Ukraine, Briefly

Listen to Today's Edition:

• A number of European Union nations are pressing to begin work on a fresh sanction package against Russia and Belarus for the invasion of Ukraine, as well as to provide more military help to Kyiv, according to Reuters. At the same time, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell called Russia’s blockade of millions of tons of Ukrainian grain a “real war crime,” the BBC noted.

• Russia has urged Lithuania to quickly lift new restrictions on transportation of Russian commodities subject to EU sanctions to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad via Lithuanian territory, Radio Free Europe wrote. Lithuanian officials implemented the restrictions on June 20 in an effort to enforce punitive sanctions enacted in response to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

• China’s imports of Russian crude oil reached a new high in May, as Chinese purchasers took advantage of lower prices after Beijing promised to maintain regular commercial relations with Moscow despite warnings from Western countries, the Washington Post added.

• In order to keep the public focused on the crisis, Ukraine plans to send an exhibition of wrecked Russian military equipment on tour around Europe, Bloomberg reported. Since the invasion began in February, Ukraine claims Russia has lost 1,477 tanks and 3,588 armored vehicles. Some of the missiles, burned Russian tanks, and other military vehicles are presently on exhibit in Kyiv.