What happened in the last few hours

On the 417th day since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, here is the top news at 8:30 p.m. this Sunday, April 16, 2023:

– The EU considers a unilateral veto on Ukrainian grain trade “unacceptable”. Unilateral measures by European Union member states on trade are unacceptable, a European Commission spokesperson has said after Poland and Hungary yesterday announced bans on grain imports from neighboring Ukraine for protect the local agricultural sector. “We are aware of the announcements from Poland and Hungary regarding the ban on imports of grain and other agricultural products from Ukraine,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “In this context, it is important to underline that trade policy falls within the exclusive competence of the EU and therefore unilateral actions are not acceptable.”

– Poland also prohibits the transit of Ukrainian agricultural products to other countries. Poland has not only banned imports of Ukrainian agricultural products, but also the transit of goods from Ukraine to other European countries, the Finance Ministry announced on Sunday. In addition, the import of products of Ukrainian origin from other countries of the European Union (EU) has also been vetoed, according to a statement from the ministry quoted by the Polish agency PAP.

– Putin meets the Chinese Minister of Defense and welcomes the military cooperation between the two countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu and hailed the military cooperation between the two nations, which declared a “limitless” partnership. Footage of the meeting released by the Kremlin shows Putin shaking hands with Li and the two seated at a table. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was also present. “The development of relations between our two nations is going well in all areas: in the economic, social, cultural and educational sectors, and in the military departments,” Putin said in his opening speech.

– The death toll from Friday’s Russian attack on Sloviansk stands at 13. The death toll from Friday’s Russian attack on the town of Sloviansk in Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine continues to rise. State emergency services reported the death toll rose to 13, after finding the body of a woman who had lain under rubble since the bombing. This morning, rescuers found the body of a man also among the ruins of buildings hit by the missiles. “As a result of the shelling of the city of Sloviansk, 22 people were injured and 13 died,” the brief note read.