Moscow probably wants the Tiergarten killer from Berlin – Lebanon arrests ship with Ukrainian grain

Created: 07/31/2022, 15:25

By: Linus Prien, Bedrettin Bölükbasi

In the Ukraine war there was contact between Russia and the USA for the first time since the beginning of the war.

It's about the liberation of two Americans.

The news ticker.

• Blinken

  and

  Lavrov

  : For the first time since the beginning of the Ukraine war, the foreign ministers spoke directly to each other.

• Deliveries of weapons

  : Germany will deliver 16 armored bridge-laying tanks of the Biber type to Ukraine.

• Volodymyr Zelenskyy

  : Russia should be recognized as a "state sponsor of terrorism".

• This 

  news ticker on the negotiations

  in the Ukraine war is updated regularly.

Update from July 31, 3:00 p.m .:

A ship flying the Syrian flag with a load of grain was arrested in Lebanon on Saturday (July 30) at the request of the Ukrainian embassy.

According to a judicial officer, the police are investigating the cargo of the ship that entered the port of Tripoli

instructed.

According to the Ukrainian ambassador Ihor Ostash, the grain comes from Russian-occupied areas in Ukraine.

According to initial information, the shipping company of the ship belongs to a Turkish national and the grain to a Syrian trader.

Part of the cargo was to be exported to Lebanon, the rest was destined for Syria.

According to a customs officer, the ship's papers were "in order and there is no evidence that the goods were stolen".

This was reported by the AFP news agency.

Ukraine regularly accuses Russia of stealing agricultural products, especially grain, from the occupied territories.

Ukraine is currently preparing to resume grain exports under an agreement with Moscow negotiated under UN supervision.

Millions of tons of grain cannot currently be exported because of a Russian naval blockade and Ukrainian sea mines.

In many countries that get their grain mainly from Ukraine, there is a risk of starvation.

Ukraine-News: Prisoner exchange between USA and Russia

Update from July 30, 11:45 a.m .:

In order to free US citizens Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan from Russian custody, the US has apparently proposed to Russia a prisoner exchange.

So far it is unclear who the USA has offered in exchange for basketball player Griner and ex-soldier Whelan, but speculation is about the notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout.

Apparently there is now a specific demand from Moscow - one that also affects Germany.

According to a report by US broadcaster CNN, Russia is demanding the release of Russian Tiergarten killer Vadim Krassikov.

The former Russian secret service employee shot a Chechen-born Georgian in Berlin in 2019 and was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2021.

According to the Berlin Court of Appeal, "Russian government agencies" were behind the murder.

According to CNN sources who would be familiar with the matter, Russia's request to the US was informally conveyed through the domestic intelligence agency FSB.

However, US officials would see the release of Krassikow as problematic because he is in German custody.

In addition, the Russian demand is not considered legitimate because it was an informal exchange.

Still, US officials have been in quiet contact with German counterparts to see if Germany might be willing, a senior German official told the broadcaster.

Ukraine News: Strack-Zimmermann criticizes the Federal Chancellery

Update from July 30, 8:11 a.m .:

The Chairwoman of the Defense Committee of the Bundestag, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), criticized the Federal Chancellery as a brake on arms deliveries to Ukraine.

"The narrowest point that slows down Germany's military commitment is, for whatever reason, the chancellery," said the FDP defense expert to the newspapers of the

.

“This house is the linchpin of decisions.

That's where the threads come together and that's where the signals are set."

Strack-Zimmermann confirmed that the announced arms deliveries would reach the Ukraine at the moment.

Nevertheless, the government must already deal with the situation in September and October.

Because "no one believes that the war will be over by then," said the FDP politician.

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), Chairwoman of the Defense Committee in the German Bundestag.

© Michael Kappeler/dpa

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Blinken and Lavrov: For the first time since the beginning of the Ukraine war, the foreign ministers spoke directly to each other

Update from July 29, 7:40 p.m.:

For the first time since the beginning of the Ukraine war in February, the US and Russian foreign ministers spoke directly to each other.

"We had an open and direct conversation," said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington.

He told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that the world would "never" accept an annexation of Ukrainian territories.

He also put "pressure" on the Russian side to accept a Washington proposal to free two US citizens held captive in Russia.

Blinken said he also urged Lavrov to honor the Turkey-brokered grain export deal.

According to the US chief diplomat, he also found clear words about any plans by Moscow to annex additional areas of Ukraine currently occupied by the Russian military.

Blinken said he told Lavrov that this would mean "additional costs" for Russia.

On the possible release of basketball pro Brittney Griner and former US soldier Paul Whelan, who were imprisoned in Russia, Blinken said he had urged Moscow to accept Washington's "serious proposal" for their release.

According to media reports, the US plan communicated weeks ago includes an exchange of the two US citizens with the Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout, who is in prison in the US.

