LONDON, 23 March 2022, (TON): Haitham bin Tarik al Said “Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to the Sultan of Oman.”

He thanked the Sultan and the Government of Oman for their invaluable assistance in securing the release of British nationals Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashouri from Iran, highlighting it as an example of the UK and Oman’s successful and enduring partnership.

The leaders shared their deep concerns about the brutal Russian offensive in Ukraine, agreeing that attacks on civilians must be stopped.

They discussed efforts to improve global energy security in the wake of the crisis, including by boosting our existing cooperation in renewable energy and green technology.

WASHINGTON, 23 March 2022, (TON): Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian about ongoing efforts by NATO Allies and EU partners to provide vital security assistance and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

The Secretary condemned President Putin’s increasingly brutal tactics that continue to kill civilians in this unjustified and unprovoked war of choice.

They discussed further economic and diplomatic measures to hold the Russian Federation and Belarus accountable. 

MOSCOW, 23 March 2022, (TON): A Russian court found jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny guilty of additional charges of embezzlement and contempt of court and sentenced him to nine years in prison as Moscow seeks to wipe out remaining pockets of dissent.

The sentencing came on the 27th day of what Moscow has termed a special military operation in pro-Western Ukraine, with thousands killed and some 10 million displaced.

Judge Margarita Kotova said “Navalny committed fraud the theft of property by an organised group,”

According to media reports present at the hearing held inside Navalny’s penal colony outside Moscow.

The judge also found Navalny guilty of the less severe charge of contempt of court.

RIYADH, 23 March 2022, (TON): The Saudi Cabinet said “the OPEC+ oil producers’ alliance led by Saudi Arabia and Russia plays an “essential role” in bringing balance and stability to oil markets.”

Ministers urged the international community to assume responsibility for maintaining energy supplies, and to be aware of the danger of Iran supplying the Houthi militia in Yemen with ballistic missiles and drones.

Houthi attacks targeting Aramco facilities at the weekend caused output at a refinery to temporarily drop.

The Kingdom said “it would not bear responsibility for any global supply shortage as a result of Houthi attacks on its installations.”

OPEC+ has resisted calls by consuming nations including the US to raise their output at a faster rate to calm crude oil prices, which have increased since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE hold the bulk of OPEC spare capacity.

DHAKA, 23 March 2022, (TON): A top commerce ministry official said “disruptions in imports following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have hiked up staple prices in Bangladesh, amid growing concerns over food security.”

Bangladesh largely depends on Russian and Ukrainian markets for the bulk of its annual wheat and oilseed imports.

Russia’s multipronged assault on Ukrainian territory, which began on Feb. 24, has been followed by a host of sanctions against Moscow, with major international companies pulling out of the market and some Russian banks banned from the Swift payment system that is key for money transactions worldwide.

The sanctions and the volatile situation in Eastern Europe have resulted in a sharp increase in prices for staples in the South Asian nation of 170 million people.

MOSCOW, 23 March 2022, (TON): Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said “Russia would only use nuclear weapons if its very existence were threatened.”

Peskov’s comment came as CNN interviewer Christiane Amanpour pushed him on whether he was convinced or confident that President Vladimir Putin would not use the nuclear option in the Ukrainian context.

Peskov said “we have a concept of domestic security, and it’s public. You can read all the reasons for nuclear arms to be used.”

“So if it is an existential threat for our country, then it can be used in accordance with our concept.”

Putin last month ordered Russia’s nuclear forces to be put on high alert.

CAIRO, 23 March 2022, (TON): Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm al-Sheikh.

A statement by the Egyptian presidency said “during the meeting, the leaders discussed global issues and developments including the stability of energy markets and food security.”

It added “they also exchanged views on the latest developments related to international and regional issues.”

RAMALLAH, 23 March 2022, (TON): Israeli media reported on March 21 that King Abdullah II of Jordan will visit Ramallah next week and meet the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to prevent a possible security escalation in the West Bank and Jerusalem during Ramadan.

It comes amid Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian concerns over possible violence in the Palestinian Territories flaring up in the coming weeks.

The PA said “if Israel wants to prevent friction, it must prevent settlers’ incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque throughout Ramadan, which coincides with the Jewish Passover holiday.”

He added that the Palestinian leadership will tell Abdullah, “let the Jews pray in the places designated for them, and leave Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan to perform the Muslim prayer.”

A Palestinian source told media “Israel is taking advantage of the world’s preoccupation with the Russian-Ukrainian war to escalate its measures against the Palestinians by doubling its settlement activity, imposing new facts on the ground, and its intention to carry out settler incursions into the Temple Mount during the month of Ramadan.”

ABU DHABI, 23 March 2022, (TON): Emirates News Agency reported “Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince spoke with Azerbaijan's president about the global energy market in light of the Ukraine crisis, and stressed that the UAE is keen on energy security globally and the stability and balance of energy markets.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan also discussed with Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev, bilateral relations, especially in fields of economy, trade, energy, in addition to a number of regional and international issues of common concern.

The Abu Dhabi crown prince also spoke with Japan’s prime minister Fumio Kishida about the Ukraine crisis and also assured him that the UAE is keen to maintain energy security and keep global markets stable.

BISHKEK, 23 March 2022, (TON): Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met Kyrgyzstan Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov in Bishkek during his official visit to the country.

Prince Faisal conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the government and people of Kyrgyzstan, wishing them continuous progress and prosperity.

The meeting was also attended by Ibrahim bin Radi Al-Radi, Saudi ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, and Abdul Rahman Al-Daoud, director general of the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting discussed regional and international issues, developments of common concern and ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

The Saudi Press Agency reported “Prince Faisal arrived in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad to participate in the 48th session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's Council of Foreign Ministers.”