WASHINGTON, 18 March 2022, (TON): Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met with Turkey Minister of National Defence Hulusi Akar on the margins of the NATO Defense Ministers meeting to discuss Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Turkey’s public statements in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territory and aid for the people of Ukraine, and its efforts to mediate a peaceful solution to the crisis.

LONDON, 18 March 2022, (TON): UK Ambassador Neil Bush speaks about the impact on civilians of Russia’s war against the Ukrainian people.

Thank you Mr Chair. I’m grateful to the UN Assistant High Commissioner for Operations for briefing us today. As he has just said, this week we passed a terrible milestone, 3 million people have been forced to flee Ukraine.

Forced to flee due to President Putin’s war of choice. We are grateful to Poland and other neighbouring countries for the generosity and the compassion that they have shown to fleeing Ukrainians.

Hundreds of thousands of people have also left their homes within Ukraine seeking places of safety elsewhere in the country.

We are grateful to UNHCR for their work to support those who have fled their homes.

LONDON, 18 March 2022, (TON): On 17 March 2022, UK Minister for Africa Vicky Ford has announced a further £500,000 of UK aid for Madagascar following a series of extreme weather events.

The new UK support will allow UNICEF to provide safe water, emergency sanitation and hygiene services for 13,500 people and to help monitor for outbreaks of water borne diseases.

This is in addition to the £500,000 the UK contributed to the Red Cross emergency appeal earlier this month.

UK Minister for Africa Vicky Ford said “Cyclone Emnati is the fourth extreme weather event to hit Madagascar in the last month. They have impacted hundreds of thousands of people, causing widespread flooding, displacement and destroying livelihoods.”

This additional £500,000 will bring the level of UK support to a total of £1 million, providing immediate assistance to vulnerable communities through partners on the ground and helping Madagascar to recover.

PRETORIA, 18 March 2022, (TON): Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson traveled to Pretoria and Johannesburg, South Africa, as the second stop on his three-country trip to Africa.

While there, he met with key economic leaders, financial service regulators, and law enforcement, including Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana, Director General of the National Treasury Dondo Mogajane and the Hawks to discuss strengthening the partnership around combatting terrorist financing, anti-money laundering systemic reforms, and fighting corruption in the region.

Under Secretary Nelson highlighted Treasury’s recent designation of four ISIS financial facilitators in South Africa and expressed eagerness to further partner on future sanctions designations.

Additionally, he spoke with authorities on how Treasury can work together with counterparts to support the South African government’s efforts to rebuild its institutions to combat financial crimes following state capture.

RIYADH, 18 March 2022, (TON): Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

During the call, the two leaders discussed a number of regional and international issues including developments in Ukraine, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The crown prince affirmed the Kingdom's support for all efforts aimed at settling disputes by peaceful means and through dialogue.

He also expressed the Kingdom’s support for all efforts to stop military operations in order to restore security and stability.

Prince Mohammed stressed the importance of maintaining the OPEC+ agreement and the Kingdom's keenness on keeping oil markets balanced and stable.

DUBAI, 18 March 2022, (TON): A crewman was still missing presumed drowned late on Thursday after a UAE cargo ship capsized and sank in a storm at sea in the Arabian Gulf.

A massive search and rescue operation recovered all but one of the 30 crew of the Al Salmy 6, which had been transporting a cargo of cars from Dubai to Umm Qasr port in southern Iraq.

The vessel encountered a storm 50 km off the coast of Asalouyeh in southern Iran, with wind gusting at more than 70kph and waves as high as 4.4 meters.

Capt. Nizar Qaddoura said “the choppy waters forced the vessel to list at a precarious angle and within hours it was fully submerged, operations manager of the company that owns the ship, Salem Al-Makrani Cargo in Dubai.”

Emergency workers sent from Iran initially saved 16 crew members, Qaddoura said, and civilian ships had been asked to help with the rescue efforts.

WASHINGTON, 18 March 2022, (TON): US President Joe Biden intends in a telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss, among other things, the situation in Ukraine.

This is stated in a written statement released by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.

She stressed that the conversation between the heads of the two states will take place on March 18.

Psaki said “this is part of our ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication between the United States and China. The leaders will discuss the regulation of competition between our two countries, as well as Russia’s war against Ukraine and other issues of mutual interest.”

China’s Ministry of Commerce spokesman Gao Feng said “China opposes U.S. anti-Russian sanctions which destabilize the global market.”

BRATISLAVA, 18 March 2022, (TON): Slovakia’s defense minister said “the country would immediately provide its S-300 air defense system to Ukraine if it’s guaranteed a proper replacement in the near term.”

Jaroslav Nad’ said “Slovakia is in discussions with the United States and other allies on the possibility of deploying its S-300s to Ukraine to help the embattled country in its fight against invading Russian forces.

But the agreement hinges on Bratislava receiving a stand-in system for its air defenses.

“The only strategic air defense system that we have in Slovakia is S-300 system. So what would happen immediately when we decide to give it to Ukrainians is that we actually create a gap, a security gap in NATO.”

DUBAI, 18 March 2022, (TON): UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan said in Moscow “the United Arab Emirates is keen to cooperate with Russia on improving global energy security.”

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has drawn a raft of Western sanctions and disrupted global energy markets, putting a spotlight on Gulf energy exporters, such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, as consumers look for supplies to replace Russian oil.

OPEC producers Saudi Arabia and the UAE have so far resisted US pleas to use their spare production capacity to help contain oil prices, saying “they are committed to an output pact under the OPEC+ alliance, which includes Russia.”

The Emirati minister told a televised joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov “it is important to maintain the stability of energy and food markets.”

Sheikh Abdullah said “we welcome all mediation efforts in the Ukraine crisis, the UAE is ready to engage with the parties to strengthen opportunities for a peaceful resolution.”

The UAE has tried to walk a line between the West and Russia, with which it has also deepened ties. It abstained in a recent UN Security Council vote, vetoed by Moscow, condemning the invasion.

NEW YORK, 18 March 2022, (TON): Representative of the Secretary General Stefan Dujarric said “UN Secretary-General António Guterres is meeting with Vasily Nebenzei, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the World Organization on the situation in Ukraine.”

Dujarric said “the Secretary General is making a lot of efforts in the diplomatic direction. We are trying to link all the various efforts and contacts that are taking place between Russia and Ukraine. He is holding telephone conversations, meeting with permanent representatives.”

He added “he is currently meeting with Vasily, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN Nebenzei.”

He further added that as you understand, it is mainly about Ukraine.

In the previous days, the representative of the Secretary General noted, Guterres met with representatives of Great Britain, the United States and France.