian oil, such as airplane fuel or diesel, to the EU, with exports increasing from 1.1 million barrels in January 2022 to 7.4 million barrels in April 2023. Borrell stated that this trend is worrisome.

Putin: Sanctions Consolidate Society in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has characterized Western sanctions as beneficial to the overall cohesion of Russian society. Speaking at a televised session in Pjatigorsk in the North Caucasus, Putin stated that “the more sanctions that were imposed against us, the more slanders there were, the higher the parameter of this general consolidation.” He has maintained that the EU, US, and other countries’ sanctions against Russia have not led to stopping its war against Ukraine.

Poland calls on China to condemn the Russian attack on Ukraine

Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Wojciech Gerwel has called on Beijing to condemn Russia’s attack on Ukraine during a meeting with Chinese Special Envoy Li Hui. The Polish ministry in Warsaw reported that Gerwel also expressed hope that China “applies pressure on Russia to return to the principles of international law.” Additionally, Gerwel condemned Russia’s “world blackmail” by threatening to use nuclear weapons.

Kremlin Critic Roisman Fined for Criticizing Russian Offensive in Ukraine

Russian opposition politician Yevgeny Roisman has been fined approximately 3,000 euros for his criticism of Russia’s offensive in Ukraine. The 60-year-old former mayor of Yekaterinburg was found guilty of “discrediting” the Russian army and must pay the fine. The sentence is relatively mild given the strong suppression of free speech in Russia. Roisman has reportedly stated that he will not appeal the ruling, saying it is a “not guilty verdict under the current conditions” and that he thinks it could have been worse. He was charged for publishing a video on YouTube in July 2022 where he criticized Moscow’s military offensive in Ukraine. He faced up to five years in prison.

Russia Designates Greenpeace an “Undesirable Organization”

Russia has declared Greenpeace an “undesirable” organization, effectively banning its activities in the country. The Russian General Prosecutor’s office stated that Greenpeace posed a “threat to the foundations of the constitutional order and security.” Greenpeace’s activities have been deemed “undesirable” in Russia since 2015, and the classification often serves as a precursor to a full ban by the Justice Ministry.

Selenskyj accuses some Arab leaders of turning a blind eye to Russian invasion

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj has accused some leaders in the Arab world of lacking support for his country against the Russian invaders. Speaking at the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia, Selenskyj said, “Unfortunately, some people in the world and here in your circle, turn a blind eye,” citing Ukraine citizens in Russian prisons and “illegal annexations.” Selenskyj stated that some participants in the Arab summit “have a different view on the war in our country and refer to it as a conflict.”

Selenskyj spoke as an honored guest at the annual summit of the league and its 22 members and traveled to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, unexpectedly. Gulf States usually maintain good relations with Russia and strive for neutrality in the Ukraine conflict.

Poland claims Russian missile warhead was made of concrete

According to the Presidential Office, the corresponding warhead has now been detected following the discovery earlier in Poland of debris from a missile. Pawel Szrot, cabinet chief of President Andrzej Duda, told Rmf.fm on Friday that “it is quite special because it is made of concrete,” adding, “this missile cannot fly without the weight of the warhead. So someone installed this top-of-the-line Russian technology product there.” The warhead contained no explosives.

According to reports, the debris were discovered on April 24 in a forest near Zamosc, a small town near the central Polish city of Bydgoszcz. Unofficial reports indicate that they may have been the remnants of a Russian CH-55 air-to-ground cruise missile. The Russian military uses this older missile type with a concrete warhead to confuse Ukrainian anti-aircraft defenses.

Putin ally accuses US of supporting assassination attempts in Russia

Russia accuses the United States of supporting Ukraine in the assassination of two pro-war figures in Russia. Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council, told Tass agency that “coordination with U.S. services” was planned and carried out for the attacks on military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky and journalist Darya Dugina.

Both victims died in explosions in recent months, and attacks carried out in Russia aimed to destabilize the country and undermine Russia’s sovereignty. Patrushev is considered a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russian defense minister inspects troops in Ukraine

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu visited a command post in the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhya. In a video released by the Russian Defense Ministry, Shoigu was seen wearing military uniforms with high-ranking commanders. The minister was also seen presenting Russian soldiers with medals and thanking them for their “service to the country.” The exact time and place of the visit were not disclosed. According to the ministry, Shoigu praised the military for “high efficiency in identifying and destroying Ukrainian military materials and troops.”

Selenskyj surprisingly appears at the Arab League summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj unexpectedly traveled to the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia. According to Al-Arabiya news outlet, Selenskyj landed in the coastal city of Jeddah. Selenskyj confirmed his arrival in the Kingdom and declared it his first trip on Twitter.

