Moscow: Authorities in the Moscow-occupied city of Kherson in southern Ukraine first distributed Russian passports to locals on Saturday, media reports reported. The Russian TASS agency said that 23 Kherson residents received Russian passports at the ceremony through “simplified procedures” promoted by a decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in May.
“All our Kherson residents want to get their passports and (Russian) citizenship as soon as possible,” said Vladimir Sardo, the pro-Moscow chief of the local administration, reportedly by TASS. “It’s a new era that has begun for us … it’s the most important document a person can own in their lives,” Saldo told the RIA Novosti agency. Kherson officials said the timing of passport distribution was chosen with Russia Day in mind.
It is Sunday, a holiday commemorating Russia’s independence from the former Soviet Union. This is an opportunity for many Russians to show their national pride. Russian troops conquered most of the Kherson region at the start of the attack on February 24th. The Kremlin decree, which allows local authorities to grant Russian passports to locals, was also relevant to the nearby Zaporizhia region, which is partially controlled by Moscow troops. Ukraine has accused Putin of the move as a “serious breach” of its territorial integrity, calling it “legally invalid.”
End the blockade
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged international pressure on Saturday to end the Russian naval blockade of the Black Sea port, which is hampering its grain exports and threatening the global food crisis. Prior to Russia’s invasion, Ukraine was the world’s largest producer of sunflower oil and a major exporter of wheat, but the blockade remains trapped in the export of millions of tons of grain. The United Nations and some countries are promoting the opening of maritime corridors to allow exports to resume.
“In many countries in Asia and Africa, the world will face a serious and serious food crisis and famine,” Zelensky said in a video speech to the Shangri-La Dialogue Security Summit in Singapore. “Food shortages can lead to relentless political turmoil, leading to the (collapse) of many governments and the expulsion of many politicians,” he said, Pentagon Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and China’s Defense Minister. Spoke to the delegation, including.
“This looming threat is evident in the soaring prices of basic products in the global market and in certain countries. This is a direct result of Russia’s actions.” Zelensky invaded on February 24. He urged the international community to “restore the full power of international law” that existed before. Kieu is in talks with the United Nations, Turkey and other countries to open up ways to permit grain exports, and Mr Zelensky said the negotiations focused on the “form” of the corridor.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart held a meeting this week in Ankara to ensure a safe passage of Ukrainian grain exports, but discussions made little progress. Ukraine currently exports more than 2 million tons of grain by rail each month, but that’s not enough, according to Zelensky. He accused Russia of trying to raise grain prices and added that it did the same for energy. Russia’s aggression has triggered a barrage of global criticism and sanctions. After being repulsed from Kyiv and other areas, it is concentrating its attacks on the eastern Donbus area. – AFP
