Newsletter 01/03/2024
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Polish farmers put Shehyni border checkpoint on Ukraine border on full shutdown for cargoes
"The situation hasn't actually changed in recent days. But today we have a certain change toward the Shehyni checkpoint. At 13:00, as the Polish side informed us, Polish farmers refused to let through any inbound or outbound trucks. Before that, truck crossings were recorded at a minimum level," he said.
Zelensky, Rutte meet in Kharkiv, sign off security cooperation deal
PHOTO, VIDEO
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands held a meeting in Kharkiv where the two leaders signed a bilateral agreement on security cooperation.
G20 finance chiefs fail to reach joint statement amid disagreements over war in Ukraine
A meeting of finance ministers and central bank chiefs from the Group of Twenty (G20) countries in Brazil ended without a joint statement due to disagreements over Russia's war in Ukraine and the Hamas-Israel conflict.
Ukrainian drones hit Pantsir-S1 air defense system on Russian soil
Ukraine’s unmanned aerial vehicles successfully attacked a Pantsir-S1 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun and missile system in Russia’s Belgorod region on February 29.
Scholz admits fears of Ukraine potentially firing Taurus missiles at Moscow
This time, Scholz’s argument to back his stance was the idea that the German-made missiles could potentially be launched at targets in Russia’s capital Moscow.
"A Taurus with the 500-km range may hit some specific target in Moscow if used incorrectly," the politician said.
Ukrainian Defense Forces regain lost positions in Avdiivka direction - Tarnavskyi
In the Avdiivka direction, Russian troops are increasing the intensity of artillery shelling, have a significant advantage in ammunition, and are increasing the number of assault groups. The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to conduct defensive operations and in some places regain lost positions.
War
Russia making "powerful thrusts" toward Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region
Access to Chasiv Yar will pave way for the enemy to continue their offensive efforts, offering a springboard for the offensive on Kostiantynivka. And, of course, their main goal in Donetsk region is the Kramatorsk-Sloviansk agglomeration.
Defense
Slovenia giving Ukraine EUR 1.5B for humanitarian demining
The government has approved and will submit to the Verkhovna Rada for ratification an agreement with Slovenia to support the humanitarian demining program in Ukraine in the amount of EUR 1.5 million.
Politics
Turkey, China appear to be pursuing own negotiation platforms for settlement in Ukraine – ISW
Russia previously seized on China’s approach to a vaguely defined political peace plan for Ukraine to claim that China supports Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, as ISW previously reported. Chinese Special Representative for Eurasian Affairs Li Hiu will visit EU states, Ukraine, and Russia starting on March 2 to conduct a round of shuttle diplomacy regarding a political solution to the war in Ukraine. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan similarly announced on February 28 that Ankara is prepared to provide another negotiations platform for Russia and Ukraine.
Economy
War risk insurance: Unity program extended to non-military cargoes
"Extending insurance to all non-military cargoes, such as container transportation, iron ore, and steel, is vital for Ukraine, especially in view of expanding opportunities for the export of steel products, since this sector has been badly affected by the full-scale invasion. In 2023, steel output in Ukraine decreased by 3.4 times against 2021, and the export of metallurgical products – by several times. Also, ship insurance can support our efforts to increase the volume of exports of all non-raw products," said Yuliia Svyridenko, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy of Ukraine.
Japan imposes new sanctions on 12 individuals, 36 entities linked to Russia
In particular, the new sanctions will affect Atomflot Federal State Unitary Enterprise, Tinkoff Bank, Novator Research and Design Bureau, Aeroskan LLC, Kalashnikov Concern, Uralvagonzavod Corporation, Almaz-Antey Concern, as well as Konstantin Fedorenko, the director of Artek Children’s Camp, and the government officials involved in the abduction of Ukrainian children.
Zara preparing to reopen stores in Ukraine - Reuters
Spanish retail giant Zara is preparing to reopen the stores in Ukraine that it shut soon after Russia's full-scale invasion of the country.
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Video
Family with two children evacuated from Toretsk
In the Donetsk region, a family of six people, including two children, was evacuated from the shelled Toretsk, 300 meters from the front line, by the police crew "White Angels". Another 17 children remain in the town.