Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks from Kyiv on April 26. Ukrainian Presidential Press Office / AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks from Kyiv on April 26. Ukrainian Presidential Press Office / AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks from Kyiv on April 26. Ukrainian Presidential Press Office / AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks from Kyiv on April 26. Ukrainian Presidential Press Office / AP

Ukraine's Zelesnkyy accuses Russia of 'blackmail' over gas supply cut


Soraya Ebrahimi
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that Russia had launched a “new round” of “blackmail” against Europe after cutting off gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria.

In his nightly address, Mr Zelenskyy said Moscow considered energy exports and trade to be “weapons” with which to pursue its military and political aims.

“The sooner everyone in Europe acknowledges that its trade can’t depend on Russia, the sooner it will be possible to guarantee the stability of European markets,” he said.

The cut-off by Russia’s state-controlled energy company came after President Vladimir Putin said “unfriendly” countries would have to start paying for gas in roubles, Russia’s currency, which Bulgaria and Poland refused to do.

Mr Zelenskyy also praised the European Commission’s proposal to remove all tariffs and quotas on Ukrainian exports to the EU for a year.

“Russia is trying to provoke a global price crisis to seed the chaos at all basic markets and especially at the food one. Ukrainian exports can stabilise markets," he said.

"Therefore, it’s good not only for us, but for all Europeans and for residents of all countries which can be hit by the Russian destructive ambitions.”

The proposed EU plan to suspend import duties was announced earlier on Wednesday and still needs to be approved in a vote by the bloc's 27 members.

Mr Zelenskyy said he had discussed the initiative with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

"I am grateful to her personally and to all our European friends for this step," he said.

Mr Zelenskyy said the EU's plan would be a "significant anti-crisis tool" for European and global markets.

He said he expected more countries to liberalise Ukrainian exports "soon".

The European Commission on Wednesday proposed suspending the import duties earlier, saying it would "help alleviate the difficult situation of Ukrainian producers and exporters in the face of Russia's military invasion".

The proposal from Brussels comes a day after Britain announced it was dropping all tariffs on Ukrainian goods.

if you go

The flights

Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return. 

The trek

Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required. 

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
MATCH INFO

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Team Abu Dhabi 93-4 (8.3 ovs)

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Team Abu Dhabi win by six wickets

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Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
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UAE%20v%20West%20Indies
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if you go

The flights

Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes

The package

Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January

The info

Visit www.gokorea.co.uk

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

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Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

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Valencia 3

Kevin Gameiro 21', 51'

Ferran Torres 67'

Atlanta 4

Josip Llicic 3' (P), 43' (P), 71', 82'

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Nationality: Irish

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United States

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China

3.

UAE

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Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

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Updated: April 28, 2022, 5:26 AM`