It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Venice opera house La Fenice fires music director Beatrice Venezi after 'offensive' comments
Famous Venice opera house Teatro La Fenice has fired the incoming music director Beatrice Venezi after months of protests and following “repeated and serious public statements that were offensive and harmful” to the theater.
After months of opposition, The Teatro La Fenice – Venice's renowned opera house – has dropped the incoming Musical Director Beatrice Venezi over statements “deemed offensive and detrimental to the artistic and professional standing of the Teatro La Fenice Foundation”.
Venezi was appointed permanent Musical Director and the first female conductor at La Fenice in September 2025. The following month, the theatre trade unions demanded Venezi’s resignation, arguing that the 36-year-old lacked the necessary experience to lead the orchestra.
Concerns were also raised over her affiliations to Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government.
Venezi, whose father is a former member of the neofascist political party Forza Nuova, was appointed as an adviser to the culture minister after Meloni came to power in 2022.
Then came Venezi’s recent statements accusing the orchestra of nepotism.
On 23 April, Venezi gave an interview to Argentinian newspaper La Nación in which she said that “this is an orchestra in which positions are passed down practically from father to son”.
She added that orchestra members “never leave the island” of Venice and that they didn’t know how to appeal to younger audiences.
“They’re afraid of change, of renewal.”
Following these statements, Teatro La Fenice terminated Venezi’s contract.
Workers and orchestra members of Venice's La Fenice opera house demanding the resignation of Beatrice Venezi - 10 November 2025 AP Photo
General manager Nicola Colabianchi cited Venezi’s “repeated and serious public statements that were offensive and harmful” to the theater and its orchestra.
La Fenice's unions welcomed the decision, calling it “a necessary act of respect” and underlining that the theater's professionalism had been “subject to serious, unfounded public statements damaging to the dignity of labor.”
Meloni's office issued a statement denying a newspaper report that she had authorised Venezi's sacking. Daily Corriere della Sera had said Meloni had approved Venezi's axing due to the "accumulation of controversy".
However, Italy’s Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli, expressed support for the decision, stating that he hoped it would “clear the field misunderstandings, tensions and instrumentalization of every kind and degree; in the interests of the theatre and the city of Venice”.
European Parliament calls to define rape as sex without consent
A resolution adopted by the European Parliament calls for a common definition of rape across the EU, stating that any sexual act without consent should be considered rape.
The European Parliament on Tuesday approved a resolution calling for an EU-wide definition of rape based on the absence of freely given and informed consent.
It is now up to the European Commission to propose legislation, which would then need to be approved by EU member states, usually a political and difficult step.
The resolution urges that “only a clear, affirmative, freely given and unambiguous indication of consent is valid” in sexual relations. It adds that “silence, a lack of verbal or physical resistance or the absence of a ‘no’ cannot be interpreted as consent.”
Any sexual act outside this framework should be considered rape.
It also stresses that prior consent, past sexual relations, or any relationship with the perpetrator — including marriage — does not imply automatic consent.
This call reflects the “only yes means yes” principle adopted by Spain, approved in 2022 following a brutal gang rape.
Lack of consent is already a defining element of rape or sexual assault in 17 out of 27 member states, according to the European Parliament Research Service.
The definition backed by the European Parliament is also in line with the Istanbul Convention, which has been ratified by 22 EU countries.
However, legislation in several member states still relies on a force-based definition of rape, requiring victims to prove violence or threats. In Estonia, rape is defined as a violation of the victim’s will through force or threats, while Latvia refers to sexual violence committed under constraint, including force or other forms of pressure.
In Romania, the law focuses on the victim’s inability to express consent.
Meanwhile, legislation in Italy, Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria is vague, retaining elements of a force-based approach, according to an expert group set up by the Council of Europe.
Such definitions often require interpretation by courts in terms of what constitutes a violent assault, which is not always consistent. This can lead to a high burden of proof and, in some cases, secondary victimisation.
Supporters of the resolution argue that recent cases have exposed the limits of force-based definitions. Speaking to Euronews, Abir Al-Sahlani pointed to cases in France involving drugging and online abuse as evidence of evolving forms of sexual violence.
