Russia-Ukraine war live: EU says conflict an existential threat to the bloc

The EU’s Josep Borrell made the remark in a meeting with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi

The Russian defence ministry said on Saturday that Russian forces have taken control of the settlement of Lozuvatske in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, according to the Interfax news agency. The Guardian has not yet independently verified this claim.

Russian forces have captured a number of villages since seizing the strategic city of Avdiivka in Donetsk region in February. The region is the focal point of Russia’s slow advance through eastern Ukraine along the 1,000km (600 mile) front.

The bulk carrier Manta Hacer with 25.2 thousand tonnes of Ukrainian humanitarian wheat to Yemen, is moving through the Ukrainian corridor. This is another vessel chartered by the UN World Food Programme.

Even despite the war and the enemy’s insidious attacks on port infrastructure, including storage hangars for agricultural products, Ukraine remains a key player in the global food security. Especially concerning the export of grain to countries in Asia and Africa.