Ukraine

In February, 228 shelters were constructed at public expense in Ukraine, including 196 repaired, 6 newly constructed, 23 modular shelters and 3 reconstructed/rehabilitated, with priority given to educational and healthcare facilities and residential buildings, as part of ongoing efforts to build and equip protective structures in accordance with the plan developed for the end of 2023.

Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson calls on Europe to persuade the United States to focus on Russia's war against Ukraine by increasing its own defense capabilities and aligning them with America's strategic interests, including the Chinese challenge.

The Consul of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Lublin emphasized the inadmissibility of delays of passenger buses at the Dorohusk-Yagodyn checkpoint during his visit there. Also, the Consulate General of Ukraine in Lublin sent an official letter to the Lubelskie Voivodeship Police Commandant with a request to guarantee unimpeded bus traffic at the protest sites.

Despite the ongoing war with Russia, Ukrainian farmers sowed 68. 3 thousand hectares of spring grains and pulses in 12 regions for the 2024 harvest.

The head of the Servant of the People faction, David Arakhamia, has proposed a plan to "normalize relations" with Georgia, including the release of Mikheil Saakashvili from prison, the termination of direct flights between Georgia and Russia, and the prevention of Russia's evasion of sanctions, in response to Georgia's demands that it extradite former Georgian officials from Saakashvili's presidency who now hold positions in Ukraine.

Russia has global ambitions to continue the war not only against Ukraine but also against other countries, according to a report by Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who emphasized the need to limit Russian resources and mobilization efforts to end the war.

After speaking with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Pentagon Secretary Lloyd Austin urged Congress to urgently pass President Biden's bipartisan National Security Act to support Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression.

Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi discussed with U. S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin preparations for the next meeting of the Defense Contact Group, the situation at the front, Ukraine's medium- and short-term needs, and specific requests for support.

During the day, there were 54 combat clashes between Ukrainian and Russian troops, with Russia launching 6 missile strikes, 87 air strikes and 32 multiple launch rocket systems, resulting in civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.

Ukraine expressed its disappointment with Pope Francis' statement on the demonstration of the "white flag" and negotiations with Russia, the aggressor, emphasizing the need for a just peace based on the principles of the UN and the Ukrainian Peace Formula.

French President Emmanuel Macron continues to postpone his visit to Ukraine, as he wants to coordinate with allies and come "with tangible results".

Ukrainian troops repelled 54 Russian attacks in eastern and southern Ukraine, with intense fighting in the Liman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Novopavlivka, and Orikhivsk sectors, despite Russian air strikes and rocket attacks.

Polish law enforcement officials deny accusations of blocking passenger buses from Ukraine, saying that the buses are crossing the border with Poland without hindrance.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala will meet with U. S. President Joe Biden in April to discuss Ukraine, security issues, economic opportunities, common democratic values, and reaffirm his strong support for Ukraine against Russian aggression.

Georgia is demanding that Ukraine extradite former Georgian officials convicted of crimes who now hold high positions in the Ukrainian government, claiming that this contradicts the traditional friendship between the two countries.

A missile alert has been declared throughout Ukraine due to the takeoff of the MiG-31K from the Savasleyka airfield in the Nizhny Novgorod region of Russia.

Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasized that the main mission of journalists in Ukraine is to show the world the tragedy caused by Russian aggression, citing statistics on the dangers faced by media workers covering the war, including killings, detentions and violations of their rights by Russia.

A bill to invalidate the 1954 decision to transfer Crimea from Russia to Ukraine has been submitted to the State Duma.

French President Emmanuel Macron actively supports Ukraine and calls for the defeat of Russia, realizing that Europe must enjoy strategic autonomy and build up its military capabilities in the absence of the US security umbrella.

Sweden, as a new member of NATO, has no plans to deploy the alliance's nuclear weapons on its territory in peacetime, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg have said.

The Consul of Ukraine in Poland went to the Dorohusk border checkpoint, where Polish protesters are blocking the movement of passenger buses from Ukraine.

According to European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commission is expected to soon propose how to use the proceeds of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. The proposals are likely to appear before the March EU summit, according to a senior EU official.

Ukraine aims to complete its "homework" for EU accession within two years, but the reform process will continue after the accession.

The Government registered a draft law on withdrawal from the agreement on the supply of products for the national hydrometeorological services of the CIS member states.

Ukrainian gymnast Victoria Onoprienko won a silver medal in the hoop routine and a bronze medal in the ribbon routine at the Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix in Marbella, Spain.

Ukraine is actively building new lines of fortifications, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expects the country to have three 2,000-kilometer-long defense lines.

Ukraine faces difficulties in procuring ammunition because the global arms market is monopolized and controlled by large players, forcing Ukraine to use intermediary countries.

This week, the European Commission is expected to approve a draft negotiation framework for Ukraine's accession to the European Union.

Instead of sending NATO troops to Ukraine, Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kalyniak proposes to bring back combat-ready Ukrainian men who have gone abroad.

Polish protesters blocking truck traffic on the Ukrainian-Polish border have started stopping passenger buses, detaining women, children and military personnel without explanation, which is unacceptable, according to Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov.