Zelenskyy ready to talk neutrality with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy advised unbiased Russian journalists Sunday that his authorities would take into account declaring neutrality and providing safety ensures to Russia, echoing earlier statements.

That pact would come with conserving Ukraine nuclear-free, he mentioned.

However Zelenskyy added that adopting a impartial standing would should be assured by third events and put to Ukrainian voters in a referendum after Russian troops withdraw — inside a number of months as soon as Russian troops depart.

Russia nearly instantly banned Zelenskyy’s remarks from being revealed. Roskomnadzor, the Russian federal company regulating communications for Moscow, issued the ban Sunday and mentioned there may very well be motion taken towards the Russian media shops that took half, together with “these which might be overseas media shops performing as overseas brokers.”

Russia lately handed a legislation threatening as much as 15 years of jail time for anybody publishing data that goes towards Moscow’s narrative concerning the battle.

Newest developments

►The Oscars took 30 seconds of silence for Ukraine, starting with a tribute from Ukrainian-born Mila Kunis and ending with the Academy Awards fading to black about halfway by way of Sunday’s present.

►A prime Ukrainian official accused Russia of attempting to separate Ukraine into two nations Sunday, drawing a comparability to North and South Korea.

Talks between Ukraine and Russia to happen in Turkey 

Ukraine and Russia will meet in individual in Turkey starting Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned in his Sunday nightly tackle to his nation.

Ukraine’s priorities on the talks in Turkey this week might be “sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he mentioned.

“We’re on the lookout for peace, actually, immediately,” Zelenskyy mentioned. “There is a chance and a necessity for a face-to-face assembly in Turkey. This isn’t dangerous. Let’s see the end result.”

Davyd Arakhamia, the chief in parliament of the faction of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Servant of the Folks get together, mentioned on Fb that the in-person talks had been agreed upon in a video session.

Nevertheless, Russia’s chief negotiator mentioned the talks would start on Tuesday, not Monday.

The 2 sides have met beforehand with out reaching a deal.

– Celina Tebor

Contributing: The Related Press

Ukraine battle threatens meals provide in Arab world

From Lebanon, Iraq and Syria to Sudan and Yemen, hundreds of thousands of individuals within the Center East whose lives had been already upended by battle, displacement and poverty are actually questioning the place their subsequent meals will come from.

Ukraine and Russia account for a 3rd of world wheat and barley exports, which nations within the Center East depend on to feed hundreds of thousands of people that subsist on sponsored bread and cut price noodles. They’re additionally prime exporters of different grains and the sunflower seed oil that’s used for cooking.

Even earlier than the battle in Ukraine, folks in nations throughout the Center East and North Africa weren’t getting sufficient meals to eat. Now with commerce disruptions spurred by the battle, extra commodities have gotten both unaffordable or unavailable.

“Put merely, folks can’t afford meals of the standard or amount that they want, with these in conflict- and crisis-affected nations … at best danger,” mentioned Lama Fakih, Center East and North Africa Director at Human Rights Watch.

— Related Press

Refugees fleeing Ukraine

Only one month because the Russian invasion Ukraine, greater than 3.6 million refugees have been compelled to flee the nation, making this the quickest rising refugee disaster since World Conflict II, in accordance with the United Nations refugee company.

A further 6.5 million folks have been displaced internally inside Ukraine and over 12 million extra have been affected within the areas hardest hit by the battle.

Humanitarian wants are rising exponentially.

“Many individuals stay trapped in areas of escalating battle and, with important providers disrupted, are unable to fulfill their fundamental wants together with meals, water and medicines,” the company annoucned in a bulletin. “The supply of lifesaving help stays difficult, with a scarcity of protected humanitarian entry.”

— Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy