Russia-Ukraine war, live: Russia and UN to hold talks on extending crucial deal

Here’s what you need to know about the Russian invasion of Ukraine today:

Kharkiv Governor Ole Sinyehubov spoke about the situation of electricity supply in the region.

“The situation of power supply in Kharkiv is difficult because the power system has suffered significant damage. However, critical infrastructure has already been restored in the city and water supply has been almost fully restored. The area has recovered by more than 90%. Electric transport is still under voltage and not working. To fully restore power supply The energy sector is working hard,” he said in a video on his Telegram account.

The Ukrainian State Broadcaster, Through his official Telegram channel, “At night, Russian troops attacked the Nikopol district of the Dnipropetrovsk region with rockets and artillery. One hit resulted in significant destruction of electrical installations, leaving three apartments without electricity. There were no casualties.”

On the other hand, “Power continues to be restored in Kyiv after yesterday’s bombings: As of this morning, 30% of homes remain unheated.”

Meanwhile, electricity has already been restored in the entire Kharkiv region, except for a few communities, although there may be interruptions during the day, officials told state media.

Government of Russia on Friday accused the US of being behind “anti-Russian sentiment”. He said he witnessed protests in the former Soviet republic of Georgia in the Caucasus.

Referring to a statement from New York by Georgian President Salome Djurapishvili on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted that her speaking from the United States was a sign. “One’s visible hand is trying to stoke anti-Russian sentiment.”

The Kremlin said today that it sees potential “provocation” risks in Georgia’s two Russian-backed breakaway regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, after days of protests against a “foreign agents” bill in Georgia.

Georgia’s parliament today abandoned plans to amend the law, sparking three days of massive street protests in the capital Tbilisi.

Reuters Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Moscow was monitoring the situation “with concern.”

Lviv Governor Maksym Kozytskyi said in a Telegram today that 892 people left for Przemyśl in Poland yesterday and 55 more internally displaced people arrived in his region during the day on evacuation trains from eastern Ukraine. Guardian.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent his “sincere congratulations” to Chinese Representative Xi Jinping, who was re-elected for a third term, and hailed the “strengthening” of cooperation between the two countries.

“Russia greatly appreciates your personal contribution to strengthening the relations between our countries (…). “I firmly believe that by working together, we will ensure the development of effective Russian-Chinese cooperation in various fields,” Putin said in a statement released by the Kremlin. “We will continue to coordinate our common work on the most important issues on the regional and international agenda,” the Russian president added.

Xi’s re-election to an unprecedented third term as China’s president “demonstrates on the international stage recognition of his qualifications as head of state and support for his policy of safeguarding China’s social and economic development and national interests,” Putin said.

Spokesman of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr ZelenskyLulia Mendel confirmed that Ukraine received one of the two National Air Defense Systems Promised by the US and Germany, however not yet operational and therefore not used against missiles Kinchal During the Russian bombing raid on the country.

As reported in the last few hours Institute for War Studies Offensive action Wagner Russian paramilitary group It has entered a “temporary tactical pause” east of the city of Pakmut, but it is unclear whether the mercenaries will maintain their operational priority in future Russian attacks on the city.

Administration Joe Biden In America Ukraine allocates more than $6 billion in its annual budget to the UN and its European allies With the goal of “prioritizing funding and improving the capabilities and readiness of the United States, allies, and allied forces in the face of continued Russian aggression.”

This is how the White House through a Document That Includes $63 billion for the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (usaid), which is an increase of close to US$5,000,000 over last year’s approved budget. According to the State Department, it $1.7 billion to support Ukraine and other partners affected by Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Russia questioned the agreement to export grain from Ukrainian Black Sea ports Because it was “half used.” The deal, negotiated with the UN and Turkey in July 2022 and extended in November, expires on March 18.

The initiative was aimed at averting a global food crisis It allowed the safe export of Ukrainian grain from three ports blocked after the Russian invasion.

Agreement It will be extended for 120 days in November and will be renewed on March 18 If neither party objects. however, Moscow has indicated it will accept an extension only if restrictions are lifted. It affects their own exports.

Russian agricultural exports have not been openly targeted by the West, but Moscow says restrictions on its tariff, logistics and insurance industries prevent it from exporting its own grain and fertilizer.

“There are still many questions about the end recipients, about where most of the grain goes. And, of course, questions about the second part of the agreements are well known to everyone,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

After a massive attack by more than 80 Russian missiles against Ukraine, the head of the nuclear watchdog United Nations He again warned of the danger of power loss Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant and explosions near the facility.

“If we allow this to continue over and over again, one day our luck will run out.”, Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said.

The plant was not working at the time of the attack on Thursday morning And alternate power systems should be implemented to avoid dangerous power outages. Therefore, according to the Ukrainian authorities, it will take about nine days to restore its full functionality.

“I marvel at the complacency, yes, the complacency. What are we doing to prevent this from happening? We are the IAEA, we have to care about nuclear safety,” Croci added.

“It’s Europe’s largest nuclear power plant… What are we doing? How can you sit in this room this morning and allow this? This cannot continue,” he concluded.

President of the United States, Joe BidenHe has announced that he will visit Canada on March 23 and 24 and meet the Canadian Prime Minister. Justin Trudeauand strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

The leaders will reaffirm their commitment to the agreement between the two countries and Mexico as a basis for working on a new bilateral agreement that will regulate the joint priorities of the United States and Canada: cooperation on safety and security, climate action and immigration.

Among the issues to be discussed is strengthening and modernizing the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), a joint organization between the two countries that oversees the defense of their territories’ airspace.

Likewise, talking points outside US borders and Canadians will have war in Ukraine and crisis in Haiti, and the entire Indo-Pacific region. During the visit, which will be attended by First Lady Jill Biden, the US President will address the Canadian Parliament.

Representatives of the Russian media Novaya GazetaAwarded with Nobel Peace PrizeAnd the award-winning NGO Memorial said, “Authorities harass those who simply ask for peace”, while analyzing changes in information management and civil society in Russia since the launch of a large-scale invasion against Ukraine last year during a visit to Argentina.

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