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☆ US, Russia Clash at UN Over North Korea, Patriot Missiles in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood traded the accusations at a U.N. Security Council meeting on Ukraine, requested by Moscow. "To date, Russia has launched DPRK-supplied ballistic missiles against Ukraine on at least nine occasions," Wood told the 15-member Security Council, using the North Korea's formal name: the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). "Russia and the DPRK must be held accountable for their actions, which undermine long-standing obligations under UN Security Council resolutions," he said. Russian investigators said last week that they had evidence showing that Ukraine's military shot down the military transport plane with U.S.-made Patriot surface-to-air missiles. Senior Ukrainian U.N. diplomat Serhii Dvornyk accused Russia of misusing the Security Council "for disseminating fakes."

Persons: Michelle Nichols UNITED, Russia's U.N, Vassily Nebenzia, Robert Wood, Wood, Nebenzia, Serhii Dvornyk, Michelle Nichols, Ronald Popeski, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, Reuters, United, U.S, Security, Democratic People's, UN, North, ., Russian Air Force, Security Council, Senior Ukrainian Locations: United States, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Washington, Russian, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK, Pyongyang, North Korea, Iran, U.S

☆ Russia Accuses Biden of Seeking Election Boost With Syria, Iraq Strikes
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Michelle NicholsUNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russia accused President Joe Biden on Monday of carrying out strikes in Iraq and Syria to boost his image as the presidential election campaign "is heating up" - not in retaliation for a deadly attack on U.S. soldiers. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, at a meeting of the Security Council on the strikes which was requested by Moscow, said there was no justification for the U.S. action. And we are not seeking a direct conflict with Iran. He added that the strikes in Syria and Iraq were a "separate and distinct" operation from U.S. and British strikes against the Iran-aligned Houthi group in Yemen in response to the Houthi targeting of shipping in the Red Sea. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols in New York, Lidia Kelly in Melbourne and Nandita Bose in Washington; Editing by Stephen Coates)

Persons: Michelle Nichols UNITED, Joe Biden, Washington, Russia's U.N, Vassily Nebenzia, Biden, Robert Wood, Wood, Iran's U.N, Amir Saeid Iravani, U.N, Michelle Nichols, Lidia Kelly, Nandita Bose, Stephen Coates Organizations: Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, Reuters, United States, Revolutionary Guard, Security, U.S, Pentagon Locations: Russia, Iraq, Syria, U.S, Jordan, Moscow, America, Israel, Gaza, United States, Iran, Yemen, Red, New York, Melbourne, Washington

☆ To cease fire or pause? US, Russia poised for UN showdown on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

But the U.S. has called for pauses to allow aid to enter Gaza, while Russia wants a humanitarian ceasefire. A council resolution needs at least nine votes and no vetoes by the United States, France, Britain, Russia or China to be adopted. Twelve members voted in favor of the draft text on Wednesday, while Russia and Britain abstained. RUSSIA ALTERNATIVEBut Russia put forward its own alternative draft resolution on Tuesday after saying it does not support the proposed U.S. action. Russia last week failed to get the minimum nine votes needed for a draft resolution that called for a humanitarian ceasefire.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, Washington's, Antony Blinken, Vassily Nebenzia, Nebenzia, Sameh Shoukry, Michelle Nichols, Doina Chiacu, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: United Nations, REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, Israel, U.S, United, Security, Islamist, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, New York City, U.S, United States, Russia, France, Britain, China, Brazil, Iran, RUSSIA

☆ US vetoes UN Security Council action on Israel, Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A general view during the voting process at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict between Israel and Hamas at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., October 16, 2023. The vote on the Brazilian-drafted text was twice delayed in the past couple of days as the United States tries to broker aid access to Gaza. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told the 15-member council after the vote. Washington traditionally shields its ally Israel from any Security Council action. "We're working with Israel, its neighbors, the United Nations and other partners to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Israel, Russia's U.N, Vassily Nebenzia, U.N, Antonio Guterres, Zhang Jun, Michelle Nichols, Howard Goller, Deepa Babington Organizations: United Nations Security Council, REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, United, United Nations Security, United States, U.S, United Nations, Thomas, Thomson Locations: Israel, U.N, New York, U.S, United States, Palestinian, Gaza, United, Russia, Washington, Russian, Israel's

☆ At UN, Palestinians call for halt to Israeli offensive, world powers mull options
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Guterres briefed the 15-member U.N. Security Council behind closed doors on Friday. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said after the meeting, adding that Russia was also ready to mediate between Israel and the Palestinians. The United States has traditionally shielded its ally Israel from any Security Council action. He said the United Nations and the Security Council were "facing one of their most pivotal moments," adding: "Will they remain true to their founding values? The Arab Group ambassadors called for a ceasefire, humanitarian aid access to Gaza and a stop to any mass displacement of Palestinians.