Selenskyj unexpectedly attends Arab League summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj made an unexpected trip to the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia. According to Al-Arabiya news outlet, Selenskyj landed in the coastal city of Jeddah. Selenskyj confirmed his arrival in the kingdom on Twitter and declared it his first trip there.

In his tweet, Selenskyj stated that Saudi Arabia played a “significant” role and added, “We are ready to elevate our collaboration to a new level.” According to diplomats, Saudi Arabian King Salman invited Selenskyj as a guest of honor to the league’s annual summit. Gulf States usually maintain good relations with Russia and strive for neutrality in the Ukraine conflict.

Volkswagen fully withdraws from Russia

The VW Group is selling its main factory in Russia and is fully withdrawing from the country for the time being. The Kaluga plant will be sold to the Avilon trade group, according to the Wolfsburg-based company. Following earlier steps related to the Ukraine conflict, the decision effectively marks the end of an independent Russia business for Europe’s largest automaker.

According to reports earlier this week, VW had received approval in Moscow to sell its assets in Russia to Avilon for 125 million euros. The government commission for control of foreign investments had approved the application, Interfax news agency reported in Moscow on Tuesday, citing negotiation circles.

Contradictory reports from Kyiv regarding Selenskyj’s possible G7 trip

There are conflicting reports from Kyiv regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj’s possible trip to the G7 summit in Hiroshima. The National Security Council of the country announced that Selenskyj will participate online in the meeting of the G7 countries. However, earlier, Secretary of the Security Council Oleksiy Danilov said on Ukrainian television regarding the G7 summit: “Very important decisions will be made there, so the physical presence of our President is absolutely necessary to represent our interests.”

Russia hits buildings in Selenskyj’s hometown in air attack

Several buildings in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj’s hometown were hit in a Russian air attack on Ukraine. The Ukrainian presidency stated that during the night attack several buildings in the town of Kryvyi Rih caught fire. A 64-year-old woman was seriously injured. “There were several explosions in Kryvyi Rih. The enemy hit a private industrial enterprise. Several buildings caught fire simultaneously,” the statement read.

Von der Leyen calls for new instruments to support Ukraine at G7 summit

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for further expansion of military aid to Ukraine at the G7 summit in Japan. “We must give Ukraine the tools it needs to defend itself successfully and regain full sovereignty and territorial integrity,” she said at the meeting of the world’s leading democratic industrial nations. It is essential to provide Ukraine with necessary military and financial support for as long as required. Peace talks that equate aggressors and victims must be rejected.

G7 agree to new sanctions against Russia

The G7 leaders have decided to impose further sanctions on Russia to make the war against Ukraine more difficult. The G7 summit declared to “deprive Russia of the G7 technologies, industrial equipment and services that support its war machinery.” Sanctions announced in Hiroshima include export restrictions for goods that are “critical to Russia on the battlefield”, and sanctions against companies and organizations that supply Moscow with military equipment to the front.

Ukraine: Russia wants to recapture lost areas around Bachmut

According to Ukrainian sources, Russian forces are attempting to recapture lost areas near the town of Bachmut. The Ukrainian troops have reportedly repelled these attacks, said Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar on television. The Russian troops had gained some ground in the heavily fought-over town in eastern Ukraine, but did not control it. Fighting continues. Recently, Ukrainian troops had made advances in some areas around Bachmut.

Russian missiles and drones hit targets in Ukraine

Russia has hit several targets in Ukraine with new air strikes. The Ukrainian air defense was unable to intercept all drones and missiles. According to a statement by the Ukrainian Air Force on Telegram, three cruise missiles and six drones hit their targets. In total, the Russian military used 22 drones and six cruise missiles in this attack. The Ukrainian military did not provide information on the exact locations of the impact. Earlier, explosions in the southeastern Ukrainian industrial city of Kryvyi Rih and the western Ukrainian metropolis of Lviv had been reported. At least two people were injured.

Reports: Selenskyj en route to Arab League summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj is reportedly on his way to the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia, according to an insider. The source told Reuters that Selenskyj would travel from the venue in Jeddah to the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, via a French government plane.

Prigozhin: Capturing Bachmut unlikely this weekend

The chief of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has called the capture of the contested city of Bachmut in eastern Ukraine unlikely in the next two days. “Bachmut has not yet been captured,” Prigozhin said in an audio message posted on the Telegram messaging app. “It is unlikely that Bachmut will be captured tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.” There are still very heavy fights, especially in a district known as “Airplane,” where Ukrainian soldiers have barricaded themselves in multi-story buildings.

