Ukrainian service members from a 110th Separate Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, prepare fire a self-propelled howitzer "Dana", amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the town of Avdiivka in Donetsk region, Ukraine May 9, 2023. REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova
(Reuters) -European Union states hold a first discussion on Wednesday on proposed new sanctions over Russia's war in Ukraine that would target Chinese and Iranian firms and allow export curbs on third countries for busting existing trade restrictions.
HEATED DEBATE
* Talks among EU envoys start at 0800 GMT and are set to be heated, according to one diplomat, with Russia hawks upset the plan doesn't go far enough but others wary of damaging their international ties.
GRAIN EXPORTS
* The United Nations said inspections resumed on Tuesday of outbound vessels under a deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain, which Moscow has threatened to quit on May 18 over obstacles to its own grain and fertilizer exports.
CONFLICT
* The governor of Russia's Voronezh region said on Wednesday that two drones attempted to attack a military facility in his region, but failed.
* Russia's air defence forces shot down an "enemy" drone in the Kursk region bordering Ukraine, its governor said, adding that falling debris damaged a gas pipeline and a house.
* The Ukrainian military said its forces had repulsed 46 attacks in 24 hours along the eastern front in Donetsk region, including the city of Bakhmut, and carried out eight strikes on enemy "power and personnel" as well as two strikes on an anti-aircraft missile system.
* Arman Soldin, a 32-year-old video journalist for Agence France Presse (AFP) in Ukraine, was killed on Tuesday by Grad rocket fire near Chasiv Yar, in eastern Ukraine, AFP said on Twitter, citing AFP colleagues who witnessed the incident.
ECONOMY
* Pakistan is planning to blend newly purchased Russian crude with Arabian light crude in order to create a mixture that will be more easily processed by the nation's oil refineries, Pakistan's energy minister said on Tuesday.
VICTORY DAY
* Russia fired cruise missiles at Kyiv on Tuesday and paraded troops across Moscow's Red Square for its annual celebration of victory in World War Two, pared back amid shortages of manpower and arms at the front after a failed winter campaign in Ukraine.
* Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko had to be driven a short distance to an event during Tuesday's Victory Day celebrations in Moscow and skipped a lunch hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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(Compiled by Reuters editors)
