Russia-Ukraine war updates:
Russian President Vladimir Putin lashes out at Ukraine and its leader in a speech at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 16, 2023 [Sputnik/Ramil Sitdikov/Host photo agency via Reuters]
Putin says nuclear weapons in Belarus
This blog is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the
updates on the Russia-Ukraine war on Friday, June 16:
- 6h ago(20:16 GMT)
Putin proclaims end of ‘ugly neo-colonial system of int’l relations’
President Vladimir Putin has proclaimed the end of “neo-colonialism” in international politics and praised Russia’s economic strategy following its ruptured ties with the West.
Addressing an annual economic forum in Saint Petersburg on Friday, Putin said, “The ugly neo-colonial system of international relations has ceased to exist, while the multi-polar global order is strengthening.”
Putin has repeatedly denounced the dominance of the United States in international politics and sought to present Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine as a battle against the decadent West.
- 7h ago(18:58 GMT)
Missile barrage shows both sides need to stop fighting: Ramaphosa
A delegation of African leaders has told Russia and Ukraine to de-escalate and negotiate, hours after sheltering from missile attacks on Kyiv.
Shortly after their arrival, air raid sirens sounded across the country, as Russian missiles were detected. After talks with Zelenskyy, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the missile barrage showed that both sides need to stop fighting.
“The launching of the missiles today does not deter us and has not stopped us from continuing to call for de-escalation,” he told a news conference.
“It is precisely that type of event that we saw today … that makes us call for de-escalation,” Ramaphosa said, quoting Nelson Mandela several times on the need for peace.
- 8h ago(18:05 GMT)
Putin rejects Ukrainian claims of battlefield gains
Speaking at an economic forum in St Petersburg, Putin has rejected reports of Ukrainian successes on the front lines.
“At no point have they achieved their goals,” Putin said.
He also criticised Western arms deliveries to Ukraine, saying, “Of course, we see that Western countries are making maximum efforts so that Russia … suffers defeat on the battlefield.”
Read more of what he said here.
Russian President Vladimir Putin at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum [Ramil Sitdikov/RIA Novosti via Reuters] - 8h ago(17:51 GMT)
Unclear if reservoir water from breached dam can still be pumped to Zaporizhzhia: IAEA
It is unclear whether water from the huge reservoir of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine that burst last week can still be pumped to the nearby Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) for cooling, the UN nuclear watchdog has said.
While the reservoir was a main source of water for cooling the six reactors and spent fuel ponds at Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant, the plant can fall back on other sources including a large cooling pond which the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says has enough water to last for months.
The bursting of the dam has, however, further complicated an already difficult situation in terms of ensuring Russian-occupied ZNPP operates safely, the IAEA says. Shelling has repeatedly downed external power lines that are also vital to ensuring the cooling necessary to prevent a nuclear meltdown.
IAEA’s Grossi says situation ‘serious’ at Ukraine nuclear plant “There are … indications that some water resources from the reservoir itself currently remain available in areas near the ZNPP,” the IAEA said in a statement.
“But it is unclear if the level is high enough to pump it up for use at the plant. The pumps were last in operation about a week ago.”
- 9h ago(17:47 GMT)
White House denounces nuclear rhetoric from Putin
The White House has denounced comments from Putin on the possible use of nuclear weapons, but said the United States had made no adjustments to its nuclear posture in response to the rhetoric.
The White House comments came after Putin said earlier on Friday that Russia could “theoretically” use nuclear weapons if there was a threat to its territorial integrity or existence, but that it did not need to.
Responding to questions on board Air Force One, White House deputy press secretary Olivia Dalton also reaffirmed the US commitment to NATO’s principle of collective defence.
- 9h ago(17:38 GMT)
Zelenskyy rules out talks with Russia as he meets African leaders
Zelenskyy has ruled out talks with Russia as he met a delegation of African leaders.
“I clearly said several times at our meeting that to allow any negotiations with Russia now that the occupier is on our land is to freeze the war, to freeze pain and suffering,” Zelenskyy told reporters after meeting several leaders including South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa.
The delegation is to meet with Putin on Saturday.
- 9h ago(17:33 GMT)
Ramaphosa says he will have a bilateral meeting with Putin to discuss BRICS summit
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa says he will have a bilateral meeting with Putin to discuss the BRICS summit.
Ramaphosa was speaking after a meeting between African leaders and Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
- 9h ago(17:28 GMT)
Zelenskyy says he wants to hold Ukraine-Africa summit
Zelenskyy has said during a visit of African leaders to Kyiv that he wanted to hold a Ukraine-Africa summit, and for Kyiv to step up its relations with the continent.
Kyiv has been courting the Global South and trying to challenge Russia’s influence in the region. Russia plans to hold its second Russia-Africa summit this summer.
- 10h ago(16:52 GMT)
Putin says sent nuclear warheads to Belarus
Putin has confirmed that Russia has sent nuclear arms to its ally Belarus which borders Ukraine.
“The first nuclear warheads were delivered to the territory of Belarus … This is the first part,” Putin told an annual economic forum, where AFP and media of other countries Russia deems “unfriendly” were not accredited.
The Russian leader had announced the plans to send tactical nuclear weapons – less powerful than strategic ones – in March.
“By the end of summer, the end of the year, we will complete the process,” of transferring tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, Putin said.
- 10h ago(16:37 GMT)
French foreign minister: Turkey and Hungary must ratify Sweden’s NATO membership
Turkey and Hungary must ratify Sweden’s NATO membership before the alliance meets at a summit in July, France has said, adding that that any further delays were not understandable and risked the 31-members’ security.
- 10h ago(16:35 GMT)
Kremlin says Russia ready for further nuclear arms control talks: Interfax
Russia is ready for further talks on arms control, the Interfax news agency has quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.
Asked by reporters to clarify a comment by Putin suggesting Russian irritation with the West’s stance on nuclear arms control, Peskov said, “Russia is ready to conduct negotiations.”
Russia and the United States, by far the biggest nuclear powers, have both expressed regret about the disintegration of the tangle of arms control treaties which sought to slow the Cold War arms race and reduce the risk of nuclear war.
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