– Russia resumes largest charter airline to Sri Lanka, Putin orders 'more flights to friendly states'
Amidst the resumption of flight of Russia's largest charter airline, Azur Air on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered "the Government of Russia to increase the number of flights between Russia and friendly states".
Russian Embassy in Colombo tweeted after Sri Lanka welcomed the first Azur air flight with 335 passengers onboard at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, "IMPORTANT: Russian president Vladimir #Putin ordered the Government of Russia to increase the number of flights between #Russia and friendly states!@LKARSGOV."
In early June, Russia stopped flights to Sri Lanka after an A330-300 operated by Russian flag-carrier Aeroflot was detained post Colombo commercial court issued an order over a legal dispute with an Irish leasing vehicle Celestial Aviation Trading.
Due to strong protest by Russia, the Sri Lanka government quickly intervened and released the flight and guaranteed that no Russian flights would be stopped. However, Russian airlines were reluctant to return to Sri Lanka until October 10 when an Aeroflot flight resumed flights between Moscow and Colombo. - Reuters.
– Ukraine says it has made no new commitments beyond existing grain export deal
Ukraine has made no new commitments that go beyond the terms of a deal signed in July to free up grain exports from its Black Sea ports following Russia's invasion, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.
Spokesman Oleg Nikolenko wrote on Facebook that Ukraine had never used the Black Sea grain "corridor" for military purposes, and had never intended to do so. - Reuters.
– Ankara says 6 cargo ships with grain left Ukrainian Ports as part of renewed grain deal
Six cargo ships with grain have left Ukrainian ports after the Istanbul grain deal wes renewed, the Turkishh Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Thursday.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that after his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and talks between the Turkish and Russian defense ministers, an agreement had been reached on restoring the grain corridor. The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that Russia was resuming participation in the grain deal.
"After the resumption of the grain initiative, six ships left the Ukrainian ports. Thus, the number of ships leaving the ports amounted to 426, and the amount of grain transported exceeded 9.7 million tonnes," Akar was quoted as saying by the ministry. - Sputnik
– Cargo ship Zante, carrying Ukranian grain, sails on the Bosphorus Strait, in Istanbul, Turkey, 02 November 2022. On 02 November Russian Defence Ministry in a statement announced Russia will resume its participation in the grain exports deal, after suspending its participation on 29 October
- Ukraine to get new military, humanitarian aid from Spain
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that his war-torn country will soon get new military and humanitarian assistance from Spain.
At a joint press briefing after talks with visiting Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, Kuleba said on Wednesday that soon Ukraine will receive from Spain a battery of the Aspide anti-aircraft missile system and missiles to it, reports Xinhua news agency.
Spain will also transfer to Ukraine four Hawk air defence systems, anti-tank missile systems, guns and shells, as well as other military equipment as part of a new military aid package, Kuleba added.
For his part, Albares said Spain is donating 30 ambulances to Ukraine, and will soon deliver five groups of electricity generators to power Ukraine's medical facilities. - IANS
– G7 to discuss Ukraine support after attacks on energy infrastructure
Foreign ministers from the G7 group of rich democracies will discuss how best to coordinate further support for Ukraine when they meet on Thursday in Germany following recent Russian attacks on energy infrastructure that have caused widespread power cuts.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine is expected to dominate the two-day meeting of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken with his G7 counterparts in the western German city of Muenster, although China's increasingly assertive role in the world and protests in Iran will also be high on the agenda.
"This G7 ministerial is, for us, coming at an important time," a senior State Department official said, noting that the group "has been a vital coordinating mechanism" for policy approaches on the most pressing issues.
EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said on Tuesday during a visit to Kyiv that the European Union, together with partners, was exploring ways to increase help for Ukraine's energy sector. - Reuters.