Zelensky: security guarantees from the US only if we surrender the Donbass

Seventy-two MPs in the 101-seat legislative assembly approved the 60-day measure. None voted against and 18 abstained. "What is happening today in the energy sector is no accident," said Moldovan Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu, "Russia's attacks on civilian energy infrastructure in Ukraine representa war crime, but also an attack against us, here in the Republic of Moldova. Russia is solely responsible for this'.

The state of emergency starts today. It will allow the authorities to "act more quickly: mobilise additional resources, protect critical infrastructure and, if necessary, take additional measures to limit the effects of the crisis," Munteanu added. "We remain vigilant and act for the security of every citizen. This is not a measure dictated by panic, but one dictated by responsibility,' the premier concluded.

In Odessa, in Ukraine, the head of the regional administration reported that - as a result of an overnight attack by a Russian drone in the southern part of the region - a residential building was damaged. One person was injured and another is discovered under the rubble. This was reported by the RBC-Ukraine news agency, citing a post published by the head of the Odessa regional administration, Oleg Kipper, on the Telegram channel.

Another person died in Kharkiv: a Russian drone hit a car in the locality of Zolochiv, Bogodukhiv district, killing a civilian, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

The tactical group of the 3rd Special Operations Forces Regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces eliminated Russian invaders who had managed to infiltrate the Donetsk area. As reported by Ukrinform, the news was released by the Special Operations Forces Command. While searching for the infiltrated enemy forces, the special forces first located and killed two Russian soldiers armed with small arms. After that, they ambushed the invaders' path. "Following the direct action, two more occupiers who were moving along the forest belt to reinforce the previously annihilated enemy were eliminated," the Sso noted. In addition, military intelligence officers captured two Russian soldiers in the Zaporizhzhia area.

From Belgorod, in Russia, however, they report that Kiev has severely damaged the city's energy infrastructure. This was stated by Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov- again via Telegram, as reported by the Russian news agency Tass and the Ukrainian news agency Rbc. "Belgorod and the Belgorod district were the target of a missile attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to preliminary information, there are no casualties. Severe damage was caused to the energy infrastructure,' the governor wrote. Interruptions in the supply of electricity, water and heating were reported. The more precise extent of the damage will be assessed in the coming hours.

The Moscow Defence Ministry, quoted by the Russian news agency Tass, said that Russian air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 389 Ukrainian drones in Russian regions overnight.

This massive night-time Ukrainian drone attack - which also targeted the Leningrad region, where an important port on the Gulf of Finland was hit - comes after Kiev announced that Moscow had launched almost 1,000 drones over its territory in 24 hours yesterday.

The Russian Defence Ministry, quoted by the Tass news agency, also announced the conquest of the village of Nikiforovka in the Ukrainian Donetsk region.

Sources within the Russian State Duma have told the daily Vedomosti that some deputies from Moscow will shortly travelto the United States for talks on the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. The Duma delegation will consist of deputies from different parliamentary groups and will be led by Vyacheslav Nikonov (of the United Russia party), deputy chairman of the Duma's International Affairs Committee and nephew of Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov. According to one of the Russian newspaper's sources, security measures are being prepared for the parliamentarians.

The sanctions against the Russian delegation will have to be temporarily lifted before they travel to the US, a procedure that requires the approval of the US State Department.

"Contacts between Russian and US parliamentarians are necessary and will be welcomed". Thus Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov welcomed the news.

Peskov also confirmed that contacts with US representatives on Ukraine continue and that Moscow is informed about the progress of negotiations between Washington and Kiev: 'We hope that these good offices of the United States will continue,' he continued, adding that Russia remains open to negotiations on a solution to the Ukrainian conflict.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is back on the attack against Kiev, announcing that Hungary will cut off gas supplies to Ukraine until oil transit from Russia through Druzhba resumes.

"In order to break the oil blockade and secure Hungary's energy supply, new measures are needed. Therefore, we will gradually cut off gas supplies from Hungary to Ukraine and store the remaining volume within the country. As long as Ukraine does not supply oil, it will not receive gas from Hungary," Orban said in a video message posted on social media.

