EU Commission's statement following debate on strategies for energy crisis:

▪ EU has opportunity to end dependence on Russian fossil fuels "long before 2030";

▪ It will be "extremely hard" for the EU to replace two-thirds of Russian gas this year, but it's possible - European Commission executive vice president;

▪ Russia's share in EU imports is 46% for coal, 45% for gas, 27% of crude oil

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⚡️ Austrian Foreign Minister on Ukraine's desire to join the EU: we must be careful not to create expectations that we cannot fulfill

❗Scholz, Macron, Xi agree on need to support diplomatic solution to Ukrainian conflict

⚡ Sweden's accession to NATO could destabilise the situation in Europe - country’s PM

⚡ US trade deficit hits record high of $89.7bln, rising 9.4% in January

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has mocked sanctions against him: this time he's slamming Japan, "a country with centuries-old traditions of morality and noble behaviour 'Bushido.'"

"I really wonder how such smart people suddenly went astray and froze my assets, which I never had in Japan? Most likely, in addition to the ban on my financial activities in Japan, I am now forbidden to watch anime and enjoy cherry blossoms," he said.

He has also announced "retaliatory measures": the Japanese authorities are no longer allowed in Chechnya, except for two places – psychiatric hospitals in the Chechen villages of Braguny and Samashki. "All their property and bank accounts are now arrested, will be sold, and the funds will be directed to the development fund of the Kuril Islands," Kadyrov added.

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⚡ The UN Secretariat has banned its staff from using the words "war" and "invasion" to describe the situation in Ukraine, the Irish Times reports. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba called this censorship

BREAKING NEWS: HIGHEST GAS PRICES IN HISTORY! DO YOU MISS ME YET?

The UN does not prohibit any words about the events in Ukraine, but all statements must comply with the neutral position of the organisation, a UN representative told Sputnik

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❗ Russian Foreign Ministry: Gas prices in Europe soaring due to ban on Nord Stream 2

❗ Strengthening NATO in the east is not aimed at provoking conflict, but at maintaining peace, Stoltenberg said

⚡UK to stop importing Russian oil and oil products by the end of 2022 - UK energy minister

⚡⚡Biden announces ban on Russian oil imports

Joe Biden on new sanctions against Russia:

▪ Ban includes oil and gas;
▪ Decision was made in consultation with allies;
▪ US understands many allies may not be able to join ban;
▪ Biden: We remain united in our purpose to pressure Putin;
▪ Both Democrats & Republicans agree with ban;
▪ Gasoline prices in US will continue to rise due to sanctions against Russia

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⚡⚡ Biden urges Congress to pass $12Bln Ukraine assistance package

❗The American people will deal "another powerful blow to Putin's war machine" - Biden

💬 "Documentation was received from employees of Ukrainian biological laboratories on the emergency destruction of especially dangerous pathogens of plague, anthrax, tularemia, cholera and other deadly diseases on 24 February. The emergency destruction of especially dangerous pathogens on 24 February was required to prevent the disclosure of facts of violations by Ukraine and the United States of Article I of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention" - Russian Foreign Ministry's statement.

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❗CIA Director Burns warns against underestimating Chinese President Xi, Chinese leadership's determination with regard to Taiwan

❗ Russian Armed Forces destroy almost 2,600 Ukrainian military facilities, MoD says

❗CIA chief: US, Ukraine doing 'intensive' intelligence sharing

😐 Advisor to the head of Zelensky's office has called the publication about the UN in the Irish Times "a Russian provocation"