Slovakia's government on Monday approved a ban on imports of Ukrainian grain and other food products, following similar moves by Poland and Hungary. The news came after US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy said she had made a first visit in jail to Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter accused by Moscow of spying, and had found him in good spirits. Read our live blog to see how all the day's events unfolded. All times are Paris time (GMT+2).
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10:17pm: White House criticises Brazil's Lula over Ukraine war remarks
The White House offered a sharp rebuke of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday for accusing the United States of encouraging the Ukraine war, saying he was "parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda."
John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, said Lula's comments were "simply misguided."
8:47pm: Moscow slams UK reaction to Kara-Murza verdict as 'interference'
Moscow on Monday slammed Britain's response to the 25-year prison sentence for Kremlin critic and British dual-national Vladimir Kara-Murza, following a closed-door trial in Moscow on charges that included treason.
"It's direct interference in the internal affairs of Russia," the Russian foreign ministry said, branding "unacceptable" remarks from the British ambassador to Moscow after London demanded Kara-Murza's immediate release.
6:39pm: Russia wants conflict in Ukraine to end as soon as possible, FM Lavrov says
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday during a visit to Brazil that Moscow wanted the conflict in Ukraine to end as soon as possible.
At a news conference with his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira, Lavrov thanked Brazil for its "understanding of the genesis of the situation in Ukraine" and said Russia had "an interest" in the conflict ending as soon as possible.
Russia has repeatedly said that any settlement of the conflict must acknowledge the "realities" of its unilateral annexation of four Ukrainian provinces, which its armed forces partly control.
Russia says it was forced to intervene in Ukraine in February last year to defend Russian speakers from persecution and to prevent the West using Ukraine to threaten Russia's security.
Kyiv and the West say these are baseless pretexts for a war of conquest in which thousands have been killed and Ukrainian cities have been devastated.
5:35pm: Sweden stages biggest war games in 25 years
Gathering 26,000 soldiers from 14 nations, Sweden on Monday launched its largest military manoeuvres in more than 25 years, as the country's bid to join NATO remains blocked.
"The exercise takes place in the air, on the ground and at sea in large parts of the country," the Swedish Armed Forces said, announcing the exercise which is scheduled to run until May 11.
The focus will be on southern and northern Sweden and the strategically important island of Gotland.
The United States, the United Kingdom, Finland, Poland, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Denmark, Austria, Germany and France are all also taking part.
With most of the participants NATO members, the exercises are spotlighting Sweden's ongoing struggle to join the military alliance.
5:30pm: Wife of jailed Putin critic says 25-year sentence is 'recognition' of his work
The wife of Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza said on Monday that the 25-year prison sentence a Russian court handed him was recognition of the effectiveness of his work and showed that authorities fear him.
Evgenia Kara-Murza spoke at a Washington Post event about the sentence on charges of treason and other offenses Kara-Murza denies committing. State prosecutors also accused him of discrediting the Russian military after spreading "knowingly false information" about its conduct in what Moscow calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine.
"I understand that this sentence is the high recognition of the effectiveness of Vladimir’s work," she said at the event that was streamed online, alongside an attorney for her husband. "He has proven time and again that he would not back down, that he would not abandon his fight, that he would not betray his country and betray his ideals, that he would keep on fighting."
4:09pm: UN rights chief calls for release of Kremlin critic Kara-Murza
The United Nations human rights chief called on Moscow to free long-time Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was sentenced earlier on Monday to a 25-year prison sentence on charges including treason.
"No one should be deprived of their liberty for exercising their human rights, and I call on the Russian authorities to release him without delay," said Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in a statement.
He added that the sentence was "another blow to the rule of law and civic space in the Russian Federation".
4:52pm: France condemns sentencing of Kremlin critic Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison
France's foreign ministry on Monday condemned the sentencing of Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison for treason, saying the Russian justice system had become a tool for oppression.
It added that the sentencing was another illustration of the Russian authorities' campaign of repression against all voices critical of the Russian leadership and its war of aggression against Ukraine.
3:57pm: Russian case against Kara-Murza 'nothing to do with justice', attorney says
The attorney for Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison, said the dissident was a political prisoner whose prosecution had no relation to justice.
"The criminal case against him was nothing to do with justice from the beginning," attorney Vadim Prokhorov said in Washington.
3:53pm: Russia's Navalny says Kara-Murza sentence 'shameless and simply fascist'
Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on Monday denounced fellow opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza's 25-year prison sentence as "shameless and simply fascist".
"I was deeply outraged by the sentence delivered against Vladimir Kara-Murza today," Navalny said in audio remarks released by his team. "I consider it to be unlawful, shameless and simply fascist."
3:17pm: Slovakia bans imports of Ukrainian grain
Slovakia's government on Monday approved a ban on imports of Ukrainian grain and other food products, following similar moves by Poland and Hungary.
Ukraine's grain exports have been transiting through the European Union to other countries since the war-torn nation's traditional Black Sea routes were blocked by Russia's invasion.
But because of logistical issues, the grain had been piling up and driving down prices, triggering protests from local farmers, who also raised food safety concerns.
