❗️The first stage of the Russian military operation in Ukraine is complete. The combat potential of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been significantly reduced. The main goal now is to liberate Donbas.

— Defense Minister Shoigu

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❗️Russian MoD announces “fundamental cut back” on military activity in the direction of Kiev and Chernigov. Zelensky’s peace terms will now be considered by Putin, says Moscow’s chief negotiator after Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul.

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❗️The EU has rejected Russia’s demand to pay for gas in rubles, according to a statement from the European Commission.

The bloc’s refusal follows a similar announcement by G7 countries.

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❗️Russia has begun withdrawing forces from around Kiev, senior U.S. officials tell CNN.

Washington considers these developments to be a “major” strategy shift and a longer-term move as Russia comes to grips with failure to advance in the north.

On Tuesday, following another round of peace talks in Istanbul, the Russian MoD announced its decision to drastically reduce hostilities in the Kiev and Chernigov directions.

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“No payment, no gas!” - stated Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman, when asked what Russia is planning to do if the Europeans don’t agree to pay for gas in Russian rubles.

Vladimir Putin: “Both the US and the EU have not fulfilled their obligations to Russia. And now everyone in the world knows that obligations in dollars and euros may not be fulfilled. It is quite obvious that in this regard, shipping gas to both the EU and the US and receiving payment in dollars and euros does not make any sense for us. Therefore, I decided to implement a set of measures to transfer payments for our natural gas supplied to unfriendly countries into Russian rubles.”

“Russia will certainly continue to supply natural gas in accordance with volumes and prices, fixed in previously concluded contracts. We value our business reputation as a reliable partner and supplier.”

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❗️Russian ruble strengthens to near pre-war value.

Joe Biden on March 26:

“As a result of unprecedented sanctions, the ruble is reduced to rubble. It takes about 200 rubles to equal one dollar.”

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Putin and Macron held a telephone conversation in which:

— Putin told Macron that a humanitarian operation in Mariupol is not possible before Ukrainian nationalists lay down their arms or are eliminated.

— Macron told Putin that it was not possible for Western gas clients to pay their bills in roubles.

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"We are clear-eyed about the reality of what’s happening on the ground. No one should be fooled by Russia's announcement. We believe any movement of Russian forces from around Kiev is a redeployment, not a withdrawal."

— Reuters citing a U.S. official

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Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov recorded a video message, expressing disapproval for Moscow’s peace negotiations with “puppet” Zelensky.

Kadyrov also appealed directly to Putin, saying that fighters on the ground were discouraged by today’s news of a draw back near Kiev and want to complete the task of denazifying Ukraine.

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❗️Kremlin: The transition to ruble payments for Russian gas will not start on March 31. This is going to be a lengthy process.

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“We have information that Putin felt misled by the Russian military. There is now persistent tension between Putin and the MOD (Ministry of Defense), stemming from Putin’s mistrust in MOD leadership.”

— NBC News citing a U.S. official

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Zelensky’s adviser Alexei Arestovich admitted to the Washington Post that Ukrainian forces have been placing heavy military equipment in residential neighborhoods, but defended the tactic saying “international humanitarian laws or the laws of war don’t apply in this conflict."

The same article notes:

Over the past month, Washington Post journalists have witnessed Ukrainian antitank rockets, antiaircraft guns and armored personnel carriers placed near apartment buildings. In one vacant lot, Post journalists spotted a truck carrying a Grad multiple rocket launcher.

Ukraine’s strategy of placing heavy military equipment and other fortifications in civilian zones could weaken Western and Ukrainian efforts to hold Russia legally culpable for possible war crimes, said human rights activists and international humanitarian law experts.

The Ukrainian military has “a responsibility under international law” to remove their forces and equipment from civilian-populated areas, and if that is not possible, to move civilians out of those areas.

“If they don’t do that, that is a violation of the laws of war because they are putting civilians at risk. All that military equipment are legitimate targets.”

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❗️President of South Ossetia, whose independence from Georgia was recognized by Moscow in 2008, says he’s initiating the process of bringing the republic into Russia.

Days earlier, similar statements were made by the heads of the People’s Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk.

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Vladimir Putin's approval rating has soared to 83%, according to a recent survey by the Levada Center, Russia's independent pollster.

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Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov doubles down on his anti-negotiations rhetoric in regard to Ukraine.

In a new video recording, Kadyrov criticized Moscow’s chief negotiator for making misleading statements and promised to eventually take Kiev if Zelensky fails to surrender.

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❗️Germany: Putin agreed to keep gas payments for Europe in euros.

Following a Scholz-Putin phone call, Germany announced that it has received assurances that European companies could continue paying for gas in euros.

According to German officials, the Russian president told Scholz that under the new scheme payments in euros would be made through Gazprom Bank, which is not affected by sanctions, and then converted into rubles.

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Vast majority of Americans are big fans of Ukraine’s Zelensky.

72% of Americans have confidence in Zelensky, compared to 48% for their own President Joe Biden, and just 6% for Putin, according to a PEW Research survey.

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Kiev’s open glorification of WWII Nazi collaborators draws backlash from Poland, prompting the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s legislative body) to delete a post from their official Twitter account.

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Caught on camera: Ukrainian forces using ambulances for transportation, presumably as part of the same dirty tactic of hiding behind civilians and civilian infrastructure.

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❗️Putin signs decree mandating the sale of gas in rubles starting April 1.

European buyers are now required to open ruble accounts in specific Russian banks, which are then to be used for conducting payments.

Refusal to comply with the new scheme will result in a halt of gas supplies, Russia’s leader warned.

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