Ukraine has gas reserves and the United States plans to help develop those and has already held bilateral discussions with Kiev on the matter, US Deputy Energy Secretary David Turk said on Tuesday.

"Ukraine definitely has gas reserves, and there are plans and we have had some good discussions bilaterally in terms of developing those resources further, first and foremost for the benefit of the Ukrainian people and their own energy security," Turk said during a press briefing.

Washington has partnered with Kiev to leverage US energy expertise stemming from 17 national laboratories in the United States to help Ukraine plan and execute its goals on energy, he added.

Ukraine was among the largest gas holders in Europe with 38.5 trillion cubic feet in proven natural gas reserves at the end of 2020, according to a statistical report compiled by BP.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

📹 Trump on his indictment: There is no case

In his speech, the embattled former US president slammed those behind the charges against him and claimed “the real criminal” in the case against him is “the District Attorney, because he illegally leaked massive amounts of information.”

Read more

US Pulls Philippines Into NATO's Geopolitical Confrontation Versus China

In April, US military units could be deployed to new Philippine-owned bases. An expanded US military presence in the Philippines would allow the US to respond to the situation around Taiwan from the south. The US threatens peace and stability in the South China Sea, which China finds unacceptable.

Read more

🐼 Kung Fu Panda from the Moscow Zoo is meditating on a life of athletic endeavor and harsh battles

Pandas, unlike most bears, do not hibernate. Apparently they don't need to because they can fall asleep at any time and in any place

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

❗️Key moments from Donald Trump’s historic arraignment:

▪️The former US president faces criminal charges on 34 felony counts;

▪️Prosecutors alleged Trump sought to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election and was part of an unlawful plan to suppress negative information;

▪️Trump was formally arrested while being charged for two hours, becoming the first former president of the United States with the status of a prisoner;

▪️Trump was spared handcuffs and mugshot but was fingerprinted;

▪️The arrest was eventually withdrawn and Trump left the court;

▪️He said there is no case against him and labeled the prosecutor a criminal;

▪️Trump said the US is “going to hell”;

▪️The White House said the indictment “is not something that is a focus” for Biden;

▪️US media estimated that Trump will face 136 years in prison.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

⚡️ India to test Russian-made S-400 missile defense systems: ANI citing defence source

"It is planned to fire one of the short or medium-range missiles at a fast-moving aerial target very soon," the Indian Defense Ministry source said.

India signed a contract in October 2018 to buy the S-400 from Russia, becoming the third foreign buyer of this weaponry after China and Turkiye. It has already taken delivery of the first two consignments of the missile systems.

Subscribe to @sputniknewsindia for more defence updates

🇵🇸🇮🇱 Israeli military strikes Gaza after nine rockets fired in wake of Al-Aqsa Mosque clashes

The attack comes as a response to a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip following the Al-Aqsa Mosque clashes. Earlier on Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces said that a total of nine rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip at Israel overnight.

💬 "5 rockets were fired from Gaza at Israel tonight. 4 of them were intercepted by the IDF Aerial Defense Array," the IDF said on Twitter, adding that "following the additional sirens that sounded, 4 rockets were launched from Gaza and landed in open areas."

Subscribe to @Sputnikint

What Happened During Trump's First Day in Court as Criminal Defendant?

History was made on April 4, as for the first time a former President of the United States appeared in court as a criminal defendant. The 45th POTUS was earlier indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on charges related to hush-money payments made before and after the 2016 presidential election.

Here is a look at Trump's first day in court and what could come next in the indictment.

Ukrainian strike drone falls near Zaporozhye NPP

💬 "The Ukrainian regime has made yet another attempt to attack the power plant with the use of a Polish-made UAV despite the presence of the IAEA personnel at the plant. The weight of the UAV was over two kilograms. The location of the UAV wreckage may indicate that the ZNPP's infrastructure was the target of the attack. Causes of the drone crash are being determined by specialists," a commander of the Russian unit ensuring the safety of the plant has told Sputnik.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi visited the ZNPP on March 29 and said that the plant should not be considered a target during the hostilities and used for return fire. During the visit, Grossi inspected the site together with the plant's management and responsible technical staff. The official said that new measures have to be taken to protect the ZNPP as the situation there was not getting better.

Following the visit, Russian Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov said that Moscow supports the IAEA efforts aimed at protecting the nuclear safety of the plant.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️The Russian Foreign Ministry calls for the immediate release of, and medical assistance for Metropolitan Bishop Pavel, vicegerent of the contested Kiev-Pechersk Lavra

'Dangerous & Illegal Overreach': GOP, Allies Slam Trump's Criminal Indictment

After Tuesday's arraignment of former President Donald Trump, who faces 34 felony charges of falsifying business records related to 2016 hush money payments that he denies, Republican lawmakers, political leaders and the public have been reacting to the historic indictment.

Read more

❗️Death toll from earthquakes in Turkiye reaches 50,339

💬 "The identification of the bodies continues. The number may yet be updated," Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said, as quoted by Turkish media.

On February 6, two earthquakes of magnitudes 7.7 and 7.6 hit the southeastern regions of Turkiye at a nine-hour interval, toppling thousands of homes.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️Russia is ready to work on implementation of IAEA initiative on safety of the ZNPP

Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev held a meeting with IAEA head Rafael Grossi in Russia's Kaliningrad. The sides discussed the safety of the ZNPP.

💬 "The participants of the meeting discussed the state of affairs around the initiative of the IAEA director general to ensure nuclear and security safety at the Zaporozhye NPP. The readiness of the Russian side to continue work on its implementation was emphasized," Rosatom said.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️(1) Latest statements by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

▪️Introduction of Finland into NATO does not strengthen stability and security in Europe, but rather creates a threat to Russia;

▪️Russia needs additional measures to ensure its security after Finland's entry into NATO and will do everything necessary to achieve this;

▪️Russia does not currently see any prospects for negotiations with Ukraine;

▪️Russia cannot interfere in the internal affairs of the United States and will not comment on the situation with Trump's arraignment;

▪️Putin will deliver a comprehensive speech on foreign policy issues at the ceremony of presenting letters of credence to ambassadors.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️(2) Latest statements by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

▪️Heads of the four new regions in Russia will personally be present with Putin in the Kremlin at the Security Council meeting;

▪️Putin may hold a separate meeting with the heads of the new regions after the Security Council meeting on Wednesday;

▪️The communication between Putin and Lukashenko today will be devoted to bilateral issues and common concerns in the field of security;

▪️On relations with China: we rely on the content and spirit of the contacts between the two leaders.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

What are the 34 Charges Against Donald Trump?

Donald Trump was indicted by a grand jury in Manhattan last week on charges related to a hush money payment and cover-up involving an alleged affair with Stormy Daniels.

On April 4, he made his initial appearance in court, where he was charged with 34 felony criminal charges of falsifying business records. The proceeding lasted less than an hour.

Read the full text of Trump’s indictment

🇪🇺The European Union intends to continue constructive cooperation with China on solving global issues, but expects China to "behave positively," especially with regard to the situation in Ukraine, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Wednesday.

"The European Union is committed to continue a constructive engagement with China in order to solve the global challenges. But China is expected to behave as a positive, a constructive global player, especially with regard to Russia's aggression against Ukraine," Borrel said, during opening remarks at the second day of the NATO foreign Affairs ministerial meeting in Brussels.

On Tuesday, Borrell said that he will pay a visit to Beijing next week.

Earlier in the day, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in China for an official three-day visit at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt