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LIVE UPDATES: Pentagon Chief Denies Ukraine Conflict Turning Into Proxy War Against Russia

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Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine in February after the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s republics (DPR and LPR) appealed for help against... 26.04.2022, Sputnik International

2022-04-26T08:19+0000

2022-04-26T23:47+0000

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LIVE UPDATES: Pentagon Chief Denies Ukraine Conflict Turning Into Proxy War Against Russia

08:19 GMT 26.04.2022 (Updated: 23:47 GMT 26.04.2022)

Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine in February after the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s republics (DPR and LPR) appealed for help against intensifying attacks by Ukrainian forces.

Russian armed forces, as well as the DPR and LPR militias continue to advance amid the special operation in Ukraine.

Azovstal remains the last stronghold of Ukrainian nationalists in Mariupol, including members of the infamous Azov regiment. The Donetsk People's Republic authorities said they estimate at least 400 Ukrainian troops are at the plant, including an unspecified number of foreign mercenaries. The Russian military repeatedly asked them to lay down their arms and surrender.

Last week, Putin ordered stopping any attempts by the Russian military to capture the plant in order to avoid potential losses.

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Table of contents

New firstOld first

03:30 GMT 27.04.2022

Ammo Depot on Fire in Russia's Belgorod Region, No One Wounded - Governor

"I just got in touch with the head of the Golovinskoye rural settlement, Denis Zolotukhin. According to preliminary information, an ammunition depot is on fire near the village of Staraya Nelidovka. There is no destruction of residential buildings, houses. There are no casualties among the civilian population," Russian Belgorod Region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkovwrote on Telegram.

Earlier, he reported that he woke up from sounds similar to explosions.

02:27 GMT 27.04.2022

Over 40 Tonnes of Humanitarian Aid Delivered to Kherson Region - Russian Defense Ministry

"More than 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid from Russia was once again delivered to the Ukrainian city of Kherson. Food, baby food, as well as essential goods were delivered from the Republic of Crimea by the already well-known white KAMAZ vehicles of the Russian Emergencies Ministry, whose movement safety and escort was ensured the military personnel of the Russian Defense Ministry," the ministry said.

23:47 GMT 26.04.2022

West Unwilling to Involve Minsk in Russia-Ukraine Agreements - Belarusian Foreign Ministry

“It is absolutely normal for any sovereign state to wish, want, and sometimes even demand that its interests as a sovereign state be taken into account within the framework of the new security architecture... And it would not be entirely normal not to take into account our interests, it is strange to be surprised at our desire," Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman Anatoly Glaz told Belarus 1 TV channel.

"Naturally, a number of foreign actors, Western partners would not want this, they don’t like it, they don’t like to take into account the interests of Belarus," he said.

Glaz said three rounds of Russia-Ukraine talks were held in Minsk, adding that Belarus sincerely wants the conflict in Ukraine to be settled.

22:28 GMT 26.04.2022

Sen. Rand Paul Blasts US Support of Ukraine NATO Membership, Sparking Outrage Online

During a TV news interview, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., defends President Donald Trump and his Helsinki news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin whereTrump appeared to cast doubt on U.S. intelligence findings that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 17, 2018 - Sputnik International, 1920, 26.04.2022

Senator Paul Blasts Blinken for Pushing Ukraine NATO Membership Despite Russia Red Lines

26 April 2022, 20:24 GMT

22:28 GMT 26.04.2022

Pentagon Chief Says Ukraine Conflict 'Not A Proxy War'

18:52 GMT 26.04.2022

US State Dept on Lavrov's Warning of Nuclear War: We are Paying Very Close Attention to What Russia is Doing

So far we are not changing our posture, the Department added.

18:24 GMT 26.04.2022

Guterres' Spokesman: Putin Agreed in Principle to UN, ICRC Aid in Azovstal Evacuation

Russian President Vladimir Putin in principle agreed to UN and International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) involvement in the evacuation of civilians from the Azovstal compound in Mariupol during a meeting with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday.

"The President [Putin] agreed, in principle, to the involvement of the United Nations and the International Committee for the Red Cross in the evacuation of civilians from the Azovstal plant in Mariupol," Dujarric said in a readout of the leaders’ meeting.

Putin and Guterres during their meeting in Moscow also discussed proposals for humanitarian assistance and evacuation of civilians from conflict zones such as Mariupol, the readout said. The meeting will be followed up by discussions between the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Russian Defence Ministry, the readout added.

18:21 GMT 26.04.2022

UN Secretariat Not Authorized to Conduct Investigations on Ukraine

The UN Secretariat is not authorized to carry out investigations on alleged war crimes in Ukraine, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday.

"The UN Secretariat is not the power to do investigations of that kind," Guterres said at a joint press-conference after a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in response to a question on whether the UN is planning to launch a probe into Russian and Ukrainian accusations of war crimes.

Guterres noted that there is International Criminal Court and different mechanisms for such tasks in the human rights system in the form of commissions or inquiries.

"It is not my intention to promote an investigation myself. I do not have the authority for it," Guterres said.

At the same time, the UN chief stressed that it is very important to have an independent investigation for full credibility and accountability.

18:18 GMT 26.04.2022

Trudeau, Moldova’s Sandu Discuss Transnistria Blasts, Ukraine Refugees

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Moldovan President Maia Sandu on Tuesday discussed the recent explosions at military targets in the breakaway region of Transnistria and the flow of Ukrainian refugees into Eastern Europe.

A series of explosions rocked the region on Monday targeting the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic’s (PMR) state security building in Tiraspol and military communications installations.

“Prime Minister Trudeau and President Sandu discussed recent incidents of concern for peace and security in Moldova,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a readout of the conversation.

