The Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Political Director of the European External Action Service, Enrique Mora, received today in Brussels the Chinese Government's Special Envoy for Eurasian Affairs, Li Hui. This is stated in a note. "Mora welcomed Special Envoy Li's visit to Europe, particularly Kiev, and China's recent engagement with Ukraine, including at the leadership level, despite the fact that more than a year has passed since the start of illegal Russian aggression." Both sides agreed to stay in touch and continue working for sustainable peace in Ukraine.
The two sides discussed Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and ways to promote a just and sustainable peace. Deputy Secretary-General Mora underlined Russia's full responsibility for the unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine, which represents a fundamental challenge to regional and global stability, security and
prosperity. He stressed that Ukraine is exercising its right to self-defense and that the European Union is committed to supporting Ukraine in the long term.
Mora stressed that the restoration of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, in accordance with international law, is of vital importance to the EU and stressed that any meaningful way to end Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine must be consistent with the UN Charter in its entirety. The EU expects China, as a permanent
member of the UN Security Council, to play "a constructive role and use every opportunity to uphold and promote the UN Charter and international law, and to recall the need to respect the principles of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and to end the bloodshed and indiscriminate killing of civilians by immediately and unconditionally withdrawing all military forces and equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders".
After his European stop today in Brussels, Li Hui will be in Moscow tomorrow. This was announced by the Russian Foreign Ministry. Wagner's group of fighters begins to withdraw from Bakhmut
ANSA Agency
'Saboteurs shoot down the pylon of a Russian nuclear power plant', Moscow arrests two Ukrainians - Mondo
Russia deploys non-strategic nuclear weapons in Belarus. The USA: Kiev's 007 behind the drone attack on the Kremlin. Attacks in the night on Sevastopol. Explosions in Kiev and four other regions. (ANSA)
Meanwhile, Russia announced the expulsion of five Swedish diplomats in response to a similar decision by the Stockholm government against five Russian diplomats. The Moscow government has also decided to close its consulate in Gothenburg and the Swedish consulate in St. Petersburg starting next September. This was announced in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Putin and Prigozhin in the crosshairs of Ukrainian 007
The primary target of the Ukrainian services is Russian President Vladimir Putin, says the deputy head of the Main Directorate of Kiev Services, Vadym Skibitsky, in an interview. This is because it "coordinates and decides what happens". The founder of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is also targeted by Kiev: "We are trying to kill him." The Kremlin responds by stressing that the Russian president's security services "know their job and know what they do." And Prigozhin comments: "It is understandable that Putin and I are targets of Kiev."
But Andrii Yusov, a representative of the main intelligence directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, later specified that Putin is a primary target of Kiev "for his detention and delivery to The Hague." "The Hague is inevitable for Putin. And in this situation, it is even better that he is alive in court," Yusov said, adding that Putin "and his whole gang" are war criminals. "And it really is the number one target – from the point of view of detention and surrender to the International Court and the Hague Tribunal. Ukraine is a civil state and acts in a civilized manner."
ANSA Agency
Kiev: 'Our primary target is Vladimir Putin' - World
The Kremlin replies: "Those who protect the president know their stuff." In the crosshairs of the Ukrainian services there is also Prigozhin. He replies: "It's understandable, Ukrainians are rather cruel people" (ANSA)
ANSA Agency
Russia's Legion for Freedom expands in Sochi - World
Leaflets in support of the movement appear on the walls of the city. Kiev: 'Putin strengthens the defenses of Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk' (ANSA)
Prigozhin evokes the risk of a revolution in Russia
A new "revolution could shake Russia if its stuttering war effort in Ukraine continues," Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said in an interview with pro-Russian blogger Konstantin Dolgov. Prigozhin appealed to Putin to declare "martial law and a new wave of mobilization." And he warned that, if Russian losses continue to increase, "all this can end in a revolution, just like in 1917. The soldiers will stand up and then their loved ones will stand up. It is wrong to think that there are hundreds, there are already tens of thousands, relatives of those who were killed."
ANSA Agency
The head of the 007 of Kiev: 'I live with a splinter under the heart' - World
'I was wounded in Donbass, my back and neck pierced', he reveals in an interview (ANSA)