Russia Ukraine war: UNGA approves resolution blaming Russia for humanitarian crisis

The Russian Defense Ministry has claimed more than 30 Pentagon-funded Biolabs suspected of doing risky and unlawful research into lethal pathogens in Ukraine over the last few weeks. Investment firm linked to US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden has been implicated in the financing of the Pentagon's military biological programme in Ukraine, as the director of Russia's Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defence Troops suggests, according to Russian media.

Citizens of Mariupol are dying due to starvation, which has prompted the city council appeals for assistance, as per the local reports. This comes as Russian troops continue to breach ceasefire agreements, which has left a number of people without food, despite several attempts to build humanitarian corridors and distribute relief.

Canada's natural resources minister said the country plans to raise oil and gas exports by up to 300,000 barrels per day this year as countries strive to wean themselves from Russian energy supplies during the Ukraine conflict.

Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said in a statement on Thursday that the hike which amounts to around a 5% increase is intended to assist Canada's partners in responding to an energy security crisis caused by Russia's continued invasion. He stated that their European allies and friends are counting on Canada and others to step up.

The chairman of the Donetsk Oblast State Administration, Pavlo Kyrylenko stated that the Russian forces killed has two children in Donetsk Oblast, which includes an 11-year-old girl in Mariupol and a 14-year-old boy in the town of Yasnaya Polyana.

In a statement released by Germany after the discussions in Brussels on Thursday, the leaders of the G7 nations warned Russia against using biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons in its conflict with Ukraine. 

The leaders also urged oil and gas producing countries to act responsibly and enhance supplies to international markets. They also stated that food export curbs would not be implemented.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has stated that a full-fledged war between Russia and NATO is unlikely. However, he did say, that the situation in Ukraine was "very unpredictable," that NATO was dealing with a new reality, and that it should be prepared in the long run.

In the meanwhile, in response to the Russian aggression, the Alliance has decided to build four new multinational fighting groups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that in the capital city of Kyiv 75 citizens including 4 children have been killed since the Russian attack began on February 24. He also stated that 307 citizens have been injured, including 16 children. In addition, the Russian bombardment of Kyiv city destroyed 87 residential buildings, 10 private houses, 12 schools, and 6 kindergartens. He claimed that the occupying forces are pounding Kyiv, attempting to encircle the city.

At the NATO Summit in Brussels, US President Joe Biden talked about the continuous aggression of Russian forces in Ukraine. He touched on various things including China's stance on the situation. He stated that he had a straightforward conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping a few days ago and told him that China will face consequences if found that it is helping Russia. He also said that China understands that its future economic ties lie in the West and not in Russia and they are hoping that China does the right thing.

The US President also stated that Russian should be removed from G20 and if that does not happen because of some reason they will be inviting Ukraine as an observer of the G20 Summit in Indonesia later this year. He also acknowledged the food scarcity due to the war and that Russia and Ukraine are two of the largest wheat producers. He further said that the US and Canada also produce significant amounts of wheat and he discussed ways to disseminate them.

On Thursday, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution on Ukraine's humanitarian crisis, with 140 countries voting in favour and five voting against it.
India was among the 38 countries that did not vote. Meanwhile, Russia, Belarus, Eritrea, North Korea, and Syria voted against it.
UN shared a tweet stating that the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine for causing a humanitarian crisis, calling for the creation of a humanitarian corridor, and demanding an end to the war. 140 voted yes, 5 voted no, and 38 voted no.

Ukraine says more than 400,000 of its citizens have been forcibly taken to Russia.  Ukrainian Ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova said at a briefing Thursday that the Ukrainians were taken to by Russian troops from Mariupol and other besieged Ukrainian cities. The number includes 84,000 children. She says they are held in primitive conditions with little food and water.

Donetsk Region Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko also said that Russians are taking Ukrainians’ passports and take them to filtration camps place where Russian FSB counterintelligence agency officers conduct security checks before moving them to various distant areas in Russia. 

Kyrylenko said that Mariupol’s residents had been long deprived of information and the Russians feed them false claims about Ukraine’s defeats to persuade them to move to Russia. “Russian lies may influence those who have been under the siege,” he said.

Russian officials reported Wednesday that over 384,000 Ukrainians had voluntarily travelled to Russia where they were being offered accommodation and payments.
 

Germany’s foreign minister says Europe needs to beware of Russian efforts to destabilize the Western Balkans against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters in Berlin on Thursday that such moves preceded Russia’s military engagement in Ukraine, despite Moscow’s continued denial that it was preparing an attack.

Similar support by Russia for breakaway movements in Bosnia, for example, could endanger the integrity and sovereignty of Western Balkans nations, Baerbock said after a meeting with her Croatian counterpart, Goran Grlic Radman.

Baerbock said the European Union and its partners would do what they can to help countries now taking in large numbers of Ukrainians fleeing the war, particularly tiny Moldova, which has received the highest number of refugees per capita so far.

Germany has organized a first direct flight to bring refugees from Moldova to Frankfurt on Friday, with more to follow, she said.

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, said on Thursday that Western powers are prepared to increase sanctions against Russia if necessary in order to isolate Russia for its unjustified attack in Ukraine and impose a ceasefire. He stated at a news conference after the NATO and G7 summit that these sanctions have a concrete impact, and they must maintain them for their deterrent effect.

Bulgaria’s prime minister said Thursday that his country will recall its ambassador to Moscow for consultations in response to a succession of statements by Russia’s ambassador that have deeply offended Bulgaria’s government.

Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said the move comes on the heels of ”undiplomatic, sharp and rude” statements made by Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova.

The latest was on Monday, when Mitrofanova said in an interview with Russia 24 TV channel that “the people of Bulgaria do not support the rhetoric and actions of their government regarding Russia’s special operation in Ukraine.”

“This is why we will summon our ambassador from Russia for consultations. Usually, when a country summons its ambassador for consultations, the other country should follow suit and do the same,” Petkov said.
 

UN General Assembly approves resolution blaming Russia for humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and urges immediate cease-fire.

One month into Russia's military operation in Ukraine, the need for blood units in the rebel controlled parts of Donetsk has become more dire than ever.

As wounded military men and civilians keep appearing at hospital doors, the region's blood supply is being increasingly strained. A vast majority of those supplying the blood are women since many of the able-bodied men have been mobilized for military action.

Although the women are lining up to donate blood, the supply is still facing acute shortages since those men who would usually donate blood are now more likely to be recipients.

(AP)
 

With the threat of wider conflict hanging over Europe, NATO opted for stability on Thursday by extending Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s term in office for an extra year to help steer the 30-nation military alliance through the security crisis sparked by Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Stoltenberg tweeted Thursday that he is “honoured” by the decision of NATO leaders to extend his term until Sept. 30, 2023.
“As we face the biggest security crisis in a generation, we stand united to keep our alliance strong and our people safe,” he said, after U.S. President Joe Biden and his counterparts agreed to extend his term at a summit in Brussels.

The former Norwegian prime minister was named to NATO’s top civilian post in October 2014. It’s the second time that his term of office has been extended. His mandate was due to expire in September.

In a tweet, Biden said that Stoltenberg has “done a remarkable job leading and strengthening our Alliance — particularly during this critical moment for international security.”
 

Tanks, planes, rockets, air defense systems.  Citing a long list of weaponry he said is vital for his country's survival, the president of Ukraine cranked up pressure on NATO leaders Thursday for “military assistance without limitations," telling them that Ukrainian forces are “in a gray area, between the West and Russia, defending our common values,.” 

“This is the scariest thing during a war — not to have clear answers to requests for help!” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an emotional video address to NATO leaders gathered in Brussels for an emergency summit. 

Zelenskyy urged NATO to provide Ukraine with “1% of all your planes, 1% of all your tanks" and said: "When we will have all this, it will give us, just like you, 100% security.”

“I just want you to know — the Alliance can still prevent deaths of Ukrainians from Russian strikes, from the Russian occupation ... by providing us with all the weapons we’re in need of.”

The appeal came as international efforts to make Russia pay for its aggression and to contain Europe’s biggest security crisis since World War II shifted their focus to Brussels. The Belgian capital became a flurry of diplomatic activity as U.S. President Joe Biden and other leaders huddled for a day-long series of talks on the war’s repercussions, including the possibility of more sanctions on Russia, how to deal with soaring energy costs and the growing needs of Ukrainian refugees, and how to stiffen defenses in eastern European nations alarmed about Russian aggression. 

