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Duterte takes responsibility for drug war, anticipates long ICC legal battle

FORMER PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. DUTERTE — PHILIPPINE STAR/JESSE BUSTOS

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

FORMER Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte said he takes full responsibility for his government’s war on drugs, as he braces for a legal battle at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, where he will be tried for crimes against humanity.

“Whatever happened in the past, I will be the front of our law enforcement and the military,” he said in a video message posted on his Facebook account. “I said this already, that I will protect you, and I will be responsible for everything.”

His remarks were his first since being put on a plane to the Netherlands.

Mr. Duterte was taken into custody by the ICC on Wednesday after his arrest in Manila on murder charges linked to his anti-illegal drug war, in which thousands of suspected drug pushers and users were killed.

The video, which has been viewed 10 million times, showed only the firebrand leader in a plain white T-shirt speaking. It appeared to have been recorded inside the plane, with the faint hum of the engine audible in the background.

In a statement, the ICC said Mr. Duterte had been “surrendered to the custody of the International Criminal Court.” “He was arrested by the authorities of the Republic of the Philippines… for charges of murder as a crime against humanity.”

He will be brought before an ICC judge in The Hague in the coming days for an initial appearance, according to the statement. He was transferred to a detention unit on the Dutch coast.

“This will be a long legal proceeding, but I say to you, I will continue to serve my country,” Mr. Duterte said, while assuring his supporters that he was well. “And so be it, if that is my destiny.”

“I am OK, do not worry,” the 79-year old former President said in the more than two-minute video clip.

Mr. Duterte, who led the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, will face allegations of crimes against humanity for overseeing death squads in his anti-illegal drug crackdown. He could become the first former Asian head of state to go on trial at the ICC.

The ICC arrest warrant says that as President, Mr. Duterte created, funded and armed the death squads that carried out murders of drug dealers and users.

During his six years in office, 6,200 suspects were killed during anti-drug operations, by the police’s count. Human rights groups say the death could be as many as 30,000.

Mr. Duterte’s daughter, Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio, arrived in The Hague on Wednesday evening, her office said.

Lawyers and academics said the arrest and transfer were a big moment for the ICC, which is targeted by US sanctions and does not have any police of its own to arrest people.

A State Department spokesperson said the US was aware of Philippine authorities’ arrest of Mr. Duterte.

The Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands said it had provided consular assistance to Mr. Duterte upon his arrival. It added that it had given former Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea a 15-day visa because he would serve as Mr. Duterte’s lawyer.

Mr. Medialdea was also allowed to visit the former President at the ICC’s detention center in Scheveningen.

The embassy also notified officials from the ICC and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Mr. Duterte’s medical condition and requirements.

WIDESPREAD AND SYSTEMATIC
“The chamber… found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Duterte is individually responsible as an indirect co-perpetrator for the crime against humanity of murder,” the ICC said in a statement.

It said it found merit in the prosecution’s request to arrest Mr. Duterte due to his past government’s policy and statements that propelled an “attack directed against a civilian population.”

“There are reasonable grounds to believe that this attack was both widespread and systematic: the alleged attack took place over a period of several years and resulted in thousands of deaths,” it added.

Mr. Duterte arrived at Rotterdam Airport at 11:54 p.m. Manila time on Wednesday, a day after being flown to the European nation by Philippine authorities aboard a private jet, according to tracking service FlightRadar 24. He was arrested at the Manila airport on Tuesday by local police at the request of the ICC coursed through the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).

His initial appearance before an ICC judge in The Hague will be scheduled in the coming days. The international court will verify his identity, determine the language for the trial and ensure he has been informed of the charges against him at their first hearing, the court said in a statement.

He will be held in an ICC detention unit on the Dutch coast during the duration of the proceedings, according to a briefer on its prison complex posted on its website.

Mr. Duterte made the crackdown on the illegal drug trade a key plank of his election campaign, promising to kill 100,000 criminals in his first six months in office and throw so many bodies in Manila Bay that the fish there would “grow fat.”

