MEZIESBLOG

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says that relations between Russia and China have become a “major factor supporting global stability,” according to Russian news agency TASS.

“Bilateral relations between our countries have reached a new, unprecedented level and have become a major factor supporting global stability in the face of increasing geopolitical tensions in the world,” Shoigu said in a Telegram message to the vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, Zhang Youxia.

China has not condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has called for a negotiated solution to the conflict.

Black Sea grain deal extension talks underway in Geneva — report

Talks aimed at discussing an extension to a deal allowing the export of grain from Ukraine are taking place according to a report from Reuters, citing Russia’s diplomatic mission in Geneva.

The deal, which was brokered by the UN and Turkey, is up for renewal on March 18.

Last week UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted the importance of the deal to global food security and food prices, amid calls from Ukraine for an extension.

Reuters reported that UN trade official Rebeca Grynspan and head of aid Martin Griffiths, had arrived at UN European headquarters in Geneva but did not make any comments.

More than 24.1 million tons have been exported under the initiative, according to the UN.

Wagner Group likely aiming to recruit from ordinary Russians — UK intelligence

It’s likely that Russian private military company, the Wagner Group, has lost access to prisons as part of its recruitment strategy and will now likely shift focus towards recruiting ordinary Russians, the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) said in its latest intelligence update.

The MOD pointed out that this was due to Wagner group head, Yevgeny Prigozhin’s “ongoing disputes with the Russian MoD leadership.”

According to the MOD, masked Wagner recruiters were giving career talks at high schools in Moscow, and were handing out questionnaires titled “application a young warrior.”

The MOD said that half of the prisoners Wagner had deployed in Ukraine had likely become casualties, and the new recruitment strategy was a possible way of making up for the loss of convict recruits.

The ban on recruiting from prisons could also result in Wagner reducing the scale of its operations in Ukraine.

European arms imports nearly double in 2022

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) says European arms imports have almost doubled in 2022.

Shipments of arms to Ukraine are driving the increase in numbers with a 93% spike seen when compared with the previous year.

SIPRI  also says that imports have jumped due to a hike in military spending from European states.

“The invasion has really caused a significant surge in demand for arms in Europe, which will have further effect and most likely will lead to increased arms imports by European states,” Pieter Wezeman, a senior researcher at SIPRI, told the AFP news agency.

According to SIPRI’s data, Ukraine accounted for 31% of arms transfers to Europe.

SIPRI’s estimated figures for military expenditure in 2022 will be released in April.