Opening the NATO summit, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is “determined to continue to impose costs on Russia to bring about the end of this brutal war.”

Soon afterward, NATO countries extended Stoltenberg's mandate by a year to allow him to continue leading the military alliance's response to Russia's aggression.

Stoltenberg had been due to leave the post in September and had already been appointed as the next head of Norway's central bank. The Norwegian government said on Thursday that the deputy governor will be in charge until he is free to take over.

Russia unleashed its invasion Feb. 24 but instead of swiftly toppling Ukraine’s government, its forces are bogged down in a grinding military campaign and its economy is laboring under punishing international sanctions. 

“This is a month now," Zelenskyy said Thursday in a separate address to Sweden's parliament, the latest of many to whom the Ukrainian leader has pleaded for help. "We have not seen a destruction of this scale since World War II.”

After a month of fighting, Western analysts say Ukrainian forces need stocking up again with the weapons that have helped them slow and repel Russian advances. Both sides claimed Thursday to have inflicted more blows. Ukraine’s navy said it sank a ship that had been used to resupply the Russian campaign with armored vehicles. Russia claimed to have taken a town, Izyum, in eastern Ukraine after heavy fighting.

But in many areas, Ukrainian forces appear to have battled Russian troops to a stalemate, an outcome that seemed unlikely when Russian President Vladimir Putin unleashed his invasion force. 
Determined to make Putin change course, and under intense pressure from Zelenskyy to do more, Western nations said more help is on the way for Ukraine. 

Sending a signal that sanctions have not brought it to its knees, Russia reopened its stock market Thursday, but allowed only limited trading. The curbs on a reduced number of stocks including energy giants Gazprom and Rosneft were meant to prevent a repeat of a massive selloff that took place Feb. 24. Foreigners were barred from selling and traders were barred from short selling, or betting prices would fall. The benchmark MOEX index gained 8% in the first minutes of trading.

In Ukraine, Russian troops are bombarding targets from afar, falling back on tactics they used in reducing cities to rubble in Syria and Chechnya.

“Just look at what the Russian army has done to our country,” Zelenskyy said in his address to Swedish lawmakers. “A month of bombings similar to what we have seen in Syria.”

Earlier, he also called on people worldwide to gather in public Thursday to show support for his embattled country.
“Come to your squares, your streets. Make yourselves visible and heard,” Zelenskyy said in English during a video address late Wednesday. “Say that people matter. Freedom matters. Peace matters. Ukraine matters.”

It is still unclear exactly how many troops Russia has lost in pursuing Putin's aims. Russia hasn't given an update since March 2, when it acknowledged nearly 500 soldiers killed and almost 1,600 wounded. NATO estimates, however, that between 7,000 and 15,000 Russian troops have been killed — the latter figure about what Russia lost in a decade of fighting in Afghanistan.
Ukraine also claims to have killed six Russian generals. Russia acknowledges just one.

Ukraine has released little information about its own military losses, and the West has not given an estimate. Zelenskyy said nearly two weeks ago that about 1,300 Ukrainian troops had been killed.

(AP)
 

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says the military alliance is stepping up its defenses against chemical and nuclear weapons as concern mounts that Russia might use such weapons in Ukraine. 

Stoltenberg says that NATO leaders agreed at their summit Thursday to send equipment to Ukraine to help protect it against a chemical weapons attack.

“This could include detection equipment, protection, and medical support, as well as training for decontamination and crisis management,” he told reporters after meeting in Brussels.

But Stoltenberg says the 30 NATO allies are boosting their own “preparedness and readiness.”

The leaders agreed Thursday to deploy four new battlegroups, which usually number from 1,000-1,500 troops, to Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. Four other battlegroups are stationed in the Baltic States and Poland.

NATO nations are concerned that Russia’s attempt to falsely accuse them of working on chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine is part of a ruse by Moscow to create a pretext for using such arms itself.
 

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry says Russia is making arrangements to forcibly relocate thousands of civilians to Russia from the besieged port of Mariupol.

It said Thursday Russian forces had taken 6,000 Mariupol residents “to Russian filtration camps in order to use them as hostages and put more political pressure on Ukraine.”

The Foreign Ministry expressed concern for 15,000 people from a district of Mariupol under Russian control, saying Russian troops were confiscating their identity documents and insisting they traveled to Russia. Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russian troops of obstructing attempts to evacuate civilians from Mariupol, including by seizing bus drivers sent to collect civilians.

Ukrainian military intelligence said Thursday that Ukrainian civilians were being sent through a “filtration camp” in Russian-controlled territory then onward through southern regions of Russia and then to “economically depressed” parts of the country.

Some could be sent as far as the Pacific Ocean island of Sakhalin, Ukrainian intelligence said, and are offered jobs on condition they don’t leave for two years. The claims could not be independently verified.

Russia has said it is helping civilians evacuate from Mariupol and other cities affected by fighting. Russia claims many civilians are keen to find refuge in Russia.
 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed for help in rebuilding Ukraine as he marked one month of the Russian invasion during an address to the Swedish parliament on Thursday.

His speech was broadcast live before members of the 349-seat Riksdagen who gave him a standing ovation. 

Group of Seven leaders have announced they are restricting the Russian Central Bank’s use of gold in transactions, while the U.S. announced a new round of sanctions targeting more than 400 elites and members of the Russian State Duma.

Previously, sanctions against Russian elites, the country’s Central Bank and President Vladimir Putin did not impact Russia’s gold stockpile, which Putin has been accumulating for several years. Russia holds roughly $130 billion in gold reserves, and the Bank of Russia announced Feb. 28 that it would resume the purchase of gold on the domestic precious metals market.

White House officials said Thursday the move will further blunt Russia’s ability to use its international reserves to prop up Russia’s economy and fund its war against Ukraine.

AP

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, on Thursday, alleged Western countries of politicising humanitarian issues on the United Nations platform, TASS News agency reported. During a meeting with President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer in Moscow on Thursday, he said: "We can see that our Western colleagues are making every effort within the United Nations in order to politicize humanitarian issues and turn them against Russia. Another proof of that emerged yesterday during a vote on a resolution submitted by Russia, which - if passed - could have helped solve many problems on the ground, including those that the ICRC team is facing in Ukraine."
 

Poland has blocked the bank accounts of Russia's ambassador to Warsaw saying he might use the money to finance terrorist activity or launder money. Besides, Poland also said it might be possible that the Russian ambassador could be expelled but added "so far no such decision has been made."

 The Russian stock market opened Thursday for limited trading under heavy restrictions for the first time since Moscow invaded Ukraine, coming almost a month after prices plunged and the market was shut down as a way to insulate the economy.

Trading of a limited number of stocks, including energy giants Gazprom and Rosneft, took place under curbs meant to prevent a repeat of the massive selloff on Feb. 24 that came in anticipation of Western economic sanctions.

As the Russia-Ukraine war grips on to the second month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday questioned NATO’s intention of supporting the war-torn nation in retaliation to unabated Russian incursion. Addressing the trio Summit in Brussels on the 29th Day of the war, without mincing his words Zelenskyy said that NATO should understand that through the course of the war, Ukraine will know "Who is a friend, Who is a partner and Who betrays them for money."

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NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg during the NATO Summit on Thursday asserted he does not see Russia as a direct threat to the alliance. Also, he added We are the strongest union in the world. As long as we are together, we are safe," he said. The NATO Chief again made it clear that NATO would not interfere in Russia's war against Ukraine.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday pledged to provide Ukraine with 6,000 missiles, in addition to the 4,000 NLAWs and Javelin missiles already supplied. Taking to Twitter, Johnson vowed to deliver lethal defensive military aid, including Starstreak high-velocity anti-air missiles, which help Ukrainians continue to defend themselves. In addition, he also added to provide £25 million in financial backing for the Ukrainian military.

Germany says it has sent about 10,000 metric tons of essential aid to Ukraine using a recently created “rail bridge” of trains shuttling back and forth between the two countries. Transport minister Volker Wissing told the Funke media group in an interview published Thursday that the rail link was established two weeks ago to bring much-needed food, drink and hygiene products from Germany to Ukraine.

