Latest news from Russia and the war in Ukraine
U.S. welcomes EU decision to impose sanctions on Russian shipments to Kaliningrad
A disused border crossing point to Russia is seen on April 15, 2022 in Nida, Lithuania. Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave, on the shore of the Baltic Sea, is sandwiched between NATO members Lithuania and Poland and is the Baltic coasts most strategic transport and trade port.
Paulius Peleckis | Getty Images News | Getty Images
The Biden administration welcomed the European Union’s decision to implement economic sanctions on Russia and its shipments to and from Kaliningrad.
Kaliningrad, sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland, depends on Lithuania and Belarus to conduct transit traffic between the enclave and mainland Russia.
“We applaud European Union member states, including Lithuania, for enforcing sanctions measures fully in accordance with EU guidance,” wrote State Department spokesman Ned Price in a statement.
“It is important to note that there is not now and there never has been a so-called blockade of Kaliningrad. Using a variety of routes, passengers continue to transit between mainland Russia and Kaliningrad, as do all humanitarian shipments and most other goods,” Price added.
In June, Lithuania announced it would halt entry by rail of all EU-sanctioned goods coming from Russia into Kaliningrad.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Lithuania’s actions in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad will trigger retaliatory measures.
— Amanda Macias
More than 5.8 million refugees have fled Ukraine, UN says
A displaced Ukrainian and child make their way to board a bus for onward travel at a temporary refugee center, setup at a disused Tesco building, in Przemysl, Poland, on Wednesday, March 16, 2022.
Angel Garcia | Bloomberg | Getty Images
More than 5.8 million people have fled across Ukraine’s borders to other locations in Europe since Russia invaded in February, according to the latest data compiled by the United Nations.
Of that total, more than 3.6 million people have registered for temporary refugee protection or similar safeguards in Europe.
“The escalation of conflict in Ukraine has caused civilian casualties and destruction of civilian infrastructure, forcing people to flee their homes seeking safety, protection and assistance,” UN researchers wrote in a report.
“Millions of refugees from Ukraine have crossed borders into neighboring countries and many more have been forced to move inside the country,” the report added.
Here’s a look at where Ukrainian refugees have fled:
U.S. Defense Secretary Austin and Dutch counterpart discuss Ukraine at Pentagon
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin welcomes Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren to the Pentagon on July 13, 2022, in Washington, DC.
Oliver Contreras | AFP | Getty Images
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin thanked his Dutch counterpart for supplying Ukraine with military aid and for supporting joint U.S.-EU sanctions against Russia during a visit to the Pentagon.
“The Netherlands has heeded Ukraine’s calls for defensive and lethal equipment, especially in high-priority areas such as artillery and coastal defense,” Austin said, according to a Pentagon readout of…
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