Russian President Vladimir Putin made a televised speech
On the 16th local time, Russian President Putin made a televised speech.
Putin said the special military operation was going well and was being carried out as planned. Although the Russians were close to Kiev and other Ukrainian cities, they had no plans and purposes for occupying Ukraine.
Putin said the "pro-Nazi regime" in Kiev could acquire nuclear weapons in the foreseeable future, possibly targeting Russia.
Putin said Ukraine has a network of dozens of laboratories that carry out military biological programs under the guidance and financial support of the Pentagon, including experiments with samples from coronavirus, anthrax, cholera and African swine fever. Now they are working to remove all traces of these programmes. But Russia has every reason to believe that the components of biological weapons have been manufactured in Ukraine's immediate vicinity with Russia.
Putin said that the West's freeze on Russia's foreign exchange reserves is actually equivalent to declaring a default on Russia's debts. Now everyone knows that a country's foreign exchange reserves can be easily stolen. Putin said that the West's confiscation of Russia's public and private assets overseas is a lesson that Russian entrepreneurs should learn, and it is safest to invest assets in the motherland. It is believed that after the West blocked Russia's account, many countries will convert their foreign exchange reserves into commodities, which will lead to a shortage of commodities.
Putin said that the Western "empire of lies" is weak in the face of truth and justice. Russia will continue to stand by its original position for the whole world.
Zelenskiy gave a video address to the U.S. Congress
On March 16, local time, Zelenskiy delivered a speech to the US Congress through a video link. In his speech, Zelenskiy reiterated his call for a no-fly zone over Ukraine. "Is this too much to ask for?" He said. If so, he hopes the U.S. will at least provide ukraine with the defense systems it needs to fend off airstrikes.
"Is the requirement to create a no-fly zone over Ukraine and save the people too much?" No-fly zones would make it impossible for Russia to intimidate our cities. If this requirement is also too much, we also offer another option. We need strong air defense systems to protect our cities and people. ”
He offered the hope that the United States would provide Ukraine with its existing warplanes. "They're on Earth, but not in the Ukrainian skies. They are not protecting our people. ”
Zelenskiy also quoted Martin Luther King Jr. as saying, "I have a dream, a phrase that each of you knows." Today, I can say that I have a need, and I need to protect our skies. ”
NATO members have so far refused to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine, arguing that it could lead to an escalation of the conflict with Russia.
Lavrov: The United States is putting pressure on China, India, Egypt, and Turkey.
Comprehensive Russian News Agency, "Russia Today" (RT) reported on the 16th, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said in an interview with the Russian Business Consulting Daily that the United States because of Russia and "undignified, extremely arbitrary" pressure on China, India, Egypt, Turkey and other countries.
In the interview, Lavrov talked about the behavior of the United States against other countries because of Russia. He called it "an extremely arbitrary and unreasonable act by Washington."
Lavrov further said, "The (U.S.) blackmail of countries with ancient civilizations, such as China, India and Egypt, and the demands on Turkey [on issues related to the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system] are even more alarming." ”
Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine: Ukraine cannot accept the Swedish or Austrian model of neutrality
On March 16, local time, Podoriak, adviser to the head of the office of the President of Ukraine, said that Ukraine cannot accept the Swedish or Austrian neutrality model, and neutrality can only be "Ukrainian-style".
Peskov: The Russian side sees the Swedish model of neutrality proposed by Ukraine as a compromise
On the 16th local time, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Peskov said that Russia believes that the Swedish neutrality model proposed by Ukraine can be seen as a compromise.
He said that the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations involve sanctions, but it is not convenient for the Russian side to disclose the details at present.
Russian Satellite News Agency said on the 16th that the head of the Russian delegation, Mekinsky, said that Kiev proposed to establish a demilitarized country on the territory of Ukraine that follows the Austrian or Swedish model and can have its own army in the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations.
Screenshot of the Russian news agency report
Meczynski said the two sides are currently "discussing a range of issues related to the size of Ukraine's military, including maintaining and developing Ukraine's neutrality and demilitarizing Ukraine." Ukraine proposes to create an Austrian or Swedish model of neutral demilitarized state, but at the same time could have its own army and navy. All these issues are being discussed by the leadership of the Russian-Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. ”
In this regard, the russian presidential press secretary Peskov told reporters: "This plan that is now being discussed can be regarded as a real compromise plan." ”
Source: Silk Road New Observation Compilation