WAR IN UKRAINE: March 2, 2023
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: Day 372
In continuing wave of Russian targeting of Ukraine civilian buildings, three people were killed in an overnight missile attack on a five-story building in Zaporizhzhia, the National Police reported. Six injured were hospitalized, rescuers continue to work on the spot - Suspilne
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on March 2 urged China not to send weapons to help Russia's war in Ukraine and instead asked Beijing to exert pressure on Moscow to pull back its forces - RFE/RL
Russia continued to step up its assault on Bakhmut over the past 24 hours, while overnight shelling killed at least three civilians in the southern city of Zaporizhzhya, regional officials said on March 2.
Ukraine contended on Wednesday that it has dealt Russia a major defeat, overcoming Moscow's weeks-long barrage of attacks that targeted Ukrainian electrical and water systems to damage them and inflict maximum pain on Ukrainians during the depths of winter. "On March 1, 2023, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin suffered another major defeat," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter. "Despite the cold, darkness, and missile strikes, Ukraine persevered and defeated his winter terror." Furthermore," Kuleba wrote, "Europe has not 'frozen' despite Russian predictions and mockery" as Western countries allied with Ukraine curbed their purchase of Russian fuel for homes and businesses. "I thank our partners for standing with Ukraine - VOA
Russia has threatened not to renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative if certain conditions are not met, reported Reuters on March 1. The deal, which was signed by Ukraine and Russia and mediated by the United Nations and Turkey, is set to expire on March 18. It must be renewed unanimously by all parties involved. According to Reuters, Russia views sanctions on its payments, logistics, and insurance industries as an inhibitor to its grain and fertilizer exports. “(The) Russian side stressed that continuing the package agreement on grain is possible only if the interests of Russian agricultural and fertilizer producers in terms of unhindered access to world markets are taken into account,” the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement cited by Reuters.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed doubt Wednesday about how serious Russia and China are about achieving peace in Ukraine, citing a lack of substantive steps by either country to back up statements showing support for a peace effort. Speaking during a visit to Uzbekistan, Blinken told reporters that if Russia were genuinely prepared to engage in meaningful diplomacy to end its aggression, then the United States would be quick to engage in that effort. But he said Russia's actions, including Putin's demands that Ukraine recognize Russia's control over parts of Ukrainian territory, show Russia is not interested in that path. "The real question is whether Russia will get to a point where it is genuinely prepared to end its aggression and do so in a way that is consistent with the United Nations charter and its very principles," he said. "No one wants peace more urgently than the people of Ukraine. They are the victims every single day of Russia's aggression," Blinken said. "We all know the simple truth that the war could end tomorrow, it could end today, if President Putin so decided. He started it, he could stop it” - VOA