The resolution was adopted by a large majority, with 447 votes in favour, 160 against and 43 abstentions.
The definition of rape remains a key gap in EU legislation on violence against women, after it was excluded from a directive adopted in 2024 — a move that triggered criticism and protests.
The original proposal by the European Commission defined rape as sex without consent, but several member states opposed the provision.
Some, including France, argued that criminal law falls under national competence and should remain the responsibility of individual countries.
According to the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, around 5% of women in the EU have experienced rape since the age of 15.
Gaza’s transport grinds to a halt amid spare parts crisis
By Mohammed Nashbat with Euronews Arabic
Published on
Severe restrictions on spare parts entering Gaza have paralysed transport, fuelled a black market and sent repair and travel costs soaring for residents, Euronews has learned.
Amid the limited flow of goods into Gaza, a near-total lack of spare parts imports has paralysed transport across the Strip.
As part of the ceasefire terms, at least 600 lorries a day should be permitted to enter Gaza.
Data from the Government Information Office in Gaza indicate that the actual number of lorries entering is less than half of that figure.
Of the more than 3,000 commercial and humanitarian lorries that have entered Gaza since the ceasefire began, only one has carried spare parts.
The shortage of spare parts has left many cars parked and many engines idle, local business owners say.
"The buses are parked and the cars are parked, we have no tyres, no batteries and no oil," Mahmoud Sami, owner of a bus company in the Maghazi area of central Gaza told Euronews.
Sami's buses once ran daily routes, but operations have largely stopped as costs have surged to unprecedented levels.
Car repair shop in the Gaza Strip. Mohammed Nashbat
According to current prices, a single bus tyre can cost up to 20,000 shekels (€5,725), while a battery may cost 15,000 (€ 4,295) shekels or more.
Sami added that some drivers have resorted to swapping tyres between vehicles just to keep a few running, as purchasing new parts is no longer feasible.
Tyres at exorbitant prices
A comparison of conditions before and after 7 October 2023 shows a deterioration in the market, in both availability and pricing.
The problem is no longer just high costs, but the market has shifted from relative abundance before the war to a severe shortage.
A Palestinian stands in front of a car tyre in the Gaza Strip. Mohammed Nashbat
Mohammed Emad, a mechanic from Nuseirat camp, said that the cost of car repairs, which used to range between 2,000 shekels (€575) and 2,500 shekels (€715), now exceeds 17,000 shekels (€4,865).
As for engine oil, the price per litre has risen from about 300 shekels (€85) to more than 1,000 shekels (€285), with sharp fluctuations due to the ongoing regional conflict
Desperation sets in
Economist Ahmed Abu Qamar said that the shortage of spare parts — or when they are allowed in, the lack of regulation — has enabled the black market to set prices.
These imbalances reflect directly on the citizens, he warned. Fares to travel between camps in central Gaza, for example, rose from one shekel to five.
Khaled al-Naami, owner of a car workshop in al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip Mohammed Nashbat
For the parts that are permitted in, they do not meet 5% of market demand and often do not meet industry standards, Automotive Spare Parts Association Chairman Rushdi al-Khor said.
This reality has pushed many to seek out temporary solutions, such as using improvised components, old or second-hand auto parts, or used oil. Specialists warn that using old parts, especially braking systems and tyres, increases the likelihood of accidents.
Vehicles recycling motor oil
The shortage of spare parts and oil is not only impacting civilians and owners of commercial vehicles but also emergency response teams.
The spokesperson for the Civil Defence Authority in Gaza, Major Mahmoud Basal, warned that the agency's operational capacity has fallen to just 10%. He noted Gaza City had only three operational vehicles remaining.
In August 2025, the Civil Defence reported that 60% of its vehicles across the Strip had gone out of service due to shortages of fuel and spare parts.
The agency also revealed that teams had to resort to using used motor oil for their vehicles, despite it causing significant engine damage and shortening their operational lifespan.
The agency warned that if the situation deteriorates further, teams may have to reach incident sites on foot or rely on civilian vehicles.
