Sputnik

2022-03-02 22:08:59 The Biden administration plans to ban Russian-flagged ships from entering US ports, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing officials. The move would be mostly symbolic, as Russian ships represent less than 1% of cargo volumes to the United States, the report says. Open / Comment

2022-03-02 21:34:20 The US is imposing new sanctions and export restrictions against Russia and Belarus:

The Treasury Department will impose full blocking sanctions on Russia's defense sector, targeting 22 defense-related entities, including companies that make aircraft, drones, infantry fighting vehicles, and missiles;

The Commerce Department will impose export controls targeting Russia's oil and gas refining capacity with the aim of "degrading Russia's status as a leading energy supplier over time";

Commerce will also target technological exports to Belarus and will blacklist entities that have supported the Russian or Belarusian security services, military and defense sectors. Open / Comment

2022-03-02 20:31:46 Russia’s Ministry of Defense says that since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine:

498 Russian soldiers have been killed and 1,697 Russian soldiers injured;

Among Ukrainian nationalists and soldiers, more than 2,870 have been killed and about 3,700 were wounded.

The Russian Ministry of Defense stressed that neither Russian conscripts nor cadets are participating in the special operation. Open / Comment

2022-03-02 20:07:09 The UN General Assembly has passed a resolution demanding that Russia stop its military operation in Ukraine in a 141-5 vote, with 35 abstentions.

Belarus, Eritrea, North Korea and Syria joined Russia in voting against.

Before the vote, Russian Envoy Vassily Nebenzia urged the UNGA to reject the draft resolution, saying that the West is pressing member states to back it. Open / Comment

2022-03-02 19:49:28 The negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will take place, however the time has not yet been determined, it could be on Wednesday evening - a source tells Sputnik. Open / Comment

2022-03-02 19:28:32 Georgia will apply for EU membership on Thursday, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party says. Open / Comment

2022-03-02 19:18:12 Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada Committee has endorsed a bill on stiffer punishments for treason and sabotage, under which perpetrators may face a life sentence, local media report. Open / Comment

2022-03-02 18:33:46 President Biden says the US is trying to make "indirect contact" with China over the situation in Ukraine. Open / Comment

2022-03-02 18:21:47 OPEC+ will proceed with a planned increase in oil production by 400,000 barrels per day in April, the alliance stated following a meeting on Wednesday, adding that the next meeting will be held on March 31. Open / Comment

2022-03-02 17:33:12 US President Joe Biden during his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress made a number of remarks about the situation in Ukraine: Biden said the US and its allies extensively prepared for the Russian operation in Ukraine and… Open / Comment