By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
UN General Assembly votes to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
The United Nations General Assembly just overwhelmingly voted to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It was a ringing global denunciation by the world against Russia.
The vote was 141 nations in favor of the move and five nations were against it, with 35 countries abstaining.
SA was one of 35 countries that abstained. Five countries were against the resolution.
The resolution “deplores” the invasion of Ukraine “in the strongest terms” and condemns President Vladimir Putin’s decision to put his nuclear forces on alert.
Brazil – a fellow BRICS country – supported the resolution. Other African countries like Kenya, Rwanda and Nigeria also supported.
As the results were placed on the screen in the chamber, a rare standing ovation occurred.
The result while legally non-binding carries some political weight globally, though it is doubtful if it will change Moscow’s military aggression.
The resolution “also demands that the Russian Federation immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.”
Before the resolution was put to vote, the Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya received a rare applause from the UN General Assembly chamber.
Russian ministry of defense acknowledges military casualties in Ukraine, according to briefing on state media
Russian Ministry of Defense spokesperson Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Wednesday that 498 Russian military personnel have been killed since the invasion of Ukraine and 1,597 have been wounded.
“Unfortunately, we have losses among our comrades who are participating in the operation,” Konashenkov said in a briefing carried on state television.
Conflict in Ukraine makes it “much more likely” Covid-19 will spread, WHO official says
Conditions on the ground in Ukraine will make it easier for Covid-19 to spread, Dr. Mike Ryan, director of the World Health Organization’s Health Emergencies Program, said during a news briefing on Wednesday.
“Anytime you disrupt society like this and put literally millions of people on the move, then infectious diseases will exploit that,” Ryan said.
“People are packed together, they’re stressed, and they’re not eating, they’re not sleeping properly. They’re highly susceptible to the impacts, first of all being infected themselves. And it’s much more likely that disease will spread,” he said.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the organization is “deeply concerned” about reports it has received about attacks on health care facilities and workers.
“We have received several unconfirmed reports of attacks on hospitals and health infrastructure, and one confirmed incident last week in which a hospital came under heavy weapons attack, killing four people and injuring 10, including six health workers. We are currently in the process of verifying several other incidents,” he said.”
Attacks on health care are in violation of international humanitarian law,” Tedros said.
According to Johns Hopkins University data, Ukraine recorded a record high number of Covid-19 cases early last month, with over 45,000 reported on Feb. 4. And just about 34% of Ukraine’s population is fully vaccinated, according to JHU.
“There’s no doubt in this case, that the military operations, invasion, whatever you want to call it in Ukraine, is causing untold suffering to the people of Ukraine,” Ryan said. “WHO does not want to be drawn into the politics of that process.”
“From our perspective, we call on the parties, and particularly call on the government of Russia to reconsider its position in the light of the suffering that’s being generated in Ukraine,” he said.
Russian delegation has arrived in Belarus for a second round of talks with Ukraine
The Russian delegation has arrived in Belarus for the second round of talks with Ukraine, head of Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky told Russia 24, adding that the Ukrainian delegation has left Kyiv and is en route to Belarus for the talks.
They’re expected to arrive early morning Thursday local time (which is late Wednesday evening ET).
“Belarusian special services fully ensure the safety in Belarus, and our [Russian] military has ensured a safety passage for their [Ukrainian delegation] movement through Ukraine,” Medinsky said and continued to thank Belarus for hosting the two delegations.
The delegations from Ukraine and Russia over the situation in Ukraine will be represented by the same members as during the first round, Russian state news agency RIA reported.
US Vice President Harris: “The eyes of the world are on the brave people of Ukraine”
Vice President Kamala Harris reaffirmed the United States stands with Ukraine saying Wednesday in North Carolina, “The eyes of the world are on the brave people of Ukraine.”
“I do want to say a few words about the situation in Ukraine,” Harris began her remarks in Durham.
“As we all know, the eyes of the world are on the brave people of Ukraine. They are fighting. They are fighting. Not just to defend their homes and their families, but to defend their democracy and their freedom, their sovereignty, and their territorial integrity. And we stand with them. We stand with the people of Ukraine in this fight,” Harris said.
Harris is visiting Durham Technical Community College to highlight the Biden administration’s investments in workers, one day after President Biden delivered his State of the Union address.
“We stand with our allies and our partners on the side of knowing that we must always be vigilant in defending the ideals that we hold dear, and in cherishing and supporting and strengthening our friendships and partnerships around the world based on shared ideals and principles, and so with that, we all I know express our thoughts and our prayers and well wishes to the people of Ukraine,” Harris added.
Ukrainian foreign minister says he’s unsure whether new talks will take place with Russia
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says it is “unknown now when a new round of talks will take place” with Russia.
The first round of talks took place …. Russia’s conditions remain unchanged,” Kuleba wrote in a post on Facebook.
“We are ready for talks, we are ready for diplomacy, but we are not in any way ready to accept any Russian ultimatums, “he added.