Among those who died were at least 122 children, according to a 2020 report by the World Organisation Against Torture and Children’s Legal Rights and Development Center.

“International law is not as weak as some may think,” ICC Prosecutor Karim Ahmad A. Khan said in a video message posted on the international tribunal’s website on Wednesday. “When we come together, when we work, when we build partnerships, the rule of law can prevail.”

The family of Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., whose government helped hand Mr. Duterte over to the ICC, would benefit politically amid a deepening rift with the Duterte clan, said Arjan P. Aguirre, who teaches political science at the Ateneo de Manila University.

“It places the Dutertes in an awkward position, where they are facing numerous cases, such as the impeachment and criminal charges, which will force them to spread out their resources and attention,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat. — with Reuters

Marcos: Government investing in infra to boost food security

PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Thursday said his government is investing in more dryers, silos, warehouses, rice and corn mills and other agricultural equipment, whilst pushing partnerships between farmers and the private sector to boost food security.

“Because of this, we will reduce wasted rice and corn, lower food prices and make our farmers more productive,” Mr. Marcos said at the inauguration of the Sorosoro Ibaba Development Cooperative Grains terminal and trading project, a P270-million feed mill facility in Batangas City, streamed live on Facebook.

The Batangas facility can hold about 12,000 metric tons of corn or 480,000 sacks of feed for 100,000 pigs or almost 600,000 chickens, he said.

“With this, the storage of our corn will be better and our support for the poultry and livestock industry will be stronger,” the President said in Filipino.

He also vowed to support farmers and fisherfolk communities to sustain their livelihood.

“Let’s strengthen the partnership between the government, private sector and our farmers,” Mr. Marcos said.

The Department of Agriculture in February declared a food security emergency on rice, the latest effort by the government to lower the cost of the staple grain.

This allows the agency to release rice buffer stocks held by the National Food Authority (NFA) to stabilize prices and ensure that rice, a staple food for millions of Filipinos, remains accessible to consumers.

It cited the “extraordinary” increase in local rice prices despite the drop in global prices and the reduction in tariffs in July last year.

Under Republic Act No. 12708 or the Agricultural Tariffication Act, the Agriculture secretary can declare a food security emergency in case of rice supply shortages or extraordinary price spikes.

Under a food security emergency, the NFA would release its rice buffer stock to government agencies, local government units, and the KADIWA ng Pangulo program. — J.V.D. Ordoñez

EU to send election observers in May

BW FILE PHOTO

THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU) said that it will send delegates to observe the Philippines’ midterm elections in May, as it seeks to provide an assessment of the country’s election, its embassy in Manila said on Thursday.

In a statement, EU High Representative/Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas said that she would deploy an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to observe the Philippines’ mid-term elections on May 12.

“This will be the first deployment of an EOM in the country, marking a step toward stronger EU-Philippines relations,” the consulate said following the invitation from the Philippines’ Commission on Elections.

In 2024, the EU also deployed delegates to observe general elections in Bangladesh and Mexico, and presidential elections in Senegal and Sri Lanka among other countries.

The embassy noted that the EOM will publish a comprehensive, independent, and impartial assessment of the electoral process based on international and regional standards for democratic elections.

“The EU EOM’s mandate is to assess the electoral process in line with the Philippines’ national legal framework, as well as with the international and regional standards that the country has signed up to regarding democratic elections,” it said.

The EOM will issue a preliminary statement and hold a press conference after the elections.

The Philippines is set to conduct its mid-term national and local elections on May 12. Up for grabs will be 12 spots in the 24-seat Senate and 317 congressional seats. Thousands of local officials will also be elected.

“A final report, including recommendations for future electoral processes, will be presented and shared with stakeholders after the finalization of the entire electoral process,” the embassy said.

Ms. Kallas appointed member of the European Parliament Marta Temido as their chief observer.

“It will be a privilege to lead the 2025 EU Election Observation Mission to the Philippines. I look forward to meeting and engaging with representatives of State institutions, political parties, candidates, civil society, and other electoral stakeholders in the Philippines,” Ms. Temido said. — Adrian H. Halili

SC orders gov’t to comment on lawsuits seeking Duterte’s release

FORMER PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. DUTERTE — PCOO

THE SUPREME COURT (SC) on Thursday gave the government 24 hours to comment on a lawsuit seeking the release of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte from the International Criminal Court, which is set to try him for crimes against humanity over his deadly war on drugs.

In a statement, SC spokesperson Camille Sue Mae L. Ting said the tribunal had given Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor C. Remulla, national police chief Rommel Francisco D. Marbil and Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin to “show cause” why it should not issue a writ of habeas corpus.

The high court also consolidated the petitions filed by his children Paolo who is a congressman representing Davao City, Sebastian who is the mayor and Veronica. The habeas corpus writ is a legal remedy against illegal detention.

Both Sebastian and Veronica said their father had been illegally arrested and was being detained by the ICC, which they said does not have jurisdiction over the Philippines. — JVDO

Power co-ops urged to shun politics

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

ELECTRIC cooperatives should disengage from politics in this year’s midterm elections and instead focus on improving their services, an energy advocacy group said on Thursday.

“Leading up to the 2025 midterm elections, we have observed that there have been questionable posts by electric cooperatives in the past couple of weeks that seemingly endorse a political candidate,” Nic Satur, Jr., chief advocate officer for Partners for Affordable and Reliable Energy, said in a statement.

“Electric cooperatives are mandated to serve consumers, not politicians. Their time, resources, and expertise should be dedicated to providing least-cost power — not to political campaigns,” he added.

The Philippines is set to hold its midterm elections on May 12, when Filipinos will pick more than 12 senators, 300 congressmen and thousands of local posts. 

Mr. Satur said some electric cooperatives had held assemblies with energy consumers where political candidates’ campaign materials were blatantly displayed. Such gatherings could’ve been used as an avenue to discuss on how to make power costs cheaper.

“These events must be a venue to discuss power rates and other electric cooperative concerns only,” he said.

“When leaders of electric cooperatives use their influence for political endorsements, it diverts

their attention from pressing energy concerns,” he added. “Consumers are left with higher rates, unreliable service, and mismanaged resources.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

1Life to provide healthcare tools

STOCK PHOTO | Image by Silas Camargo Silão from Pixabay

HEALTHCARE technology company 1Life, Inc. has teamed up with the local government of Parañaque to provide early detection and preventive healthcare tools in its health facilities.

The partnership is expected to benefit 500,000 residents in 20 barangay health centers, 1Life said in a statement on Wednesday. The memorandum of agreement was signed on March 6.

“We are doing this partnership with the local government of Parañaque to help them in the modernization of their barangay health centers, giving their indigent residents access to better healthcare services,” Kenneth So, vice-president for community healthcare partnerships at 1Life, was quoted as saying.

Under the partnership, 1Life is expected to provide portable diagnostic equipment for detection and disease prevention services. This would help ease the number of residents visiting city government hospitals.

Locals can also avail services such as blood chemistry tests, full abdomen ultrasound, chest X-ray, fetal doppler for pregnant patients, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation measurements, urinalysis, checking of blood sugar, uric acid, cholesterol, and hemoglobin levels.

1Life’s healthcare services help address the “4-Day Problem,” which states that poor Filipinos need to wait for four days to get a diagnosis and prescription. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Virginia tobacco begins trading

DA.GOV.PH

BAGUIO CITY — The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) announced that Virginia tobacco has started trading operations for the cropping season 2024–2025, following the opening of the buying stations in Region 1 and Abra.

Administrator and Chief Executive Officer Belinda S. Sanchez said, NTA extension workers have already checked the trading equipment and facilities of the two biggest tobacco trading outlets in the Ilocos region before the end of February.

The assigned NTA field workers have sealed all the weighing scales of the buying stations upon calibration using the weighing test certified by the Department of Science and Technology as well as calibration of weighing scales of accredited field canvassers.

This is to ensure the accuracy of the weighing of all tobacco leaves brought about by the farmers to the trading centers, Ms. Sanchez explained.

NTA said that tobacco farmers, who planted as early as the last week of November 2024, have started delivering their flue-cured Virginia tobacco to the trading centers.

Trading warehouses of the Universal Leaf Philippines, Inc. in Agoo, La Union; Candon City and Cabugao, both in Ilocos Sur; Currimao, Ilocos Norte; and Bangued, Abra; and the warehouse of Trans Manila Incorporated (TMI) in San Juan, Ilocos Sur, are now open to accommodate all the flue-cured Virginia tobacco leaves produced by the farmers, NTA also said.

At the start of the 2025 tobacco trading operations, trading centers purchased a kilo of prime class of flue-cured tobacco at P107 while field canvassers in the first district of Ilocos Sur bought the same class of cured tobacco as high as P125 per kilo.

With these, Sanchez is expecting another golden season for tobacco farmers this year, as the current tobacco buying prices are much higher than the approved tobacco floor prices during the tripartite conference in October 2023. — Artemio A. Dumlao

Five nabbed in Nueva Vizcaya sting

BAGUIO CITY — Five alleged drug personalities were caught at an alleged drug den in Barangay Curifang, Solano town in Nueva Vizcaya, late Wednesday evening.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives in Nueva Vizcaya swooped down at the alleged drug den at around 11:20 p.m. on Wednesday and seized at least 20 grams of suspected crystal meth (shabu) with an estimated market value of P136,000, at least 5 milliliters of suspected marijuana oil found in two vape cartridges, drug paraphernalia and non-drug evidence, such as four cellular phones, and the buy-bust money.

PDEA-Nueva Vizcaya agents were assisted by PDEA-Kalinga, Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group, Solano town police, and the Drug Enforcement Unit of Nueva Vizcaya police.

PDEA Regional Director Charlene Magdurulang said four of the suspects were from Solano, Nueva Vizcaya, while one was from Quezon. The suspects are facing charges for violation of Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. — Artemio A. Dumlao

P3.4-M drugs seized in Marawi

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

COTABATO CITY — Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized P3.4 million worth of crystal meth (shabu) from a peddler entrapped in Marawi City on Wednesday.

Gil Cesario P. Castro, director of the PDEA-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), said on Thursday that the suspect was immediately detained after selling half a kilo of shabu to non-uniformed PDEA-BARMM agents and policemen in Barangay Matampay in Marawi City.

Mr. Castro said the entrapment operation was carried out with the help of Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal A. Adiong, Jr. and the regional director of the Bangsamoro police, Brig. Gen. Romeo J. Macapaz, and Muslim religious leaders in Marawi City.

The suspect, a resident of Barangay Kanyugan Papandayan in Marawi City, yielded peacefully when he realized that he had sold his illegal merchandise to PDEA-BARMM agents and personnel of the Marawi City Police Office disguised as drug dependents. — John Felix M. Unson

Stocks rise on bargain hunting, US inflation data

BW FILE PHOTO

PHILIPPINE STOCKS recovered on Thursday on bargain hunting following their two-day drop and with data showing slower US consumer inflation in February.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose by 0.75% or 46.81 points to 6,242.07, while the broader all shares index climbed by 0.53% or 19.6 points to 3,701.4.

“The local market bounced back this Thursday as investors hunted for bargains following two straight days of decline,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Senior Research Analyst Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a Viber message. “Helping in today’s rebound are the lower-than-expected February inflation in the US and the robust fourth quarter and full-year 2024 corporate results onshore.”

“Philippine investors resumed their bargain hunting after investors calmed down after the latest US consumer price index (CPI) came out. Wall Street was able to even close mixed after a rough start,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a Viber message.

US consumer prices increased moderately in February as higher shelter costs were partially offset by cheaper airline fares, giving the Federal Reserve room to keep interest rates unchanged next week while monitoring the economic impact of a trade war, Reuters reported.

The CPI rose 0.2% last month, the smallest gain since October, after accelerating 0.5% in January, the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics said.

In the 12 months through February, the CPI increased 2.8% after climbing 3% in January. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the CPI would gain 0.3% and advance 2.9% on a year-on-year basis.

With the economic outlook deteriorating because of tariffs, financial markets expect the Fed to resume cutting rates in June after it paused its easing cycle in January. The central bank’s benchmark overnight interest rate is currently in the 4.25%-4.5% range, having been reduced by 100 basis points since September.

Majority of sectoral indices posted gains on Thursday. Mining and oil surged by 2.97% or 257.66 points to 8,926.71; financials rose by 2.4% or 56.47 points to 2,401.53; services went up by 1.71% or 34.41 points to 2,040.47; and holding firms increased by 0.4% or 20.87 points to 5,223.56.

Meanwhile, property dropped by 1.54% or 34.56 points to 2,196.74 and industrials went down by 0.72% or 63.31 points to 8,667.55.

“BDO Unibank, Inc. was the day’s index leader, climbing 3.95% to P158. Alliance Global Group, Inc. was at the bottom, falling 3.23% to P6.30,” Mr. Tantiangco said.

Value turnover went down to P5.65 billion on Thursday with 1.04 billion shares exchanged from the P5.98 billion with 741.54 million issues traded on Wednesday.

Decliners narrowly beat advancers, 93 versus 90, while 45 names were unchanged.

Net foreign buying increased to P436.10 million on Thursday from P2.62 million on Wednesday. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave with Reuters

Peso flat vs dollar as market awaits fresh leads

BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO was flat against the dollar on Thursday as markets continue to monitor developments in the Trump administration trade policies and before the release of US producer inflation data.

The local unit closed unchanged at P57.36 per dollar on Thursday, Bankers Association of the Philippines data showed.

The peso opened Wednesday’s trading session weaker at P57.39 against the dollar. Its worst showing was at P57.41, while its intraday best was at P57.25 versus the greenback.

Dollars traded went up to $1.25 billion from $1.16 billion on Tuesday.

The peso mostly moved sideways on Thursday as the market remained cautious while awaiting fresh leads, including potential tariff policy announcements from US President Donald J. Trump, a trader said by phone.

“The peso resumed gains earlier in the day, partly after recent political noise [that have been] manageable so far,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

The market was also looking ahead to the release of February US producer price index data overnight, Mr. Ricafort added.

For Friday, the trader sees the peso moving between P57.20 and P57.50 per dollar, while Mr. Ricafort expects it to range from P57.25 to P57.45.

The dollar struggled for traction on Thursday as investors worried about the impact of an escalating global trade war on US inflation and growth, Reuters reported. Against a basket of currencies, the dollar stood at 103.57, close to a five-month low.

A rise in global trade tensions and worries over US recession risks have rattled global markets and sparked huge volatility in currencies, as traders seesaw between relief and angst over Mr. Trump’s whipsaw policy changes.

Mr. Trump threatened further tariffs on European Union goods on Wednesday as major US trading partners said they would retaliate against the tariffs imposed so far.

US consumer inflation rose slightly less than expected in February, but the relief it offers could be temporary as the data did not fully capture the cascade of Mr.Trump’s tariffs. — A.M.C. Sy with Reuters

Russia weighs Ukraine ceasefire plan as US tries to seal a deal

REUTERS

MOSCOW — The Kremlin said on Wednesday it would review details from Washington about a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine before responding, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hoped a deal would be struck within days.

As Moscow considered the plan, President Vladimir Putin, dressed in military fatigues, made a surprise visit to Russia’s Kursk region for the first time since Ukrainian troops captured part of it last year.

With Mr. Putin’s presence highlighting recent Russian advances in Kursk, Valery Gerasimov, head of Russia’s General Staff, told the Kremlin leader his troops had repelled Ukrainian forces from 86% of the ground they once held in Kursk. Ukraine had hoped to use that territory as a bargaining chip in any peace talks with Moscow.

