NATO forces are gathered in Norway for joint drills as the defense alliance — along with Russia, China and others — are vying for greater control of the Arctic.
(Bloomberg) — NATO forces are gathered in Norway for joint drills as the defense alliance — along with Russia, China and others — are vying for greater control of the Arctic.
Russian missiles and artillery have destroyed more than 152,000 residential buildings since the start of the invasion, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said in a televised interview over the weekend.
Key Developments
- The Arctic Is Where NATO and Russia Are Flexing Military Muscle
- Sunak Visits US to Unveil Australian Nuclear-Sub Plan With Biden
- Pentagon Puts Priority on Replacing Munitions in 2024 Budget
- Putin to Meet Business Tycoons For First Time Since Start of War
(All times CET)
Xi May Visit Russia as Early as Next Week, Reuters Reports (10:45 a.m.)
Chinese President Xi Jinping may visit Moscow as early as next week, Reuters reported, showing his close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin even as Beijing seeks to portray itself as a broker for peace in Ukraine.
There was no immediate official confirmation of the report from Moscow or Beijing, though both capitals had said for weeks that a visit was in the works. Putin said in February he was looking forward to hosting Xi in the Russian capital, and China’s annual National People’s Congress legislative session wrapped up on Monday.
Xi’s visit would come as the US and China remain at odds on a broad range of issues, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Wagner Chief Says Ammunition Flowing From Ministry of Defense (10:45 a.m.)
The founder of Russian mercenary group Wagner, Yegveny Prigozhin, said that he’s resolved a dispute with the Ministry of Defense over a lack of shell supplies.
Wagner, which is leading a months-long assault on the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, received 27 trucks of ammunition over the past 48 hours, Prigozhin said in an audio message posted by his press service late Sunday.
“There’s no conflict between fighters from Wagner and the ministry of defense,” he said.
Russia Reopens the Door on Economic Data, a Bit (10:45 a.m.)
Russia’s Federal Customs Service said it’s resuming publication of some trade data suspended in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine last year.
The government had stopped release of a broad range of indicators about a year ago in an effort to complicate outside efforts at assessing the impact of sanctions imposed by the US and its allies. But with the economic hit from the restrictions less than many had expected, the government has been showing some openness of late.
The Customs Service reported only overall numbers for goods trade last year, putting exports at $591.5 billion and imports at $259.1 billion in 2022, according to Interfax. The Bank of Russia had already reported figures for goods and services trade. Customs didn’t provide a breakdown by country.
Putin to Meet Tycoons for First Time Since Start of War (7:57 a.m.)
Putin plans to meet top business leaders in the Kremlin this week for the first time since he launched the invasion of Ukraine, according to people familiar with the preparations.
The March 16 gathering with the top members of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) comes as the government, struggling to cover rising spending as the war enters its second year, is stepping up pressure on companies to pay more in taxes. Last year’s meeting with the tycoons was scrapped amid the fighting.
Where last year, many tycoons were worried that appearing publicly with Putin might make them targets of sanctions, most of the major RSPP board members now are subject to the restrictions.
NATO Holds Joint War Drills in the Arctic (7:57 a.m.)
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is holding joint war exercises in Norway as it jockeys with Russia, China and others for greater control of the Arctic.
Estimates suggest that the Arctic region holds around one-fourth of the globe’s oil and natural gas resources, while its sea routes could shave days if not weeks off traditional commercial shipping passages.
The drills also suggest that regardless of what happens in Ukraine, NATO states are headed into a long-term climate of confrontation with Russia.
Russia Says West Continues to Block Its Agriculture Exports (7:57 a.m.)
Russia reiterated ahead of Monday consultations with the UN in Geneva that the only part of the Black Sea Grain Initiative that has been effectively enforced is allowing Ukrainian exports, while its own agricultural shipments continue to be blocked by Kyiv’s allies, according to a statement on Foreign Ministry’s website over the weekend.
The agreement, whose 120-day run ends on March 18, has enabled the shipment of 24 million tons of Ukrainian crops since it was negotiated last July.
Russia is aware of various statements regarding the possible extension of the grain deal, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in the statement, adding that there have been no talks on this yet, especially with Russia’s participation. Hulusi Akar, the defense minister of Turkey, which brokered the deal, said his government expects the grain deal will be extended.
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