Russian Central Bank suspends bank transfers abroad for non-residents, state media reports
The Russian Central Bank has suspended transfers from the accounts of non-residents abroad in an attempt to avoid the withdrawal of funds due to sanctions imposed on the country, state news agency TASS reported Wednesday.
In order to prevent export of cash from the Russian financial market and to maintain financial stability, the Bank of Russia has temporarily suspended transfers to foreign bank accounts from accounts held by non-resident corporate entities and individuals from a number of countries,” the Russian Central Bank said, according to TASS.
“Transfers by non-residents without a bank account are restricted to $5,000 or equivalent per month,” the bank added, according to the news agency.
The restrictions do not apply to Russian citizens or to foreign nationals from countries that are part of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The move comes as the Russian currency, the ruble, continues its downward spiral and the Moscow Stock Exchange remained close for a third day in a row, in light of sanctions.
Nearly 836,000 refugees have left Ukraine since February 24, says UN
The UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees said 835,928 refugees have left Ukraine since February 24.
More than half of them (453,982) fled via Poland. Another 116,348 went to Hungary, according to the UNHCR.
Another 96,000 people moved to the Russian Federation from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions between 18 and 23 February. Those two regions are controlled by Russian-backed separatists. The Kremlin in February recognized them as independent states in defiance of international law.
Natural gas prices in Europe hit record high, spiking 60% since Tuesday
The price of natural gas in Europe hit a record on Wednesday amid concerns from traders that its supply could be disrupted due to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Benchmark futures jumped as high as 194 euros ($215) per megawatt hour. That’s a 60% leap versus Tuesday and more than double where prices stood on Friday.
Russian pipe flows to Europe are continuing normally, according to Alex Froley, a market analyst at Independent Commodity Intelligence Services. But there’s “a lot of uncertainty and concern about how things could change,” he said.
Froley noted that the United Kingdom has banned Russian owned and controlled ships from its ports, which could disrupt shipments of liquefied natural gas from Russia that account for between 3% and 4% of the country’s gas supply.
Poland won’t send fighter jets into Ukrainian airspace, says President Andrzej Duda
Poland will not send fighter jets into Ukraine, Polish President Andrzej Duda said Tuesday, adding that Poland is “not joining” the ongoing conflict as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine.
“{We are not sending any jets to Ukraine because that would open military inference in the Ukrainian conflict. We are not joining that conflict. NATO is not party to that conflict,” Duda said.
We are supporting Ukrainians with humanitarian aid. However, we are not going to send any jets to Ukrainian airspace,” he continued.
Speaking alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg during a press conference at Poland’s Lask airbase, Duda stressed that Poland and NATO will continue to “stand at the side of Ukraine.”
While Polish jets will not be operating in Ukrainian airspace, NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg said Tuesday that “fighter jets from the United States are flying alongside the Polish air force “in NATO airspace.
“Putin’s war affects us all and NATO allies will always stand together to defend and protect each other,” Stoltenberg said.
“NATO is a defensive alliance. We do not seek conflict with Russia. Russia must immediately stop the war, pull out all its forces from Ukraine, and engage in good faith in diplomatic efforts,” he added.
Post office suspends mail service to Russia, Ukraine, Belarus
The South African Post Office (Sapo) has suspended the mail service to Russia, the Ukraine and Belarus.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Post Office said airmail remains available to 33 countries and surface mail to 51 countries.
“Customers who order items from other countries should include their cell phone number with their address details so that the Post Office is able to send them an SMS when the item is ready for collection.
“Customers who send items to other countries must make sure they do not send anything that is not allowed in the mail, which includes any arms, ammunition, explosives, liquids or items that could break and leak. No plant or animal material may be sent to other countries. For more information, please visit the website of the postal administration in the receiving country,” Sapo said.
The Post Office has encouraged customers to take care when packing items for dispatch abroad, as mail is transported in bulk.
“International items are delivered within an average of 10 workdays. For a quicker service, the post office offers the EMS service, which delivers items within 24 hours of arrival in the destination country.
“Customers can easily access the electronic customs declaration form on the Post Office website for quick clearance of parcels. The form is under ‘tools’ on the website www.postoffice.co.za,” Sapo said.
South Africans are entitled to two tax-free gifts from abroad per year, provided the value of each gift is below R1 400.
UK Prime Minister calls Russia’s assault on Ukraine “abhorrent”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the “abhorrent attacks” on Ukraine in phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday.
Sharing his disgust at the attacks on Ukraine, the Prime Minister said the UK was doing everything possible to support the Ukrainian people and their resistance, “Johnson’s office said in a statement.
“Both leaders agreed on the need for sanctions to go further to exert maximum pressure on (Russian) President Putin in the coming days.”
Zelensky thanked Johnson for the United Kingdom’s support and defensive aid, adding “it had been vital in holding back Russian forces,” the statement read.