Dmitry Peskov News

Kremlin on Friday dismissed rumours it orchestrated the death of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, presumed dead in a plane crash two months after leading a mutiny in Russia. It also announced by decree that Russian paramilitary fighters will be obliged to swear an oath to the Russian flag, part of measures to rein in groups like Wagner in the wake of the uprising. Speculation the Kremlin may have been involved in the crash has swirled since Wednesday, when a private jet reportedly carrying Prigozhin crashed between Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The rumours have been voiced by Western countries, Kremlin critics and even suggested by some pro-Kremlin figures. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the incident as «tragic» to reporters on Friday and acknowledged public discourse around foul play and possible involvement of the authorities. «Of course, in the West, this speculation is being presented from a certain angle. All of this is an absolute lie,» Peskov said, urging patience and adding that ongoing probes would reveal facts around the fatal crash. Russian officials have opened an investigation into air traffic violations but have so far not disclosed details of the probe or the incident. President Vladimir Putin broke his silence on the crash Thursday, offering condolences to the families of the 10 people onboard and describing the incident as a «tragedy.» He said Prigozhin, who in June led an armed mutiny against Russia's military leadership, had made some «serious mistakes in his life» and had a «complicated fate.» — Suspicious timing — The short-lived but bloody unrest was seen by observers as having been the biggest threat to Putin's long rule. Moscow has not yet confirmed Prigozhin's death.

Joe Biden, Tesla chief Elon Musk, and French authorities. Empirically it has been noted that Vladimir Putin critics have not lived longer after registering their opposition to the former KGB boss. Prigozhin's death seemed to follow the same line following his June rebellion to overthrow Russia's military leadership.

COVID-19 pandemic. The BRICS group was formed in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India and China. South Africa was added in 2010.

China's Foreign Ministry has confirmed that President Xi Jinping will attend next week's summit of the BRICS nations in Johannesburg, to be followed by a state visit to South Africa

By Michelle Nichols

BRICS Summit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. "President Ramaphosa invited the prime minister for the BRICS summit being hosted by South Africa on August 22-24, and briefed him on the preparations for the same," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said atfter PM Modi's talks with Ramaphosa. "The prime minister accepted the invitation and conveyed that he looked forward to his visit to Johannesburg to participate in the summit," the MEA said.

BRICS summit in Johannesburg set to discuss admitting new members, India on Thursday dismissed as «baseless» reports that it is opposed to the expansion of the grouping. It is learnt that New Delhi is yet to take a final decision on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's in-person attendance in the summit of the five-nation grouping from August 22 to 24. The summit is set to extensively deliberate on expansion of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).

Russia withdrew from the Black Sea grain deal, the Indian government announced on Thursday that it will be stopping all exports of non-Basmati white rice with immediate effect.The timing of the move comes amid a wave of extreme heat scorching many parts of the globe, all culminating in growing questions about the security of food supply chains around the world.According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, India accounts for more than 40 per cent of the world’s rice exports.In a statement Thursday, the country’s ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution cited the need to “ensure adequate availability of Non-Basmati White Rice in the Indian market and to allay the rise in prices in the domestic market.”According to the ministry, non-Basmati white rice accounts for a quarter of all Indian rice exports.This decision comes as Indians have been struggling with high food prices. In September of last year, the government imposed a 20 per cent export duty on rice to lower the price in the domestic market.

Reuters, the aid package, valued at up to $400 million, will primarily consist of artillery, air defence missiles, and ground vehicles, as Ukraine continues its counteroffensive efforts. However, the package will not include cluster munitions, according to two US officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity. In July, the United States provided dual-purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICM) to Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend next Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the BRICS summit in South Africa next month. Putin will be the only BRICS leader to attend the summit virtually while all other leaders will join the event in person in South Africa. “By mutual agreement, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation will not attend the summit but the Russian Federation will be represented by Foreign Minister Mr.

Russia on Monday halted a breakthrough wartime deal that allowed grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where hunger is a growing threat and high food prices have pushed more people into poverty.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Black Sea Grain Initiative would be suspended until demands to get Russian food and fertilizer to the world are met. An attack Monday on a bridge connecting the Crimean Peninsula to Russia was not a factor in the decision, he said. «When the part of the Black Sea deal related to Russia is implemented, Russia will immediately return to the implementation of the deal,» Peskov said.

On Sunday, the Turkish ship TQ Samsun left the port of Odesa in Ukraine carrying 23,500 metric tons of corn and 15,300 metric tons of rapeseed to the Netherlands under the final hours of the Black Sea grain deal.

Russia halted an unprecedented wartime deal on Monday that allows grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where hunger is a growing threat and high food prices have pushed more people into poverty.

By Guy Faulconbridge

food crisis amid the Ukraine-Russia war hit a stumbling block on Monday as Moscow backed out of a UN-brokered deal. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call that the Black Sea agreements which allowed export of Ukrainian grain had ‘ceased to be valid today’. The development came mere hours after it accused Ukraine attacking the Crimean Bridge.

Vladimir Putin met with Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin days after a short-lived rebellion by the mercenary chief and his private army. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that the three-hour meeting took place June 29 and also involved commanders from the military company Prigozhin founded.

(Reuters) — The foreign ministers of Russia and Turkey spoke by telephone on Sunday, a day after Ankara angered Moscow by sending five Ukrainian commanders home with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in what Russia called a violation of a prisoner exchange agreement.

President Volodymyr Zelensky brought home from Turkey on Saturday five former commanders of Ukraine's garrison in Mariupol, a highly symbolic achievement that Russia said violated a prisoner exchange deal engineered last year. Russia immediately denounced the release. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ankara had promised under the exchange agreement to keep the men in Turkey and complained Moscow had not been informed.

Ukraine's foreign minister said his nation wants a UN-backed peace summit to end the war early in 2023, but only if Russia has faced a war crime tribunal first. 

Explosions took place at two Russian airbases on Monday, amid rumours that Ukraine is targeting Russian long-range bombers.

The European Union and G7 price cap of $60 a barrel for Russian oil came into effect on Monday, as the West tries to weaken Moscow's ability to continue funding the war in Ukraine while protecting the global economy from a sudden rise in energy prices.