Joe Biden on new sanctions against Russia:

▪ Ban includes oil and gas;
▪ Decision was made in consultation with allies;
▪ US understands many allies may not be able to join ban;
▪ Biden: We remain united in our purpose to pressure Putin;
▪ Both Democrats & Republicans agree with ban;
▪ Gasoline prices in US will continue to rise due to sanctions against Russia

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⚡⚡ Biden urges Congress to pass $12Bln Ukraine assistance package

❗The American people will deal "another powerful blow to Putin's war machine" - Biden

💬 "Documentation was received from employees of Ukrainian biological laboratories on the emergency destruction of especially dangerous pathogens of plague, anthrax, tularemia, cholera and other deadly diseases on 24 February. The emergency destruction of especially dangerous pathogens on 24 February was required to prevent the disclosure of facts of violations by Ukraine and the United States of Article I of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention" - Russian Foreign Ministry's statement.

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❗CIA Director Burns warns against underestimating Chinese President Xi, Chinese leadership's determination with regard to Taiwan

❗ Russian Armed Forces destroy almost 2,600 Ukrainian military facilities, MoD says

❗CIA chief: US, Ukraine doing 'intensive' intelligence sharing

😐 Advisor to the head of Zelensky's office has called the publication about the UN in the Irish Times "a Russian provocation"

⚡️⚡️ EU doesn’t intend to ban Russian energy imports - Borrell

⚡ McDonald's temporarily closes 850 restaurants in Russia - media citing the company's CEO

❗ S&P Global: Events in Ukraine will lead to global oil supply disruption, possible biggest in history since Russia is irreplaceable as supplier

⚡ Pentagon: US, Russia have maintained communication through deconfliction channel on Ukraine, completed about a dozen of calls

⚡ US has no direct evidence of war crimes in Ukraine, Defence Intelligence Chief says

❗ Putin signs decree on special economic measures in field of foreign economic activity to ensure Russia's security

Highlights of the new Russian MoD briefing:

▪️ Units of Russian Armed Forces have taken control of two settlements in Ukraine;

▪️ Russia's Air Force has destroyed 32 military facilities in Ukraine, including 23 areas where weapons and equipment were concentrated;

▪️ Russia's Armed Forces have destroyed 2,581 Ukrainian military infrastructure facilities;

▪️ DPR forces have advanced almost 1 km in Mariupol;

▪️ Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 123 S-300, Buk M-1 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems since the beginning of the operation in Ukraine;

▪️ Troops of the LPR, DPR and Russian Armed Forces have established control over seven settlements

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❗UN on preventing Kiev from evacuating people to Russia: Citizens should have the opportunity to evacuate when and where they want

⚡Spotify and Discord users are experiencing network problems - Downdetector

❗LPR's Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Almost the entire territory of the republic has been liberated; the people's militia liberated 7 settlements on 8 March

❗OPEC believes oil price now 'unhealthy' for everyone, expects quick crisis resolution

❗️🇺🇸 White House says oil companies have 45 days to deliver on existing contracts before the ban Russian oil imports

❗️Washington believes the impact of the Russian oil import ban will not be long-term, Psaki says