Conversation – before the Ukraine war: Anthony Blinken and Sergey Lavrov (right) at a meeting in Geneva in January.

© Russian Foreign Ministry/www.imago-images.de

Ukraine-News: Kyiv wants to recognize Russia as a terrorist state

Update from July 29, 6:30 p.m.:

After the alleged artillery attack on a camp with Ukrainian prisoners of war, the government in Kiev asked the international community to declare Russia a terrorist state.

"The Russians committed another terrible war crime and shelled the prison in occupied Olenivka where they keep Ukrainian prisoners of war," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.

All partner states should strongly condemn this "brutal violation of international law".

According to Russian sources, more than 50 prisoners of war had previously been killed by Ukrainian shelling in the prison near Olenivka in the part of Donetsk region controlled by separatists.

More than 100 prisoners were injured.

According to Moscow and local sources, the attack was carried out by the Ukrainian army using Himars precision rocket launchers.

Kyiv rejected the allegations and in turn accused the Russian army of deliberately shelling the barracks with members of the controversial Azov regiment.

The information cannot be independently verified.

Ukraine-News: Turkey and Ukraine ministers talk about grain exports - "as soon as possible"

Update July 29, 6:05 p.m.:

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar had a phone conversation with Ukraine’s Minister of Infrastructure, Oleksandr Kubrakov.

This was announced by the Turkish Ministry of Defense.

In the conversation, the two ministers talked about efforts to export grain, according to the statement by the ministry in Ankara.

It was again stressed that technical preparations for export would soon be completed and grain exports would begin as soon as possible.

Akar and Kubrakov also underlined their satisfaction with the work of the Coordination Center in Istanbul.

Ukraine-News: Zelenskyj announces that grain exports will start soon

Update from July 29, 2:36 p.m .:

During a visit to the port city of Odessa, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced that grain exports across the Black Sea would start soon.

"I think it starts today or tomorrow," said the 44-year-old.

This would be the first time since the start of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine in February that a grain ship would cast off.

Update from July 29, 12:48 p.m .:

According to the Federal Ministry of Defense, Germany will deliver 16 Biber-type bridge-laying tanks to Ukraine.

This would allow Ukrainian troops to overcome water or obstacles in battle, the ministry said on Friday.

The first six systems will be delivered this fall, with a further ten next year.

This supplemented support services provided by the Bundeswehr in July, such as the delivery of self-propelled howitzers, Mars II multiple rocket launchers or Gepard anti-aircraft gun tanks.

According to the Bundeswehr, the beaver can bridge ditches or rivers up to 20 meters wide.

A Biber armored bridge-laying vehicle © Sven Eckelkamp/Imago

Ukraine news: Lavrov is ready for talks with Blinken

Update from July 29, 11:56 a.m .:

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says he is ready to hear his US colleague Antony Blinken on a prisoner exchange and the resumption of Ukrainian grain exports.

"In the next few days we will propose a suitable date (for a phone call) to our American colleagues," Lavrov said on Friday in Tashkent, according to the Interfax agency.

It would be the first meeting between the two diplomats since the beginning of the Russian war against Ukraine.

Ukraine-News: Zelenskyy wants to brand Russia as "state sponsor of terrorism".

Update from July 29, 9:22 a.m .:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj calls on the international community to clearly denounce Russia as a state supporter of terrorism.

Nobody in the world invests more in terrorism than the leadership in Moscow, he said in a video message on Friday night.

Russia should therefore be recognized as a "state sponsor of terrorism".

In the USA, US senators have already introduced a corresponding resolution.

However, the decision on this lies with the US State Department, which also keeps the official list of states supporting terrorism.

It currently includes the countries of Syria, Iran, Cuba and North Korea, which have been subject to strict sanctions by the USA.

Ukraine news: Lavrov keeps Blinken waiting for talks

Update from July 28, 9:50 p.m .:

It is questionable how quickly US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is aiming for a talk with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov about a possible prisoner exchange.

Vladimir Putin's confidant is ready to do so as soon as he has time, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, according to

agency .

She referred to a busy schedule with international contacts.

Lavrov will comply with the request for an interview "if time permits".

Ukraine-News: Medvedev threatens NATO with rearmament

Update from July 28, 6:40 p.m .:

Dmitry Medvedev assumes that Sweden and Finland joining NATO will result in a military counter-reaction from Russia.

If NATO bases are set up on the territory of the countries and weapons are stationed, then "our reaction steps will be symmetrical," said the deputy chief of the Russian Security Council after a meeting on the security situation on the border with Finland, according to the

.

From the point of view of the former Russian President, the decision for the two countries to join NATO would worsen the security situation in the Baltic Sea region, "because the Baltic Sea is now actually becoming a sea dominated by NATO states." He accused the two states of being influenced by "across the ocean and by Brussels".

