The latest development： Zelensky： Ukraine and Russia will continue negotiations on the 15th.
07: 52 Beijing time on March 15th:
Zelensky: Ukraine and Russia will continue negotiations on the 15th.
In the early morning of 15th local time, Ukrainian President Zelensky said that Ukraine and Russia would continue their negotiations on 15th.
07: 43 Beijing time on March 15th:
Zelensky: There are nearly 100 Russian helicopters shot down by Uzbekistan.
In the early morning of 15th local time, Ukrainian President Zelensky delivered a video speech through his personal social account, saying that nearly 100 Russian helicopters and 80 other fighters were shot down by Ukrainian armed forces. Russia also lost hundreds of tanks and thousands of technical equipment.
At present, Russia has not responded to this yet.
06: 21 Beijing time on March 15th:
Adviser to the Office of the President of Ukraine: Ukraine and Russia are expected to sign a peace agreement within one to two weeks at the earliest.
On the 14th, local time, Liesto, adviser to the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that Ukraine and Russia are expected to sign a peace agreement within one to two weeks at the earliest, and a peace agreement will be signed in May at the latest.
Jovkova, deputy director of the Ukrainian President’s Office, said that in the negotiations with Russia, Ukraine is gaining the guarantee of future national security. He said that during the negotiations, the two sides have put forward a plan to sign a peace agreement and provide security guarantees for Ukraine after the military operations stop.
Jovkova stressed that for Uzbekistan, Russia’s territorial claims are unacceptable, and Uzbekistan is ready to continue negotiations on the remaining issues.
Up to now, the Russian side has not responded.
05: 50 Beijing time on March 15th:
India’s oil price has risen sharply, considering buying more Russian oil.
On the 14th local time, two Indian officials, who did not want to be named, revealed that the Indian government was considering buying more oil and other products from Russia at preferential prices to cope with the sharp rise in oil market prices. At the same time, India and Russia are preparing to directly use the settlement mechanism between Indian Rupee and Russian roubles, and European and American sanctions will not prevent India from importing Russian oil.
It is understood that 80% of India’s oil demand depends on imports, and the proportion of oil imported from Russia in the past was 2% to 3%.
05: 46 Beijing time on March 15th:
Zelensky signed a presidential decree to extend Ukrainian wartime state.
△ Presidential decree document signed by Zelensky
On the night of 14th local time, Ukrainian President Zelensky signed a presidential decree to extend Ukraine’s wartime status for 30 days from March 24th. Relevant orders have been submitted to the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine for approval.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine previously voted on February 24 to pass a presidential decree on the implementation of wartime state throughout Ukraine.
04: 33 Beijing time on March 15th:
The private sector donated more than $200 million to UNHCR for emergency response in Ukraine.
On March 14th, local time, UNHCR pointed out in official website that with the increasing number of displaced people, the rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation and the surge in related needs, the private sector has contributed to the Ukrainian rescue work at a record level, with companies, foundations and individuals donating more than 200 million US dollars in more than two weeks.
△ Image source: UNHCR
UNHCR said that since the beginning of the crisis, donations from the private sector have enabled it to respond quickly, such as arranging air transport and truck convoys to provide assistance to refugees and displaced persons in Ukraine, and providing emergency cash assistance to those in need so that they can find safe shelter, warm materials and food. UNHCR also provides psychological support and targeted care for the most vulnerable groups (including unaccompanied children), deploys dozens of emergency experts to help establish reception facilities, and strengthens actions in Ukraine and the whole region. With the increasing humanitarian needs, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees called on the private sector to continue to provide support.
According to the agency’s statistics, since February 24, more than 2.8 million people have been forced to flee Ukraine as refugees, and at least 2 million others have been displaced within the country. The UNHCR fears that if the war continues, millions of people will be displaced.
04: 01 Beijing time on March 15th:
Belarus and Russia will abandon the use of dollars in energy transactions.
On the 14th local time, Belarusian Prime Minister Golovchenko said that Belarus and Russia will give up using US dollars in energy transactions. The two sides will set a more favorable price for Russian oil purchased by Belarus.
Russia has promised to lift the epidemic prevention restrictions in border areas as soon as possible, and Russia’s import restrictions on Belarusian products are also being lifted.
03: 05 Beijing time on March 15th:
The World Bank announced an additional $200 million in financial assistance for Ukraine.
