War against Ukraine: ++ So far no Chinese arms deliveries ++

9:51 a.m

Medvedev wants to ban “foreign agents” from earning money in Russia

Ex-President Dmitry Medvedev believes that anyone who is classified as a “foreign agent” in Russia should no longer be allowed to earn money in the country itself. The 57-year-old told the Russian media that this would have to be recorded directly in legislation in the future. The controversial law on “foreign agents” in Russia serves to stigmatize people, the media and non-governmental organizations who are not loyal to the line. Medvedev’s demand, who still has great influence as Deputy Head of the Russian Security Council, would mean, among other things, a professional ban and a publication ban for Kremlin critics in Russia.

Medvedev referred to the Russian writer Boris Akunin, “who left the country, cursed the country, the military special operations and the armed forces”, but whose books are still available in Russia. In order to classify a person as a “foreign agent”, the authorities do not have to prove that the person has received money from abroad. The accusation that the accused is under “foreign influence” is sufficient.

More than 160 organizations and more than 250 individuals are currently on the blacklist of the Russian Ministry of Justice. After the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, which Moscow only calls “military special operations”, the authorities significantly enlarged the black list.

09:18 am

Putin confidante proposes ban on International Criminal Court in Russia

A confidante of Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested banning the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Russia. The Speaker of Russia’s Lower House, Vyacheslav Volodin, called for a ban on all activities of the Criminal Court in Russia and for punishing anyone who cooperates with and supports the ICC. It is necessary to change the legislation to that effect, he wrote on Telegram.

In mid-March, the ICC issued an arrest warrant against Putin on charges of war crimes in connection with the invasion of Ukraine. Russia has called the arrest warrant outrageous, unacceptable and hostile.

9:13 a.m

Biden: China has not yet delivered any weapons to Russia

According to US President Joe Biden, China has not yet delivered any weapons to Russia. “That doesn’t mean that they won’t do it yet, but they haven’t done it yet,” said Biden, referring to the corresponding fears of Western countries against the background of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. At a press conference in the Canadian capital Ottawa, Biden said he had “heard for three months” that China would supply Russia with important weapons. “They haven’t done that yet,” said the US President.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that Washington currently has no evidence that China is providing significant military support to Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine. Washington “to this day has not seen them cross that red line,” Blinken said at a hearing before a US Senate committee.

7:18 a.m

Ukraine has denied UN allegations of arbitrary executions

Ukraine has denied UN allegations that, like Russia, it arbitrarily executed prisoners of war without trial. The Foreign Ministry in Kiev thanked the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine for its investigations, but warned against any attempt “that could be interpreted as equating the victim with the aggressor.” It is “unacceptable” to blame the “victim of aggression”.

The head of the UN mission to monitor human rights in Ukraine, Matilda Bogner, said at a press conference in Kiev that in the war against Ukraine both sides had executed prisoners without trial or charge. In addition, Ukrainian and Russian prisoners of war were mistreated.

Ukrainian human rights envoy Dmitro Lubinets told Telegram that he was “surprised” by the United Nations’ allegations against his country. He was not informed in advance about the findings. Lubinez did not directly reject the allegations. However, he emphasized that he now wanted “to know the facts and the indisputable arguments” on which the conclusions of the UN mission were based.

7:18 a.m

Zelenskyj relies on World Bank for reconstruction of Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is counting on the support of the World Bank to help rebuild the country devastated by Russia’s war. Promising new programs were discussed at a meeting with representatives of the World Bank, Zelenskyy said in a video message. Housing, social infrastructure, the economic basis of life – all of this must be rebuilt, he said.

Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine has caused at least around 125 billion euros in damage in its first year alone, according to a report.

7:18 a.m

War in Ukraine reduces fertilizer consumption in Germany

High gas prices and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine have led to falling fertilizer sales in Germany. According to the Federal Statistical Office, sales fell by 13 percent to 1.1 million tons in the 2021/22 marketing year. So far this year, farmers have been reluctant to buy fertilizer, as reported by Munich-based BayWa, Germany’s largest agricultural trader. One possible consequence is poorer harvests. But as a result, the nitrogen inputs in the groundwater are presumably lower.

3/24/2023 • 3:01 am

The live blog from Friday to read