Update(9:01ET): Russia on Monday has issued a firm and unyielding response to G-7 ministers who had dismissed as “unacceptable” its plan to only accept ruble payments for Russian gas going to “unfriendly” nations.
Earlier Monday German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said from Berlin that the Kremlin demand for natural gas contracts to be paid in rubles is a “one-sided and clear breach of contracts” – saying the contracts must be honored under prior conditions, according to Bloomberg. “That means that a payment in rubles is not acceptable and we urge the relevant companies not to comply with Putin’s demand,” Habeck said. “Putin’s effort to drive a wedge between us is obvious but you can see that we won’t allow ourselves to be divided and the answer from the G-7 is clear: the contracts will be honored.”
The Kremlin’s quick shooting down of the German economy minister’s comments and the G-7’s stance on the ruble came Monday via a Russian lawmaker to state-run RIA Novosti: “Russian lawmaker Abramov says G7’s refusal to pay in Russian roubles for gas will definitely lead to a halt in supplies.”
Elsewhere the Kremlin said it’s not running a “charity” – according to TASS:
Moscow is handling the details of its gas delivery plans to unfriendly countries for payment in rubles, but it won’t engage in charity if Europe refuses to pay in the Russian currency, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.
…The Kremlin spokesman remained tight-lipped on what measures Russia might take if Europe refused to pay for gas in rubles, noting that these “issues should be sorted out as they develop.” “But we will definitely not supply gas for free, that’s for sure. It is hardly possible and reasonable to engage in charity in our situation,” he emphasized.
Putin has reportedly set a deadline for days away…
* * *
Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on all the latest development, news and fake news out of Ukraine, courtesy of Newsquawk:
Negotiations/Talks
- Ukrainian President Zelensky said he would like an all for all prisoner exchange with Russia and that they have handed over a list to Russia. Zelensky added that they will not sit down for talks with Russia if discussions are about “demilitarisation and some kind of denazification.” Zelensky stated that Ukraine is ready to discuss neutrality and non-nuclear status if backed by security guarantees, while he added that a deal is only possible with a troop withdrawal and that he wants a compromise with Russia regarding Donbass.
- Ukrainian Interior Ministry Advisor says he expects no major breakthrough at peace discussions.
- Turkish President Erdogan told Russian President Putin in a call that there needs to be a quick ceasefire with Ukraine and that they need to improve the humanitarian situation in the region, while it was also reported that the next round of face-to-face talks between Russia and Ukraine will be held in Turkey on March 28th-30th.
- Senior Turkish official says that talks between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators will begin in Istanbul later today. However, the Russian Kremlin said talks are unlikely to commence on Monday, may start on Tuesday. No substantial achievements/breakthroughs in talks, no progress re. a potential Putin-Zelensky meeting.
- Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov says President Putin never refuses to meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky, but since meetings must be well prepared, a (presidential) meeting to exchange views at this time would be counter-productive.
- Ukraine’s Deputy PM says that no humanitarian corridors will be opened today as intelligence suggested potential Russian provocations on corridor routes.
Other Officials
- US President Biden said NATO is a defensive alliance and it has never sought Russia’s demise and that “swift and punishing” costs are the only things that will influence Russia to change course. Biden added that US forces are in Europe to defend NATO allies, not to engage with Russian forces and stated that Russian President Putin cannot remain in power, although Biden later said that he was not calling for a regime change in Russia.
- White House official said President Biden was not calling for a change of regime in Russia and the US envoy to NATO also commented that the US does not have a policy of regime change in Russia. In relevant news, a Kremlin spokesman responded that it is not for US President Biden to decide and said the President of Russia is elected by Russians.
- German Chancellor Scholz said a regime change in Russia is not NATO’s goal. Furthermore, Scholz said that Germany is considering purchasing a missile shield.
- US Secretary of State Blinken said Israeli efforts to mediate on Ukraine-Russia are important and closely coordinated with the US.
Defence/Military
- Russia launched 70 missiles on targets in Ukraine on Saturday which was the largest daily amount since the war began, although reports added only 8 of the 70 missiles reached the target, according to Pravda with most shot down by Ukrainian defense.
- UK Ministry of Defence said Russia is maintaining a distant blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea coast and effectively isolating Ukraine from maritime trade, while it noted that Russian naval forces are continuing their sporadic missile strikes against targets throughout Ukraine. UK Defence Ministry also said Russia is stepping up attempts to encircle Ukrainian forces directly facing the separatist regions in the east, advancing from the direction of Kharkiv in the north and Mariupol in the south, according to Bloomberg.
- US is to provide an additional USD 100mln in civilian security assistance to Ukraine, according to the State Department.
- Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister said that Russian forces are regrouping but not able to advance anywhere within Ukraine, via Reuters. Subsequently, reports suggest that Russia is attacking to the east and northwest of Kyiv, trying to take key roads and settlements, according to a war reporter based in Ukraine
Energy/Economic Sanctions
- US is to sanction companies providing technology for Russian military and intelligence services, according to a WSJ report late on Friday.
- Japanese Finance Minister Suzuki said the government cannot confiscate foreign central banks’ reserves parked with the BoJ under current laws, while Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno said they will revise FX control laws swiftly to strengthen sanctions against Russia and hope to submit a bill at the current parliamentary session.