Speaking at a Berlin cargo terminal Thursday, Wissing said many of the goods being sent to Ukraine by train had been donated. “We hope this war is over soon and will do everything to ease the suffering,” he said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov holds a joint press conference with ICRC President Peter Maurer in Moscow on Thursday, March 24 following their bilateral meeting, Russian state-owned video news agency Ruptly reported. Lavrov and Maurer are expected to discuss the provision of humanitarian assistance to Ukrainian, DPR and LPR residents, as well as the organisation and smooth functioning of 'green corridors. 

Minutes after addressing the NATO summit virtually on Thursday, Ukraine President Zelenskyy addressed Swedish Parliament.  Earlier today, US President Joe Biden and world leaders opened a trio of emergency summits on Thursday with a sober warning from NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg that the alliance must boost its defences to counter Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and “respond to a new security reality in Europe.”

Amid the ongoing war, EU President von der Leyena asserted that the Ukrainian flag is no more the "flag to represent Ukraine" but it has become a "flag of freedom". "If freedom has a name, its name is Ukraine. And the Ukrainian flag is today the flag of freedom," she stressed.

Amid the ongoing war, the United Kingdom has imposed fresh sanctions on several Russian strategic industries, banks, and business elites. As per the latest developments, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announced 65 new sanctions “to cut off vital industries fuelling Putin’s war machine,” targeting 6 Russian banks including Alfa Bank, defence companies, and Russian oligarchs.

Amid the intensified Russian offensive in Ukraine, the European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated on Thursday that Russia has no interest in negotiating a truce with Ukraine, rather it is isolating the war-torn nation from the sea. During an interview with the Spanish TVE channel, Borell said, “Right now, Russia does not want to sit and negotiate anything, what it wants is to occupy the ground,” The Guardian reported. EU’s top diplomat further claimed that the Russian government intends to encircle the coast all the way to Moldova's border and “isolate Ukraine from the sea.” He added, "It wants to negotiate in earnest only when it has secured a position of strength.” 

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Amid reports of the head of Russia's Ministry of Defense Sergei Shoigu has not been seen in public for 12 days and is possibly missing, Kremlin Press Secretary, Dmitry Peskov said, "Defense minister has a lot of worries. A special military operation is underway. Of course, this is not the exact time for media activity."

Ukraine President Zelenskyy while addressing the NATO summit said that Kyiv has so far requested tanks from NATO but it has not received any positive response from the intergovernmental organization.

As the war entered its 29th day, Ukraine President Zelenskyy while addressing the NATO summit said that the military alliance must understand that his country is in the grey area. Notably, US President Joe Biden and world leaders have opened the first in a trio of summits in Brussels focused on pressuring Russia to end its war in Ukraine.

A day after Russia expelled several American diplomats of the US embassy, Kremlin Press Secretary, Dmitry Peskov, asserted that the contacts between the Pentagon and the Russian military are important, especially in such a hot time, news agency Sputnik reported. According to the news agency, Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a meeting with the permanent members of the Council of the Russian Federation on Thursday. Further, he demanded the Biden administration to stop taking actions against their diplomats in order for Russia to stop expelling American diplomats. 

Russian Federation (RF) forces repeated their use of banned white phosphorus munitions against civilian targets, using the incendiary weapon against houses and businesses in #Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region, the Kyiv Post reported.

Joe Biden, world leaders open first of trio of summits focusing on Russian war in Ukraine, reports AP

NATO leaders summit has kickstarted in Brussels with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressing the state heads virtually. 

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has tweeted "If any EU country bows to Putin’s humiliating demands to pay for oil and gas in rubles, it will be like helping Ukraine with one hand and helping Russians kill Ukrainians with the other. I urge relevant countries to make a wise and responsible choice."

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said  Kyiv is negotiating security guarantees with the US, Britain, Germany, France and Turkey.

In an interview with the Spanish SVE channel, European Union’s top diplomat Josep Borrell said on Thursday that the Russian government has no interest in negotiating a ceasefire in Ukraine. He said, "Right now, Russia doesn’t want to sit and negotiate anything: what it wants is to occupy the ground...It wants to surround the coast to the border with Moldova and isolate Ukraine from the sea. It wants to negotiate in earnest only when it has secured a position of strength."

Ukraine is currently using facial recognition software for identifying Russian personnel killed during the combat, according to Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister. After recognising the deceased personnel, the software will help in tracking down their families to tell them about their deaths.

Taking to Twitter, Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said, "A month ago, we all worked on FaceID and CRM systems to process calls for eServices. Now, we work on automatic identification of occupiers' corpses and autodial RU subscribers to tell the truth about the war."

In an address to "brave" Ukrainian people, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said, "Your fight is our fight. Your pain is our pain. And your freedom is our freedom."

Local media reports are stating that tech giant Apple has banned the use of Russia's 'Mir' cards in Apple Pay. 

Ukrainian armed forces have said in the latest operational update that since February 24, Russia has lost around 15,800 personnel, 108 planes, 530 tanks, 280 artillery systems among other losses.

Ukrainian armed forces have hailed the destruction of Russia's large landing ship called 'Orsk' in Berdyansk and said "There will be more!"

UN Children's Fund, UNICEF has said that 50% of all Ukrainian children have been displaced since Russia began its invasion on February 24. UNICEF spokesperson James Elder told CNN,"It's mind-boggling...Since the start of the war a month ago, out of every boy and girl in the country, one out of two now has had to flee their homes."

"It's a situation we've not seen before, not in living memory, and it's almost impossible to deal with," Elder said.
 

On day 29 of the Russia-Ukraine war, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk said that seven humanitarian corridors are agreed for Thursday to evacuate civilians from towns and cities. She again averred that no safe passage was agreed in Mariupol. 

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday said that allowing Russian President Vladimir Putin to sit with other world leaders at this year's G20 summit would be "a step too far". He said, "I think we need to have people in the room that aren't invading other countries."

Ukraine has now accused Moscow of taking hostage the local residents of the besieged city of Chernihiv. With this, local officials have imposed drinking water rationing on trapped civilians. According to The Guardian, around 150,000 individuals are stranded in the northern city with little expectation of help, as Russia bombed a road bridge across the Desna River, cutting them off from the capital city, Kyiv. 

Lyudmyla Denisov, Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, claimed that the bridge which was used to link Chernihiv and Kyiv, was used for carrying humanitarian assistance to the city and to evacuate citizens. Denisov highlighted, “The city has no electricity, water, heat and practically no gas, and the infrastructure has been destroyed," BBC reported.  

Further, in a video message, the head of the regional government Viacheslav Chaus stated that help will continue to be supplied and that a new bridge would be constructed "after our victory." 

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The Ukrainian Navy reports that a large landing ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet was destroyed in the port of Berdyansk after fire was reported from the city. 

NATO countries will, on Thursday, provide special kits to protect Ukraine against any chemical, biological or nuclear attacks launched by Russia. The catastrophic war between both the ex-Soviet republics entered its second month on Thursday, with the French President stating that there wasn’t any peace deal in sight. Amidst fear of Moscow using banned weapons, NATO chief said that he expects allies to provide the “special kits” during the latest round of emergency meetings. It is not clear what would constitute the kits but reports suggest there might be protective suits and masks. Notably, US President Joe Biden is also expected to attend the talks scheduled for later today.

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The French multinational automobile manufacturer, Renault has confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that all operations at its Moscow facility have been halted. This announcement came as Ukrainian politicians had demanded a boycott of Renault, accusing the business of "sponsoring Russia's war machine”. According to the official website of the firm, “Renault Group activities in its manufacturing plant in Moscow are suspended as of today.” 

After fire was witnessed in the port city of Berdyansk, Eastern European media stated that Russian ships have been hit. The Nexta TV added that official confirmation is still awaited.

The international rating agency Fitch Ratings has cancelled the ratings of all Russian companies hit by the sanctions until April 15.
 

Most of the fires near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant have been extinguished, said Ruslan Silets, acting Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, according to Nexta Tv.

The port of Berdyansk, a city in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast of south-east Ukraine is reported to be on fire amid Russian shelling. 

