Ukraine has formally requested that Israel seize a vessel carrying grain that Kyiv claims was stolen from Russian-occupied regions. The request, made by Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, targets the Panormitis, a ship currently en route to the Israeli port of Haifa.
Kravchenko stated on Telegram on Wednesday that some of the grain on the vessel was shipped from areas under Russian control. He urged Israeli authorities to intercept the ship, conduct searches, seize documentation, and take grain samples for investigation.
Israel has previously expressed skepticism regarding these claims. According to Al Jazeera, Israeli officials have accused Kyiv of engaging in "Twitter diplomacy," and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar previously stated that Ukraine had not provided evidence for its allegations.
The management company for the vessel, Greece-based Royal Maritime Inc, has denied the allegations. An official from the company told Reuters that all legal documents, including certificates of origin, indicate the cargo is Russian.
Russia adjusts military parade plans
In Moscow, the Kremlin has announced a reduction in the scale of its upcoming World War II victory parade scheduled for May 9. The Kremlin stated on Wednesday that no military hardware will roll through Red Square.
France24 reported that this decision is a precautionary measure taken due to threats of retaliatory strikes from Ukraine. The scaled-down event replaces what is traditionally a massive display of Russian military power.
This reduction in military display occurs as the conflict in Ukraine enters its fourth year, a war that has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and significant economic strain on Russia, according to France24.
Trump reports Putin offer on Iran
On the diplomatic front, former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to assist in resolving the impasse regarding Iran's nuclear enrichment.
Trump said during a phone call on Wednesday that Putin expressed a desire to be involved in settling the issue. However, Trump noted that he responded by telling the Russian leader that he would rather see the war in Ukraine ended.
