Online talks between Russians and Ukrainians resume on Friday, April 1, but relations are set to glow by Putin’s decree on paying for Russian gas in rubles. Moscow bans European leaders from entering the country in response to sanctions against Russia. Meanwhile, a powerful explosion was felt on the ground in central Kyiv. And “Ukrainian troops and nationalists stopped the evacuation of civilians from Mariupol by bombing the humanitarian corridor,” says the Russian Defense Ministry, quoted by TASS. The Russian Defense Ministry announced new humanitarian corridors for evacuations from Mariupol early tomorrow, saying they were decided after a “personal appeal to Putin by leaders of France and Germany, Macron and Scholz. The evacuations, it is added, must involve the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Red Cross. Interfax reports it.
An Italian militiaman was killed in Donbass. Edy Ongaro was 46 years old
Telephone conversation between Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz: The two heads of state, explains Palazzo Chigi, discussed the issue of sanctions against the Russian Federation and the latest developments regarding gas imports from Russia. Draghi and Scholz agreed that it was important to maintain the system of sanctions against Russia, which is proving to be very effective. Draghi and Scholz agreed that it was important to stick to a uniform approach at European level.
This was announced by the Pentagon It is not clear what happened to the 60 km Russian military convoy on the outskirts of Kyiv. “We don’t even know if it still exists at this point… They never really accomplished their mission,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said. “We want Ukraine’s sovereignty and borders to be respected as they were before the end of February,” Kirby said as Moscow launched its invasion.
CALL DRAGHISCHOLZ TONIGHT Italy will apply the lines agreed at European level to payments for Russian gas, but at the moment there is no final interpretation of the measure announced by Putin. We learn this from sources at Palazzo Chigi, who explain that the European Commission is currently examining the various interpretative aspects of the Kremlin’s measures and that payments can still be made in euros and rubles at this time. The Prime Minister, Mario Draghi will be on the phone with Chancellor Olaf Scholz at 9 p.m. Palazzo Chigi reports it.
THE RUSSIAN GAS Putin signed the presidential decree on the rules of Russian natural gas trade with socalled enemy countries against payment in rubles. This was announced by the Russian leader himself, adding that it will come into effect from tomorrow, April 1. “No one will sell us anything for free, and we will not do any charity work either. This means that existing contracts will be canceled in case of nonpayment of gas in rubles, Putin said.
The White House: “Pay in rubles? Contracts are contracts “Contracts are contracts and remain valid”. White House communications chief Kate Bedingfield said in her press conference about Vladimir Putin’s threats to charge for gas only in rubles. “German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was clear and we agree with him,” he specified.
Putin: “If gas is not paid for in rubles, contracts will be terminated”
France and Germany are getting ready in case Russia stops deliveries. “We looked at the contracts, they say you pay in euros. And I made it clear on the phone that it will stay that way. This is what Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in response to a question in the Chancellery about yesterday’s interview with Putin and also about the Kremlin’s most recent statement (a few minutes ago), which confirmed that gas be paid in rubles. “Companies will be able to pay, will want to pay and will pay in euros,” he added. The price of gas jumps in Europe, according to the Russian President.
ANSA agency
In Amsterdam, prices rose to €127 per MWh before falling back to €123, up 1.5% (ANSA)
Putin’s decree on the payment of Russian gas in rubles “was issued a few hours ago, we are still checking the details, but there are two things to say. Firstly, contracts must be honored and in existing contracts there is no obligation to pay in rubles. Secondly: we will not let Moscow blackmail us“That’s what the EU Economic Commissioner said Paolo Gentiloni, speaking to CNN. “It’s a system to circumvent sanctions and blackmail Europe, but nothing in the treaties allows it,” he added.
Ukraine, Vereshchuk: “Moscow ok for humanitarian corridor in Mariupol, 45 buses ready”
FEE EXCHANGE “Civilians are trapped in Kharkiv and unable to leave safe routes as Ukrainians continue to fire heavy machine guns at the city’s residential buildings“This was confirmed by ColonelGeneral Mikhail Mizintsev, head of Russia’s National Defense Management Center, as reported by Tass. Meanwhile, Mizintsev confirms that Russia has opened humanitarian corridors in five directions in Ukraine and has handed over 6,521 tons of humanitarian aid cargo to Ukraine since March 2 with 703 humanitarian actions. The Russian army fired phosphorus shells in the central part of the Donetsk region during the night. This is reported by Pravda Ukraine, citing the head of the Donetsk regional military administration, Pavlo Kyrylenko. “Russians fired phosphorus shells in Maryinka, Krasnohorivka and Novomykhailivtsi in Donetsk region,” Kyrylenko said on Telegram, adding that “eleven wounded were taken to hospital, 4 of them were children”.
THE SITUATION AT CHERNOBYL “The situation in Chernobyl is catastrophic, the Russians do not have the situation under control. Farreaching effects are imminent. The power plant site must be demilitarized UN SecretaryGeneral Guterres. to ask”. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said this at a meeting with international media in a video call in Lviv.
SPEAK ZELENSKY Meanwhile in a speech on television Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said peace talks with Russia would continue “But at the moment there are only words, nothing concrete”. Zelenskyi said he did not believe in Russia’s promises to reduce its military presence in Kyiv. Referring to the phone call with US President Joe Biden, he said American support for his country was vital and that “this moment is a turning point”. Compared to the Russian announcements about a deescalation of the conflict in some regions of the country, the Ukrainian leader said he did not believe anyone, adding that Russian troops are reorganizing to attack only in the eastern Donbass region. His video link with the Australian Parliament is expected this morning.
“Peace is more precious than diamonds and Russian ships in your ports,” the Ukrainian president later said in a video link with the Belgian parliament, quoted by Le Soir. “The battle of Mariupol is certainly worse than the battle of Ypres,” he added.