The lack of grain exports, with millions of tons blocked by Russia, worries the heads of European diplomacy, meeting this Monday to discuss the matter, and is already classified as “a true war crime”.

With the Russian offensive remaining focused on the Donbass region, the British Ministry of Defense assures that the air force is performing worse than expected and leaving much of the effort to the ground forces, which will be “exhausted”.

Stay here with a state of the most relevant information of the last hours in the Ukraine war.

What happened during the night and early morning?

• The blockade that Russia is causing of millions of tons of grain stranded in Ukraine is a “true war crime”, said the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell. EU Foreign Ministers meet this morning in Luxembourg to discuss the matter and ask Russia to unblock the Black Sea ports and allow the movement of grain.
• In its daily report on the evolution of the war, the British Ministry of Defense assures that the offensive continues to be concentrated in the center of Donbass. As for the Russian air force, “it has had a performance worse than expected and this will be “probably one of the most important factors in the very limited success of the Russian offensive.
• The German government explained the decision to turn to coal, trying to reduce its use of gas to lessen its energy independence from Russia, a decision it classifies as “bitter”.
• Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa took advantage of World Refugee Day to leave a message of solidarity with refugees, specifically those arriving from Ukraine, and an appeal to the Portuguese: “Defending the rights of refugees, welcoming them and integrating them, is more than an imperative of conscience an obligation”.
• The Ukrainian president spoke of Ukraine’s accession process to the EU, which saw a “historic” step with the green light from the European Commission to obtain the status of a candidate country, but warned that he could count on Russia’s response to “Intensification of hostile activities” and “not only against Ukraine, but also against other European countries. We are preparing. We are ready,” he assured.
• NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned that the war could “last years” and that Ukraine’s allied countries will have to be prepared to support the country during that time.