Kremlin caved gas show-offs and nuclear aircraft over Sweden: Highlights on war in Ukraine on March 31

Author

Olexandr Zakharov

The 36th day of the war against the Russian invaders continues in Ukraine. has compiled business, political, and economic news that will help you learn more about the situation in the country that has been defending its right to exist for more than a month.

The major developments of the day are:

Photo: Getty Images

Russia's threats about accepting payment for gas only in rubles and to stop supplies to the EU turned out to be cheap show-offs. On March 31, the aggressor country stated that it was ready to accept euros and dollars from European countries, DW reports. The Kremlin explained this to Berlin as "an exception for European companies from Putin." The statement, however, came after Russia had threatened to "shut off the valve" in the morning, and Germany after that began to prepare for the cut off.
Moscowia does not stop trying to create a "pseudo-republic" of the KhNR in the Kherson region following the similar pattern as in the so-called DPR and LPR, where a humanitarian, economic and environmental catastrophe unfolded during the years of occupation. To implement the scenario, the enemy involves the FSB officers, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports.
Russian aircraft violated Swedish airspace on March 31. Two Su-24 attack aircraft and two Su-27 fighter jets carrying nuclear weapons spent about a minute in the country's space near the island of Gotland. The Swedish Armed Forces believe that this was a deliberate move to intimidate a neutral country.

Moreover, earlier Russian propagandists pointed out that it would be nice to capture this particular island to deploy a military base there. And already from this base, according to the Kremlin mouthpieces, it would be possible to bomb Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland.

Politics

Collage of Getty Images photos

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan intends to hold a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskнy and bloodthirsty dictator Vladimir Putin in the near future, Milliyet reports. At the same time, the Kremlin leader told Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi that the conditions for a ceasefire in Ukraine were "not mature" yet, Sky News reports.

Photo: Getty Images

The Russian military leadership has finally admitted to itself that Kyiv cannot be taken by force, the Russian "liberal" outlet Meduza reports, citing sources in the bloodthirsty dictator's administration. Putin was finally shown the calculations not only of the military failures of the Russian Federation, but also of the Kremlin economy condition. The dictator has not yet decided what to do next, the newspaper notes, but is ready to listen to both those who insist on peace with Ukraine and the "party of war." At the same time, the Kremlin leader and his circle are afraid of a drop in Putin's rating, fueled by promises to "walk in parade along Khreshchatyk."

Economy

Photo: facebook.com/okkoua

Prices for premium gasoline and diesel fuel in Ukraine have decreased, according to the specialized outlet Enkorr. According to the A-95 Consulting Group, prices in the filling station chains have decreased by 3 to 9 UAH per liter. For example, WOG and OKKO sell premium A-95 at a price that dropped by 3.79 UAH/l to 35.20 UAH/l. Diesel fuel decreased by 2.7 UAH/l to 39.3 UAH/l. In the chains of Shell, KLO, UPG, Chipo, and BRSM, prices for premium fuel also decreased — by 4-9 UAH/l.

Australia and Japan are raising duties on products made in Russia, Obozrevatel reports. Australia has decided to impose a 35% duty on all goods from Russia and Belarus from April 25, according to Daily Cargo News. At the same time, Japan decided to raise duties on some imports from Moscowia. The government of Japan is now preparing a bill that will deprive the Kremlin of the status of a trade-friendly nation, NHK notes. In particular, import duties on timber (from 4.8% to 8%), salmon and red caviar (from 3.5% to 5%), and crabs (from 4% to 6%) will increase.

Business

Photo: Pixabay

The European Business Association estimated the losses of Ukrainian business during the month of the war. In particular, a third of the CEOs surveyed reported losing more than $1 million in the first month of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Another 13% estimate the loss of their business in amounts from $500,000 to $1 million, 28% — from $100,000 to $500,000, 14% — up to $100,000.

68% of companies are now cutting costs, 44% are working on recovering arrears from customers or partners, 35% are relocating enterprises, and 13% are launching new business lines.

Photo: Pixabay

In Kyiv, from where the regrouping orcs are gradually pulling back in the direction of Donbas and southern Ukraine, from April 1, dry law is partially abolished on an experimental basis. It will be possible to buy alcohol from 11:00 to 16:00, the KSCA reported.

Earlier, Danylo Hetmantsev, the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Taxes and Finance, said that a ban on selling alcohol in areas of hostilities and those close to them is a reasonable decision, but in the rest of the territory it is completely foolish and harmful, because the state can get excise duty in such a difficult time.

Photo: facebook.com/nova.poshta.official/

Nova Poshta resumed delivering parcels by couriers and described the details of work in wartime. Clients can get orders at the post office, delivery locker, or to an address. At the same time, during martial law, couriers will work one hour less than post offices, will not work during curfews, and during air raids they will stop working and go to the nearest shelter.

Context.