Putin's Request for Elections in Ukraine; U.S. and Allies Ready to Impose New Sanctions on Russia

Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, stated on Tuesday that Ukraine should hold presidential elections after the five-year term of Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine. According to Reuters, Ukraine has not held elections despite the end of Zelensky's presidential term, a decision that Zelensky and Kyiv's allies consider correct during wartime. Putin, who has launched an all-out aggression against Ukraine, said that the only legitimate authority in Ukraine is now the parliament, and its president should be given power. Meanwhile, a White House official stated on Tuesday that the United States and its partners are prepared to use sanctions and export restrictions to prevent trade relations between China and Russia that threaten the security of the U.S. and its allies amid the Ukraine war. Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics, Daleep Singh, said these countries could take further actions to increase the costs for Russia, which is using a shadow fleet to evade the price cap set by the G7 countries on oil. He mentioned that these countries could also expand current sanctions on financial facilities in light of Moscow's efforts to adjust its economy in response to wartime conditions. Singh noted that since President Joe Biden enhanced the Treasury Department's ability to target financial institutions, trade relations between China and Russia have decreased. A new $1 billion military agreement between Ukraine and Belgium; Kyiv will receive 30 F-16 fighter jets. The NATO Secretary-General called for a review of the restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western military aid against Russia.