General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has said in an operational update on Thursday that in the #Kherson region the invaders have begun open terror against those who disagree with the occupation. It said, "In the temporarily occupied territories of Kherson region, in connection with peaceful protests against the occupation, the enemy resorted to terror of the local population, actively using rosguard units to prevent these actions of civil disobedience to the occupation authorities."

"The enemy continues to lose manpower and equipment in all directions," it also said

The head of the Australian Foreign Ministry did not rule out the possibility of expelling Russian diplomats from Canberra.
 

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will unveil a significant new package of assistance for Ukraine, while also urging the global community to maintain the course on Ukraine and to take a stand against the oppression.

During NATO and G7 leaders' talks in Brussels, PM Boris Johnson committed 6,000 additional defensive missiles and £25 million in financial support for Ukraine's military troops, further pushing the UK's partners to guarantee that Ukrainians have the resources to continue to defend themselves against Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces. 

According to an official press release from PM’s office, these measures will be more than double the amount of lethal defence help delivered so far and will come on top of the £400 million the UK has already pledged in humanitarian and economic relief to the situation.  

Russia stock market to resume trading on Thursday after a record shut down that was initially meant to safeguard investors from the impact of tough sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine. According to media reports, the Moscow Exchange will resume trading in 33 Russian equities, including some of the biggest companies.

In a show of solidarity, New York City Mayor Eric Adams hoisted the Ukrainian flag on a flagpole downtown which will remain there until Ukraine wins.

The United States Embassy in Moscow on Wednesday reportedly received a list of its diplomats that were declared “persona non grata”, said a US state department spokesperson in what Russian media termed as Moscow's response to Washington outsing Russian staff at United Nations (UN).

According to Russian state media RT, President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with the government on Wednesday that Moscow will now accept payment for gas exports to "unfriendly countries" in rubles only. 

I have decided to implement in the shortest possible time a set of measures to change the payments for – yes let’s start with this – for our natural gas supplied to the so-called unfriendly countries in Russian rubles, that is to stop using all compromised currencies for transactions,” the Russian president said.

"It doesn't make sense to deliver our goods to the EU and the US and get paid in dollars and euros," he added.

 A NATO representative said at a briefing that the losses of the Russian army in Ukraine in killed could be from 7,000-15,000 people, and the total losses, counting the wounded, missing and captured, could be up to 40,000, as per reports. According to a senior NATO military official, the assessment has been based on information from Ukrainian officials, from what Russia has revealed and data acquired from open sources. However, on the other hand, Ukraine has disclosed minimal information on the casualties of Ukrainian troops, while the West has not provided an estimate, although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had claimed about two weeks ago that roughly 1,300 Ukrainian troops have died.  

Swedish Defence Ministry announced on Wednesday that Sweden will be sending 5,000 anti-tank weaponry to Ukraine, as per the reports of TT news. Sweden has already dispatched 5,000 anti-tank missiles to Ukraine before, with other military equipment. Kyiv, which has received massive shipments of anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons from the West, is now requesting offensive weapons as a deterrent against the Russian army.

The United States Department has recognized Russia's actions in Ukraine as war crimes. In a statement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, "Last week, I echoed President Biden’s statement, based on the countless accounts and images of destruction and suffering we have all seen, that war crimes had been committed by Putin’s forces in Ukraine.  I noted then that the deliberate targeting of civilians is a war crime.  I emphasized that Department of State and other U.S. government experts were documenting and assessing potential war crimes in Ukraine."

"Today, I can announce that, based on information currently available, the U.S. government assesses that members of Russia’s forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine," he said on Wednesday.

Anonymous reports that they hacked data from the Central Bank of Russia. According to the report, in the next 48 hours, the collective will publish more than 35,000 files of the bank, including those with secret contracts.

A day after four people were killed and many wears injured in a brutal knife attack in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, Russian president Vladimir Putin has also extended his condolences for the terror attack. Putin who spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett over the telephone offered his condolences over the act of terror in Israel, which claimed human lives. 

Following this, he also discussed Russia's ongoing military operation in Ukraine. Taking to Twitter, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said President Putin and Israel PM Naftali Bennett spoke over the telephone. While Putin gave an assessment of the talks and on Russia's military operation in Ukraine, he also expressed condolences over the recent terrorist attack in the west Asian country. At the end of their conversation, the two leaders also assured each other of continuing talks, reported Russia state-owned media. 

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According to Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko, around 264 civilians including four children, have died in the Ukrainian capital since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He also said that over 300 people have also been hospitalised due to wounds sustained during the conflict. In a video posted on his YouTube channel on Wednesday (local time), the Kyiv mayor said, "The target of aggressors is the capital of Ukraine".

Amid escalating the Russia-Ukraine war in the fifth week, Moscow has now blocked access to Google News after accusing the site of spreading false information about the ongoing conflict. The Interfax news agency reported that the decision to block Google News came at the request of Russia’s Prosecutor-General’s Office. 

According to the agency, the office determined that the website “provided access to numerous publications and materials containing unreliable socially significant information about the course of a special military operation on the territory of Ukraine.”

The banning of Google News comes in the backdrop of Russia already blocking several English-language websites including Facebook and Instagram, since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in late February. Russian lawmakers also passed a new law that makes it illegal to report on events that could discredit the Russian forces.  
 

The White House has been readying a strategic team of national security officials to plan scenarios of how US and its allies would respond if Putin's forces launch chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, the New York Times is reported. The group is reportedly called the 'Tiger Team' and it is monitoring the responses if Russian troops reach out to any NATO territory in a bid to halt the convoys of military aid being transported to Ukraine in its war.

With the Russia-Ukraine war entering the 29th day, the United Nations (UN) atomic watchdog has pleaded the world to reach an agreement on how the nuclear facilities in the conflict-torn Ukraine will be maintained appropriately amid Russian shelling. In a statement on Wednesday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi said “We cannot afford to lose any more time” and added that he remains “gravely concerned” with the situation of nuclear powerplants in Ukraine. 

“I remain gravely concerned about the safety and security of the nuclear facilities in Ukraine,” Grossi said. “We have been and will remain in close and continuing contact with the Ukrainian Government, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, and the nuclear operator Energoatom.”

With Russia's mounting attack on Ukraine for the 29th day, a whistleblower at the heart of Russia's intelligence has said that the risk of coup Russia’s federal security service (FSB) against President Putin is growing every week. According to The Guardian, the whistleblower revealed that both chaos and discontent have engulfed the security services the country after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

An anonymous Russian intelligence analyst made the remarks in letters written to Vladimir Osechkin, who is an exiled Russian activist and founder of the human rights group Gulagu.net. The claims have since been published online.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called on people all over the world to come to the streets to protest Russia's invasion of his country on Wednesday. In an English-language video speech, Zelenskyy stated, "From March 24, come with Ukrainian symbols to support Ukraine, freedom, and life. Come to your squares, streets, and make yourself visible and heard."

On the eve of the one-month anniversary of Russia's invasion, Zelenskyy spoke out against Russia's unjustified attack on Ukraine, urging people throughout the world to stand against the war.

It was announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin might attend the G20 meeting in Indonesia, which prompted Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to state during a press conference that for him, sitting around a table with Vladimir Putin is a "step too far."

This comes as the Russian envoy to Indonesia dismissed proposals that the President be excluded from the group, telling reporters that Putin intends to attend the November meeting.

UK Prime Minister's office announced that the United Kingdom will send a new package of assistance for Ukraine's military, which includes 6,000 additional anti-tank and high-explosive missiles. Furthermore, the UK will provide £25 million from the Foreign Office's conflict security and stabilisation fund to help pay the salaries of Ukrainian soldiers and pilots fighting the Russians.

On Thursday, prime minister Boris Johnson will fly to Brussels to meet with other NATO and G7 leaders to discuss the situation one month after Russia's invasion. He will be using the trip to lay out the details of a new support package for Ukraine's military, according to local media.

In the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, a Russian journalist named Oksana Baulina was killed under shelling by Russian forces. Baulina had been reporting for news outlet The Insider from Kyiv and the western city of Lviv. It was stated that she died while recording damage in the city's Podil district.

Baulina had previously worked for Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's anti-corruption foundation before leaving the country. She had provided updates from Kyiv and Lviv in western Ukraine. The Insider sent the reporter's family and friends their deepest condolences.

Renault Group announced that it has halted its operations in its Moscow manufacturing plant as of today. Right now, it is evaluating its options for its interest in AVTOVAZ. The Group stated that it is taking into consideration the current situation and acting responsibly towards its 45,000 employees in Russia. The Renault Group emphasises that it has already taken the required steps to comply with international sanctions.

Italy's Prime Minister, Mario Draghi has praised Ukraine's resistance against the Russian forces as "heroic" and pledged to continue to assist the refugees fleeing conflict. He has also committed to providing military support to Ukraine. The PM further stated that Italy supports Ukraine's EU membership.

The Biden administration has made a formal conclusion that Russian troops committed war crimes in Ukraine, as the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggests. Blinken said that the conclusion was based on a "careful analysis" of public and intelligence sources. US State Secretary made the announcement in a statement issued while going to Brussels with Vice President Joe Biden for an emergency NATO summit.

(AP)

FINA confirmed today that swimmers from Russia and Belarus will not compete in the upcoming 19th FINA World Championships Budapest 2022. Following the announcement, the Russian Swimming Federation informed FINA that all Russian aquatics athletes would be withdrawing from all FINA events for the remainder of the year. Previously, FINA had also cancelled a number of aquatics competitions slated for Russia. The FINA Bureau also voted today to cancel Kazan's hosting of the FINA Swimming World Championships.

On Wednesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated during a news briefing ahead of the NATO Summit on Ukraine that the alliance urges China to condemn Russia's special military operation in Ukraine and to stop giving material support to Moscow. He further said that they call on China to denounce the invasion and to refrain from providing material support to Russia.

On Wednesday, Swedish Defence Minister stated that Sweden will send additional 5,000 anti-tank weaponry to Ukraine as the country continues to fight Russia, according to Swedish media. Before this, Sweden had already sent 5,000  anti-tank weaponry along with other military military equipment.

India should prepare a database of its nationals abroad to deal with any possible emergency situation, a parliamentary committee said on Wednesday, citing the implications of the recent crisis in Afghanistan and the conflict in Ukraine for the security of Indians.
 

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on French multinationals based in Russia to stop indirectly supporting the war against Ukraine by leaving Russia.

In a 20-minute virtual speech to the French parliament, the wartime leader name checked several French companies such as carmaker Renault, supermarket chain Auchan and home improvement giant Leroy Merlin. 

He said they "must stop being sponsors of Russia's war machine."

Russian Olympic athletes who participated in a rally supporting President Vladimir Putin and the invasion of Ukraine are facing a backlash, with one losing a sponsorship deal and facing a disciplinary investigation.

Medalists from cross-country skiing, gymnastics, figure skating and swimming gathered on stage at the Luzhniki Stadium on Friday as part of the concert and entertainment program around Putin's speech.

Olympic champion swimmer Evgeny Rylov is under investigation from the sport's governing body, known as FINA, for attending the event.

“The FINA Executive confirmed that the FINA Disciplinary Panel has opened a procedure against Russian swimmer Evgeny Rylov for a potential violation of the FINA rules following his alleged participation in a pro-war rally at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow," the swimming federation said Wednesday in a statement. “The FINA Executive has requested that the panel’s proceedings be expedited.”

Rylov also lost his endorsement deal with swimwear manufacturer Speedo because of his involvement in the pro-Putin rally.

“Following his attendance at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow at the weekend, Speedo can confirm that it has terminated the sponsorship of Evgeny Rylov with immediate effect,” the company said. “We condemn the war in Ukraine in the strongest possible way and stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, our athletes and our teammates who have been impacted by the conflict.”

Speedo added it will donate the remainder of Rylov's sponsorship fee to UNHCR, the United Nations agency caring for refugees.

Most of the athletes, including Rylov, were pictured wearing jackets with a “Z” on the chest at the rally. The letter isn't part of the Russian alphabet but has become a symbol of support for Russian troops after it was used as a marker on Russian armored vehicles operating in Ukraine.

Other Olympic medalists athletes in attendance included figure skaters Victoria Sinitsina, Nikita Katsalapov, Evgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov; cross-country skier Alexander Bolshunov; and rhythmic gymnastic twin sisters Dina and Arina Averina.

(AP)
 

Russian and Belarusian swimmers were banned Thursday from competing at the world championships because of the war in Ukraine.

The sport's governing body, known as FINA, had broken with most other organizations by continuing to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete, though as “neutral athletes” without national symbols.

“Following the review of an independent risk assessment, the FINA Bureau met today and confirmed that athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus will not take part (in the world championships)," FINA said.

The event, which will be held in Hungary in June and July, includes swimming, diving, water polo and artistic swimming.

FINA added that Russia responded by withdrawing from all events on this year's calendar. Russia was stripped of hosting the world short-course championships in Kazan in December and FINA is now seeking a new host.

Russian and Belarusian athletes already have been suspended from sports including soccer, track, gymnastics, skiing and ice skating because of the invasion of Ukraine.

FINA is also pursuing a disciplinary case against swimmer Evgeny Rylov, who appeared at a rally in Moscow last week in support of Russian forces and President Vladimir Putin.
 

A senior NATO military officer says the alliance estimates that Russia has suffered between 30,000 and 40,000 battlefield casualties in Ukraine through the first month of the war, including between 7,000 and 15,000 killed. It is NATO’s first public estimate of Russian casualties since the war started Feb. 24.

The military officer, speaking on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by NATO, said the estimate of the number killed is based on a combination of information from the Ukrainian government, indications from Russia, and open-source information.

The U.S. government has largely declined to provide public estimates of Russian or Ukrainian casualties, saying available information is of questionable reliability.

The NATO military officer, in a briefing from the alliance’s military headquarters in Belgium on Wednesday, said the estimate of 30,000 to 40,000 Russian casualties is derived from what he called a standard calculation that in war an army suffers three wounded soldiers for every soldier killed. The casualties include killed in action and wounded in action, as well as those taken prisoner or missing in action, the officer said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered that payment for Russia's natural gas should be undertaken in Russian rubles, a measure that will affect so-called "unfriendly" countries.

"A number of Western countries have taken illegitimate decisions on the so-called freezing of Russian assets," Putin said on Wednesday. 

"This collective West has actually drawn a line under the reliability of its currencies, we have already spoken about this, it crossed out the trust in these currencies," he added.

He said that Russia will continue "to supply natural gas in accordance with the volumes and prices, according to the pricing principles fixed in the contracts concluded earlier". 

"Unlike some colleagues, we value our business reputation as a reliable partner and supplier," he added.

Putin also instructed the Bank of Russia to determine the procedure for such transactions and of purchasing Russian rubles in Russia's domestic foreign exchange market within a week.

The statement came as Putin met top government officials to discuss measures to support Russia's economy.

Putin also claimed that "the withdrawal or possible withdrawal of some foreign producers" from Russia would create "unique opportunities for domestic producers".

(AP)

The European Union announced a package of measures on Wednesday to aid its member states in helping millions of people fleeing Russia's war in Ukraine to access education, health care, accommodation and work.

European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said it also aims to protect vulnerable refugees, particularly woman and unaccompanied children, from exploitation. 

The United Nations says that more than 3.5 million people — mainly women and children — have fled Ukraine in the month since Russian tanks rolled across the border and Moscow began relentlessly bombarding towns and cities.

European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas said the new raft of measures aims to build on a 'Temporary Protection Directive' issued earlier this month and on initiatives happening across Europe to welcome refugees.

The protection system, established in 2001 in response to the fallout from the 1990s Balkan wars but never previously used, streamlines entry procedures for refugees arriving in the EU and outlines entitlements such as employment and housing.
Wednesday's announcement provides support for EU countries in meeting those commitments. 

The commission is freeing up 3.4 billion euros ($3.7 billion) to help fund the measures, but it was not immediately clear how and where the money will be spent.

Johansson said the measures will include establishing procedures for safely transporting unaccompanied children, amid signs that criminals could already be preying on them and other refugees.
(AP)

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says the military organization is setting up new multinational battlegroups in eastern Europe to deter Russia from launching an attack on any of its members.

The battlegroups, which usually number between 1,000-1,500 troops, will be set up in Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. Stoltenberg says they will remain in place “as long as necessary.”

Speaking Wednesday on the eve of a summit of NATO leaders, Stoltenberg said that Russia’s war on Ukraine means “a new normal for our security and NATO has to respond to that new reality.”

Stoltenberg says the leaders are likely to agree to send more assistance to Ukraine, including “equipment to help Ukraine protect against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.”

NATO’s 30 allies are worried about Russian rhetoric and fears that Moscow might want to create a pretext to use chemical weapons in Ukraine.

Stoltenberg says that “any use of chemical weapons would totally change the nature of the conflict,” and would have “far-reaching consequences” for Russia. He declined to elaborate.

The mayor of Kyiv says Russian forces have killed 264 civilians, including four children, in the Ukraine capital since the war started last month.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Wednesday that battles were being waged in the area of Liutizh, a village 30 kilometres (about 20 miles) north of Kyiv and that Ukrainian forces have wrested back control of areas to the north-west and the north-east of the city, including most of Irpin.

He said the western town of Makariv has also been taken back by Ukrainian troops.

Klitschko spoke to reporters in the capital Kyiv in a central park overlooking the city. Explosions and gunfire could be heard in the background as he spoke.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla arrived in New York on Tuesday, a day before the UN General Assembly and the Security Council are expected to vote on draft resolutions on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
 

U.S. President Joe Biden has left the White House for a four-day trip to Europe, where he will meet with key allies to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

As he departed Wednesday, Biden told reporters the possibility that Russia could use chemical weapons in the Ukraine war is a “real threat.” 

He said he would say more on the subject directly to the leaders he was meeting with Thursday.

There are fears that Russia could use chemical or nuclear weapons as its invasion stalls amid logistical problems and fierce Ukrainian resistance.

Biden’s first stop is Brussels, where he’ll attend a hastily arranged emergency NATO summit. He will also participate in meetings of the European Union and the Group of Seven, which includes the world’s richest democracies. 

He’ll travel to Warsaw on Friday to meet Polish officials.
(AP)

United States President Joe Biden has left for Brussels to attend three Ukraine summits on Thursday as Russia intensifies military offensive in the war-hit country.

The European Union's executive arm on Wednesday proposed an aid package of 500 million euros ($549 million) to help food producers in the 27-nation bloc weather the economic impact of the war in Ukraine.

With Russia and Ukraine providing about 30% of the world's wheat, the conflict between the neighboring nations has led to higher food prices globally and already rising production costs.

Fertilizer prices had risen substantially before the war started last month. EU officials are worried the war will cause energy prices to surge and put farmers under more pressure by further impacting fertilizer costs. 

The European Commission said the proposed aid would be distributed in national allocations. The commission's plan also would authorize EU countries to supplement the bloc's support by up to 200% through their own contributions, which could generate another 1 billion euros.

To increase agricultural production capacity within the EU, the commission proposed to temporarily allow the farming of any crops for food and feed purposes on fallow land, while maintaining greening payments for farmers at their full level.

“The EU is an agricultural superpower, and we will ensure that our farmers have the commission’s full support to respond to the global needs for food,” Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski said. “We will do this while working towards making our food supply chains more resilient and sustainable to future crisis.”

To increase agricultural production capacity within the EU, the commission proposed to temporarily allow the farming of any crops for food and feed purposes on fallow land, while maintaining greening payments for farmers at their full level.

“The EU is an agricultural superpower, and we will ensure that our farmers have the commission’s full support to respond to the global needs for food,” Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski said. “We will do this while working towards making our food supply chains more resilient and sustainable to future crisis.”

(AP)

Italian Premier Mario Draghi says the European Union must engage with China to make sure it is working actively to mediate peace in Ukraine and does not show any support for Moscow’s invasion of its neighbour.

Draghi told Parliament on Wednesday that the EU summit with China on April 1 must underline the bloc’s expectations that Beijing will be a constructive and authoritative player for peace.

Draghi said: “It’s fundamental that the EU is compact in keeping open spaces for dialogue with Beijing so that it contributes in a constructive way to the international mediation effort.”

He added: “We must repeat our expectations that Beijing abstains from actions supporting Moscow and participates actively and authoritatively in the peace effort.”

Visuals have emerged that show several Ukrainian Air Force troops surrender before Russian forces as Moscow intensifies the attack on capital Kyiv.

Even before Air Force One touches down in Brussels to bring President Joe Biden to three Ukraine summits on Thursday, Western allies have already found what they are looking for — that all too rare sense of unity. 

They have Russian President Vladimir Putin to thank for that. 

After Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine on Feb. 24 and its brutal war since then over the past month, allies from Washington to Tokyo and Brussels have acted in unison. 

And they did it with such staggering speed to hit the Kremlin with unprecedented sanctions and offers of help to Kyiv. That symbolism has the space to trump urgent problem-fixing this week. 

With staccato rhythm, Biden will attend a NATO, Group of Seven and European Union summits all within 12 hours of driving around Europe's diplomatic capital from one headquarters to another. The only reason this is possible is because all agree on the major issues so, basically, little time will be needed to paper over deep differences. 

On Friday, Biden will be travelling to Poland, the humanitarian hub of the crisis where more than 2 million Ukrainian refugees have arrived, and where U.S. forces have shored up NATO's eastern flank. 

Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said the Pentagon has already forgotten how US and NATO planes bombed the cities of Yugoslavia, Iraq and Libya.

The Russian ambassador's statement came in response to statements by Pentagon spokesman John Kirby about the alleged involvement of the Russian Armed Forces in war crimes in Ukraine.

"The feeling is that the Pentagon has already forgotten how, quite recently, aircraft of the United States and their NATO allies bombed the cities of Yugoslavia, Iraq, and Libya [in] live [TV broadcasts]   . Washington does not remember the egregious crimes of American military personnel and mercenaries in Afghanistan and Syria either," Antonov said in a statement posted in the Russian diplomatic mission's Telegram channel.

He said Russian Armed Forces' strikes target only Ukrainian military infrastructure facilities.

Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24 in response to calls from the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics (DPR and LPR) for protection against intensifying attacks by Ukrainian troops.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the special operation, which targets Ukrainian military infrastructure, aims to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine. Moscow has said it has no plans to occupy Ukraine. Western nations have imposed numerous sanctions on Russia.

(ANI/Sputnik)
 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to members of Japan's parliament on Wednesday, urging continued efforts to impose sanctions on Russia during a virtual speech watched in Tokyo.

Zelenskyy was the first leader to virtually address Japanese lawmakers in Parliament and he thanked Japan for their support following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also watched the address. 

Zelenskyy has pleaded with legislatures in Japan, the United States, the EU, Britain, and Canada, for more military and humanitarian aid. 

But his demands for NATO to enforce a no-fly zone to protect his people have been rejected, with the alliance making clear it won't risk an all-out war with Russia.

Ukraine’s president is urging Japan and other Asian countries to step up sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
In an address by video link to Japan’s parliament on Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Japan to place a national embargo on trade with Russia. He also asked Japanese companies to pull out of the Russian market.

“I call on Asian states and your partners to unite their efforts so that Russia seeks peace and stops the tsunami of its brutal invasion of our state,” Zelenskyy said in the address.

He told the Japanese lawmakers that over the past 28 days, “thousands of people, including 121 children” were killed in Ukraine and about nine million were forced to leave their homes. 

“Our people cannot even adequately bury their murdered relatives, friends and neighbors. They have to be buried right in the yards of destroyed buildings, next to the roads,” Zelenskyy said.
 

With Europe facing its most precarious future since World War II, President Joe Biden will huddle with key allies in Brussels and Warsaw this week as the leaders try to prevent Russia’s war on Ukraine from spiraling into an even greater catastrophe.

Biden embarks Wednesday on a four-day trip that will test his ability to navigate the continent’s worst crisis since WWII ended in 1945. There are fears that Russia could use chemical or nuclear weapons as its invasion becomes bogged down in the face of logistical problems and fierce Ukrainian resistance. 

Humanitarian challenges are growing as well. Millions of refugees have fled the fighting, mostly by crossing the border into Poland, and the war has jeopardized Ukraine's wheat and barley harvests, raising the possibility of rising hunger in impoverished areas around the globe.

Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, said the president would coordinate with allies on military assistance for Ukraine and new sanctions on Russia. He added that Biden is working on long-term efforts to boost defenses in Eastern Europe, where more countries fear Russian aggression. The president is also aiming to reduce the continent's reliance on Russian energy.

“This war will not end easily or rapidly,” Sullivan told reporters at a White House briefing on Tuesday. “For the past few months, the West has been united. The president is traveling to Europe to make sure we stay united.”

Sullivan said Vladimir Putin's references to nuclear weapons at the beginning of the conflict are “something that we do have to be concerned about,” adding that Biden would be talking with allies about “potential responses” if the Russian leader takes that step. 

(AP)
 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday that the Polish proposal to send NATO peacekeepers to Ukraine would lead to the unthinkable scenario of a direct military confrontation between Russia and the alliance.

In an address at MGIMO, the leading Russian diplomatic university where Lavrov himself graduated, the top diplomat also said that Moscow believed Washington was hampering the Russia-Ukraine talks to prolong Russia's military involvement in the country.

Brussels gave member states the go-ahead on Marcgh 23 to offer limited subsidies and low-cost loans to businesses affected by the Ukraine conflict and the wave of Russian sanctions. "We need to mitigate the economic impact of this war and to support severely impacted companies and sectors," EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager said.

According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, sending peacekeepers to Ukraine could result in a direct confrontation between Russia and the NATO military alliance. Last week, Poland announced that it would formally submit a proposal for a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine at the next NATO summit.

"I hope they understand what they are talking about. This will be the direct clash between the Russian and Nato armed forces that everyone has not only tried to avoid but said should not take place in principle," Lavrov told the Moscow State Institute of International Relations' staff and students. 

On March 23, Russian gas deliveries to Europe via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline across the Baltic Sea fell marginally, while gas continued to flow eastward from Germany into Poland via the Yamal-Europe pipeline. The Nord Stream website reported that flows to Germany through Nord Stream 1 were 65,361,776 kilowatt hours per hour (kWh/h) at 0728 GMT, down marginally from 67,955,181 kWh/h at midnight.

According to data from operator Gascade, eastbound flows into Poland from Germany over the Yamal-Europe pipeline were at 1,717,560 kWh/h at the Mallnow border point, down from 2,362,830 kWh/h at midnight. On March 15, the normally westbound pipeline flipped, with no nominations to carry gas into Germany and Polish clients buying gas from Germany.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany has stated again that his country will neither endorse a no-fly zone over Ukraine or send troops to intervene in Russia's war. On Wednesday, Scholz informed German legislators that NATO will not join the war. He went on to say that the US and its European partners are on the same page. Nonetheless, the German leader stated that Ukraine could count on Germany's assistance, recalling previously offered financial and military aid, as well as Russia's tough sanctions and the welcome of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees.

Germany will not support a boycott of Russian oil, according to Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He told the German parliament on March 23 that the country is working to wean itself off those imports by seeking alternative suppliers and increasing renewable energy use, but that a boycott of Russian oil, coal, and gas would not be supported.

According to spokesman Stanislaw Zaryn, Poland's special services urged the foreign ministry on Wednesday to remove 45 Russian diplomats. Zaryn further added that some of them were allegedly working for the secret services under the guise of diplomatic employment.

The Russian ambassador was summoned to the Polish Foreign Ministry. The Polish special services compiled a list of 45 Russian diplomats who can be expelled from the country in the near future.
 

China's Foreign ministry spokesperson has said that no country within the #G20 has the right to oust another country, Chinese FM spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a press conference on Wednesday, commenting on attempts by the US and its allies to expel Russia from the world's major intergovernmental forum, according to Global Times.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday warned of direct confrontation with NATO if the US-led alliance decides to send peacekeepers to Ukraine.

"Our Polish colleagues have already stated that there will be a NATO summit, we need to send peacekeepers. I hope they understand what this is about. It will be the same direct clash between the Russian and NATO armed forces, which everyone did not want to avoid, but said which should never happen in principle," Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russian media.
 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy started delivering his address to Japanese lawmakers on Wednesday. Nearly a month into the onslaught of his nation, Zelenskyy has continued to rally for global support against Russia's military aggression. On Tuesday, he had addressed the Italian parliament. Zelenskyy is the first foreign leader to address Japanese lawmakers virtually while other leaders had delivered addresses at Japanese parlaiment during their visits 

The Polish secret service detained a civil servant accused of spying for Russia. He worked in the registry office and leaked valuable information about Polish citizens and foreigners living in Poland to Russia.

Around 40 Russian diplomats will be expelled from Poland because of espionage in favour of Russia, reported the Polish portal Onet.

The Centre for Strategic Communications and Information Security has said that Ukraine has killed another Russian commander. It said that  Alexei Sharov, commander of the 810th Guards Brigade of the Russian Marines was killed by Ukrainian forces.

Following the overnight Russian shelling in Kyiv, Kyiv Independent reported on Wednesday that four people have been left injured.  Russian shelling hit a shopping center, a high-rise residential building and some private houses on the night of March 23 in Kyiv's Sviatoshynsky and Shevchenkivsky districts, according to Kyiv's city administration, the newspaper added.

As per the report, the deputies of 'United' Russia are now forbidden to leave the country without the permission of the faction leader. Nexta Tv stated that if it is necessary for the deputies to leave Russia a special application must be written. Russian government restricted the movement of the deputies especially as the United States is set to announce fresh sanctions against State Duma deputies soon.

Ukraine's deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk said that at least nine humanitarian corridors have been agreed for Wednesday. She said that an agreement has been reached to try to evacuate civilians trapped in Ukrainian towns and cities through nine “humanitarian corridors”. However, the Ukrainian deputy PM said that no such passage has been agreed from the heart of the port city of Mariupol. 

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted a video showing the devastation in Borodyanka, a small town near Kyiv. The ministry added, "This is what Russia is doing to peaceful Ukraine".

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov will meet the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer, in Moscow in Thursday, the Russian foreign ministry has announced, as per media reports. 

Ukraine's Interior Ministry has shared the video of actor Garik Bircha, who is currently defending Ukraine, wrote a penetrating poem to Ukrainians. 

Russia's State Duma created a commission to investigate interference by foreign states in Russia's internal affairs.
 

Images: Maxar Technologies/Nexta TV

The Netflix app has disappeared from the App Store and Google Play in Russia as the Ukrainian invasion continues for day 28.

According to Kyiv Independent, two children were killed following the Russian attack on Rubizhne. The report added Luhansk Oblast Governor Serhiy Gaidai said Russians struck an apartment building in Luhansk Oblast Rubizhne at around 8 p.m. on March 22. The shell exploded on the 5th floor, killing 3 people, including two children.

The United States senators are debating a bill to block $132 billion in Russian gold reserves, stated Nexta Tv.

In Chernihiv, Russian occupiers bombed the bridge over the Desna River that connected the city to Kyiv. Previously, humanitarian aid and the evacuation of civilians had been carried out over it.

The Japanese manufacturer of digital and home appliances Sharp has suspended shipments to Russia due to the war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he was "working out details of a visit by Pope Francis Ukraine. It is to note that the Ukrainian President's remarks came after he spoke on phone with the pontiff. Additionally, Zelenskyy also called on Ukrainians to keep fighting. He said, "We will not get tired. We rest when we win”.

Russian military casualties have surpassed that of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, stated Kyiv Independent as Ukraine's General Armed Forces claimed that as of March 22, the Russian military sustained 15,300 casualties. Over the ten years of the USSR’s war in Afghanistan, the reported number was 15,051.

Ukraine's Deputy Galina Tretiakova reports that Russian troops are again destroying food warehouses to put the civilian population on the brink of starvation.

Ukrainian armed forces have said in the operational update on Wednesday that in the last 24 hours, Ukraine's forces hit 17 'enemy targets' including "6 aircraft, 5 UAVs, 1 helicopter and 5 cruise missiles."

"On the territory of the Russian Federation, covert mobilization continues in order to replenish the losses of the personnel of the occupying group of troops operating in the war on the territory of Ukraine. Military commissariats are trying to attract former servicemen to serve and sign relevant contracts, preference is given to those who already have combat experience," it added.