Persons: Ahmed Zakot, Antonio Guterres, Riyad Mansour, Israel's U.N, Gilad Erdan, Guterres, U.N, Vassily Nebenzia, Israel, Barbara Woodward, we've, Zhang Jun, Erdan, Mansour, Michelle Nichols, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, Gaza UN, Lebanon UNITED NATIONS, Palestinian United, Arab Group, United Nations, Security, West Bank, Security Council, Reuters, UNSC, United, Hamas, Arab, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Gaza City, West Bank, Lebanon, Palestinian United Nations, Israel, Russia, United States, Britain, France, China, British

☆ World leaders to meet at UN as big powers vie for developing states
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

John Angelillo/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsUNITED NATIONS, Sept 15 (Reuters) - World leaders meet at the United Nations next week in the shadow of geopolitical tensions - largely fueled by the war in Ukraine - as Russia and China vie with the United States and Europe to win over developing countries. BILLIONS FOR INFRASTRUCTUREThe Ukraine war is just one reason for the focus on developing countries. Ahead of the New York meetings, diplomats acknowledged their focus on the developing world but dismissed suggestions that rivalry played a role. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, described the U.N. gathering as a chance for small countries to "lay out their priorities to us" and that she doesn't view it "as being a competition between big powers." Ambassador Zhang Jun told Reuters that Beijing has "no intention to compete with anyone else" and that, as China's conditions improved, the country was "willing to do more in return for developing countries but we are not competing."

Persons: John Angelillo, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Richard Gowan, U.N, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Zhang Jun, Russia's U.N, Vassily Nebenzia, Joe Biden, Antonio Guterres, Sergei Lavrov, Nebenzia, Barbara Woodward, Michelle Nichols, Don Durfee, Howard Goller Organizations: UN, Assembly, United Nations Headquarters, REUTERS Acquire, UNITED NATIONS, United Nations, Group, New, Reuters, Security, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Ukraine, Russia, China, United States, Europe, Africa, Latin America, Asia, Beijing, Moscow, European, Western, Brazil, India, South Africa, African

☆ Serious threat remains at Ukraine nuclear plant, Zelenskiy says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Rescuers and police officers attend an anti-radiation drill in case of an emergency situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine June 29, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer/File PhotoKYIV, July 1 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned on Saturday that a "serious threat" remained at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and said Russia was "technically ready" to provoke a localized explosion at the facility. Zelenskiy called for greater international attention to the Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest civil nuclear facility, and urged sanctions on Russia's state nuclear company Rosatom. Energoatom, Ukraine's nuclear power authority, said on Friday it had conducted two days of exercises simulating the effects of an attack on the Zaporizhzhia plant. Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union, suffered the world's worst nuclear accident in 1986, when clouds of radioactive material spread across much of Europe after an explosion and fire at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant.

Persons: Stringer, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Pedro Sanchez, Russia's Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, U.N, Vassily Nebenzia, Sanchez, Olena Harmash, Tom Balmforth, David Holmes, Ron Popeski, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Spanish, Thomson Locations: Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Russian, Russia, Rivne, Belarus, Spain, Enerhodar, Soviet Union, Europe

☆ Mali asks United Nations to withdraw peacekeeping force
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NEW YORK, June 16 (Reuters) - Mali's interim military authorities on Friday asked for a United Nations peacekeeping force to leave "without delay", citing a "crisis of confidence" between Malian authorities and the decade-long U.N. mission known as MINUSMA. MINUSMA was deployed by the U.N. Security Council in 2013 to support foreign and local efforts to restore stability. "This situation is begetting mistrust among the Malian population and also causing a crisis of confidence between Malian authorities and MINUSMA," he said. Security Council members must adopt a resolution to extend MINUSMA's mandate by June 30. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recommended this month that the Security Council extend MINUSMA's mandate for a year, maintaining the current authorized strength of some 15,000 troops and police.