Relations with the countries would now have to be reviewed by the Russian side.

Update July 28, 3:00 p.m.:

US officials are apparently upset by Russia's reaction to a prisoner swap proposal to free American citizens, according to CNN.

According to the report, officials in the Biden administration are frustrated that Russia has so far failed to provide a meaningful response to the proposal.

Ukraine-News: CDU parliamentary group leader Wadephul criticizes the federal government

Update from July 28, 2:20 p.m .:

Union faction Vice Johann Wadephul (CDU) considers the federal government’s approval for the order of 100 self-propelled howitzers by Ukraine to be insufficient.

"What the federal government has now done is a manufacturing license," he said on the Phoenix broadcaster.

"That means these weapon systems have to be built first." The systems are "not until next year".

Wadephul pointed to the critical factor of time.

"For this to be a successful thing and for Ukraine to be able to defend itself, Ukraine must still exist for that," he emphasized.

Kyiv now needs fast delivery permits for “sustainable weapon systems with ammunition that can be resupplied.

And that can only be Western equipment.”

There are tanks and heavy weapons at several armaments companies that can be delivered immediately, said the CDU politician.

Ukraine is ready to buy and also sufficiently solvent.

“Germany can do more, Germany must do more.

And it could also issue permits immediately.”

Referendum in Kherson?

- Pro-Russian official expresses hope for entry into Russian Federation

Update July 28, 12:15 p.m.:

Pro-Russian authorities in occupied southern Ukraine continue to announce their intention to organize a referendum and thus become part of Russia.

"We are preparing for and will hold a referendum," the Russian state agency TASS quoted

deputy head of the pro-Russian Kherson administration, Kirill Stremouzov.

"I hope that in the near future we will become a full territorial entity of the Russian Federation," Stremouzov said.

In Cherson, Putin is apparently preparing to draw a new border.

Ukraine-News: Prisoner exchange between USA and Russia - no agreement according to Moscow

Update from July 28, 12:10 p.m .:

According to Moscow, the USA and Russia have not yet reached an agreement on a possible prisoner exchange.

A "concrete result" has not yet been achieved in the negotiations, said the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova.

The US wants the release of basketball player Brittney Griner and ex-soldier Paul Whelan.

Several US media outlets reported that in exchange Washington would release US-imprisoned Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

According to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, Bout's wife Alla said her husband "knew nothing about negotiations between Russia and the US about an exchange".

Lawyers for basketball player Griner, who was arrested in Moscow for cannabis possession in February and is currently on trial, also said they had not yet received any information about the trial.

"In any case, we would be happy if Brittney could come home soon," lawyer Maria Blagowolina wrote in the online service Telegram.

Ukraine-News: Apparently renewed contact between Washington and Moscow

First report from July 28:

Washington/Moscow – Vladimir Putin's war of aggression has brought the already strained relations between the West and Russia into the abyss.

Nevertheless, the grain deal between Russia and Ukraine recently fueled hopes of renewed diplomatic contacts.

Now Washington apparently wants to establish contact with Moscow again for the first time since the beginning of the war.

The government of US President Joe Biden is concerned with the liberation of two US citizens.

Ukraine war: Blinken wants to talk to Lavrov - prisoner swap between USA and Russia?

"In the coming days, I expect to speak to Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov for the first time since the war began," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a news conference.

He will speak to Lavrov about the release of American citizens Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan.

This is a "top priority" for the US, Blinken said.

Blinken said the US government "put a substantial proposal on the table" for Moscow "weeks ago" to secure the release of Griner and Whelan.

He did not give details of the offer.

However, there is speculation that the two could be exchanged for the Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is imprisoned in the USA.

Ukraine-News: Moscow on possible Blinken Lavrov call - "no megaphone diplomacy"

In any case, the Russian Foreign Ministry has already announced that there is no official request for such a talk.

Instead of using the megaphone for diplomacy, Washington should stick to diplomatic practice, a spokesman told the state agency

.

Basketball player Griner was arrested at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport on February 17 for a drug-related offense.

When her luggage was checked in February, she is said to have had so-called vape cartridges and a small amount of hash oil with her.

Former US soldier Whelan was arrested in December 2018 on suspicion of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in prison in June 2020.

The Ukraine War in Pictures - Destruction, Resistance and Hope

View photo gallery

Grain export deal - Blinken wants to urge Lavrov to comply with the agreement

Blinken also announced that he would also discuss compliance with the new grain agreement with Lavrov.

"The agreement is a positive step forward, but there is a difference between an agreement on paper and an agreement in practice," stressed the US Secretary of State.

War opponents Ukraine and Russia had signed an agreement in Turkey to allow grain exports from three Ukrainian ports.

With a view to global food supply, the agreement was welcomed by all sides.

But according to expert Francisco Marí, the deal may have been overestimated.