March 30, 2022

*) Türkiye sees ‘most meaningful progress’ in Russia-Ukraine talks The first stage of the Istanbul talks between Kiev and Moscow has seen the "most meaningful progress since the start of negotiations", Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said. Cavusoglu said he was pleased to see increasing "rapprochement" at "every stage". Negotiators from both sides said enough progress had been made at the fresh round of talks on Tuesday. Moscow's negotiators said Russia would "radically" reduce its military activity in northern Ukraine, including near the capital Kiev. *) Ukraine official: Russia is being demilitarised Ukraine's UN Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya has told the UN Security Council that the “demilitarisation of Russia is well under way”. Kyslytsya said Russia has lost more than 17,000 military personnel, over 1,700 armoured vehicles and almost 600 tanks. Russia has also lost 300 artillery systems, 127 planes and 129 helicopters, almost 100 rocket launcher systems, 54 air defence systems and seven ships, he added. That is “an unprecedented blow to Moscow, where the numbers of Soviet losses in Afghanistan pale in comparison”, Kyslytsya said. *) Saudi-led coalition declares Ramadan ceasefire in Yemen The Saudi-led coalition backing the Yemeni government against Houthi rebels has announced a ceasefire from Wednesday morning. The move is seen as an attempt at creating a fertile environment for political talks and to jumpstart peace efforts during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. But the rebels have shunned a meeting in Riyadh that is hosted by the Gulf Cooperation Council and involves the Yemeni government, as well as the US and the UN envoys to Yemen. Other unilateral ceasefires announced by the coalition over the past two years have swiftly collapsed. *) Deaths in mass shooting spree in central Israel A gunman on a motorcycle has shot dead at least five people in central Israel. The shooter was killed by police. Residents of Bnei Brak town and the neighbouring Ramat Gan town reported lat