Persons: MINUSMA, Abdoulaye Diop, Wagner, Russia's U.N, Vassily Nebenzia, Nebenzia, Nicolas de Riviere, de Riviere, U.N, Antonio Guterres, Michelle Nichols, Bate Felix, Alessandra Prenticel, Frank Jack Daniel, Grant McCool Organizations: YORK, United Nations, West, . Security, Foreign, Security, UN, Thomson Locations: France, MINUSMA, Russia, China, United States, Britain, Mali, al Qaeda, State, Sahel, El

☆ At UN, Ukraine, Russia blame each other for burst dam, US 'not certain'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

UNITED NATIONS, June 6 (Reuters) - The United States said on Tuesday it was "not certain" who was to blame for a burst dam in Ukraine, but it would not make sense for Ukraine to have done this to its own people and territory, as Kyiv and Moscow blamed each other for the disaster. The 15-member U.N. Security Council met on Tuesday at the request of both Russia and Ukraine after a torrent of water burst through a massive dam on the Dnipro River that separates the opposing forces in southern Ukraine. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said earlier on Tuesday that the world body did not have any independent information on how the dam burst, but described it as "another devastating consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine." Many Security Council members also asserted during Tuesday's meeting that the crisis would not have occurred if Russia had not invaded neighboring Ukraine in February last year. U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths told the Security Council that "the sheer magnitude of the catastrophe will only become fully realized in the coming days."

Persons: U.N, Robert Wood, Wood, Antonio Guterres, Russia's U.N, Vassily Nebenzia, Nebenzia, Ukraine's U.N, Sergiy Kyslytsya, Kyslytsya, Martin Griffiths, Michelle Nichols, Ismail Shakil, Jamie Freed Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, United, Security, U.S, United Nations, Security Council, Thomson Locations: United States, Ukraine, Kyiv, Moscow, Russia, Dnipro, United, Russian

WASHINGTON, May 30 (Reuters) - Neither Russia nor Ukraine committed to respect five principles laid out by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi on Tuesday to try to safeguard Ukraine's Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Grossi, who spoke at the U.N. Security Council, has tried for months to craft an agreement to reduce the risk of a catastrophic nuclear accident from military activity like shelling at Europe's biggest nuclear power plant. "Mr. Grossi's proposals to ensure the security of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant are in line with the measures that we've already been implementing for a long time," Russia's U.N. Western powers accused Russia, whose forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022, of putting Zaporizhzhia at risk, with the United States demanding that Russia remove its weapons and civil and military personnel from the plant. Russia denies that it has military personnel at the power plant and it describes the war, which has killed thousands and reduced cities to rubble, as a "special military operation" to "denazify" Ukraine and protect Russian speakers.

Persons: Rafael Grossi, Grossi, Vassily Nebenzia, Sergiy Kyslytsya, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Daphne Psaledakis, Arshad Mohammed, Grant McCool Organizations: International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Ukraine's, . Security, U.S, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia, United States, Moscow

☆ Factbox: What are the deals on Ukraine, Russia grain exports?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

UKRAINE BLACK SEA GRAIN EXPORT DEALBrokered by the United Nations and Turkey, the deal has so far allowed Ukraine to safely export more than 30 million tonnes of grain from several of its Black Sea ports. Under the deal:- Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations set up a Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) in Istanbul, staffed by officials from each party. - Ukraine can safely export grain and related foodstuffs and fertilizers, including ammonia, from the ports of Odesa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny. Under the memorandum of understanding:- Russia agreed to continue commercial supplies of food and fertilizers and inform the U.N. of any impediments to such exports, including fertilizer raw materials like ammonia. Russia agreed to facilitate the unimpeded export of food, sunflower oil and fertilizers from Ukrainian-controlled Black Sea ports.

☆ US urges Mali to investigate, hold accountable those to blame for Moura attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

UNITED NATIONS, May 15 (Reuters) - The United States on Monday urged Mali's transition government to pursue an "independent, impartial, efficient, exhaustive, and transparent investigation" to hold accountable those responsible for the likely execution of hundreds of people in one village. The identity of the white men was not clear, U.N. Human Rights Office regional spokesperson Seif Magango said. But Western countries have raised concerns over Russian private military contractor Wagner Group's activities in Mali since late 2021, including allegations of its role in Moura. "The United States continues to stand with the Malian people in the fight against terrorism," Miller said in a statement. "Human rights abuses and violations like those committed at Moura will serve only to drive aggrieved civilians into the ranks of terrorists and other armed groups."

