Europe

Russia: There will be no new grain deal during his talks with Erdogan; Putin

04 September 2023; MEMO: Russian President, Vladimir Putin, said Monday that a landmark deal allowing Ukraine to export grain safely through the Black Sea amid the war will not be restored until the West meets Moscow’s demands on its own agricultural exports, AP reports.

According to the report, Ukraine and its Western allies have dismissed the Kremlin’s demands as a ploy to advance its own interests.

Sweden: Sudan war crime trial of ex-oil firm executives start

The former CEO and the chairman of a Swedish oil firm go on trial in Sweden today, accused of complicity in war crimes in Sudan between 1999 and 2003, Reuters has reported.

Prosecutors say then-Lundin Oil – which since then changed name several times and in 2022 sold most of its business – asked Khartoum to secure a potential oilfield in what is now South Sudan, knowing this would mean seizing the area by force.

Moscow 'dissatisfied' with Armenian prime minister's statements about Russia — diplomat

MOSCOW, September 4. /TASS/: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statements about Russia in an interview with Italian media are unacceptable in tone and Moscow is extremely dissatisfied with them, a diplomatic source has told TASS.

Russia says its forces destroyed 4 US-made speed boats carrying Ukrainian landing troops

MOSCOW, September 4. /TASS/: Russian naval aircraft of the Black Sea Fleet destroyed four US-made Willard Sea Force speedboats carrying Ukrainian special operations forces in the northwest of the Black Sea overnight, Russian Defense Ministry said.

Russian drones also struck a Ukrainian shipyard that makes uncrewed sea vehicles, the ministry said in a daily bulletin of the special military operation.

Donetsk area

Russian forces repelled three Ukrainian attacks near Artyomovsk and Severny, causing the enemy to lose up to 285 troops.

Russia: Ukrainian counter-offensive fails, says Putin

SOCHI, September 4. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the Ukrainian counter-offensive has failed. He expects that this trend on the frontline will continue.

"As for the stalling of the counter-offensive (of Ukrainian troops - TASS), it is not a stalling, it is a failure," Putin told a news conference following talks with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"In any case, this is how it looks as of today," he remarked.

"We'll see what happens next. I hope it will continue to be like this," Putin said.

Russia: Kiev not to soften position on grain deal despite Erdogan’s call — Kuleba

MOSCOW, September 4. /TASS/: Ukrainian authorities do not plan to change their position on the grain deal, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said.

Speaking on TV, he also said that Ukraine expects to receive details of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin from the Turkish side. He underscored that Kiev will defend "all principal positions, including in regards to the sanctions pressure on Russia."

Russia: Lavrov to take part in Eastern Economic Forum — senior diplomat

MOSCOW, September 4. /TASS/: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will participate in the events of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko announced at the Valdai international discussion club.

"Sergey Viktorovich is expected to participate in events on the margins of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok," the senior diplomat said.

Ukraine says Russian drones hit NATO member Romania, Bucharest denies report

KYIV/BUCHAREST, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Ukraine said on Monday Russian drones had detonated on the territory of NATO member Romania during an overnight air strike on a Ukrainian port across the Danube River, but Bucharest denied its territory had been hit.

Reuters could not independently verify either account, a rare report of stray weapons from the war in Ukraine hitting a neighbouring member of the Western military alliance.

Russia's 'General Armageddon' seen in first photo since Wagner mutiny

MOSCOW, Sept 4 (Reuters) - A new photo appearing to show Russian General Sergei Surovikin, who has not been seen in public since a brief mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group in June, was published on social media on Monday by a well known Russian media personality.

"General Sergei Surovikin is out. Alive, healthy, at home, with his family, in Moscow. Photo taken today," Ksenia Sobchak wrote in a caption to the picture on Telegram.

Turkey's Erdogan says Black Sea grain deal can be restored soon

MOSCOW, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said after talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin on Monday that it would soon be possible to revive the grain deal that the United Nations says helped to ease a food crisis by getting Ukrainian grain to market.

Russia quit the deal in July - a year after it was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey - complaining that its own food and fertiliser exports faced serious obstacles.

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