The Turkish company Erisler, supplier to the UN World Food Programme, is buying Ukrainian wheat stolen from the occupied city of Mariupol from the Russian company Nika, whose owners also produce drones for the Russian army. The news is reported by the Ukrainska Pravda, which cites an investigation by Slidstvo.Info. According to the investigation, between 2023 and 2024, the Russian company Nika sent over 54 thousand tonnes of wheat from occupied Mariupol to Turkey. The investigators ascertained that the owner of the Nika company is Russian businessman Roman Gurov. The latter is also the CEO of the sanctioned company Roboavia, which produces Sarych reconnaissance drones and Surprise attack drones for the Russian occupation army.

According to Russian customs data, in 2023 Nika exported wheat worth $3.7 million to Turkey and Egypt, and in 2024 this volume almost quadrupled to 59,500 tonnes worth $12.9 million. All product conformity declarations for the period from July 2022 to the beginning of 2026 indicate that the company's production facilities are located in the occupied zone of Mariupol. Customs declarations indicate thatthe consignee of the grain in Turkey is Global Commodities and Logistics Limited, but the final consignee of part of the cargo was Erisler.

The Turkish company produces flour and instant noodles, which are also sold in Ukraine. Journalists ascertained that the laboratory analysis of one of the batches of wheat received by Erisler in April 2024 was carried out by the Ukrainian Odessa office of the international company Cotecna. "Cotecna categorically denies any allegations of providing services related to agricultural products exported from Ukrainian territories not controlled by the government, including Mariupol," representatives of the company's Geneva office said in response to a request from journalists.

The European Commission today adopted a proposal to start the process of the EU becoming a founding member of the Special Court for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. The proposal will have to obtain the approval of the Member States. By joining as a founding member, the EU executive explains in a note, the EU will assume a central role in the activities of the court, which was established by the signing of an agreement between Ukraine and the Council of Europe on 25 June 2025. The Special Tribunal will have the mandate to prosecute senior political and military leaders for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. "At a time when international law is under historic pressure, the right response is more responsibility, not less," commented High Representative Kaja Kallas. "Starting the legal process - as we are doing now for Ukraine - takes time, commitment and the widest possible international support, but it is worth it."

"For Putin, the war in Iran has changed everything". This is the title of an analysis article thatRussian journalist Mikhail Zygar wrote today for the New York Times, pointing out that the Kremlin leader's next moves also depend on "one determining factor", namely "whether or not the United States will continue its war" against Tehran.

Zygar recalls that at the beginning of the year, the Russian economy seemed 'on the verge of collapse'. Under the pressure of war and sanctions, 'revenues were falling, production was shrinking and trade was declining'. With the increase in tariffs, credit was prohibitive and obtaining loans was practically impossible: 'a wave of bankruptcies loomed on the horizon', to the point that at the end of January, 'Russia was forced to sell oil to India at only USD 22 per barrel, about a third of the market price'.

President Vladimir Putin, according to Zygar, decided to ignore this difficult situation, giving 'absolute priority' to the war. "But in February something changed. Putin suddenly started to pay attention to the struggling economy. There were even signs that he might change his mind about negotiations with Ukraine, perhaps looking for a way out of the conflict,' the journalist reports.

Then came the war in Iran. "In one fell swoop, the conditions for conciliation were reversed. Between skyrocketing oil prices, divisions in the West and American meddling, the pressure on Putin to reach an agreement waned. By a strange twist of fate, the Iran war blocked the prospect of ending the war in Ukraine, just when Putin seemed ready to consider it,' Zygar comments.

In February, Putin even seemed ready to change course and renew his negotiating team. Kirill Dmitriev was reportedly on the verge of being removed from his post as negotiator. "The main candidate for his replacement was Igor Sechin, head of the state oil giant Rosneft. Considered Putin's right-hand man, Sechin had previously dealt with Russia's relations with Latin America as well as cultivating close relations with American oil executives. This was a sign that Putin might start taking the talks seriously'.

At the same time, rumours of an imminent large-scale government reshuffle began to circulate. Clouds were also gathering over Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin: some individuals close to him had recently been indicted in criminal proceedings. "We will never know what might have happened," the Russian journalist stressed. "On 28 February, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israeli attack; in the following days, everything changed". Oil prices jumped over $100 a barrel and, in a resounding reversal, the US revoked sanctions on Russian oil. Demand for Russian fertilisers soared as the world grappled with food supply disruptions. "Suddenly, the economic problems that plagued Russia seemed to vanish," is Zygar's analysis.