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Ukraine Invasion
Defense Policy / Programs
Foreign Policy
News Reports

Ukraine Invasion

• The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.2022 to 17.03.2023 Ukraine MOD 17 Mar 2023
• Ukrainians Fend Off More Assaults In Bakhmut As Russian Shelling Kills Civilians In The East RFE/RL 17 Mar 2023 -- Ukrainian fighters repulsed a fresh series of Russian assaults in Bakhmut and the surroundings of the city in the eastern region of Donetsk, Kyiv's military said early on March 17, while Russian shelling of settlements caused deaths among Ukrainian civilians.
• Situation in Ukraine: ICC judges issue arrest warrants against Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova ICC 17 Mar 2023 -- Today, 17 March 2023, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "the Court") issued warrants of arrest for two individuals in the context of the situation in Ukraine: Mr Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and Ms Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova.
• Statement by Prosecutor Karim A. A. Khan KC on the issuance of arrest warrants against President Vladimir Putin and Ms Maria Lvova-Belova ICC 17 Mar 2023 -- On 22 February 2023, I submitted applications to Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court for warrants of arrest in the context of the Situation in Ukraine.
• ICC issues arrest warrant for Putin; Kremlin calls it 'null and void' Press TV 17 Mar 2023 -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin on war crime accusations, while the Kremlin rejected the warrant and said the court has no jurisdiction and the decision is "null and void".
• ICC Issues Arrest Warrant For Putin For Alleged War Crimes In Ukraine RFE/RL 17 Mar 2023 -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin, accusing the Russian president of being responsible for the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine, which constitutes a war crime.
• Russia: International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant for Putin UN News 17 Mar 2023 -- The Pre-Trial Chamber of the UN-backed International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Friday, in connection with alleged war crimes concerning the deportation and "illegal transfer" of children from occupied Ukraine, the head of the ICC said.
• ICC Issues Arrest Warrant for Putin VOA 17 Mar 2023 -- The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant Friday for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of war crimes for his alleged involvement in the abduction of children from Ukraine.
• International Criminal Court issues warrant of arrest for Putin; the historic decision, from which historical responsibility will begin - address of President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 17 Mar 2023
• Ukraine-Russia: Extension of grain export deals vital to global food security UN News 17 Mar 2023 -- The war in Ukraine has had very significant implications for global food insecurity, the top UN humanitarian official told the Security Council on Friday, underscoring the critical need to extend landmark agreements to export grain and fertilizer from the region.
• Kremlin, Kyiv Remain At Odds Over Extension Of Black Sea Grain Deal RFE/RL 17 Mar 2023 -- The Kremlin says Russia is willing to extend a deal that allows Ukraine to export grain through its Black Sea ports for another 60 days, a term Ukraine said it rejects.
• Black Sea Grain Deal Ticks Toward Expiration VOA 17 Mar 2023 -- As the clock ticked toward a possible expiration of the Black Sea Grain Initiative on Saturday, there were calls at the United Nations on Friday for it to be fully extended, as Russia complained that it was not beneficial enough.
• Meeting on socioeconomic development of Crimea and Sevastopol President of Russia 17 Mar 2023 -- Vladimir Putin held a videoconference meeting on the socioeconomic development of the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.
• China Calls for Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks VOA 17 Mar 2023 -- China is hoping there will be a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine and is urging Russia and Ukraine to come to the table for peace talks, China's foreign minister told his Ukrainian counterpart in a telephone conversation Thursday.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov's answer to a question from Kommersant newspaper regarding the New START treaty Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 17 Mar 2023
• Press release on US policy towards Afghans who worked with the United States Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 17 Mar 2023
• Russia to award pilots involved in US spy drone incident Press TV 17 Mar 2023 -- The Russian Defense Ministry says the pilots of Russian jets involved in the crash incident of a US spy drone over the Black Sea last week will be nominated for decoration.
• Shoigu Nominates Pilots Involved in MQ-9 Reaper Drone Intercept for State Awards Sputnik 17 Mar 2023 -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has nominated for state awards the pilots of the Su-27 fighters that prevented a violation of the borders of the special operation zone by a US MQ-9 Reaper drone, the ministry said on Friday.
• Chinese, Russian, Iranian navies fire at marine targets in naval drills IRNA 17 Mar 2023 -- The navies from China, Russia and Iran have fired at marine targets during the first day of the naval security belt combined wargame 2023.
• Iran focused on combating terrorism in 1st day of naval drills: Cmdr. IRNA 17 Mar 2023 -- Commander of Iran's Army Navy Force Rear Admiral Shahram Irani has declared that the first day of the naval security belt combined war game 2023 has been focused on coordination to rescue vessels coming under terrorist raids.
• Iranian, Russian, Chinese forces intercept, shoot at aerial targets in joint naval drill Press TV 17 Mar 2023 -- Naval forces from the Islamic Republic of Iran, Russia and China have practiced shooting at aerial targets during a nighttime operation over an area in the Sea of Oman, where the three countries are carrying out large-scale maritime maneuvers involving various divisions of their military forces.
• 2023 Combination Security Belt Wargame kicks off IRNA 17 Mar 2023 -- The 2023 Combination Security Belt Wagame, including Iran, China and Russia naval forces, and observers from Kazakhstan and Pakistan began on Thursday night in the north of Indian Ocean.

