Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing – April 28, 2022

ANKARA

Anadolu Agency is here with a rundown of the latest developments around the world.

In continued fallout from the Ukraine war, Russian energy giant Gazprom announced Wednesday that it has suspended gas deliveries to Bulgaria and Poland due to their refusal to pay in rubles.

Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine was on the agenda in a phone call Wednesday between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The EU Commission president on Wednesday pledged an “immediate, united and coordinated” European response to Russia’s decision to cut gas supplies to Bulgaria and Poland.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday warned against any interference in the war with Ukraine, saying the response will be "lightning-fast."

Turkiye’s president said Wednesday that it is worrying to see that racist parties have reached a level of support that can make them government partners or propel them to take power in Europe.

Canada imposed sanctions Wednesday on 203 individuals who it said are loyal to Russian President Vladimir Putin in eastern Ukraine, saying it is using every tool to hold Moscow accountable for international crimes.

The US on Wednesday thanked Turkiye for its role in the release of Trevor Reed, an American detained in Russia for three years.

Members of Parliament in Canada voted unanimously Wednesday to label Russia's military actions against Ukraine as "genocide (and) crimes against humanity."

Turkish basketball club Bahcesehir Koleji won the 2022 FIBA Europe Cup on Wednesday, beating Italy's Unahotels Reggio Emilia 90-74 in the second leg of the final held in Istanbul.

Russia may cut off natural gas supplies if Western countries decline payment in rubles in line with a decree issued by President Vladimir Putin last month, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday.

Greece has vowed to help neighboring Bulgaria after Russia decided to cut off its gas supply.

Russia on Wednesday destroyed large shipments of Western weapons in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Russia sanctioned 287 members of the UK House of Commons on Wednesday in response to sanctions imposed on Russian lawmakers over the ongoing Ukraine war.

Amid continued diplomatic fallout from the Ukraine war, Russia on Wednesday declared three Norwegian diplomats persona non grata.

In a retaliatory move, Russia declared eight Japanese diplomats persona non grata Wednesday.

Ukrainians will decide themselves on the issue of joining Russia, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said Wednesday that Russia has announced its intention to withdraw from the body.

At least 11 people were killed in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday morning when a vehicle decorated as a chariot came in contact with a power wire during a religious procession, officials said.