Ukraine announces the killing of about 15,000 Russian soldiers on its soil

Kiev: Ukraine announced, on Monday, that the death toll of the Russian army on its soil has risen to about 15,000 during the ongoing battles since the start of the military intervention in late February.

This came in a statement issued by the Chief of Staff of the Ukrainian Army , on the losses of Russian forces since the start of the military operation on February 24 until March 21.

The statement indicated that the Ukrainian army managed to kill about 15,000 Russian soldiers, downed 97 planes and 121 helicopters, as well as destroying 498 tanks and 1,535 armored vehicles.

He also stated that the Ukrainian army destroyed 240 artillery, 45 air defense systems, 80 rocket launchers, 969 vehicles, 60 fuel vehicles, 24 drones and 3 speed boats.

On February 24, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine , which was followed by angry international reactions and the imposition of severe economic and financial sanctions on Moscow.

To end the operation, Russia requires Ukraine to abandon any plans to join military entities, including NATO, and to adhere to complete neutrality, which Kyiv considers an "interference in its sovereignty."

Germany: We cannot do without Russian oil imports

A government spokesman said that Berlin "remains on its position that it cannot do without Russian oil imports," German radio station Deutsche Welle reported.

The German government revealed Monday that it "cannot do without" Russian oil imports.

A government spokesman - whose identity was not revealed - said that Berlin "remains on its position that it cannot dispense with Russian oil imports," according to German broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

The German official's comments came as the Russian presidency warned the Kremlin that any Russian oil embargo "will cause strong harm to the European Union."

Some European foreign ministers called for a "comprehensive embargo" on Russian oil, similar to the United States of America.

Europe did not impose a comprehensive embargo on Russian oil, but decided to reduce dependence on it over the years, due to the EU's dependence on Russian gas for energy.

European Union governments are discussing this week with US President Joe Biden an oil embargo on Russia over its war against Ukraine in a series of summits aimed at toughening the West's response to Moscow in an attempt to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to withdraw his forces from Ukraine.

The European Union, along with Western allies, imposed a comprehensive set of sanctions that included freezing the assets of the Russian Central Bank, but only Washington announced a total ban on Russian oil imports.

On February 24, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine, which was followed by angry international reactions and the imposition of severe economic and financial sanctions on Moscow.

To end the operation, Russia requires Ukraine to abandon any plans to join military entities, including NATO, and to adhere to complete neutrality, which Kyiv considers an "interference in its sovereignty."