Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of top news as of 09.03.22:

"There is a need to sit at the negotiating table. Sincere, substantive negotiations in the interests of the people, not outdated murderous ambitions," he added.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier made a statement, which shows that Kyiv has softened its stance on Russia's demands for a ceasefire and that Zelenskyy is even ready to discuss Crimea and Donbass issues with Moscow.

In an interview with American ABC News, Zelenskyy said that “Ukraine is ready to hold a dialogue with Russia on security guarantees, on the future of the occupied territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Crimea, but is not ready to capitulate.”

Zelenskyy also sent a message to NATO that if they continue not to provide the expected support to him, he can sit down at the negotiating table with Putin and make compromises.

He added that Ukraine is ready for any guarantee from NATO, Turkey and neighboring countries, including Russia.

Analysts believe that Zelenskyy is thus preparing grounds for finding solutions to the conflict.

Russian FM Sergey Lavrov may meet Thursday with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmitry Kuleba in Turkey. It will be the first high-ranking meeting between the countries since the conflict has escalated.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan expressed hope that a possible meeting would lead to the establishment of a ceasefire in Ukraine.

  • Russian authorities have several times said they started a military operation in Ukraine to rescue Donbass residents.

And today, the Russian Ministry of Defense published the leaked secret order of the commander of the National Guard of Ukraine dated January 22, 2022, on the offensive against the Donbass planned in March of this year.

The general noted that the document contains the original signatures of the officials responsible for the fulfillment of the tasks of the command of the National Guard of Ukraine.

According to him, the order described in detail “the plan for preparing one of the strike groups for offensive operations in the zone of the so-called “Joint Forces Operation” in Donbass.”

"Today, I am announcing the United States is targeting the main artery of Russia's economy," the president said.

Biden noted that a ban on Russian oil, natural gas and coal imports to the United States would have its price, but lawmakers are united in their action.

Western countries, especially European nations that rely on Russian oil and gas for a large share of their energy needs, have hesitated amid fears a ban would cut them off from much-needed supplies and send prices skyrocketing.

The world is continuing to punish Russia over their military operation in Ukraine in what they call to be an ‘invasion.’

McDonald's opened in Russia as the Soviet Union fell, and coffeehouse chain Starbucks will temporarily close stores, while Pepsi will stop selling its soft drink brands and Coca-Cola is halting business in the country.

“US specialists regularly gave instructions to Ukraine on how to conduct relevant developments on bio programs,” she said.

Meanwhile, Victoria Nuland, the US State Department's undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, said that Ukraine indeed “has biological research facilities.”

“Which in fact we are now quite concerned about Russian troops, Russian forces, may be seeking to gain control of,” she noted.

The two countries have traded accusations constantly over Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and Ankara’s support for the Hamas group, which governs the Gaza Strip.

Erdogan has said the visit, announced first in January, will herald a “new era” and that the two countries could work together to carry Israeli natural gas to Europe, reviving an idea first discussed more than 20 years ago.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will also visit Turkey on March 10, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Aliyev's visit will take place on Thursday after the Israeli president's visit.

  • After escalations in Ukraine and sanctions imposed on Russia, some businesses in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus have been moving to Armenia.

At the moment, about 70 companies have expressed a desire to move to Armenia from abroad, the Ministry of Economy noted.

Starting from February 28, a working group has been set up at the Ministry of Economy of Armenia to deal with the transfer of businesses from other countries to Armenia and the establishment of new businesses here by foreigners.

The ministry has shared an email to which business owners should provide information on their companies, employees, transfer dates to the Armenian side.

About 450 entrepreneurs apply to the National Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship daily. Most of them are Russians, mostly private entrepreneurs, not companies.

Adviser to the director of the center Hayk Mkrtchyan said that since February 28 there has been a large flow from Russia to Armenia.

Local companies are also looking for professionals from abroad.

Being a small country, Armenia is able to provide international level IT services and products. It is also a great opportunity for IT companies to bring in their team of outside professionals who specialize especially in the latest areas of the industry, particularly in the field of cyber security.

At the moment, the registration of companies and specialists coming from abroad is also carried out, in the near future it will be presented how many companies have come to Armenia, how many investments have been made and in which spheres.

Meanwhile, Armenian real estate owners have increased their rent prices amid such a huge flow of people.

As reported earlier, the prices of Moscow-Yerevan flights have increased sharply in recent days, reaching from $250 to $1,250 amid the Ukrainian-Russian conflict.

The Moscow-Yerevan route is in high demand now due to the economic situation in Russia.

Now there are almost 30-50 flights in a day from Russia to Yerevan.

An accident took place in the territory of Shushi-Zariflu settlements.

According to Artsakh capital Stepanakert authorities, the pipeline, which originates in Armenia, was damaged near Azerbaijani military positions in the Shushi region.

The Karabakh Ministry of Territorial Administration noted that Azerbaijan is still hindering access to the site which is under their control.

A representative of Russian peacekeeping forces, in turn, noted that talks on resolving issues concerning the pipeline are ‘underway’.

Roughly 120,000 people are deprived of natural gas now. Most rely on gas for heating during winters characterized by frequent sub-zero temperatures.

The National Security Service of Artsakh is taking measures to clarify the reasons for the interruption of gas supply, including criminal acts undertaken by Azerbaijan.

  • Azerbaijani armed forces are violating the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh these days.

Tuesday noon, Azerbaijan opened fire at the Khramort village section of the Askeran region of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), firing three grenades in the direction of the village—and from a 60mm caliber grenade launcher.

Azerbaijani forces also fired a mortar at the village of Khnushinak in the Martuni region of the Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Karabakh defense ministry has reported no losses and injured.

On the sidelines of the visit, the Prime Minister has been scheduled to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace.

A week ago on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and France, Macron sent a message to Pashinyan and invited him to Paris  for a meeting with the participation of the actors of the French-Armenian cooperation.

“It will give an opportunity to all those who bring our cultural, scientific-economic relations to life,” Macron said.

The exchange rate for one euro was AMD 561.45 (up by AMD 8.62), and the rate of one Russian ruble made up AMD 4.34 (up by AMD 0.60) in the country.