Foreign Policy

• Telephone conversation with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko President of Russia 17 Mar 2023 -- Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.
• Press release on the visit of Secretary-General Zhang Ming of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 17 Mar 2023
• Q&A: White House 'Concerned' About Xi-Putin Meeting, 'Supports' Xi-Zelenskyy Meeting VOA 17 Mar 2023 -- The White House is rejecting Beijing's proposal for a cease-fire in Ukraine, ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week, saying it would ratify Russia's territorial gains in Ukraine.
• China's Xi to meet Putin in Russia in 'trip for peace' in Ukraine next week Radio Free Asia 17 Mar 2023 -- Chinese leader Xi Jinping will travel to Russia next week for talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, Beijing and Moscow announced on Friday as the U.S. warned against "one-sided" Ukraine peace plans and the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin for illegally deporting Ukrainian children.
• Xi Doubles Down On Putin In A Symbolic Moscow Trip With The Ukraine War In Focus RFE/RL 17 Mar 2023 -- On March 22, 2013, Chinese leader Xi Jinping made his first foreign trip to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and highlight the growing importance of Beijing-Moscow ties and send a signal to Washington that a geopolitical counterweight to the West was being formed.
• Chinese President To Visit Moscow On March 20-22 Following Invitation From Putin RFE/RL 17 Mar 2023 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay an official visit to Moscow from March 20 to March 22 as Beijing looks to show support for Russian President Vladimir Putin while also pushing forward a peace plan aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine.
• Xi to Visit Putin in Russia Next Week VOA 17 Mar 2023 -- Chinese President Xi Jinging is making a state visit next week to Russia where he will meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin from Monday to Wednesday, China and the Kremlin said Friday.
• Xi to visit Russia in a trip of 'friendship, cooperation and peace' Global Times 17 Mar 2023 -- President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Russia from Monday to Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Friday. President Xi's upcoming visit to Russia, viewed as a trip of friendship, cooperation and peace, is expected to further promote China-Russia cooperation and contribute to global peace and development, analysts said.
• Putin, Xi to usher 'new era' in relations during Moscow visit Press TV 17 Mar 2023 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are set to sign a new bilateral agreement ushering in a "new era" of ties in Moscow next week.
• 'Visit for peace': China's Xi heading to Russia first time since Ukraine war Press TV 17 Mar 2023 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit Russia next week at the invitation of his Russian counterpart in a move that will demonstrate growing cooperation between the two all-weather allies in the face of Western pressures.
• Telephone conversation with President of Bolivia Luis Arce President of Russia 17 Mar 2023 -- Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia Luis Arce, at the Bolivian side's initiative.
• Press release on personal sanctions against representatives of the armed forces, propaganda entities, the judiciary and the penitentiary system of Great Britain Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 17 Mar 2023
• Russia, Republic of the Congo to Agree on Oil Pipeline Construction, Russian Envoy Says Sputnik 17 Mar 2023 -- Russia is expected to host delegations from most African countries during the second Russia-Africa Summit, which is set to take place in Saint Petersburg, Russia in July 2023. The Republic of the Congo and Russia are planning economic and cultural exchange programs to be realized ahead of the summit.

News Reports

• The Week In Russia: A 'Deliberate And Deplorable' War RFE/RL 17 Mar 2023 -- As Moscow's war against Ukraine grinds on and mounting evidence of atrocities by his troops emerges, President Vladimir Putin turns to the false claim that it is a defensive struggle for Russia's survival.
• Russia Sanctions a Boon for Chinese Arms Sales to Africa? VOA 17 Mar 2023 -- Russia has long been the biggest exporter of arms to sub-Saharan Africa, but a new study indicates Western sanctions are making it harder for Moscow to sell weapons, opening the door for more Chinese-made arms.