China News Agency, Beijing, February 28. Comprehensive news: On the 28th local time, Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine has entered its fifth day.
At present, the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations have started in Gomel Oblast, Belarus.
Russia says it has seized Ukrainian air supremacy, Ukraine says Russian offensive has slowed
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Konashenkov announced on the 28th that since Russia launched "special military operations", the Russian army has destroyed 1,114 targets in Ukraine's military infrastructure, including 31 command posts and communication centers.
Today's Russian news agency quoted the news released by the Russian Ministry of Defense on the 28th as saying that the Russian Air Force has seized air control over the entire Ukraine.
Ukraine has yet to confirm this.
According to Ukrainian News Agency, citing news released by the Ukrainian State Special Communications and Information Protection Agency in the early morning of the 28th, explosions sounded again in Kyiv and Kharkov, and Kyiv sounded the air defense alarm again.
In this regard, Podoljak, an adviser to the Ukrainian President's Office, said that a small number of Russian troops tried to enter Kyiv, and the urban area and suburbs of Kiev are still under the control of the Ukrainian army.
In addition, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Mariar posted on social media on the 28th that from the 24th to 6:00 on the 28th, 5,300 Russian soldiers were injured or killed, and the Ukrainian army shot down 29 Russian aircraft and 29 helicopters. There are 191 tanks, 816 armored vehicles, 74 cannons, and 5 sets of air defense systems.
But this claim has not been confirmed by Russia.
According to the news released by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on social media that day, the speed of the Russian army’s offensive has slowed down, but the Russian army is still trying to advance on certain fronts.
The Russian army continued to carry out fire strikes on Ukrainian airports, command posts, and air defense systems.
Europe continues to impose sanctions on Russia or buy weapons to aid Ukrainian troops
The European Union announced on the 27th that it would close its airspace to Russian aircraft and plan to buy weapons and equipment to aid the Ukrainian army.
On the afternoon of the 27th local time, European Commission President von der Leyen announced new sanctions against Russia.
She said the EU would close its airspace to Russian-owned, Russian-registered or Russian-controlled aircraft, prohibiting them from taking off, landing or crossing the territory of EU member states.
Other sanctions include restrictions on the dissemination of information in the EU by Russia Today (RT) and the Russian satellite news agency (Sputnik); sanctions on Belarusian individuals, bans on the import of Belarusian minerals, tobacco, timber, steel and other products, and restrictions on exports to Belarus that can be used for military purposes of dual-use products.
On the same day, the European External Action Service issued an announcement announcing that Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, would propose to member states to use EU funds to purchase weapons and equipment to assist the Ukrainian army, including ammunition and other lethal weapons, as well as oil, medical supplies, etc. Non-lethal military materiel.
Russia responds to sanctions, strategic deterrent force enters special combat readiness
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on the 27th that in response to the highly aggressive remarks made by senior Western officials, Russia's strategic deterrent forces entered a state of special combat readiness.
Putin said that not only did Western countries take unfriendly actions against Russia in the economic field, "I mean the well-known illegal sanctions", but senior officials of major NATO countries also made extremely aggressive remarks against Russia.
"Therefore, I order the Minister of Defense and the Chief of General Staff to transfer the Russian strategic deterrent forces to a state of special combat readiness."
According to the Russian Satellite News Agency, citing data from Bloomberg, on the 28th, the exchange rate of the Russian ruble against the US dollar and the euro hit a record low.
Some experts predict that the ruble exchange rate will continue to decline in the context of the West's decision to impose sanctions on Russia in the form of freezing the assets of the Russian central bank.
The Central Bank of Russia issued a statement on the same day saying that in view of the drastic changes in the external conditions facing the Russian economy, it decided to raise the benchmark interest rate to 20% to protect the deposit rate level, deal with the risk of currency depreciation and inflation, maintain financial and price stability and protect people's savings.
Russia-Ukraine talks begin in Gomel Oblast, Belarus
According to RIA Novosti news on the 28th local time, the Ukrainian delegation to negotiate with Russia has entered Belarus.
Russia and Ukraine have set the negotiating place in Gomel Oblast, Belarus, which borders Ukraine and Russia.
The Ukrainian state news agency quoted a statement from the Ukrainian President's Office on the 28th as saying that the Ukrainian side believes that the core issue of the talks is an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.
The members of the Ukrainian delegation included Defense Minister Reznikov, Advisor to the President's Office Podoljak, and Chairman of the Parliamentary Group of the Ukrainian People's Servant Party, Arahamia, among others.
Mejinsky, head of the Russian delegation, previously said that Russia intends to reach a consensus with Ukraine as soon as possible.
The timing of the talks has been changed several times before, he said.
However, the Russian side will not release the specific personnel list.
On the 28th local time, Belarusian Foreign Minister Makei welcomed the Russian-Ukrainian delegation and said that at the request of the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, Belarus will make every effort to ensure the talks, including security.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko wants Russia and Ukraine to find solutions to all critical issues in negotiations.
Many parties expressed their willingness to help peacefully resolve conflicts
Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, said on the 27th that the current situation in Ukraine has changed rapidly, and the top priority is for all parties to maintain necessary restraint to avoid further deterioration of the situation in Ukraine.
China supports and encourages all diplomatic efforts conducive to a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, and welcomes direct dialogue and negotiation between Russia and Ukraine as soon as possible.
China also supports the EU and Russia to conduct equal dialogues on European security issues, uphold the concept of indivisibility of security, and ultimately form a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism.
Brazilian President Bolsonaro said on the 27th that Brazil will help find a solution to the conflict in any possible way.
Iranian President Raisi said on the 27th that Iran supports all diplomatic efforts aimed at peacefully resolving the conflict and is ready to provide any help to restore peace in Ukraine.
Israeli Prime Minister Bennett said in a phone call with Putin on the 27th that Israel is willing to provide mediation efforts on the suspension of military operations.
Lebanese President Aoun said that Lebanon supports the settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict through political negotiations in accordance with the UN Charter and relevant international law.
The Elysee Palace, the French presidential palace, issued a statement on the 27th, calling on Russia and Ukraine to achieve a ceasefire before peace talks.
Brunei's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the evening of the 26th, calling on all parties concerned to abide by the UN Charter and international law, ease tensions, and avoid actions that may further aggravate the situation.
(End) (Participating reporters: Tian Bing De Yongjian Zhang Shuo Zhang Huandi Su Jingxin)