Estonia dismisses Russian narrative on car bombing; Ukraine braces for Russian wrath: Live updates
Estonian Foreign Affairs Minister Urmas Reinsalu dismissed as a “provocation” the Kremlin’s claims that the perpetrator of a deadly car bombing outside Moscow had fled to Estonia.
Reinsalu said on Estonian TV that the claim was the latest “in a very long line of provocations by the Russian Federation, and we have nothing more to say about it at the moment.” Reinsalu said the claim was an attempt by the Russian regime to put pressure on Estonia for its support for Ukraine in the war.
The U.S. State Department issued an alert Tuesday urging Americans in Ukraine to leave the country immediately, citing concerns that Russia will increase missile strikes.
The warning comes amid a public outcry in Russia over a car bomb that killed a hardline Russian commentator outside Moscow on Saturday. Hundreds of people lined up Tuesday to pay tribute to Darya Dugina, 29, the daughter of right-wing Russian political philosopher Alexander Dugin, who was widely believed to be the intended target.
Ukraine banned large public gatherings that had been planned for Wednesday, Ukraine’s Independence Day that marks it’s break from the Soviet Union.
Latest developments:
►No breakthroughs appear to have come out of a meeting among Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as the conflict with Russia approaches the six-month mark with no end in sight.
►The 25th grain-carrying cargo ship has left Ukraine under a deal with Russia brokered by Turkey and the United Nations to unblock Ukraine’s ports, according to Agence France-Presse.
The entire world is losing. Will this conflict ever end?
UKRANIAN REFUGEES IN THE US:Long-term survival is a big concern. Here’s why.
Rodman’s plan to help Brittney Griner may backfire, experts warn
Dennis Rodman has once again inserted himself into U.S. diplomatic relations, this time in an effort to free detained WNBA star Brittney Griner. He told NBC News he plans to travel to Russia to “help that girl.” But his contributions to the negotiations — if Russia even chooses to pay attention to him — will be minimal, or could even hurt Griner’s case, experts say.
sentenced to nine years in prison earlier this month (she is currently appealing).
State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters that Rodman would not be traveling on behalf of the U.S. government and “anything other than negotiating further through the established channel is likely to complicate and hinder those release efforts.” Read more here.
— Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY
Contributing: The Associated Press