Ukraine updates: Russia to annex more territory, US says

Russia is making preparations to annex further Ukrainian territory, according to US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.

"Russia is laying the groundwork to annex Ukrainian territory that it controls in direct violation of Ukraine's sovereignty," Kirby told journalists late Tuesday.  

"Russia is beginning to roll out a version of what you could call an annexation playbook, very similar to the one we saw in 2014," he said in reference to the annexation of the Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula by Russia forces at that time.

Moscow has labeled its attack on Ukraine a "special military operation" to guarantee its security. In recent months, Russia has concentrated its efforts on the eastern Donbas region.

The US is expected to unveil a new weapons package for Ukraine in the coming days, as Russia's invasion presses on. 

Here are the other main headlines from the war in Ukraine on July 20.

Ukraine's first lady appeals to US Congress for more support

Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska has called on US lawmakers to do more to help her country defend itself from Russia.

"I am asking for weapons, weapons that would not be used to wage a war on somebody else's land, but to protect one's home and the right to wake up alive in that home," she said through a translator in a speech to members of the US House of Representatives and Senate.

Zelenska, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, thanked the Biden administration for the billions of dollars in arms and other support the US has delivered so far. She also called for more anti-air defense to help repel Russian missile and airstrikes.

"We want no more airstrikes. No more missile strikes," she said. "Is this too much to ask for? This is what I'm asking for and what my husband is asking for."

Zelenska met US President Joe Biden and his wife, first lady Jill Biden, at the White House on Tuesday. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy had said earlier that he expected "significant results" from his wife's meetings in Washington.

Germany planning 'grain bridge' to bring food exports from Ukraine

Germany's national rail operator Deutsche Bahn is planning to transport grain exports from Ukraine to the German ports of Rostock, Hamburg and Brake, among other places.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a major global supplier of grain, has disrupted sea exports from the country, threatening food security in many countries. Russian warships as well as mines laid by Kyiv have blocked shipments across the Black Sea. 

Deutsche Bahn said its network, initially set up to transport relief goods, will now be used to bring "as much grain as possible" to seaports by freight train, a spokesperson said.

Many of the trains will pass through Romania, which shares a long border with Ukraine and has the infrastructure to transport agricultural goods. 

EU representatives agree on sanctions targeting Russian gold

The EU will slap a ban on importing gold from Russia and freeze the assets of Sberbank, Russia's biggest lender, with the measures due to go into effect on Thursday.

The latest sanctions package was announced by the Czech Republic, which holds the bloc's rotating presidency.

"The main goal is to align with G7 partners, reinforce the implementation and close the loopholes where necessary," the Czech government said.

Several individuals and entities will also be added to the bloc's blacklist.

The EU has so far approved six sanctions packages targeting Russia. The latest one, passed in June, imposed a ban on most Russian oil imports.

The embargo on gold fulfils a decision agreed at a G7 meeting in June in which EU-members Germany, France and Italy took part.

The measures also unfreeze assets at Russian banks linked to trade in food and fertilizer, in a bid to respond to Moscow's allegations that sanctions are causing a food crisis.

Lavrov says Russia's objectives in Ukraine now go beyond Donbas

Russia military aims in Ukraine are no longer focused "only" on the country's east Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

In an interview with the state-controlled RT television and RIA Novosti news agency he said it goes beyond Moscow-backed Donetsk and Luhansk regions extending to Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions and other territories.

He added that Russia's objectives would expand further if the West delivers long-range weapons to Kyiv.

Lavrov also said peace talks with Kyiv made no sense "in the current situation."

 "They simply will never be able to articulate anything that would deserve the serious attention of serious people," he added. "We've already figured it out."

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February, President Vladimir Putin denied any intention of occupying Ukrainian territories, saying his aim was to demilitarise and "denazify" the country.

Russia says disagreements over Black Sea grain corridor deal remain

Russia has asked UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to intervene in grain talks with Ukraine to facilitate Moscow's exports.

Last week Guterres said he was hopeful that Russian and Ukrainian negotiators could reach a formal agreement to free up grain exports through the Black Sea as soon as this week.

But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov blamed Ukraine for holding up the deal and asked Guterres to intervene.

Earlier Turkey said a meeting between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN would "probably" be held this week.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he wants a possible deal on resuming Ukrainian grain exports to be put in writing this week.

Ukrainian shelling damages key bridge in Kherson —  reports

The Antonivsyki bridge in the Russian-controlled Kherson region in southern Ukraine was "badly damaged," according to the Russian state-run TASS news agency. 

Citing Russian-installed officials in the region, TASS reported that the bridge was targeted by Ukrainian shelling.  

The UK Ministry of Defence, in its latest intelligence update on Wednesday, provide further analysis of the attack on the bridge.

 "It is highly likely that the bridge remains usable — but it is a key vulnerability for Russian forces. It is one of only two road crossing points over the Dnieper by which Russia can supply or withdraw its forces in the territory it has occupied west of the river," the intelligence update said.   

The UK said "control of Dnieper crossings is likely to become a key factor in the outcome of fighting" in eastern Ukraine. The ministry also said Russia is making "minimal gains" in its offensive on the Donbas region, "with Ukrainian forces holding the line." 

Putin accuses Ukraine of reneging on preliminary peace deal

Russia President Vladimir Putin claimed Wednesday that Ukraine did not stick to the terms of a preliminary "peace agreement" that had been "practically achieved" in March. The Russian leader did not divulge the details of the supposed peace deal.

"The final result of course... depends on the willingness of the contracting parties to implement the agreements that were reached," Putin said following a visit to Iran. He claimed Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were willing to mediate between Russia and Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not yet responded to Putin's comments.  

EU to announce emergency gas plans

The EU on Wednesday will put forward its emergency plans to secure the bloc's gas supplies, amid concerns that Russia may totally cut off deliveries this winter. The European Commission is calling on member states to voluntarily cut their gas demand. 

Some EU countries, such as Germany, are heavily reliant on Russian gas. Last year, the EU imported 40% of its gas from Russia.  

The draft contingency plan says that if two or more EU member states are concerned about an emergency situation due to low supplies, "a binding gas demand reduction target would be implemented."   

Russia ally Syria cuts off relations with Ukraine  

Syria, a key Middle Eastern partner of Russia, announced Wednesday that it is cutting off diplomatic ties with Ukraine.

"The Syrian Arab Republic has decided to break diplomatic relations with Ukraine in conformity with the principle of reciprocity," according to a Syrian Foreign Ministry statement.

Syria said the move was in response to "hostile attitudes" from Ukraine. In 2018, Ukraine declined to revalid the residencies of Syrian dignitaries in Kyiv, making it impossible for the Syrian diplomats to carry out their work.

Syria has previously vowed to recognize the "independence and sovereignty" of eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, in a nod to Russia.

Russia intervened on behalf of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the country's civil war in 2015, waging an aerial and ground campaign against anti-Assad rebel groups. 

Catch up on DW's Ukraine content

Ukraine has prohibited men from leaving the country since the beginning of Russia's invasion. Yet some Ukrainian men are managing to find ways to leave, but at a cost. 

DW examines how Ukrainian men try to get around the ban to leave the country.  

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In an interview with DW, Tilly shares how he perceives Putin through art. 

wd/wmr (AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters)