There was a nationwide blackout in Cuba; US President Trump decided to postpone his visit to China due to the war with Iran; Hungary wants the European Union to suspend tariffs on fertilizers from Russia and Belarus; Afghanistan announced that Pakistan shelled a hospital, killing 400 people; Ukraine is preparing to resume airport operations, a special working group has been created — Suspilne has collected the main news for the morning of March 17.
There was a blackout in Cuba
Cuba has suffered a complete power outage after the US cut off oil supplies. The country has been hit by massive blackouts, and the energy and humanitarian crisis has deepened. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said on March 16 that he would be “honored” to take Cuba, specifically “liberate or capture” it. He also said he could “do whatever he wants with it” because Cuba is a “weak state.”
Context : Cuba was already experiencing a blackout in early March, albeit a partial one. The government blamed decades of US economic sanctions on the crisis, which have left the country underinvested in electricity generation and the grid. On January 30, Trump signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Cuba. He said the Cuban government's actions posed an “extraordinary threat” to US national security and foreign policy. He said Havana was supporting “hostile countries and terrorist organizations” including Russia, China, Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah.
Trump decides to postpone his visit to China due to war with Iran
US President Donald Trump said his visit to China should be postponed “for a month or so” because of the US military operation against Iran. “I would love to, but because of the war, I want to be here. I have to be here,” the politician said. A day earlier, Trump said in a comment to the FT that he may postpone his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping if China does not respond to his request to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
Context : Trump's visit to China was scheduled for March 31-April 2, with Trump and Xi reportedly set to discuss a trade truce, among other things. On March 14, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had “military cooperation” with Russia and China. He said the countries were Iran's strategic partners.
Hungary wants the European Union to suspend tariffs on fertilizers from Russia and Belarus
Hungarian Agriculture Minister István Nagy has written a letter to European commissioners asking them to temporarily lift tariffs on Russian and Belarusian goods. Nagy cited rising global fertilizer prices and supply uncertainty due to the war in Iran as reasons for his appeal. He added that Hungary could suffer crop losses if it does not have access to cheap fertilizer imports.
Context : By decision of the EU Council, new tariffs on Russian and Belarusian agricultural goods and fertilizers entered into force on July 1, 2025. On January 28, 2025, the European Commission proposed this trade measure for approval in order to weaken Russia's war economy, as well as the economies of third countries involved in the aggression against Ukraine.
Afghanistan says hospital shelling by Pakistan leaves 400 dead
The Afghan government says Pakistan has struck a drug rehabilitation hospital in the capital, Kabul. 400 people were killed and about 250 were injured. This was reported in X by Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesman for the Afghan government. Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the strike and accused Pakistan of “shelling hospitals and civilian facilities with the aim of committing atrocities.”
Context : Pakistan's Information Ministry said the hospital attack claim was a fake. And in Kabul, Pakistani forces destroyed support infrastructure and ammunition depots at two locations. Afghan Health Ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman Amarkhail told the BBC that there were no military facilities near the hospital.
Ukraine is preparing to resume airport operations: a special working group has been created
Preparations for the resumption of airport operations have begun. A special working group has been created at the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine. It will develop proposals for the ministry's leadership on the resumption of civil aviation flights in the airspace of Ukraine. It will also be tasked with preparing measures to protect critical infrastructure in the field of civil aviation.
Context : Earlier, in response to a journalist's request, Boryspil International Airport said that it was ready to fully restore civil traffic as soon as it was safe and the state issued a corresponding resolution. On February 24, 2022, Ukrayorukh announced the closure of Ukrainian airspace for civilian aircraft due to Russia's invasion of Ukrainian territory. Today, there is no talk of opening Ukraine's skies to civilian flights.