• 1:51 a.m.: US and Russia blame each other for worsening food insecurity

The United States and Russia on Thursday blamed themselves at the UN for worsening food insecurity around the world, with Washington calling on Moscow to allow Ukrainian grain exports blocked at Black Sea ports.

"Stop blocking the ports of the Black Sea! Allow the free movement of ships, trains and trucks carrying food out of Ukraine", launched the head of the American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, during a meeting of the UN Security Council organized by the United States.

Denouncing a Western desire "to blame Russia for all the problems in the world", the Russian ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia rejected the Western accusations as a whole.

  • 12:36 a.m.: EU plans to use frozen assets of Russian oligarchs to fund Ukraine reconstruction

The European Union (EU) is exploring the possibility of using the frozen assets of Russian oligarchs to fund Ukraine's post-war reconstruction, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday.

The EC on Wednesday offered to provide up to 9 billion euros in loans financed by EU borrowing to cover Kyiv's needs until the end of June.

"Our lawyers are working hard to find possible ways to use the frozen assets of the oligarchs to rebuild Ukraine. I think Russia should also make a contribution," she told German broadcaster ZDF.

Ursula von der Leyen also said that she was in favor of the idea of ​​coupling the long-term reconstruction of Ukraine with the reforms necessary for its accession to the EU.

  • 12:20 a.m.: Five Western countries support Ukraine's action to try war crimes

Justice officials from five Western countries, forming the so-called "Five Eyes" alliance, announced Thursday that they support Ukraine's legal action to try war crimes linked to the Russian invasion.

The Ministers of Justice or Attorneys General of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand said in a statement "support" the action of the Attorney General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova aimed at holding accountable those responsible for "war crimes committed during the Russian invasion".

Ukraine has opened thousands of cases of war crimes allegedly committed by Russian soldiers since February 24 - and a first trial opened this week.

"We support Ukraine's quest for justice and through other international investigations, including the International Criminal Court" and other bodies, they said in their joint statement.

  • 12:09 a.m .: according to Zelensky, the Donbass is “completely destroyed”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that Russian troops have "completely destroyed" the Donbass region in the east of the country and accused Russia of carrying out senseless shelling as it steps up its offensive.

The Ukrainian president also said Russian forces were keen to kill as many Ukrainians as possible and cause heavy damage, reiterating his accusations that Russia was committing "genocide".

Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukrainian soldiers continued to work for the liberation of the Kharkiv region, while Russia tried to exert more pressure in Donbass.

With AFP and Reuters

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