Live updates | Kremlin: other countries could see gas cut

MOSCOW — The Kremlin says that Russia could halt fuel provides to different European prospects following a cutoff to Poland and Bulgaria if in addition they refuse to change to cost in rubles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, argued that the Russian demand to change to rubles in funds for fuel resulted from the Western motion to freeze Russian exhausting foreign money belongings. He mentioned these had been successfully “stolen” by the West in an “unprecedented unfriendly motion.”

Talking in a convention name Wednesday with reporters, Peskov warned that different European prospects may even see the faucets turned off in the event that they refuse to pay for fuel in rubles by the point cost is due. Peskov argued that refusing to change to rubles displays a Western want to “punish Russia at any price to the detriment of their very own customers, taxpayers and producers.”

He rejected the EU’s description of the Russian transfer to halt provides to Bulgaria and Poland beginning Wednesday as blackmail, insisting that “Russia has remained a dependable provider of vitality sources” and caught to its contractual obligations.

Peskov argued that the demand for cost in rubles is only technical and doesn’t change value or different contract situations for customers.

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KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:

— Russia says it’s chopping fuel to 2 EU nations in warfare escalation

— Poland, Bulgaria denounce Russian fuel ‘blackmail’

— UN chief and Russia’s Putin agree on key Ukraine evacuation

— DJI halts Russia, Ukraine enterprise to forestall drone misuse

Observe all AP tales on Russia’s warfare on Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:

BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbia says that the Russian cutoff of fuel provides to Bulgaria doesn’t have an effect on the Balkan nation.

Serbia receives some 6 million cubic meters of Russian fuel every day through neighboring Bulgaria. Vitality Minister Zorana Mihailovic in a press release on Wednesday that provides haven’t been halted.

Mihailovic mentioned authorities nonetheless had been trying into backup choices in case the scenario turns into extra difficult.

Serbia relies upon closely on Russian fuel and the nation’s fundamental oil monopoly is owned by the Russian big Gazprom. The nation has refused to affix sanctions towards Russia over the warfare in Ukraine.

Mihailovic added that the Serbian authorities is already getting ready plans for subsequent winter. She mentioned that “we have now to safe vitality stability in any potential method as a result of at this second it’s each state for itself.”

Serbia bought 51% of the Serbia Oil Business firm to Gazprom in 2008.

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STOCKHOLM — The top of Sweden’s home safety company says Russia has a “restricted time window” to affect the Scandinavian nation’s place on whether or not to affix NATO and try to make the most of it.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to rising assist in Sweden and jap neighbor Finland, which has a protracted land border with Russia, for becoming a member of NATO.

Newspapers in each international locations reported this week that the Swedish and Finnish governments have agreed to submit NATO functions on the identical time and that they are going to achieve this in mid-Might.

The top of Swedish safety company SAPO, Charlotte von Essen, mentioned Wednesday that Russian affect on the talk in Sweden “may occur in many alternative arenas on the identical time to affect the media, public opinion and decision-makers.” She spoke throughout a gathering along with her Finnish and Norwegian counterparts.

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BERLIN — Local weather activists have tried to close down a number of oil pipelines in Germany to protest using fossil fuels and the warfare in Ukraine.

German information company dpa quoted regional police on Wednesday confirming {that a} lady and a person had chained or glued themselves to a facility in Schwedt, northeast of Berlin.

The group Final Technology, which has staged freeway blockades and different protests in latest months, additionally mentioned its members entered a pipeline facility south of Cologne. Safety workers prevented activists from disrupting a 3rd facility in Breydin, additionally northeast of Berlin, dpa reported.

The group posted photos displaying activists putting sunflowers — a logo of assist for Ukraine — on the shutoff valves at two amenities. It was unclear whether or not any oil flows had truly been stopped.

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KYIV, Ukraine — The Ukrainian Premier League soccer season has been formally declared over following the Russian invasion.

The league mentioned after a video convention with golf equipment Tuesday that the standings as of Feb. 24, when the Russian invasion started and video games had been suspended, can be declared ultimate “as a result of the championship can’t be performed to completion.” Shakhtar Donetsk was the chief at the moment however the league mentioned no official award can be made.

The standings may doubtlessly decide qualification for European competitions subsequent season if Ukrainian golf equipment are deemed ready to participate. The league’s resolution have to be permitted by the Ukrainian Soccer Affiliation.

Of the 16 top-flight groups, FC Mariupol’s residence stadium is now in territory beneath Russian management and the stadium of Desna Chernihiv was wrecked by bombardments that collapsed a part of a stand and left a deep crater within the discipline.

Ukraine’s two greatest groups, Shakhtar and Dynamo Kyiv, are every touring Europe to play a sequence of charity video games towards golf equipment from across the continent and lift funds for folks affected by the warfare.

