Anadolu Agency's Morning Briefing – March 24, 2022

By Ali Murat Alhas​​​​​​​

ANKARA (AA) - Anadolu Agency is here with a rundown of the latest developments around the world.

As the Russia-Ukraine war marks the end of its first month, the civilian death toll has reached at least 977, while 1,594 others have been wounded, according to UN estimates.

The UN Security Council on Wednesday overwhelmingly rejected a draft resolution from Russia on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, with China joining Russia in voting in favor of the text.

The US has formally determined that Russian forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

President Vladimir Putin said Russia will demand that “unfriendly countries” pay for Russian natural gas exports only in rubles from now on.

In a televised speech from his office in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the French parliament and asked for ammunition, airpower and humanitarian aid. He earlier addressed the Japanese parliament and called for "more pressure" on Moscow.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said further supplies of Strela anti-aircraft missiles were now on the way to Ukraine.

Turkiye's Communications Director Fahrettin Altun urged the US to deliver F-35 fighter jets and Patriot batteries to Ankara "without preconditions" and said informal proposals would not repair relations, referring to an article published last week by the Wall Street Journal which suggested using Turkiye-owned S-400 missile systems in Ukraine against Russia.

The Taliban's decision to suspend schooling for girls beyond the sixth grade is "deeply damaging" for Afghanistan, said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.