Russia warns NATO vehicle transporting weapons to Ukraine is legitimate target of destruction

This video grab, taken from a handout footage released by the Russian Defence Ministry on April 19, 2022, shows Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu attending a meeting of the Ministry of Defence in Moscow. Russia considers AFP MOSCOW BRUSSELS - Any vehicle of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATO that arrives in Ukraine with weapons or material for the needs of the Ukrainian armed forces is considered a legitimate target of destruction, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday.

Shoigu made remarks at a meeting with Russia's top defense officials, noting that the United States and its NATO allies are continuing to supply weapons to Ukraine.

Russian troops are controlling more areas of Donbass, along with the forces of Lugansk and Donetsk, and they will continue to fulfill their tasks, according to the minister.

He said that the Russian armed forces are actively providing humanitarian assistance to residents living in cities controlled by the forces for the safe evacuation of civilians from combat zones.

The European Union EU will phase out Russian crude oil within six months and refinery products by the end of the year, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

We propose a ban on Russian oil. The Russian oil, crude and refined, will be a complete import ban on all of its components, said von der Leyen, who spoke to lawmakers in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

The package also includes a new list of sanctioned Russian military officers and other individuals, the de-SWIFTing of Russia's biggest bank Sberbank and two other major banks, the removal of three Russian state-owned broadcasters from European airwaves, and a ban on services of EU-based accountants and consultants to Russian companies.

The sixth sanction package aims to deprive the Russian economy of its ability to diversify and modernize, von der Leyen said.

The European Commission president promised financial support to address Ukraine's immediate needs, but gave no more details about its amount.

READ MORE: Ukraine to continue the evacuation from Mariupol.