Author: Steven Sahiounie

DHL, UPS, FedEx suspend shipments of packages due to war-related sanctions DHL is the latest international logistic giant to stop deliveries to Russia and Belarus, the company confirmed on Wednesday. FedEx and UPS announced suspensions of service earlier this week. “Our inbound services to Russia and Belarus have been suspended, which is why we are also not accepting shipments to those countries until further notice,” Germany’s DHL has said, in an alert published on its website. Another statement says that DHL’s offices and operations in Ukraine have also been closed until further notice. DHL has become the third major parcel…

The Russian foreign minister’s remarks come amidst a new wave of economic sanctions launched by the West. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that “if unleashed, a Third World War would be waged with the use of nuclear weapons and it would be disastrous.” Late last week, US President Joe Biden argued that the only alternative to sanctioning Russia for its “invasion” of Ukraine would be the outbreak of World War III. Following the claims, Washington and its Western allies imposed new sanctions on Russia, including the closure of their airspace to all Russian flights and the sanctioning of a number of Russian…

Earlier, the Kremlin revealed negotiations would resume later on Wednesday A second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine will take place on Wednesday evening in Belarus, the Office of the President of Ukraine has confirmed. Kiev, however, warned that it would not accept any ultimatums from Moscow. Earlier, President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced that Moscow’s “delegation will be ready to continue the conversation this evening.” When asked if President Putin’s aide, Vladimir Medinsky, would still be heading the Russian negotiating team, Peskov replied in the affirmative. Peskov refused, however, to disclose the exact location in Belarus where…

On 28 February, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg announced that the alliance was increasing supplies of air defence missiles and anti-tank weapons to Ukraine amid the military operation launched by Russia to “demilitarise and de-Nazify” Ukraine.There are no guarantees that there won’t be any incidents with NATO as the alliance continues to supply arms to Ukraine, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said. “We are extremely concerned about those arms delivery programmes”, he said. “Everything in this situation is very dangerous, there are no guarantees that there will be no incidents [with NATO]”. Commenting on the potential risks of such incidents between…

Over the years, Russia has positioned itself as a fair mediator between Israel and the Palestinians. Although Moscow maintains stable relations with the Jewish state, it has also repeatedly stressed its commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.In Israel, it appears that local authorities have already chosen sides in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, after Moscow sent its troops into the country last Thursday.Officials in Jerusalem have condemned Moscow’s move and supported a vote against it at the United Nations.Sticking to NeutralityYet, in the Palestinian territories, both in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip,…

The Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson says that 1,502 elements of Ukrainian military infrastructure have been disabled in the course of the operation. Russia’s Defense Ministry announced, on Wednesday, that Russian military forces took complete control of the Ukrainian regional center of Kherson. On his account, Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov said that “the city does not face shortages of food and essential goods”, adding that negotiations between the Russian command, the administration of the city, and the region are underway to address issues of maintaining the functioning of social infrastructure facilities, ensuring law and order, as well as the safety of the population.”…

Ambassador Andrey Kelin said British sanctions against Russia may force embassy closure, with Moscow reciprocating Financial sanctions imposed by the UK against Russia have put into question Moscow’s ability to fund its embassy in London, Ambassador Andrey Kelin said on Wednesday. If the mission is forced to shut down, Moscow will order the British embassy in Moscow to shut down too, effectively severing regular diplomatic ties between the two nations, he warned. The embassy is analyzing ways to remain financially afloat after the UK-imposed restrictions on major Russian banks, Kelin said in the interview. “The sanctions provide for exceptions for…

The news of the latest shipment has not yet been confirmed by Ankara \ Turkey has delivered additional Bayraktar TB2 strike drones to Kiev, Ukrainian Defense Minister Alexey Reznikov claimed on Wednesday in an emotional Facebook post. The Turkish government did not immediately comment on the statement. “New Bayraktars have already been delivered and deployed for combat. There will be more Stingers and Javelins,” the minister said, referring to Turkish-made Baykar Bayraktar TB2 drones and US-made man-portable anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapon systems. He said the provision of foreign military aid to Kiev was being ramped up. “Europe is becoming our rear and…

Charles Michel warned Vladimir Putin’s actions have put international order and democracy “under attack” European Council President Charles Michel launched a blistering tirade against Russia in a speech to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on Tuesday, accusing Moscow of engaging in “geopolitical terrorism” by invading Ukraine. “The rules-based international order, democracy, human dignity are also under attack. This is geopolitical terrorism, pure and simple,” Michel declared, accusing Russia of violating international law with the military activity in its neighboring country. Addressing the European Parliament after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke via video to MEPs, Michel acknowledged that, while Ukraine’s application to join…

The United States and the European Union have committed to send over $850 million in additional arms aid to Ukraine, on top of the nearly $3 billion in weapons already pumped into the country following the 2014 Maidan coup.Kiev is close to running out of Stinger man-portable anti-aircraft missiles and Javelin anti-tank missiles, Ukraine’s ambassador to the US Oksana Markarova has told lawmakers in Washington. “She made clear that they’re going to run out of Stingers and Javelins really fast,” Senator Chris Murphy told reporters after meeting between Markarova and House and Senate lawmakers Monday. Markarova said she and US politicians had…