- Russian Kremlin says President Putin has instructed the CBR and Gazprom to use the RUB in gas sale transactions to unfriendly nations by March 31st, via AJA Breaking.
Other
- Iranian Foreign Minister said that France, Germany and UK agree on the text and that the US ‘accepts’ it must address some remaining issues, while he also stated that a deal hinges on the US removing the IRGC from the terror list, according to Bloomberg. Furthermore, Iran’s Foreign Minister said Tehran welcomes normalisation of ties with Saudi Arabia and is determined to expand cooperation with Syria, according to state TV.
- EU’s Borrell said a nuclear agreement with Iran is very close.
- US Special Envoy for Iran Malley said he can’t be confident that a deal is imminent and said they also thought they were close a few months ago.
- US Secretary of State Blinken said a return to the JCPOA is the best way to put Iran’s nuclear program back in the box and that US commitment to the principle of Iran never acquiring a nuclear weapon is unwavering, while he added the US will continue to stand up to Iran if it threatens the US and its allies.
- Israeli PM Bennett said that he hopes the US will heed calls against the delisting of the IRGC from its terrorism blacklist, while Israel’s Foreign Minister said Israel and the US will continue working together to prevent a nuclear Iran.
- Two police officers were killed and four people were injured during a shooting attack in Israel’s Hadera, which ISIS claimed responsibility for.
- North Korean leader Kim said North Korea will keep developing formidable striking capabilities and their self-defence force cannot be bartered nor be bought according to KCNA, while it was separately reported that North Korea is to accelerate the restoration of its demolished nuclear test site, according to South Korea press.
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Things are getting pretty dang skippy.
I’m sure Russia would take Bitcoin. The lack of long-term thinking by the Buden administration is alarming. it looks like the Russians hold all the cards to me. Apparently only the dumb countries are worried about renewable energy that doesn’t work very well. The rest of the planet uses fossil fuels (expands their use) and laughs at us. I bet we keep sending massive amounts of grains to China. Maybe we will double down on not producing energy and really tank the U.S. I hear they want to print and give away more money.
How many XE aka Blackwater aka Academi specialists does a hundred million dollars buy these days?
https://www.xecompany.us/
Why is US Tax dollars being spent on a country that has no real material or military benefit …..
OH wait its not about Ukraine at all is it, not since 1990.
WWIII has started just needs to ramp up and get things in place.
Wars were never ever started in a day, they are long term planned
Europe, and Germany especially, has really stepped on their own dicks in this conflict. Once they are dependent upon the US for gas, the US will subjugate Europe even more than it does today. US natural gas will be much more expensive, and the result will be even more economic hardship for Europe..
If they have any brains at all, they will try to mend their relationship with Russia, which will mean abandoning sanctions and voting against any more NATO involvement in Ukraine.
I doubt that any of this will happen though, unless the people rise up and demand it. Their leadership is as weak and incompetent as ours is….
Russia turns off the gas and Europe freezes next winter. Europe shuts down nearly all industry without gas to power the factories. No factories, no jobs, just print some more euros and have utopia.
This made me laugh because, well, wouldn’t YOU get a missile shield about now?
The only problem with that is the only missile shield that really works are the Russians…….
Against hypersonic missles? Best of luck to ya!
So the euro peons think they can steal the Russian’s money and then expect them to keep accepting the dollar and euro for payment? Money which they will not be able to cash? Fuck them. Their gas and oil is just days away from cutoff. You don’t pay the utility bills, they get shut off.If I was the Russian official responsible, that’s exactly the explanation I would use. Simple so the euro peons can understand.
Fact US is playing CYA regarding Ukraine ! Our State Department , DOD and CIA screwed the pooch for the Ukrainian people .
Black former CIA head kept a seat warm for Hunter Biden on the Board Of Burisma and the big guy got the prosecutor that was investigating Burisma for their criminal activity Joe Biden proudly boasts SON OF A BITCH I got him fired so my pay offs go undiscovered and continued . Add Zelensky the puppet president backed by a CIA/ Soros coup killing the Russian speaking people in 2 Ukraine states financed by NATO (US) other than that NOTHING TO SEE HERE BUT PUTIN & RUSSIA BAD !
Give me a break you bunch of parasitic liars and con artist criminals !
What goes around comes around.
But now it’s unfair.
Suck it up.
Ummm, I wonder who is going to blink.
This would be funny if it wasn’t dancing around extinction level events.
It’s not.
Right. Forgot, nukes don’t exist.
And the earth is flat..
The best part was Russia telling them that they can buy rubles – 5000 rubles per gram of gold – from Russia.
Russia is not playing. No money no honey.
Zelensky appears to belong to the “demand the ridiculous” school of negotiating. Good luck with that.
This war has made Zelensky a world wide celebrity. The last thing in the world he wants is for it to end, and him go back to being a nobody….
The Western Oligarchs are one Cunt Hair from pissing the BRICS off enough that they say FU’all; you can take your dollars and shove them up your ass; you don’t tell us that we have to accept ; from now on you pay us with Rubles, Wuan, Rupees, Pesos, and gold for whoever you want or go fuck yourself.
My oil, my gas, you will pay me what currency I want. Don’t like that? Then gold is the only payment I will accept.