A PMR source told reporters that Ukraine aims to drag Moldova and the PMR into a conflict. Meanwhile, the PMR has raised its terrorist threat level to red, which is a call for taking additional security measures.

The Kremlin has expressed concerns over the developments, noting that it is closely monitoring the situation.

Trudeau and Sandu also discussed the issue of Ukrainian refugees flooding Moldova after Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24. Trudeau promised Sandu that they would remain in contact and Ottawa will assess how it can best support Moldova.

18:08 GMT 26.04.2022

Guterres Discusses With Putin Proposal for Humanitarian Assistance, Evacuationa of Civilians From Ukraine, UN Spokesman Says

18:03 GMT 26.04.2022

President Putin: DPR, LPR Became Independent by Analogy With ICJ Decision on Kosovo

"I personally read all the documents of the UN International Court of Justice on the situation in Kosovo. I remember very well the decision of the international court, which says that in exercising the right to self-determination, this or that territory of any state is not obligated to apply for permission to the central authorities of the country to declare its sovereignty. This was said about Kosovo, and this is the decision of the international court. And this decision was supported by everyone," Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

16:57 GMT 26.04.2022

Gazprom Does Not Confirm Gas Supplies to Poland Have Been Suspended

Gazprom's Amur Gas Processing Plant - Sputnik International, 1920, 26.04.2022

Gazprom Not Confirming Suspension of Gas Supplies to Poland Due to Non-Payment

26 April 2022, 17:22 GMT

16:56 GMT 26.04.2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with UN Chief Antonio Guterres. Tuesday, 26 April 2022. - Sputnik International, 1920, 26.04.2022

Russia's Special Operation in Ukraine

Putin Tells Guterres What Steps Kiev Will Have to Take to End Crisis

26 April 2022, 16:52 GMT

16:49 GMT 26.04.2022

Putin and Guterres hold meeting in Moscow - Sputnik International, 1920, 26.04.2022

World

Russian President Putin, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Hold Meeting in Moscow

26 April 2022, 16:42 GMT

16:14 GMT 26.04.2022

Borrell: EU, Russia Need to Reorganise Relations, Agree on Security Guarantees But Process Will Be Long and Difficult

The EU and Russia need to reorganise relations and agree on security guarantees, but the process will be long and difficult, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell believes.

"Unless we choose to remain in perpetual tension or conflict, and this is certainly not the option preferred by the EU, we will need to find ways to reorganise the relationship between the EU and Russia and agree on security guarantees and mechanisms to allow for peaceful coexistence to take hold again. This will for sure be a very difficult and lengthy process. The Russian leadership must first understand that its own security cannot and will not be attained at the expense of broader European security and that of its neighbours," Borrell said in a statement.

15:28 GMT 26.04.2022

Canada to Send 8 Armoured Vehicles to Ukraine, US Defence Secretary Says

Canada will send to Ukraine eight armored vehicles as part of its efforts to bolster that country’s defense amid Russia’s special military operation, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday.

"Today, Canada announced that it will send Ukraine eight armored vehicles," Austin said during a press conference at the Ramstein Air Base following talks among the allied and partner nations about Ukraine.

15:27 GMT 26.04.2022

Nobody Wants to See Nuclear War, Dangerous Rhetoric Unhelpful and is Something US Will Not Engage In - Austin

“That kind of rhetoric [on behalf of Russia] is very dangerous and unhelpful. Nobody wants to see a nuclear war happen. It's a war that, you know, all sides lose, and so rattling of sabers and dangerous rhetoric is clearly unhelpful and something that we won't engage in,” Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said during a press conference after the ministerial meeting on Ukraine by allied and partner nations at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

The Pentagon chief also added that the United States and its allies and partners do not want to see any spillover from the conflict in Ukraine.

"We don't want to see any spillover and, again, it is important to make sure that we do everything that we can to ensure that Ukraine is successful and that is the best way to address that [risk of spillover]," Austin told journalists at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

As regards reports of recent explosions in Moldova's breakaway region of Transnistria, Austin noted that the Pentagon is still looking into the causes and will keep monitoring the developments.

15:24 GMT 26.04.2022

Austin Believes Ukraine Will Possibly Once Again Seek to Become Member of NATO

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday that he believes Ukraine will soon resume its effort to become a member of NATO.

"I do believe that in the future if the possibility exists, I think Ukraine will seek to once again apply to become a member of NATO, but again that's probably a bit down the road," Austin said after Ukraine-focused defence talks with allies in Germany.

15:18 GMT 26.04.2022

Russia Warns OPCW of Possible Ukraine Provocations With Use of Chemical Weapons, Envoy Says

Moscow handed over a note to the secretariat of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), informing it that provocations with the use of weapons of mass destruction, including chemical ones, could be carried out in Ukraine, Russian Permanent Representative to the organization Alexander Shulgin said on Tuesday.

"As recently as yesterday, I met with the director general of the [OPCW] Technical Secretariat Fernando Arias, and drew his attention to the briefing of the Russian Ministry of Defence. Three scenarios of a possible provocation with the use of weapons of mass destruction were revealed. I handed over the corresponding note," Shulgin told the Russian Rossiya 24 broadcaster.

The official added that he also informed the OPCW in the note about the presence of UK and US instructors in Ukraine, who are trained in the use of chemical weapons.

The Russian Defence Ministry said on Saturday that the United States was preparing provocations to accuse the Russian military of using chemical, biological and tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Russia and Ukraine joined the Hague-based organization in the late 1990s, thereby committing to never develop, stockpile or use chemical weapons.

15:15 GMT 26.04.2022

US, Allies Will Meet Monthly to Discuss Arms Supplies to Ukraine, Austin Says