Anadolu Agency’s Morning Briefing – March 8, 2022

Anadolu Agency is here with a rundown of the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic and other news in Turkiye and around the world.

Russia announced early Monday that it would declare a cease-fire in the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv, Mariupol, Kharkiv and Sumy from 10 a.m. local time (0700GMT) to ensure evacuations of civilians.

Russia informed Israel that it knows the whereabouts of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Israeli media reported Monday.

At least two Syrians were killed early Monday after an Israeli attack targeted the capital Damascus, according to Syria’s official news agency SANA.

Paris-based food company Danone said it is suspending all investment projects in Russia amid the war in Ukraine.

New Zealand announced Monday that it has extend its sanctions against Russia through new legislation and imposed a travel ban on top Russian leaders including President Vladimir Putin.

South Korea has indicated that it will not fully join its allies in providing lethal weapons to Ukraine, local media reported Monday.

US video game developer Epic Games has announced that it has stopped commerce with Russia in response to the Russian war on Ukraine.

Turkiye on Monday welcomed the cease-fire announced by Russia for the evacuation of civilians in Ukraine.

Major Finnish food company Fazer announced that it has decided to exit all its operations in Russia amid the war in Ukraine.

American multinational clothing company PVH Corp. announced that it is temporarily closing stores and pausing all commercial activities in Russia and Belarus as of Monday.

China said Monday that it is willing to play a “constructive role” to facilitate dialogue for peace and work alongside the international community “when needed to carry out necessary mediation,” said Foreign Minister Wang Yi when asked about Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced Monday that it is opening six humanitarian corridors and halted hostilities from 10 a.m. Moscow time (0700GMT) to let civilians leave battle areas.

Turkiye’s foreign minister on Monday announced a tripartite meeting with Ukraine and Russia to be held at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum later this week.

The Russian government on Monday issued a list of countries “taking unfriendly actions against Russia, Russian companies, and citizens,” referring to the economic sanctions introduced amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

According to a decree published on the government’s website, the list includes Albania, Andorra, Australia, Great Britain, including Jersey, Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, EU member states, Iceland, Canada, Liechtenstein, Micronesia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, San Marino, North Macedonia, Singapore, the US, Taiwan, Ukraine, Montenegro, Switzerland and Japan.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday he was “utterly convinced” that Ukraine will win in its war against Russia.

At least 13 people were killed in a Russian airstrike on a bread factory near Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities said Monday.

Ukraine reportedly neutralized a Russian warship in the Black Sea, an official said Monday.

Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan will attend the upcoming Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkiye as the normalization process between the two countries continues, his spokesperson confirmed.

Over 1.7 million people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries since Russia launched a war on its neighbor on Feb. 24, the UN Refugee Agency said Monday.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday accused his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of “mocking” morality by offering humanitarian corridors for Ukrainian civilians to leave, but only to go to Russia or Russian-backed Belarus.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday a further $230 million to Ukraine, bringing total UK aid to the war-torn country to $526 million.

Two UN peacekeepers died and four others were wounded Monday in Mali when their logistics convoy hit an improvised explosive device, said a UN official.

The third round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine kicked off in the Belarusian city of Brest on Monday.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has ordered the deployment of an additional 500 troops to Europe to bolster NATO’s capabilities amid Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine, the Pentagon announced Monday.

Russia is in the midst of efforts to recruit Syrians to fight on its behalf in Ukraine, a senior US defense official said Monday.

Ukrainians have enough strength to defend themselves, but the international community must do its part, Ukraine’s former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said Monday.

Poland denied Monday that it has sent any fighter aircraft to Ukraine to support its defense against Russia, local media reported.

Turkiye has evacuated 12,306 citizens from Ukraine since Russia launched a war on its neighbor, the Turkish foreign minister said Monday.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Monday that Ukraine wants direct talks between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin because Putin is the one who “makes the final decisions.”

Source: Anadolu Agency