Car spare parts in Gaza Mohammed Nashbat
With ongoing restrictions on the entry of goods and aid, the shortage of spare parts is expected to worsen, leaving residents dependent on increasingly limited transport options for daily life.
Economists have warned that if the situation persists, it could result in near-total paralysis of the transport and services sector, undermining people’s access to hospitals, essential services and workplaces.
Ukraine says it shot down 33,000 Russian drones in March, a new monthly record
Ukraine has developed cutting-edge and battle-tested drone technology that has proved essential in holding back Russia’s bigger army and has drawn military interest from around the world.
Ukrainian interceptor systems shot down more than 33,000 Russian drones in March, a record monthly figure since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine’s defence minister said.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s domestically-developed long-range attack drones struck a Russian oil refinery and terminal on the Black Sea for the third time in less than two weeks, prompting the evacuation of local people as a precautionary measure.
Ukraine has developed cutting-edge and battle-tested drone technology that has proved essential in holding back Russia’s bigger army and has drawn military interest from around the world.
Interceptor drones as part of a comprehensive air defence system are now being sought by countries in the Middle East and Persian Gulf amid the Iran war, according to Ukrainian officials
Ukraine is scaling up supplies of interceptor drones to thwart Russian aerial attacks and its military has introduced a new command within the air force to boost the country’s capabilities, Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said in a post on Telegram late Monday.
Ukraine's offensive capabilities have also improved, with the Defence Ministry saying on Tuesday that the country’s forces have more than doubled the range of their deep-strike capabilities since Russia's February 2022 invasion.
At that time, Ukrainian forces were able to hit military targets about 630 kilometres away, it said. They are now striking targets as far as roughly 1,750 kilometres behind enemy lines, the ministry said in a statement.
That improvement has allowed Ukraine to hit Russian oil installations that provide crucial revenue for Moscow's war effort. It has also targeted manufacturing plants that supply Russia’s armed forces.
Ukraine struck a Russian oil refinery at the Black Sea port of Tuapse for the third time this month in a coordinated operation involving multiple branches of the country’s defence and security services, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces said on Tuesday
The two strikes earlier this month destroyed 24 oil storage tanks and damaged four others, it said. Independent verification of the claims was not possible.
The Russian Defence Ministry said on Tuesday its air defences intercepted 186 Ukrainian drones overnight over Russian regions, the annexed Crimea and the Black and the Azov seas.
Police officers inspect fragments of a Russian drone after an air attack in Kyiv, 28 April, 2026 AP Photo
Europe may need Ukraine
With Russia posing a threat to all of Europe, the continent may need Ukraine more than Ukraine needs Europe, Finnish President Alexander Stubb said on Tuesday, noting Kyiv's large and increasingly modern military.
"Instead of us thinking that Ukraine needs Europe, perhaps we should think that we in Europe need Ukraine more," Stubb told reporters at a joint press conference with his Estonian counterpart Alar Karis.
"It is the largest, most efficient and most modern military in Europe."
Europe has ramped up its defensive capabilities in the face of the invasion and Moscow's "hybrid" attacks on European countries, including drone overflights, alleged sabotage and misinformation.
Estonia's President Alar Karis, left, and Finland's President Alexander Stubb attend a press conference in Helsinki, 28 April, 2026 AP Photo
Both Stubb and Karis expressed support for Kyiv's desire to join both the European Union and NATO.
"We need to seriously start to think how much Europe actually needs Ukraine, whether it's EU membership or, as a matter of fact, NATO membership," Stubb said.
European leaders broadly back Ukraine's EU membership aspirations but there is little appetite to fast-track Kyiv to full membership, despite urgent appeals from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Kyiv officially obtained EU candidate country status in December 2023.
Stubb meanwhile argued that the tide was turning in Ukraine's favour in the war with Russia.
"If you look at the past four months, Ukraine is actually doing much better than Russia," he said.
"We have seen the figures of both dead and wounded soldiers increase to 30,000 to 35,000 per month on the Russian side at a hit ratio of one Ukrainian to five Russians," Stubb added.
"On top of that, Ukraine now has the capability to launch more missiles and drones into Russia than vice versa. The pace at which Russia is advancing is actually minimal, at a cost of roughly 250 dead per square kilometre."