☆ UN efforts to save Black Sea grain deal to continue in coming days
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The final two ships are due to leave Ukrainian ports on Tuesday under the Black Sea deal, said a U.N. spokesperson. "The (Black Sea) Initiative refers to the export of ammonia, but this has not yet been realized," Griffiths said. "While Russia keeps Ukrainian grain supplies from feeding the hungry, Russia is successfully exporting its own bumper crop of grain," Deputy U.S. 'CRUCIAL'Nebenzia again complained that not enough poor countries were benefiting from the Black Sea grain deal. Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to deliver Russian grain and fertilizers free of charge to African countries.

☆ US push for UN censure of North Korea appears to stall -diplomats
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

UNITED NATIONS, May 8 (Reuters) - U.N. Security Council negotiations on a U.S. push for the 15-member body to condemn North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches appear to have stalled after diplomats said China and Russia had stopped engaging. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in February she would pursue a formal presidential statement - one step below a resolution - to condemn North Korea's actions and urge diplomacy. North Korea's formal name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Russia and China, veto powers along with the United States, Britain and France, have said more sanctions will not help and want such measures to be eased. China and Russia blame joint military drills by the United States and South Korea for provoking Pyongyang, while Washington accuses Beijing and Moscow of emboldening North Korea by shielding it from more sanctions.

☆ Black Sea grain deal could start winding down next week ahead of 'expected' closure
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

UNITED NATIONS, April 21 (Reuters) - A deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain could start winding down next week after Russia said it will not approve any new vessels unless their operators guarantee the transits will be done by May 18 - "the expected date of ... The letter was sent to the United Nations by Russia's JCC officials on Wednesday. The United Nations declined to comment on the Russian letter. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is due to meet with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York on Monday and will discuss the future of the Ukraine grain export deal. To help persuade Russia to allow Ukraine to resume Black Sea grain exports, a separate three-year pact was also struck in July in which the U.N. agreed to help Russia export food and fertilizer.

SummarySummary Companies Three EU states have banned Ukrainian grain, food importsRomania looks set to follow suitUkraine also trying to salvage Black Sea grain dealWARSAW, April 18 (Reuters) - Poland agreed on Tuesday to lift a ban on the transit of Ukrainian grain and food products, but Ukraine said a wartime deal allowing it to safely ship grain from Black Sea ports was still under threat. Failure to resume exports into eastern European countries or secure an extension of the Black Sea grain deal would trap large amounts of grain in Ukraine, hitting its exports and causing further economic problems for Kyiv as it battles Russian troops. Large quantities of Ukrainian grain have been trapped by bottlenecks in eastern and central Europe as low global prices and demand mean grain cannot easily be sold on. BLACK SEA GRAIN DEAL IN DOUBTUkraine, which relies on grain and food sales for a significant slice of its gross domestic product, also has concerns about the Black Sea Grain Initiative brokered between Moscow and Kyiv by Turkey and the United Nations last July. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will discuss the Ukraine Black Sea grain export deal with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York next week, Russia's U.N. envoy said on Tuesday.

☆ What are the deals on Ukraine, Russia grain exports?
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

UKRAINE BLACK SEA GRAIN EXPORT DEALBrokered by the United Nations and Turkey, the deal has so far allowed Ukraine to safely export more than 27 million tonnes of grain from several of its Black Sea ports. Under the deal:- Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations set up a Joint Coordination Centre in Istanbul, staffed by officials from each party. - Ukraine can safely export grain and related foodstuffs and fertilizers, including ammonia, from the ports of Odesa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny. DEAL TO PROMOTE RUSSIAN FOOD AND FERTILIZER EXPORTSTo help persuade Russia to allow Ukraine to resume its Black Sea grain exports last year, a separate three-year agreement was also struck in July last year in which the United Nations agreed to help Russia with its food and fertilizer exports. The United States has pushed back on Moscow's demands, saying "the only prohibitions on food and fertilizer exports from Russia are those imposed by the government" of Russia.

☆ Russia protests to Canada over envoy's remarks about dead blogger
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 7 (Reuters) - Moscow formally protested to Canada on Friday after the country's U.N. envoy described a murdered Russian blogger as "a vitriolic propagandist" and a hate-monger, the foreign ministry said. In a statement, Russia's foreign ministry said it summoned a senior Canadian diplomat to strongly protest about Rae's remarks, which it described as "yet another manifestation of the Russophobia being fomented in Canada." He was a vitriolic propagandist, a spreader of hate and misinformation with a criminal record. Russian investigators have charged Darya Trepova, a 26-year-old St Petersburg resident, with terrorist offences over the killing of Tatarsky. Russia's health ministry said 42 others were injured in the blast.

