(Reuters) – Russian and Ukrainian forces exchanged artillery hearth on the entrance line in Ukraine on Friday after Moscow mentioned it had begun a truce that was firmly rejected by Kyiv.

DIPLOMACY/AID

* The USA will present greater than $3.75 billion in navy help to Ukraine and nations affected by the Russian invasion of its neighbour, Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned on Friday.

* A U.S. dedication to provide Kyiv with Bradley Preventing Automobiles for the primary time is precisely what Ukraine wants, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned on Friday.

* Germany mentioned on Friday it desires to ship round 40 Marder infantry combating automobiles to Ukraine earlier than the top of March, and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck mentioned Berlin may finally ship its whole functioning fleet of the weapons.

* The USA on Friday introduced new sanctions focusing on suppliers of Iranian drones that Washington mentioned have been used to strike civilian infrastructure in Ukraine in the course of the battle with Russia.

FIGHTING

* The Russian-installed governor of the Crimean metropolis of Sevastopol mentioned on Saturday that air defences had shot down a drone in what he urged was the newest tried Ukrainian assault on a port the place Russia’s Black Sea Fleet relies.

ECONOMY, ENERGY

* Ukraine will want at the least $1.79 billion to revive its telecommunications sector to pre-war ranges, a U.N. company mentioned on Friday, alleging Russia had “destroyed utterly or seized” networks in components of the nation.* Prices for hiring ships to move commodities from the Black Sea have risen by greater than a fifth for the reason that begin of the 12 months, reflecting greater battle danger insurance coverage charges, trade sources have mentioned.

* Ukraine’s energy grid operator issued a brand new attraction to civilians on Friday to avoid wasting electrical energy as temperatures fell and vitality consumption rose, threatening new strains on a community devastated by Russian air strikes.