Ukraine says it will open arms exports with 'Drone Deals,' but not to all countries
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday that Ukraine is set to open its arms exports via so-called drone deals, but not all countries will have access to Kyiv's battlefield tested expertise.
In a much anticipated step, Ukraine is opening up its arms exports to global markets, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday evening
"The export of Ukrainian weapons will become a reality, we have approved all the details at the level of our state institutions," Zelenskyy said in a statement.
"Currently, our security expertise and weapons, which have been tested in modern warfare, are of interest to all partners capable of ensuring a real level of protection for their statehood and the lives of their citizens."
Zelenskyy clarified that exports will be open to countries that have supported Ukraine and will take the form of so-called “Drone Deals."
These are special agreements on both the production and supply of Ukrainian drones, missiles, ammunition and other in-demand types of weaponry, military equipment and software, as well as the "provision of our expertise and the technological exchange needed by Ukraine.:
Zelenskyy said also that he approved on Tuesday "the areas for this interstate work and the development of automatic permits for businesses regarding arms exports."
"The algorithm is absolutely clear: at the interstate level, based on the principle of reciprocity, we define the framework for security cooperation through the relevant agreement."
Then the process continues at the level of state institutions and manufacturers. In order to streamline exports, Kyiv will simplify bureaucratic procedures, "maintaining an adequate level of export control, and launching practical operating mechanisms for companies."
Controlled export
Both Ukraine’s foreign partners and domestic weapons producers have been waiting for Kyiv to open up an arms exports procedure.
Approximately 800 arms producers are currently operating in Ukraine and many of them have ramped up their production to a significant surplus.
According to the most recent reports, Ukraine is now producing over 4 million drones annually and could double that number with sufficient funding.
Domestic arms producers had been asking Zelenskyy for a year to lift restrictions on selling their domestically-produced military-grade equipment, particularly drones, to generate more revenue.
An engineer collects FPV drones of "General Cherry" company at the workshop in Ukraine, on Dec. 4, 2025. AP Photo
For over half a year, Kyiv had been working on what it had defined as the "controlled export" of weapons.
On Tuesday, Zelenskyy said with the clear export structure Ukrainian companies "will receive a real opportunity to enter partner countries' markets," but pointed out that the Ukrainian military will get absolute priority in terms of supply needs.
"A surplus of production capacity in Ukraine for certain types of weapons reaches 50% and this is a direct result of our state investment in Ukraine's defence industry and our cooperation with partners."
Another condition is that only those countries who have supported Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 will have the opportunity of getting a piece of its battlefield-tested arsenal.
Zelenskyy said he instructed the Foreign Ministry together with the intelligence services and Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) to determine the list of countries "to which exports of our weapons are not possible due to their cooperation with the aggressor state."
"This is a serious challenge – to prevent our technologies and weapons from falling into Russian hands," he said.
Soldiers from Ukraine's Khartia brigade operate drones from the Kharkiv region, 30 February, 2026 AP Photo
Gulf region first in line
Zelenskyy confirmed that the format of "Drone Deals" has already been implemented by Kyiv in its cooperation with countries in the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, Europe and the Caucasus.
He also confirmed that Ukraine has "a proposal on the table with American partners."
"The terms must be favourable to Ukraine, there must be clear oversight, and the proceeds from exports must help Ukraine defend itself. That is exactly how it will be."
Kyiv recently signed 10-year defence partnership deals with three Gulf countries, which include maritime drones, electronic warfare and interception technology.
Relate
Ukraine's naval drone fleet has been expanding in recent years and Ukrainian sea drones have proven effective in inflicting heavy losses on Russian military sites and ships in the Black Sea, such as the Magura-V5 drones, which have been used to target the Russian fleet.
Some of these systems can help unblock the crucial Strait of Hormuz, Zelenskyy said in March.
Ukraine is also trying to use the momentum of the Iran war and the escalation in the Middle East as a window of opportunity to strengthen its geopolitical role and transition from a recipient of security aid to a provider.
