Western media continue to report about the war in Ukraine: on March 29, the media covered Joe Biden's reaction to criticism regarding his words about Vladimir Putin, Kazakhstan's willingness to accept businesses that have left Moscowia, and India's trade with the Russian Federation.
At the same time, Turkey sees progress in the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, Britain assures that the ceasefire will not lift sanctions from the Kremlin, and Europe continues to expel spy diplomats.
Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked the Danes to light a candle to commemorate those who died in Ukraine and take patronage over Mykolaiv after the war.
offers an up-to-date review of what the European and American media are reporting on the 34th day of the active Russian invasion.
Biden about the words about Putin: "I Make No Apologies"
Photo: Getty Images
The New York Times quotes President Joe Biden as saying he will not apologize for his comment about Putin, calling it an expression of moral outrage. Biden noted that his words, uttered in a weekend speech in Warsaw, were not a call for regime change in Russia.
At the same time, President Biden stood by his comment that Vladimir Putin should not remain president of Russia, but he said it was an expression of his own horror over the invasion of Ukraine and not a change in American policy aimed at seeking to remove a bloodthirsty dictator.
"I was expressing the moral outrage that I feel, and I make no apologies for it," Mr. Biden stated.
The president said no one should have interpreted his comments as calling for Putin’s ouster.
Commenting on his words, Biden stressed:
Mr. Biden’s remark drew some praise for its toughness and clarity but also warnings from lawmakers and President Emmanuel Macron of France, who said that "I wouldn’t use this kind of words." Republicans also criticized the President of the United States.
Kazakhstan invites businesses that left Russia
Photo: Wikipedia
The Washington Post reports that Kazakhstan, a Moscow ally, is inviting companies leaving Russia to set up business in the country.
Three months ago, Kazakhstan asked Russia to intervene to help quell rare anti-government protests, and now the country is now looking to position itself as an alternative home base for companies exiting Russia.
According to him, companies should consider moving production to Kazakhstan because the country is a good place to do business.
Kazakhstan has distanced itself from Russia so far:
- it rejected Moscow’s request to contribute troops to the offensive:
- refused to recognize the "independence" of ORDLO;
- did not recognize Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Turkey sees progress in Ukraine-Russia talks
Photo: Getty Images
BBc reports that Turkey has now responded to the peace talks it has been hosting between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul today.
The country's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the talks had seen the most significant progress since discussions between the two sides began.
Cavusoglu said Turkey welcomed the two countries reaching a compromise and a common understanding on certain issues, reiterating that the war must end as soon as possible.
He said "more difficult issues" were expected to be discussed between Ukrainian and Russian foreign ministers in the future. We have already reported about the positions Ukraine voiced during the negotiations with the Russian Federation on March 29.
Sanctions will not be lifted from the Russian Federation only because of the ceasefire
Photo: Getty Images
Sky News quoted Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkvičius as calling for further sanctions against Russia. Showing a photo of children sleeping in the basement, Linkvičius stated:
The outlet also quoted a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who assured that a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia would not be cause for lifting the UK sanctions.
The Prime Minister's spokesman also said he did not know what role Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich had played during peace talks in Istanbul on March 29.
At the same time, The Guardian reports about the expulsion of 21 Russian diplomats by Belgium for espionage, another 17 diplomats were expelled by the Netherlands today.
India buys up cheap Russian goods
Photo: Getty Images
Reuters, citing its sources, reports that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov iSergei Lavrov is set to fly to India this week.
Two countries could discuss on Friday, April 1, smoothening trade payments disrupted by Western sanctions on Russian banks. The governments want to establish a rupee-rouble trade system.
Russia is India's main supplier of defense hardware but overall annual trade is small, averaging about $9 billion annually. Mostly India buys fertilizer and some oil. By comparison, India's bilateral trade with China is more than $100 billion a year.
But given sharp discounts on Russian crude oil since the attack on Ukraine, India has bought at least 13 million barrels, compared with nearly 16 million barrels imported for the whole of 2021.
India is now considering doubling its imports of Russian coking coal used in making steel.
Reuters also reports that India recently contracted to buy 45,000 tonnes of Russian sunflower oil for April delivery after supplies from Ukraine stopped. Last year, India bought about 20,000 tonnes from Russia a month.
Zelensky urged Danes to light candles for Ukraine
Photo: president.gov.ua
The Copenhagen Post reports about President Zelenskyy's emotional address to the Danish Parliament.
The president thanked Denmark for its support and urged PM Mette Frederiksen and her colleagues to keep up the pressure on Russia. He added that he appreciated Danish companies pulling out of Russia and urged Denmark to drop Russian oil.
Zelensky finished off his emotional speech by encouraging the Danish public to turn their ‘hygge’ into an act of support for Ukraine tonight.
Zelenskyy urged to light them today to commemorate those who died in Ukraine:
He also offered Denmark to take patronage over the restoration of Mykolaiv after the war.
The speech, held in the Landstingssalen room was greeted with a long standing ovation from everyone in the room. Denmark is the 12th national Parliament that Zelenskyy has spoken to in the west in recent weeks.
Instead of an afterword. Countries of the world, such as Kazakhstan and India, are trying to turn Russia's aggression against Ukraine in their favor.
At the same time, the negotiations in Istanbul between Kyiv and the Russian Federation have become more specific, although both Ukrainians on social media are dissatisfied with the voiced position of the Ukrainian side (they discuss Kyiv’s ideas as a possible surrender of Crimea and Donbas) and Russians, who were brainwashed by the "great victory" and "the capture of Kyiv in three days."
However, the idea that the guarantors of Ukraine's security will be obliged to provide Kyiv with weapons and close the sky in case of armed aggression cannot be called bad, because it actually repeats Article 5 of the NATO Charter.
Meanwhile, the President of Ukraine continues to address the parliaments of the world, urging for further pressure on the Russian Federation and help restore our country after the victory, and the US President refuses to apologize for the words about Putin's stay in power. Ukraine has been defending its right to exist for 34 days.
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