☆ US, Britain walk out at UN on Russian wanted for war crimes
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Britain and the United States blocked the informal meeting on Ukraine, convened by Russia to focus on "evacuating children from conflict zones," from being webcast by the United Nations. The diplomats left the U.N. conference room where the discussion was being held as Russian Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova spoke. Moscow has not concealed a program under which it has brought thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia but presents it as a humanitarian campaign to protect orphans and children abandoned in the war zone. During her statement Lvova-Belova showed video of Ukrainian children in Russia, then said: "I want to stress that unlike the Ukrainian side, we don't use children for propaganda." However, last month China blocked the U.N. webcast of a U.S.-convened informal Security Council meeting on human rights abuses in North Korea.

☆ Britain blocks UN webcast of Russian meeting on Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

UNITED NATIONS, April 4 (Reuters) - Britain has blocked the U.N. webcast of an informal Security Council meeting on Ukraine on Wednesday at which Russia's commissioner for children's rights - whom the International Criminal Court wants to arrest on war crimes charges - is due to speak. The meeting will focus on "evacuating children from conflict zone" and Russia said on Tuesday that commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova would feature virtually. Such meetings are not held in the Security Council chamber and all 15 council members have to agree to allow it to be webcast by the United Nations. Diplomats have said it is rare for a U.N. webcast to be blocked. However, last month China blocked the U.N. webcast of a U.S.-convened informal Security Council meeting on human rights abuses in North Korea.

☆ Russian charged with war crimes may brief U.N. Security Council
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Representatives observe a minute of silence during a meeting at the United Nations Security Council, to mark one year since Russia invaded Ukraine, at U.N. headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., February 24, 2023. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File PhotoUNITED NATIONS, April 3 (Reuters) - Russia's commissioner for children's rights, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges, is likely to brief an informal meeting of the U.N. Security Council this week, according to a note seen by Reuters on Monday. "Russian leaders have been charged by the ICC with unlawfully deporting children from Ukraine to Russia. Such meetings are held at U.N. headquarters, but not in the Security Council chamber, and briefings can be done virtually. Given Russia's Security Council presidency started on April 1, U.S.

☆ Russia fails at UN to get Nord Stream blast inquiry
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

UNITED NATIONS, March 27 (Reuters) - Russia failed on Monday to get the U.N. Security Council to ask for an independent inquiry into explosions in September on the Nord Stream gas pipelines connecting Russia and Germany that spewed gas into the Baltic Sea. A resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, France, the United States or Britain to pass. They said in a joint letter to the Security Council that the damage was caused by "powerful explosions due to sabotage." The United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have also called the incident "an act of sabotage." Russia has complained that it has not been kept informed about the ongoing national investigations.

The aim was to combat a global food crisis that was fueled in part by Russia's Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine and Black Sea blockade. The United Nations and Turkey said on Saturday that the deal had been extended, but did not specify for how long. [1/2] Commercial vessels including vessels which are part of Black Sea grain deal wait to pass the Bosphorus strait off the shores of Yenikapi during a misty morning in Istanbul, Turkey, October 31, 2022. Dujarric said on Saturday that the United Nations was strongly committed to implementing both the Ukraine Black Sea grain deal and the pact with Moscow and urged "all sides to redouble their efforts to implement them fully." Ukraine has so far exported nearly 25 million tonnes of mainly corn and wheat under the deal, according to the United Nations.

☆ UN says it is doing everything possible to continue Ukraine grain deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

UNITED NATIONS, March 17 (Reuters) - The United Nations is "doing everything possible" to make sure a deal allowing the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports continues, U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on Friday, a day before the pact is due to expire. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said that Moscow had notified Turkey and Ukraine on Monday that it would extend the Black Sea export deal for 60 days, until May 18. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told the Security Council. Ukraine has so far exported nearly 25 million tonnes of mainly corn and wheat under the deal, according to the United Nations. Russia and Ukraine are leading suppliers of food commodities and Russia is also a top exporter of fertilizer.

☆ Ukraine says allies' concerns hamper talks on war compensation
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Pavel Polityuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine says receiving compensation from Russia is vital for its future. If it doesn't do it voluntarily, (let's) fill a (compensation) fund with Russian money, foreign exchange reserves, Russian assets," Mudra told Reuters in an interview this week. She did not identify the countries that had expressed such concerns but said Ukraine was trying to allay their fears. Despite the obstacles ahead, Mudra said Ukraine hoped that an international mechanism for compensating Ukraine would be established within a year. "This is the first - and an extremely important - step in the creation of this compensation mechanism," Mudra said.

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