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War in Ukraine: Latest developments

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky lashed out at Russia for carrying out missile strikes that killed at least 20 people
— Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP)

Here are the latest developments in the war in Ukraine:

- Strike kills 20, Zelensky slams 'act of terrorism' -

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky lashes out at Russia for carrying out missile strikes that kill at least 20 people, including three children, on Vinnytsia in the centre of the country.

"Every day, Russia kills civilians, kills Ukrainian children, carries out missile attack on civilian facilities where there is no military target. What is this if not an open act of terrorism?" he says.

The charred remains of upturned cars surround by burnt debris are seen in images distributed by officials next to a business gutted by a fire with brown smoke billowing nearby.

- Ukraine seeks 'special tribunal' -

Zelensky calls for a "special tribunal" to investigate the invasion.

"Existing judicial institutions cannot bring all the guilty parties to justice. Therefore, a special tribunal is needed to address the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine," Zelensky tells a conference via video link at The Hague focused on war crimes in Ukraine.

"A tribunal that will ensure the fair and lawful punishment of those who started this series of disasters," he added.

Meanwhile, the world's largest security body, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, says it is "gravely concerned" about alleged mistreatment of tens of thousands of Ukrainians at so-called filtration centres set up by Russia in Ukraine.

- 'Greatest challenge' -

As G20 ministers prepare to start talks in Indonesia, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says the war poses the "greatest challenge" to the global economy.

Moscow's invasion has sent inflation soaring, threatening widespread hunger and poverty.

"We are seeing negative spillover effects from that war in every corner of the world, particularly with respect to higher energy prices and rising food insecurity," she says.

- High-stake grain talks eye deal -

Russia and Ukraine make substantive progress in their first direct talks since March on a deal to relieve a global food crisis caused by blocked Black Sea grain exports.

The high-stakes meeting involving United Nations and Turkish officials in Istanbul last just over three hours and break off with an agreement to meet again in Turkey next week.

- Kyiv urges control of arms deliveries -

Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak calls lawmakers to establish a monitoring committee that would oversee weapons received by Ukraine from its Western allies.

The monitoring committee would "deal with the preparation and consideration of issues related to the control of the use of weapons received from our partners", Yermak says.

- Ukraine's occupied Zaporizhzhia plans 'referendum' -

Moscow-backed separatist authorities in the southeastern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia say they plan to stage a referendum on joining Russia this year.

"We will organise a referendum this autumn," says Yevgeny Balitsky, head of the Moscow-installed administration in the occupied part of the region of Zaporizhzhia.

Zaporizhzhia has been largely under Russia's control since the first weeks of Moscow's invasion.

burs-raz/jv