△ World Bank
On March 14th, local time, the World Bank announced an additional $200 million in financial aid for Ukraine to increase humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Together with the latest fund, the total assistance provided by the World Bank to Ukraine has exceeded $925 million, of which $350 million has been delivered to Ukraine.
It is reported that this fund is part of the $3 billion support plan that the World Bank plans to raise for Ukraine, and the World Bank is still preparing for the rest of the support plan.
02: 06 Beijing time on March 15th:
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Bennett exchanged views on Russian special military operations by telephone.
△ Russian President Putin (left) and Israeli Prime Minister Bennett (right)
On 14th local time, Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Bennett on the same day, according to the Kremlin official website.
The two sides exchanged views on Russia’s special military operations. Putin drew Bennett’s attention to the brutal act of the Ukrainian military using cluster munitions to launch a missile attack on the central area of Donetsk that day, which caused a large number of civilian casualties in the city.
Bennett briefed the Russian President on his recent contacts with leaders of several countries on the Ukrainian issue. Putin introduced the progress of recent video talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives.
01: 42 Beijing time on March 15th:
The EU announced that it would take new sanctions against Russia to cancel the most-favored-nation trade status for Russia.
On the 14th local time, France, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, announced on social media that the EU has decided to adopt a new round of sanctions against Russia. The main measures include canceling Russia’s most-favored-nation trade status, prohibiting EU enterprises from investing in Russian oil and gas industry, prohibiting the export of luxury goods and advanced cars to Russia, and prohibiting the export of Russian steel to the EU.
This is the fourth round of EU sanctions against Russia since the outbreak of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said that the EU will also seek to stop Russian membership in international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
00: 53 Beijing time on March 15th:
Head of the Russian delegation to Russia-Ukraine negotiations: Video talks between Russia and Ukraine are going on every day without rest days.
△ Video negotiation site of the fourth round of talks between Russia and Ukraine
On 14th local time, after the conclusion of the fourth round of Russian-Ukrainian talks, Mezinski, head of the Russian delegation, said that video talks between Russia and Ukraine were going on every day, with no rest days, and the Russian delegation was doing everything possible to strive for a peaceful future.
00: 00 Beijing time on March 15th:
UN Secretary-General: Allocate another $40 million to increase Ukraine’s humanitarian assistance.
△ UN Secretary-General Guterres
On March 14th, local time, UN Secretary-General Guterres delivered his latest speech on the situation in Ukraine. Guterres said that with the passage of time, two things have become increasingly clear. One is that the situation is deteriorating, and the other is that no matter what the outcome, there are no winners in this war, only losers. The United Nations and humanitarian partners are working hard to ensure relevant safe passage and provide assistance when security permits. At present, more than 600,000 people have received some form of assistance.
Guterres announced that the United Nations will allocate another $40 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to increase Ukraine’s humanitarian assistance and help people in need.
Guterres stressed that the escalation of the situation in Ukraine has dealt the greatest blow to developing countries and the poorest people in the world, sowing seeds for global political instability and turmoil. The international community must do everything possible to avoid mass hunger and the collapse of the global food system. "Under these huge and interrelated challenges, I announced today the establishment of a global food, energy and financial crisis response team in the United Nations Secretariat."
At 23: 43 on March 14th, Beijing time:
IMF: If the situation in Russia and Ukraine is not optimistic, Ukraine’s GDP is expected to drop by 25% to 35% this year.
On the 14th local time, the International Monetary Fund released its latest forecast. It is predicted that if Ukraine can quickly end the conflict situation, Ukraine’s GDP is expected to drop by 10% this year; If the situation is not optimistic, the decline will reach 25% to 35%.
At 22: 25 Beijing time on March 14th:
The United States will invite Uzbek President Zelensky to deliver a video speech on the 16th.
On 14th local time, the US Senate and House of Representatives sent an invitation letter to Ukrainian President Zelensky, inviting Zelensky to give a video speech in the US Congress on 16th.
On 14th, Speaker of the House of Representatives Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Schumer issued a joint invitation letter, inviting all members of the Senate and House of Representatives to have an online meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky on 16th morning. Pelosi and Schumer wrote in the letter that the US Congress will unswervingly support Ukraine and pass legislation to sanction Russia and provide assistance to Ukraine.
Source: CCTV news client
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