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BERLIN — Germany’s influential ADAC auto membership is asking on its 21 million members to assist scale back the nation’s oil imports from Russia by driving much less and taking their foot off the fuel the place potential.

In an open letter posted on its web site Wednesday, the membership’s management mentioned driving extra slowly and anticipating stops had been among the many methods drivers may scale back gasoline consumption by as much as 20%.

Additionally they urged drivers to contemplate whether or not they actually need to take the automobile or may change to strolling, biking or public transport as a substitute.

The German authorities says it desires to wean the nation off Russian oil imports by the top of the yr.

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BERLIN — Chemical compounds maker BASF says it’s going to wind down most of its enterprise in Russia and Belarus by the start of July.

The Ludwigshafen, Germany-based firm mentioned Wednesday that it “has not performed new enterprise” within the two international locations in gentle of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has now determined to exit most of its present actions there.

It mentioned that it’s exempting enterprise to assist meals manufacturing “because the warfare dangers triggering a worldwide meals disaster.”

BASF mentioned it at present has 684 staff in Russia and Belarus and plans to “proceed its assist” for them till the top of this yr. It mentioned the 2 international locations accounted for about 1% of its complete gross sales final yr.

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WARSAW, Poland — Poland’s prime minister has lashed out at Russia for attempting to “blackmail” his nation with an abrupt cutoff of fuel provides. He says he believes the transfer was revenge for brand spanking new sanctions that Warsaw imposed this week towards Russia.

The sanctions introduced Tuesday focused 50 Russian oligarchs and corporations, together with Gazprom. Hours later Poland mentioned it had acquired discover that Gazprom was chopping off provides to Poland for failing to adjust to new calls for to pay in Russian rubles.

Chatting with the Polish parliament, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki vowed that Poland wouldn’t be cowed by the fuel cutoff. He mentioned Poland was protected due to years of efforts geared toward securing fuel from different international locations.

Lawmakers stood and applauded when he mentioned that Russia’s “fuel blackmail” would don’t have any impact on his nation.

Russian made up some 45% of Poland’s general fuel utilization till the cutoff. However Poland is much extra reliant on coal to warmth properties and gasoline business, with fuel accounting for less than 9% of the nation’s general vitality combine.

Russian provides had been additionally because of finish later this yr in any case. Poland has made plans to get its provides from different international locations, together with Norway. A brand new pipeline, “Baltic Pipe,” is because of turn out to be operational within the fall.

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BUDAPEST, Hungary — Hungary’s overseas minister says his nation’s provide of Russian pure fuel is unaffected by the choice of Russia’s Gazprom to chop provides to Poland and Bulgaria.

Peter Szijjarto mentioned in a video on Fb Wednesday that “the information that Gazprom’s deliveries to Bulgaria have stopped could also be worrying,” however the transit of Russian fuel to Hungary through Bulgaria would proceed.

He mentioned: “I want to reassure all people that the non-delivery of fuel to Bulgaria doesn’t imply the cease of transit via Bulgaria.”

Gazprom mentioned it will droop fuel deliveries to Bulgaria and Poland starting on Wednesday after these international locations refused to adjust to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s demand that European international locations pay for fuel in rubles.

Szijjarto mentioned Hungary receives round 3.5 billion cubic meters of Russian fuel per yr through a pipeline that passes via Turkey, Bulgaria and Serbia. He added that provide was assured after Hungary reached an settlement with Russia whereby fuel funds can be made to Gazprombank in euros after which transformed into rubles.

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LONDON — Britain’s prime diplomat says the West ought to ship planes to Ukraine to bolster its battle towards Russian invasion.

International Secretary Liz Truss says “the destiny of Ukraine stays within the stability,” and is asking for Western nations to extend army assist to Kyiv.

In a speech in London on Wednesday, Truss will say: “Heavy weapons, tanks, aeroplanes – digging deep into our inventories, ramping up manufacturing.”

She says that “if Putin succeeds there can be untold additional distress throughout Europe and horrible penalties throughout the globe. We might by no means really feel protected once more. So we have to be ready for the lengthy haul and double down on our assist for Ukraine.”

Truss can be calling for harder financial sanctions on Russia, saying the West should reduce off Russian oil and fuel imports “as soon as and for all.”

Extracts of the speech had been launched prematurely by the International Workplace.

NATO nations have provided Ukraine with army gear together with missiles and armored autos, however have been reluctant to ship fighter planes out of concern about escalating the battle.

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MOSCOW — The Russian army says it has struck a batch of Western weapons delivered to Ukraine.

Russian Protection Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov mentioned Wednesday that sea-launched Kalibr cruise missiles hit the weapons saved on the grounds of an aluminum plant in Zaporizhzhia. He mentioned the batch of weapons contained gear from the U.S. and European international locations.

Konashenkov additionally mentioned that the Russian warplanes struck 59 Ukrainian targets, together with areas of concentrations of troops and gear. He mentioned Russian artillery hit 573 Ukrainian targets.