EU 'ready' to sanction Israel over Russian vessel carrying stolen Ukrainian grain
A diplomatic crisis has erupted between Ukraine and Israel following the arrival in Haifa of a Russian vessel reportedly carrying stolen Ukrainian grain. Brussels says it is ready to sanction those involved.
The European Union has warned Israel that it is ready to impose sanctions on those aiding and abetting the trade of Ukrainian grain stolen by Russia in the occupied territories, after a new ship loaded with the cereal arrived in the city of Haifa.
"The EU has taken note of the reports that a Russian shadow fleet vessel carrying stolen Ukrainian grain has been allowed to unload at Haifa port in Israel, despite previous contacts of Ukraine with Israeli authorities on the subject," a European Commission spokesperson told Euronews.
"We condemn all actions that help fund Russia's illegal war effort and circumvent EU sanctions, and remain ready to target such actions by listing individuals and entities in third countries if necessary," the spokesperson added.
"We have approached the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the issue."
The arrival of the Panama-flagged vessel in Haifa has escalated tensions between Ukraine and Israel. The vessel, named Panormitis and allegedly carrying over 6,200 tonnes of wheat and 19,000 tonnes of barley, has yet to unload. However, a shipment of stolen Ukrainian grain was allowed to proceed earlier this month.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Israel to reject the Russian vessel and said his government would start preparing "relevant sanctions", in coordination with Europeans, against those "attempting to profit from this criminal scheme".
Kyiv previously askedBrussels to deploy "all possible instruments" to cripple Moscow's global sales of plundered grain, including using Frontex, the bloc's border control agency.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said the Panormitis would be "examined" and national authorities would "act in accordance with the law".
EU-level sanctions require unanimity among the 27 member states, and several Russian individuals have already been blacklisted over the seizure of Ukrainian grain. In 2024, the bloc agreed to slap tariffs on grain products from Russia and Belarus to crack down on the trade of stolen merchandise.
Unanimity, however, has been hard to secure in cases involving Israel, where sharp divisions remain among member states.
The news comes at a fraught time in EU-Israel relations over the war in the Middle East. The Israeli offensive in Lebanon, currently paused under a fragile ceasefire, has revived the debate about suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
Spain, Ireland and Slovenia are among thosecalling for punitiveaction in response to the deadly strikes on Lebanese cities. However, Germany and Italy remain on the fence, and their support would be key for the qualified majority needed to partially suspend the pact.
Israel's recent move to introduce a law applying the death penalty targeted at Palestinians has also raised questions about whether the country is abiding by Article 2 of the agreement, which sets binding obligations to respect human rights.
Last year, an internal review by the European External Action Service (EEAS) found that Israel had breached Article 2 through systematic violations of international law in Gaza.
Ukraine-Israel row deepens over Russian shipments of stolen grain
In a continuation of the ongoing diplomatic uproar, Zelenskyy publicly criticised Israel on Tuesday for considering a purchase of Ukrainian grain stolen by Russia from temporarily occupied territories in southern Ukraine.
A diplomatic scandal between Ukraine and Israel over the shipment of alleged stolen Ukrainian grain being sold by Russia escalated on Tuesday, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticised what he called is an illegitimate business.
“In any normal country, purchasing stolen goods is an act that entails legal liability,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on X the day after a heated public exchange between the foreign ministers of Ukraine and Israel.
“Another vessel carrying such grain has arrived at a port in Israel and is preparing to unload. This is not – and cannot be – legitimate business,” Zelenskyy said on X.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said on Monday that "evidence substantiating the allegations have yet to be provided," as he insisted that Kyiv did not "even submit a request for legal assistance before turning to the media and social networks."
Zelenskyy responded, stating that “Ukraine has taken all necessary steps through diplomatic channels to prevent such incidents.”
The vessel in question is the Panama-flagged Panormitis, which reached waters close to Haifa on 25 April, according to the marine traffic monitoring services.
Panormitis is allegedly carrying over 6,200 tonnes of wheat and 19,000 tonnes of barley.
Kyiv calls on Israel not to let it dock and not to unload the stolen cargo.
Kyiv has summoned the Israeli Ambassador Michael Brodsky on Tuesday morning to urge action over Panormitis.