The US on Tuesday agreed to resume weapons supplies and intelligence sharing with Ukraine after Kyiv said at talks in Saudi Arabia that it was ready to support a ceasefire proposal.

The Kremlin on Wednesday said it was carefully studying the results of that meeting and awaited details from the US.

Mr. Rubio said the United States was hoping for a positive response, and that if the answer was “no” then it would tell Washington a lot about the Kremlin’s true intentions.

Speaking to reporters when his plane refueled in Ireland, Mr. Rubio said on Wednesday: “Here’s what we’d like the world to look like in a few days: Neither side is shooting at each other, not rockets, not missiles, not bullets, nothing… and the talking starts.”

Two people familiar with the matter said Russia has presented Washington with a list of demands for a deal to end the Ukraine war and reset relations with the United States.

The specific demands were not clear, nor whether Russia, which holds just under a fifth of Ukraine, was willing to enter peace talks with Kyiv prior to their acceptance.

The people said the demands were similar to previous Kremlin terms including no North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership for Kyiv, recognition of Russia’s claim to Crimea and four Ukrainian provinces and an agreement that foreign troops not be deployed in Ukraine.

Mr. Rubio said that Europe would have to be involved in any security guarantee for Ukraine, and that the sanctions Europe has imposed would also be on the table.

After a meeting of five European defense ministers, British Defense Minister John Healey on Wednesday told reporters that work was accelerating on a “coalition of the willing from Europe and beyond” to support Ukraine. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said about 15 countries had expressed interest.

In Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed this week’s meeting in Saudi Arabia as constructive, and said a potential 30-day ceasefire with Russia could be used to draft a broader peace deal.

After Russian forces made gains in Ukraine in 2024, Mr. Trump reversed US policy on the war, launching bilateral talks with Moscow and suspending military assistance to Ukraine, demanding that it take steps to end the conflict.

Tuesday’s agreement signaled a major improvement in US-Ukraine relations after a clash between Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelensky at the White House last month sent them to a new low, but it did not alter the issues underlying the conflict with Russia, Ukrainian sources said.

RUSSIA WANTS ITS ADVANCES TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 has left hundreds of thousands of dead and injured, displaced millions of people, reduced towns to rubble and triggered the biggest confrontation between Moscow and the West in six decades.

During Mr. Putin’s visit to Kursk, Mr. Gerasimov told him Russian forces had regained 1,100 square kilometers (425 square miles) of territory including 259 square kilometers in the last five days.

Kyiv’s forces have been on the verge of losing their foothold in Kursk. Their main supply lines were cut, and they ceded control of the town of Sudzha.

Mr. Putin called for Russia’s forces to swiftly retake any remaining area from Kyiv’s troops. He also made it clear he was considering the creation of a buffer zone in Ukraine’s Sumy region, across the border from Kursk.

Deep State, an authoritative Ukrainian site that charts the frontlines of the war, updated its battlefield map to show Ukrainian forces were no longer in control of Sudzha. However, it said fighting was continuing on the outskirts.

Ukraine’s top army commander said on Wednesday that Kyiv’s troops will keep operating in Kursk region as long as needed and that fighting continued in and around Sudzha.

Mr. Putin has repeatedly said he is ready to talk about an end to the war and Mr. Trump says he thinks Mr. Putin is serious, though other Western leaders disagree.

Reuters reported in November that Mr. Putin was ready to negotiate a deal with Mr. Trump but would refuse to make major territorial concessions and would insist Kyiv abandon ambitions to join NATO.

Ukraine says the regions claimed by Moscow have been annexed illegally and that it will never recognize Russian sovereignty over them.

Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the international affairs committee of the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia’s parliament, said on Telegram that Russia’s advances in Ukraine must be taken into account in any deal.

“Real agreements are still being written there, at the front. Which they should understand in Washington, too,” he said. — Reuters

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