"Today, the government approved a proposal to ban the import of select agricultural products and foodstuffs from Ukraine," Agriculture Minister Samuel Vlcan told journalists.
He said the ban, which goes into effect on Wednesday, is meant to protect the local farming sector as well as consumer health.
2:44pm: US, EU condemn Russian sentencing of opposition figure Kara-Murza
The United States on Monday denounced what it called Moscow's "escalating campaign of repression" after Kremlin opponent Vladimir Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years in prison for criticizing Russia's war in Ukraine.
"Mr. Kara-Murza is yet another target of the Russian government's escalating campaign of repression. We renew our call for Mr. Kara-Murza's release, as well as the release of the more than 400 political prisoners in Russia," State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said in a statement that described the conviction as "politically motivated".
The European Union also denounced Russia's sentencing of opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza.
"Today's outrageously harsh court decision clearly demonstrates yet again the political misuse of judiciary in order to pressure activists, human rights defenders and any voices opposing Russia's illegitimate war of aggression against Ukraine," EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said.
2:21pm: Kremlin critic Kara-Murza sentenced to 25 years in jail
Russia on Monday sentenced Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in jail on charges including treason, amid an intensifying crackdown on opposition voices since Russia launched its Ukraine offensive.
Following a closed-door trial, the court said it found Kara-Murza guilty of high treason, spreading "false" information about the Russian army and being affiliated with an "undesirable organisation", according to an AFP journalist present in the Moscow court.
2:17pm: US envoy visits jailed US reporter in Russia, says 'in good health'
US ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy said she visited detained journalist Evan Gershkovich in jail on Monday after he was arrested on a reporting assignment and accused of espionage.
"I visited The Wall Street Journal's Evan Gershkovich today at Lefortovo Prison -- the first time we've been permitted access to him since his wrongful detention more than two weeks ago. He is in good health and remains strong," the embassy quoted her as saying on Twitter.
1:35pm: Russia says Wagner takes districts in central and northwest Bakhmut
Russia's defence ministry said on Monday that the Wagner mercenary force had captured two districts in the centre and northwest of the embattled Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.
1:10pm: Putin praises Pacific drills as China minister visits
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday praised the "very high level" of military drills in the Pacific as Moscow seeks closer ties with China amid a stand-off with the West.
The surprise drills announced last week come as Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu is in Russia on a visit which will last until Wednesday.
Putin received Chinese leader Xi Jinping last month in Moscow for a summit showing the nations' united front against the West.
12:49pm: Ukraine spurns Iraqi offer to mediate talks with Russia
Iraq on Monday offered to mediate between Ukraine and Russia to try and find an end to the war, but Ukraine's top diplomat rejected the offer during a rare visit to Baghdad.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba reiterated his country's position that it would not engage in any peace talks unless Russia withdraws from all Ukrainian territory.
The Kremlin wants Kyiv to acknowledge Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea, which Moscow took over in 2014, and to also recognize September’s annexation of the Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine has rejected those demands and insists it won’t hold talks with Russia until Moscow’s troops pull back from all occupied territories.
In Iraq, Kuleba met with his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein. It was the first visit by a Ukrainian official to Baghdad since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the first visit by a Ukrainian foreign minister in 11 years.
Hussein pointed to Iraq's years of experience with war and conflict, as well as with hosting negotiations between hostile parties – such as the recent Saudi-Iran talks.
10:48am: EU says Poland, Hungary bans on Ukraine grain 'unacceptable'
The European Union's executive arm on Monday denounced bans imposed by Poland and Hungary on imports of grain and other food from Ukraine.
Ukraine's grain exports have been transiting through the European Union to other countries since the war-torn nation's traditional Black Sea routes were blocked by Russia's invasion.
But, because of logistical issues, the grain had been piling up and driving down prices, which led to protests from farmers and the resignation of Poland's agriculture minister.
A spokeswoman for the commission said it was "requesting further information from the relevant authorities to be able to assess the measures".
1:04am: Ukraine says it is finding more Chinese components in Russian weapons
Ukrainian forces are finding a growing number of components from China in Russian weapons used in Ukraine, a senior adviser in President Volodymyr Zelensky's office told Reuters, as Western supplies are squeezed by sanctions.
In "the weapons recovered from the battlefield we continue to find different electronics", said Vladyslav Vlasiuk, who advises the president's chief of staff on sanctions policy.
"The trend is now that there is less Western-made components but more – not hard (to) guess which country – made components. Of course, China," he said via a video call.
China has repeatedly denied sending military equipment to Russia since Moscow's all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The assault triggered Western sanctions, including on sending military and dual-use technology such as microchips that could be used in either ordinary appliances or weapons.
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Key developments on Sunday, April 16
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese Defence Minister General Li Shangfu, underscoring Beijing's strengthening engagement with Moscow, with which it has aligned its foreign policy in an attempt to diminish US hegemony.
Meanwhile Brazilian President Lula again proposed establishing a group of non-aligned countries to broker peace in the Russo-Ukrainian War, saying he had discussed the matter with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping earlier this week.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
