Russia-Ukraine Conflict and Global Affairs: A Summary of Recent Developments

Qatar to help create mechanism to control use of Iran’s frozen assets — Vance

The US Vice President said that it will be a big part of the negotiation in the days to come

IN BRIEF: What we know about series of quakes off Sevastopol

As many as seven earthquakes continued off Sevastopol for four hours

Vance convinced that US, Iran found a way to keep Strait of Hormuz open

The US Vice President noted that approximately 15 million barrels of oil had already been transported via the waterway

Suspension of New START opens door for Russia to ensure its own security — diplomat

On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia was suspending its participation in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) but is not withdrawing from it

INTERVIEW: EU seeking to 'bring NATO into Ukraine' — Russian senator

The United Kingdom, France, and Germany are pushing to have NATO troops deployed to Ukraine, Alexey Pushkov, chairman of the information policy commission of Russia’s Federation Council, or upper house of parliament, said

JOGMEC not planning to exit from Arctic LNG 2 project — EVP

Hiroyuki Mori expressed his hope that LNG deliveries to Japan from the project would start in the future

Aeroflot to launch flights to Tunisia from May 30 — airline

In the near future the company plans to increase the volume of passenger carriage to China

Russian ombudswoman says UN responded to her appeal over Ukraine’s attack on college

According to Yana Lantratova, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights asked that Russia share available results of the official investigation

Russia’s export duty on wheat to be $27.42 per metric ton from March 12

The duty on corn will be 1,925.9 rubles ($21.61) per metric ton

IN BRIEF: Aide Ushakov on trust between Putin and Xi, two countries’ role in world

Yury Ushakov noted that cooperation between Russia and China is strengthening thanks to efforts made by Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping

Joint naval exercise by South Africa, Russia, China kick off in Indian Ocean

Russia is represented at the exercises by the frigate The Admiral Gorshkov and the sea-going tanker The Kama, China - by a destroyer, a frigate and a support ship, and South Africa, by one frigate and two support ships

US ban on IT services in Russia not to affect ordinary users — expert

Eldar Murtazin added that the restrictions apply to certain sectors, such as IT support for any operating systems for the government, enterprise solutions, support for updates and development of CRM systems

Putin stresses significance of Vostochny Space Center for Russia

Russia uses four space launch centers at present - Baikonur, which is located in central Kazakhstan, Plesetsk in the south of the Astrakhan region, and Yasny in southwestern Urals

Macron pledges to pursue joint political course with UK after Starmer resigns

The French president thanked Keir Starmer for supporting the initiative to create the so-called 'coalition of the willing', that provides military assistance to the Kiev government

Diplomat: Kiev needs new border-crossing ‘restrictions’ to whip up anti-Russian hysteria

On November 7, Poroshenko signed a bill imposing criminal liability for representatives of Russian security agencies who illegally cross the Ukrainian border

Starmer's resignation will not change Britain's position on Ukraine — senior legislator

According to Leonid Slutsky, British citizens are weary of the consequences of "Anglo-Saxon hegemonic ambitions," citing the "migration crisis and the general decline in living standards due to endless financial injections into the proxy war in Ukraine"

Moscow to see Ecuador's transfer of Russian weapons to US as unfriendly move — ambassador

Vladimir Sprinchan specified that "the position stated by the head of state about neutrality and the search for possible mediation between Russia and Ukraine in resolving this issue by diplomatic means will be violated"

IN BRIEF: Three civilians injured in Ukrainian attack on Russian city of Voronezh

Manufacturing facilities at a production site were damaged, along with the facades and windows of several apartment buildings, and some cars

Price of Brent oil down below $97 per barrel on ICE first since May 11

The WTI oil decreased to $90.83 per barrel

Oil prices to entrench in $75-80 per barrel range in next 2 months — expert

Alexey Belogoryev said that attempts to break through the $75 mark down are possible but it will be difficult to gain a foothold below

Russia would support decision to award Nobel Peace Prize to Trump — Kremlin aide

At the same time, Yuri Ushakov said he was surprised at what he called the stupidity of Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky "who could lobby a Nobel Prize for Trump" if the US leader supplies Tomahawk missiles to Kiev

Russia talks with UN about Ukraine bias, but no one listens — MFA

Kirill Logvinov emphasized that that in recent years cooperation with senior UN officials has been difficult due to a "systemic inability of the Secretariat to act objectively and impartially in the context of the Ukraine crisis"

NATO reconnaissance aircraft active over Black Sea, Baltic region

The aircraft took off from its base in Constanta, Romania, and is cruising at over 10.5 km altitude outside civilian corridors

Russian stock market down more than 4%

By 5:03 PM Moscow time, the MOEX index was at 2,314.32 points

Russian air defenses down 483 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over past day — top brass

The Russian Armed Forces eliminated approximately 1,450 Ukrainian troops in the special military operation zone