Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing – March 1, 2022

ANKARA 

Anadolu Agency is here with a rundown of the latest developments in Turkiye and around the world.

Turkiye will use its authority over the Turkish Straits under the 1936 Montreux Convention to prevent the Russia-Ukraine crisis from further escalating, the nation’s president said Monday.

Turkiye has warned all countries not to transit warships through the Turkish Straits since the Russia-Ukraine war started, the country’s foreign minister said Monday.

In a phone call Monday, the top Turkish and US diplomats discussed the humanitarian plight in Ukraine.

The presidents of Turkiye and Belarus spoke by phone early Tuesday on the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.

Turkish workers trapped in Kyiv due to the Russia-Ukraine war said they want to return to Turkiye as soon as possible.

Turkiye's economy expanded 11% year-on-year in 2021 in line with market expectations, according to official data released Monday.

Turkiye reported 64,275 new coronavirus cases Monday.

According to the Health Ministry, 213 deaths and 76,832 recoveries were recorded over the past day, and some 410,435 virus tests were done.

To counter the spread of the virus, Turkiye has administered over 145.63 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since it launched an immunization drive in January 2021. More than 57.68 million people have received their first vaccine jab, while over 52.8 million have received two doses. Third booster shots have been given to more than 27.09 million people.​​​​​​​

Other developments worldwide

Russia's central bank on Monday hiked its key interest rate from 9.5% to 20% in a dramatic move amid sanctions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is using a nuclear deterrent alert to distract the world from what he is doing in Ukraine, the British defense secretary said Monday.

The UN Human Rights Council voted Monday to hold an urgent debate on Russia's attack on Ukraine.

The Russian Defense Ministry on Monday declared complete control of Ukrainian airspace, claiming that its air force had destroyed around 20 more air defense system targets during ongoing operations.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry claimed Monday that nearly 5,300 Russian troops have been killed since the start of Russia's large-scale military intervention in Ukraine, which is now in its fifth day.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday called on the European Union for Ukraine's "immediate accession" to the bloc.

In the wake of Russian attacks, NATO's secretary general said Monday that NATO allies have increased their military and humanitarian support to Ukraine.

At least 102 civilians have been killed and 500,000 others have fled Ukraine as Russia launched a war on its western neighbor last Thursday, UN officials said Monday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Russia will respond to Western sanctions "based on its own interests."

Neutral countries including Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland and the Vatican stood by Ukraine's territorial integrity by condemning the Russian war on Ukraine.

Germany on Monday strongly condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order to put his nuclear forces on high alert, calling it “irresponsible.”

Russia on Monday closed its airspace to 36 countries, according to an announcement by the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviation).

The US on Monday suspended operations at its embassy in Belarus' capital Minsk and also authorized the voluntary departure of non-emergency employees and family members at the US Embassy in Moscow.

The defense ministers of EU countries met virtually Monday to discuss military support to Ukraine amid the nation's war with Russia.

The International Olympic Committee on Monday urged that Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials not be allowed or invited to participate in international competitions.

France on Monday boosted its sanctions against Moscow on the fifth day of the war between Russia and Ukraine.

In a phone call, French President Emmanuel Macron demanded his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin end the Russian war on Ukraine and implement an immediate cease-fire, the Elysee announced Monday.

The UK on Monday blocked Russian vessels' access to British ports and waters.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Monday of potential "disastrous implications" of Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and called for the protection of civilians.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree Monday restricting certain currency transactions in a bid to ease the effects of Western sanctions in the wake of the war with Ukraine.

Russian basketball clubs were suspended from EuroLeague contests Monday due to the war between Ukraine and Russia.

Top regulatory authorities governing global and European football have suspended Russian clubs and national teams from international games amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

Ukraine and Russia held peace talks Monday in Belarus, five days after Moscow launched a military operation against its western neighbor.

The US said Monday that it is expelling 12 Russian diplomats at the UN for allegedly engaging in espionage activities.