Earlier cases of stolen grain arriving in Israel reported
An investigation by Israeli news outlet Haaretz found that at least four shipments of stolen Ukrainian grain have been unloaded in Israel this year.
Kyiv insists Israel can easily verify and identify both the vessel and the origin of the shipments.
“The Israeli authorities cannot be unaware of which ships are arriving at the country’s ports and what cargo they are carrying,” Zelenskyy said on Tuesday.
“Russia is systematically seizing grain on temporarily occupied Ukrainian land and organizing its export through individuals linked to the occupiers. Such schemes violate the laws of the State of Israel itself.”
According to Ukrainian investigative journalists, Russian bulk carriers are being loaded with grain from occupied Ukrainian territories, transferred into shadow fleet vessels, before departing from Russian ports with the cargo.
According to Kyiv's estimates, at least 15 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain have been stolen by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Public spat continues
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha first took to X on Monday evening, calling on Israel to reject the stolen Ukrainian grain on board thePanormitis near Haifa.
His Israeli counterpart Sa'ar was quick to respond, asking Kyiv to refrain from conducting diplomatic relations on social media.
But for Ukrainian officials, public space might seem like a more efficient means of communication after diplomatic channels proved ineffective in past incidents.
Russian bulk carrier Abinsk delivered nearly 44,000 tonnes of stolen Ukrainian wheat to Israel a few weeks ago, causing a sharp diplomatic response from Kyiv.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry stated at the time it had informed Israeli officials in advance about the Abinsk earlier this month, and yet the grain was unloaded.
According to Kyiv, Ukrainian officials informed Israel on 23 March that the Abinsk cargo contained grain from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
Ukraine says “assurances were received regarding an appropriate response.”
Yet Abinsk was allowed to unload at the port of Haifa on 12-14 April.
“We see that yet another such vessel has not been stopped,” Zelenskyy said on Tuesday.
Kyiv vows response as Russia ships stolen grain to multiple countries
As the diplomatic row between Ukraine and Israel continues to escalate, Kyiv said there are also other countries buying its stolen grain from Russia-occupied territories.
Ukraine is tracking multiple vessels carrying grain it says Russia stole from the occupied territories and shipped to at least four countries, as the diplomatic row over Ukraine and Israel over another stolen grain purchase rumbles on.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry confirmed on Tuesday that Moscow's sales of stolen grain are not limited to Israel, and that the total number of countries that have bought its shipments is likely bigger.
"Such shipments arrived in Turkey, Egypt, Algeria and some other countries. These are only the cases I can recall from memory that happened earlier," foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi said.
“We see everything and will not leave it without attention,” Tykhyi said. “This will not remain without a proper response.”
The foreign ministry emphasised that Ukraine maintained its approach not only toward Israeli companies, but also toward anyone who “participates in illegal trade and effectively helps Russia finance its war efforts against Ukraine.”
Ukraine to demand explanations from Egypt
Panama-flagged bulk carrier Asomatos docked in Egypt on Tuesday, reportedly carrying over 25,000 tonnes of wheat loaded in Feodosia in Russia-annexed Crimea.
Another vessel, the Russia-flagged Victoria, had departed from Mariupol earlier this month and then unloaded over 7,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat from temporarily occupied territory in Egypt. The vessel is under Ukrainian sanctions.
In early April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he addressed the issue with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
“President (El-Sisi) informed me that Egypt will no longer accept grain exported by Russia from our temporarily occupied territories and is, at the same time, interested in increasing imports of grain from Ukraine,” Zelenskyy posted on X on 3 April.
Kyiv said it would “approach” Egypt regarding a new case of a vessel arriving with grain that was exported by Russia from the occupied territories of Ukraine.
Egypt is the world's largest wheat importer, and the biggest buyer of Russian wheat. According to estimates from rail carrier Rusagrotrans, it has bought about 7.6 million tonnes of Russian grain so far this season, around the same level as last year.
On 2 April, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow and Cairo were exploring plans to create a joint “grain and energy hub” on Egyptian territory.
Russia has been seeking new ways of distributing its energy and commodities exports in response to waves of Western sanctions over its war in Ukraine.