G7 insist on complete Russian withdrawal from Ukraine

The G7 leaders insist on a “complete and unconditional withdrawal” of Russia from Ukraine. In a summit statement in Hiroshima, the leaders of the seven leading Western industrialized countries emphasize that they will continue to support Ukraine financially next year. “A just peace is not possible without the complete and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops and military equipment. This must be included in every peace call,” the statement reads. This also sets a precedent for the various peace initiatives currently being put forward by Brazil, the Arab League and China.

London: Attack on Crimean railway has consequences for Russian fleet

According to British intelligence, the alleged attack on a crucial railway line in the annexed Crimean Peninsula also has consequences for the Russian Black Sea Fleet. It is the only train connection to the port of Sevastopol, where the fleet is stationed, the Ministry of Defense in London said. “Russia will try to quickly repair the track, but the incident will disrupt supplies of supplies, and possibly weapons such as Kalibr cruise missiles, to the fleet.”

Thursday incident increases Russian concerns over security of infrastructure on Crimea

Thursday’s incident where a freight train derailed will further increase Russian concerns over the protection of critical infrastructure in Crimea. “The peninsula continues to play an important psychological and logistical role in enabling Russia’s war in Ukraine,” said London.

Pistorius: End of weapons deliveries would be end of Ukraine

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) has strongly rejected doubts about the continued delivery of weapons to Ukraine. “Anyone who urges an end to weapons deliveries to Ukraine today is handing over Ukraine’s fate,” he told Augsburger Allgemeine and Main-Post. “The end of weapons deliveries today would mean the end of Ukraine tomorrow.” Pistorius reiterated that it was about “supporting Ukraine with everything that is possible, what we can afford”. He reiterated the government’s rejection of the delivery of combat aircraft: “I have repeatedly said that we do not have combat aircraft that can help Ukraine immediately.”

Ukraine: Russian air attack repelled

According to Ukrainian sources, the Ukrainian air defense has repelled another Russian air attack this morning. A spokesman for the Air Force told Ukrainian television that 19 out of 28 drones and missiles had been intercepted. These consisted of three “Kalibr” cruise missiles and 16 drones. There were no reports of critical infrastructure or military facilities being hit.

Ukraine confirms Selenskyj’s trip to G7 summit

Ukraine has confirmed that President Volodymyr Selenskyj will personally attend the summit of the leaders of the seven leading western industrialized countries in Hiroshima, Japan. Selenskyj will travel to the meeting, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Olexij Danilow told state television. “Very important things will be decided there, and therefore the presence of our president is absolutely necessary to defend our interests,” he added.

Kiev and other cities attacked from the air again

In Ukraine, the capital Kiev and other cities were again the target of Russian attacks during the night. “The tenth air attack in 19 days in May,” the Kiev military administration said on the Telegram messenger service. There were several waves of attack with drones during the night. “All targets detected in the air that were flying towards Kiev were destroyed,” it said. According to military representatives and media reports, there were also explosions in the cities of Lviv and Rivne in the west of the country, as well as in Kherson and Kryvyi Rih in the south.

Fighter jets for Ukraine to be discussed at G7 summit

The possible delivery of “F-16” fighter jets to Ukraine will be discussed at the G7 summit of the leading Western industrialized nations in Japan, according to EU Council President Charles Michel. They are coordinating closely to pursue a common approach to military support, the Belgian said.

“We will have the opportunity today to discuss the issue with US President Joe Biden and other summit participants, and jointly assess what additional assistance is needed. It is very clear that Ukraine needs more military equipment,” he said.

Media: Selenskyj to personally attend G7 summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj will reportedly personally attend the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, according to media reports. The Financial Times cites insiders familiar with the preparations for the trip. Selenskyj is also expected to be present for discussions during the summit on Sunday.

Air raid alerts issued throughout Ukraine

Air raid alerts were issued throughout Ukraine in the early morning hours. There were reportedly explosions in some areas. According to official information from Kiev, air defense systems are in operation in several regions.

According to the Ukrainian military, who communicated through the Telegram messaging service, Russian aircraft are apparently in the air and there is a danger that all regions of Ukraine could be hit by Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. The military also stated that there could be drone attacks in the central regions of the country.

EU to “Restrict” Trade of Russian Diamonds

At the G7 summit held in Hiroshima, Japan, EU Council President Charles Michel announced that the EU plans to “restrict” the trade of Russian diamonds as part of the sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Earlier, the UK had already announced a ban on the trade of Russian diamonds. The US also announced a new package of sanctions. The Russian diamond trade is estimated to be worth $4 to $5 billion per year and is a significant source of tax revenue for the Kremlin.

Thursday Live Blog Rewind

After reports of a successful military operation in Bachmut, President Selenskyj praised his troops for their excellent work. Norway, in collaboration with the UK, will supply Ukraine with additional weapons systems.