1:51 pm: Russia considers extension of grain deal with Ukraine “complicated”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the extension of the grain deal with Ukraine as “complicated”. As one reason, Lavrov cited clauses in the agreement that were supposed to guarantee Russia’s grain and fertilizer exports, but were not enforced. “If only half of the package is fulfilled, the issue of extension will become more complicated,” he said in Moscow on Thursday. A UN-Turkey-brokered agreement was signed in July to allow safe exports of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea Security Corridor. In November, the contract was extended by four months. It will automatically be extended on March 18 unless Moscow or Kiev object.
Aid organization Save the Children has warned that global hunger could worsen if the grain deal between Russia and Ukraine is not renewed. “This is a lifeline for millions of children who are starving. If we don’t act now, the consequences for children around the world will be catastrophic,” said Nana Ntheda, director of humanitarian advice and policy at the children’s charity.
1:50 pm .: Paris: Situation at Ukrainian nuclear power plant “unacceptable security risk”
France has described the situation at Ukraine’s Zaporizhia nuclear power plant as an “unacceptable security risk”. French foreign ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre said in Paris on Thursday that the French government was “concerned” about the power outage at the nuclear power plant after Russia’s attack. According to the operator, the plant was disconnected from the power grid after the Russian attack. Energoatom explains that Akw currently operates with the help of diesel generators. Emergency generators have been called into action for the sixth time since Russia seized the site.
1:18 pm: European gas prices hit their lowest level in a year and a half
Wholesale gas prices in Europe continued to fall, hitting a 19-month low. The TTF futures contract on energy exchange in the Netherlands, a benchmark, briefly fell to EUR 40.50 on Thursday morning and was below EUR 45 per megawatt hour overall. Despite current below-average temperatures in much of western and northern Europe, “gas prices are relatively stable,” analysts at Energy Denmark said. This is because storage facilities are still well-stocked. Winters have been relatively mild so far.
1:11 pm: Swiss parliament votes to allow arms supply
The Swiss National Council voted by a slim majority to send arms from Switzerland to Ukraine – but under very implausible circumstances. Parliament’s grand chamber voted 98 to 96 with two votes on Wednesday to grant the Federal Council exceptional authorization to re-export Swiss-made weapons, which are currently banned under Switzerland’s neutrality law. However, the move is a UN-sponsored move in Ukraine. Since Russia has veto power in the UN Security Council, this situation is not out of the question. Despite intense pressure from Kiev and its allies, Switzerland has so far refused to allow countries that own Swiss-made weapons to export to Ukraine. Applications from Germany, Spain and Denmark were rejected, citing the Swiss War Material Act, which prohibits the delivery of weapons to war zones.
1:03 pm: No power in Ukrainian regions after Russian attack
Power outages in many parts of Ukraine on Thursday after a new Russian rocket attack on Ukraine. The mayor of Kharkiv, a large city in the east of the country, Ihor Derekov, said on television: “The whole city has no electricity. So we have switched to generators for critical infrastructure and medical facilities.” There is no water in Kargi, and the heating does not work. The city was hit by at least eleven rockets on Thursday night.
12:49 pm: Poland: Ten more Panther tanks delivered to Ukraine
As reported, Poland has meanwhile delivered ten more Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine. Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said on Thursday that the German-made Leopard 2A4 tanks are Warsaw’s contribution to a main battle tank battalion. Accordingly, the platoon should be completed with tanks from Canada, Norway and Spain. Poland will also set up a maintenance center for main battle tanks. Warsaw announced on Tuesday that the tanks would be delivered by the end of the week. In total, Warsaw announced the delivery of 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Kiev.
12:41 pm: Slovakia wants to supply fighter jets to Ukraine
Slovakia, along with Poland, wants to supply Ukraine with Soviet MiG-29 fighter jets. Defense Minister Jaroslav Knot announced on Facebook on Thursday. Knott was referring to a meeting with Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak on Wednesday in Stockholm. He added: “I confirm that Poland has officially agreed that we will jointly supply MiGs to Ukraine.” Knott did not specify a specific timetable. Poland’s President Andrzej Duda had earlier announced that his country was ready in principle. Slovakia’s defense minister warned of a rush to hand over fighter jets to a country attacked by Russia: “I think it’s time for a decision. People in Ukraine are dying. We can really help them. So there’s no more room for politics. It’s inhumane and irresponsible.”
12.01 pm
The Kremlin said reports that a pro-Ukrainian group was behind the attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines were untrue. “As for the alleged pro-Ukrainian ‘Doctor Evil’ who orchestrated all this, it is hard to believe,” Kremlin spokesman Peskov told the Interfax news agency. Few intelligence agencies can accomplish such a task, he said.
11:52 am .: IAEA chief criticized the work of his nuclear agency
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grosi, has criticized the handling of the blackout at Ukraine’s Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. “What are we doing to prevent that from happening?” Grassi asked at the IAEA meeting. “We are the IAEA, we have to take care of nuclear safety. Every time we roll the dice. And if we let this happen again and again, one day our luck will run out.”
11:43 am: Saudi Arabia positions itself as a mediator
Saudi Arabia is ready to act as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine – Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud emphasized in a meeting with Russian Minister Sergey Lavrov. At a joint press conference in Moscow, Lavrov pointed out that Saudi Arabia, along with other states, had already mediated a prisoner-of-war exchange between Russia and Ukraine.
11.13 am
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is concerned by the repeated failure of regular power supplies at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. This is the sixth time Europe’s largest nuclear power plant has switched to emergency diesel generators because of war, IAEA chief Raffaele Croci said. “Every time we roll the dice, if we keep doing that, one day our luck will run out,” warns Croci. It must not continue like this. It’s time to build a safety net around the power grid. He will continue his efforts in this matter, Croci said. Nuclear power plants depend on reliable electricity for safe operation.
11.06 am: Slovak minister wants decision on fighter jets
Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Knot is demanding that his country decide on the delivery of MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. “It’s time for a decision,” Nat writes on Facebook. “People are dying in Ukraine, we can help them, there is no place for Slovak politics.” He spoke to his Polish counterpart on Wednesday. He said his country would agree to a joint plan to supply fighter jets to Ukraine.
10:58 am .: Russia reports an attempted attack in the separatist region of Transnistria
According to Russian news agency RIA, there has been an attempt to assassinate a separatist leader in the breakaway region of Transnistria from the neighboring Republic of Moldova. Rhea reports that local security services in the separatist region, backed by Moscow, foiled the plan. The agency said, citing security officials, that the assassination was ordered by Ukraine’s intelligence service.
Tensions and concerns over Russia’s possible escalation in Transnistria, where Russian troops are also stationed, have been simmering for weeks in EU candidate Moldova. Moldova’s President Maia Sandu has accused Russia of planning a coup.
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