Russia’s war against Ukraine: ++ Selenskyj calls for a NATO perspective ++


live blog

Status: 04/16/2023 03:55 a.m

Ukraine is already demanding effective security guarantees on the way to its intended NATO membership. After Poland, Hungary is also suspending imports of Ukrainian grain. The developments in the live blog.

3:39 a.m

Zelenskyj calls for a NATO perspective

The Ukrainian President has called for Volodymyr Zelenskyy to have “effective security guarantees” for his country on the way to NATO membership. This is needed “even before we join the alliance,” said Zelenskyj in his evening video address. In the fall of 2022, Zelenskyy applied for his country’s accelerated accession to the western military alliance. However, a prerequisite for joining NATO is that the candidate must not be involved in international conflicts and disputes over borders. The next NATO summit will take place in Lithuania in July.

2:53 a.m

Hungary also bans grain imports from Ukraine

After Poland, Hungary has also announced that it will no longer import grain and certain other foods from Ukraine. Both governments announced that this was done to protect their own producers. Most recently, extensive deliveries from Ukraine had depressed prices and sales of domestic producers. In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the current situation is causing serious damage to local farmers. Therefore, his country is also imposing an import ban on grain and other foods from Ukraine. However, it was initially unclear when this would come into force. It was also said that Hungary was hoping for changes to EU regulations. The abolition of import duties on Ukrainian grain should also be considered.

1:22 a.m

G7 countries pledge further support to Ukraine

The G7 countries have pledged to Ukraine that they will support the country in the war against Russia for as long as necessary. That’s what his G7 counterparts promised him during the meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank this week in Washington, said Ukraine’s Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko. This is a change from last year, when more pressure was put on Ukraine to agree to an end to the war, Marchenko said. He added that one should be prepared “that this war will last longer than we expected”.

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