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BRUSSELS — European Union officers are holding emergency fuel talks following Russia’s resolution to abruptly flip off provides to Poland and Bulgaria, in accordance with the bloc’s prime official.

European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen mentioned the announcement by Gazprom “is one more try by Russia to make use of fuel as an instrument of blackmail.”

Von der Leyen lashed out at what she described as an “unjustified and unacceptable” transfer underlining “the unreliability of Russia as a fuel provider.” Von der Leyen, the top of the EU’s government department, mentioned a gathering of the fuel coordination group was underway, including that the area’s 27 international locations are ready to climate Russia’s cutoffs.

“Member States have put in place contingency plans for simply such a situation and we labored with them in coordination and solidarity,” she mentioned. “We’re mapping out our coordinated EU response. We may even proceed working with worldwide companions to safe different flows.”

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LONDON — British army authorities say Ukraine retains management of a majority of the nation’s airspace as Russia has did not destroy Ukraine’s air power or suppress its air defenses.

The U.Okay. Ministry of Protection, in an intelligence replace launched Wednesday morning, says Russian air exercise is targeted on supporting floor forces in southern and jap Ukraine.

The ministry says Russian air forces have “very restricted” entry to northern and western Ukraine, limiting them to long-range assaults with missiles and different “stand-off” weapons.

The ministry additionally says that almost all of air strikes on the southern metropolis of Mariupol are in all probability being performed with unguided bombs, that are tough to focus on and improve civilian casualties.

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SOFIA, Bulgaria — Vitality Minister Alexander Nikolov mentioned Wednesday that Bulgaria can meet the wants of customers for no less than one month, after the nation was given a one-day discover by Russia’s Gazprom that its fuel provides can be discontinued.

He mentioned that fuel continues to be flowing as he spoke.

“Various provides can be found, and Bulgaria hopes that different routes and provides may even be secured at EU stage,” Nikolov mentioned referring to an EU skilled assembly due later Wednesday to plan the subsequent steps. He added that Poland and Lithuania are in the identical scenario as Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian facet has absolutely met its obligations and has made all funds required beneath its present contract in a well timed method, strictly and in accordance with its phrases, Nikolov mentioned, and Bulgaria has paid prematurely for provides in April, which reveals that Gazprom has defaulted on its contract.

“Clearly fuel is used as a political device,” he mentioned. “So long as I’m Minister, Bulgaria is not going to negotiate beneath strain, Bulgaria isn’t on the market and doesn’t succumb to any commerce counterpart.”

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LVIV, Ukraine — European fuel costs have spiked by as a lot as 24% following Gazprom’s assertion that it was suspending deliveries to Poland and Bulgaria beginning Wednesday as a result of it hasn’t acquired any funds from them since April 1. Benchmark Dutch futures traded at one level round 125 euros per megawatt hour.

Fatih Birol, the chief director of the Paris-based Worldwide Vitality Company, known as Russia’s resolution to chop off pure fuel to Bulgaria and Poland the “weaponization of vitality provides.”

“Gazprom’s transfer to utterly shut off fuel provides to Poland is one more signal of Russia’s politicisation of present agreements & will solely speed up European efforts to maneuver away from Russian vitality provides,” he tweeted Wednesday morning.

He mentioned the Russia’s resolution “makes it clearer than ever that Europe wants to maneuver rapidly to scale back its reliance on Russian vitality.”

The spike comes even because the climate turns hotter within the Europe, lessening the demand for the pure fuel for heating properties and companies.

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MOSCOW — Russia’s state-controlled pure fuel big Gazprom says it has reduce fuel provides to Poland and Bulgaria after they’ve refused to pay for the shipments in rubles.

It warned that in the event that they siphon fuel meant for different European prospects, the deliveries to Europe can be lowered to that quantity.

The transfer follows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order to change to rubles in funds for the Russian fuel provided to Europe.

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BEIJING — Drone firm DJI Expertise Co. mentioned it’s going to quickly droop enterprise actions in Russia and Ukraine to make sure its merchandise aren’t used through the hostilities.

“DJI is internally reassessing compliance necessities in varied jurisdictions. Pending the present evaluation, DJI will quickly droop all enterprise actions in Russia and Ukraine,” the corporate mentioned in a press release.

The declaration makes it one among few Chinese language corporations who’ve publicly pulled out of Russia. Whereas many Western manufacturers and corporations have withdrawn from the Russian market in protest of its invasion of Ukraine, many Chinese language companies have continued working within the nation. China continues to chorus from instantly criticizing Russia over the warfare.

The suspension comes over a month after vice prime minister of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov wrote an open letter interesting to DJI to dam the gross sales of their drones in Russia, alleging that the Russians had been utilizing “DJI merchandise in Ukraine with a purpose to navigate their missile to kill civilians.”