In its efforts to obtain Russian reparations for the devastating war damage in Ukraine, Kyiv sees itself strengthened by the Council of Europe. "It is important that Europe is so united in the interests of an honest peace plan," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address on Wednesday. Earlier, at the end of a summit meeting in Iceland, the 46 states of the Council of Europe had taken several decisions with a signal effect: they adopted a register for war destruction in Ukraine, called for the return of all children deported to Russia and the establishment of a special tribunal. On Thursday morning, there was another nationwide air alert, explosions of air defense missiles were reported from the capital Kyiv.

Zelensky thanks Europe for support

"The Council of Europe has made an important decision: the final resolution of the summit in Iceland supports the Ukrainian peace formula," Zelensky said. He thanked all the Heads of State and Government of Europe and all the member states of the Council of Europe for their stance.

The damage caused by the war of aggression, which has been going on for almost 15 months, is to be documented by the Council of Europe in order to be able to hold Russia accountable for it. In Iceland's capital Reykjavik, 40 of the 46 states of the organisation – which is independent of the European Union – agreed to join the register of claims or to do so in the future. Turkey, Hungary, Azerbaijan and Serbia do not want to participate for the time being. The register is considered the first step on the way to possible compensation payments to Ukraine.

Zelensky's peace formula includes, among other things, the demand for a complete withdrawal of all Russian troops from the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea and from the other occupied territories of Ukraine. It also includes demands for reparations from Russia and plans for an international tribunal to try politicians and military officers responsible for the war.

UN Secretary-General on grain deal: "Good news for the world"

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the extension of the grain deal between Russia and Ukraine "good news for the world". Although some questions are still open, representatives of Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations are trying to find solutions, Guterres said in New York. The agreement is important for global food security – and because it shows that "even in the darkest hour, there is always a glimmer of hope and a way to find solutions that help everyone".

Earlier, the Turkish government said that Russia and Ukraine had agreed on a two-month extension of the grain agreement. Representatives of both countries confirmed the continuation of the UN-brokered grain corridor until July 18. It allows controlled grain exports from the Black Sea ports of Odessa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi (Yuzhny).