Ukraine introduces daily monitoring of prices of socially important goods to ensure their affordability to the public, says the Ukrainian State Consumer Service.
 

Russian ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov has said that Pentagon has "already forgotten" how US and NATOplanes bombed the cities of Yugoslavia, Iraq and Libya. Antonov said in a statement posted in the Russian diplomatic mission's Telegram channel, "The feeling is that the Pentagon has already forgotten how, quite recently, aircraft of the United States and their NATO allies bombed the cities of Yugoslavia, Iraq, and Libya [in] live [TV broadcasts] . Washington does not remember the egregious crimes of American military personnel and mercenaries in Afghanistan and Syria either".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that talks with Russia are ongoing but he termed the negotiations "scandalous". In the national address, he said, "We continue our difficult negotiations. This is challenging. Sometimes scandalous".

According to Nexta Tv,  Andrei Lugovoi, a Duma deputy, said that he would propose tougher penalties for so-called foreign agents. It is to note that Lugovoi is a key suspect in the brutal murder of Alexander Litvinenko, who was poisoned with polonium in Great Britain.

EUMESTAT, the European Organisation of satellite meteorology, has stopped sharing meteorological data with Russia. It is pertinent to note that meteorological data can play an important role in the planning of chemical or bacteriological attacks.

One of the largest French banks, Crédit Agricole, is completely suspending its activities in Russia.
 

US Department of Defence or Pentagon has denounced Russia's refusal to rule out the use of nuclear weapons.  Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with CNN  that such arms could be used if Russia faced an “existential threat”. Following Peskov's remarks, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said that the Kremlin spokesperson's remarks were "dangerous". The US official added, "It’s not the way a responsible nuclear power should act.”

Russia's Minister of Transport admitted stealing foreign planes. He acknowledged that they can no longer rely on the maintenance of these stolen planes in Europe. He said that "they will do everything by themselves" and these planes will fly only to countries friendly to Russia.
 

United States President Joe Biden is set to travel to Europe for a meeting with leaders of NATO, the EU and G7 in Brussels on Thursday, where he will announce more US plan to help the Ukrainian refugees' resettlement. In a statement, the White House said Biden will outline “further American contributions to a coordinated humanitarian response to ease the suffering of civilians inside Ukraine and to respond to the growing flow of refugees”.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has stated that there is a probability of the Armed Forces of Belarus joining the war against Ukraine. But, according to available information, a large number of personnel and some commanders have refused to participate in it, according to Nexta TV. 

The head of the Sumy regional administration Dmitry Zhivitsky has said that a large-scale fire in Trostyanets, Sumy region cannot be extinguished because of shelling and street fighting. He further appealed to all residents of the city to close the windows and to stay in shelters.

US and its allies would consult whether Russia should remain within the G-20 grouping of major economies after its invasion of Ukraine, said US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

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European Union President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s "aggression against Ukraine" has consequences well beyond Europe. Speaking at the Humanitarian Forum, EU Commission president even called out Russia saying, "As humanitarian needs are already at an all-time high, the Kremlin-made war threatens food security across the world."

Elon Musk's SpaceX has sent 'thousands' of Starlink dishes to Ukraine in order to further enhance the internet connectivity of the war-torn country. SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell told CNBC on Tuesday that the kits were  majorly funded by private sources. 

“I’m proud that we were able to provide the terminals to folks in Ukraine. It’s been enormously helpful, I think, to ensure people are still communicating,” Shotwell said during a panel at the Satellite 2022 conference in Washington, DC.

The United States President Joe Biden's administration has not witnessed China providing military equipment to Russia since his conversation with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping said US national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Tuesday. As the Russia-Ukraine war now nears an entire month, Sullivan said in the press briefing that since Biden and Putin spoke last Friday, China was not seen delivering any assistance to Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. Earlier, US officials had said that Moscow had requested Beijing for food and ammunition assistance for Russian forces. 

Sullivan said, “I can't make predictions going forward. What I can tell you is we have not seen since those meetings or since the President's conversation with Xi, the provision of military equipment by China to Russia, but of course, this is something we are monitoring closely.”

“We will continue to monitor it. And the President made clear to President Xi the implications and consequences of any such provision of equipment and they very well understand,” he also told the reporters on Tuesday. 

CNN had reported citing two US officials that Russia requested military support and economic assistance support from China. It is also pertinent to note that even though Russia is presently on the receiving end of the West’s brutal criticism for waging a war in Ukraine, China has conveyed some sort of openness to offering help to Russia. However, both China and Russia had denied having any such requests. 

Following the media report, US President Biden spoke on the telephone with Xi Jinping seeking to dissuade the Chinese President from assisting Russia. During the 110-minute call between both leaders, Biden warned Jinping of the “implications and consequences” for Beijing if it decided to support Moscow. 

On Wednesday, the United Nations will now face three resolutions on the worsening humanitarian situation in Ukraine after Russia decided to call for a vote on its Security Council resolution which makes no mention of Russian aggression against its smaller neighbour. Meanwhile, the General Assembly is also due to consider two rival resolutions including one that makes Russia clearly responsible for the humanitarian crisis and the one which has not. 

During the late-night address on Tuesday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the Russian pilots and said, "I want to repeat once again to all Russian pilots who do not think about the orders they carry out: Killing civilians is a crime, and you will pay...Today or tomorrow is less important. The main thing is that it's inevitable".

Ukrainian President's Office has launched humanitarian aid website. The official website http://help.gov.ua helps to find out how to send and whom to address humanitarian aid. The portal also provides contacts of foreign and Ukrainian humanitarian hubs., stated Kyiv Independent.

Zelenskyy on Tuesday said that over 100 children have been killed in the ongoing battle. Expressing grief over the death of Ukrainian children, he stated that it is the "price of the procrastination on pressuring Russia to stop this war." Zelenskyy, who was addressing the Italian Parliament, also reiterated calls to the international community seeking immediate cessation of Russian aggression in the country. 

"Death of 117 children is the price of the procrastination on pressuring Russia to stop this war," President Zelenskyy said.

United States President Joe Biden is planning on imposing sanctions on hundreds of Russians serving in the country’s lower legislative body, State Duma. CNN reported citing an official familiar with the announcement that the move by Biden is expected to kick off a slew of new steps to punish Russia for its war in Ukraine. 

As per media reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron have continued bilateral talks. In a statement, the French presidential office, Elysée Palace said that both leaders spoke by phone on Tuesday to continue talks regarding ceasefire among other issues. 

The palace said, "There is currently no agreement but President Macron remains convinced of the need to continue his efforts. There is no other way out than a ceasefire and Russia’s good faith negotiations with Ukraine" adding that Macron "stand alongside Ukraine". 

Providing an update on the ongoing war with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday night (local time), "As of today, there are about 100,000 people in the city. In inhumane conditions. In a total blockade. Without food, water, medication. Under constant shelling, under constant bombing.”

He said, "Sadly, almost all of our efforts are sabotaged by Russian occupants, by [their] shelling or deliberate terror."

"Today, one of the humanitarian convoys was seized by occupants on an arranged route near Mangush. Employees of the State Emergency Service and bus drivers have been taken captive. We are doing everything to set our people free and unblocked the movement of humanitarian cargo," Zelenskyy added.

During the press briefing on Tuesday, a senior US official revealed that "for the first time" since the beginning of the Russia invasion, the strength of Moscow's forces is "below 90%". The official said, "We assess Russian combat power at just below 90 percent. They’re expending an awful lot, but they also built up an awful lot since the early fall, and they just have a lot available to them. For the first time they may be just a little bit below 90 percent.”

A senior United states department official gave an insight into the Russia-Ukraine war and noted that Russian forces are still being stalled by Ukrainian forces 30 kilometres from Kyiv. The official said, "We still hold them about 30 kilometers to the east of Kyiv, which is where they were last week."

"Anecdotally, we still assess that the Russians are experiencing moral issues at various levels and at various places ... They did not expect this level of resistance," the official also said. 

Further weighing in on the reliance on conscript soldiers, the official said, "Some of them were not told what they were actually going to be doing inside Ukraine. We know they relied on conscripts, and they still do. I mean, still it has been largely a conscript army. And so these are very young men who haven’t -- don’t have a long experience with soldiering and -- and we believe that all those factors are combining to affect their morale.”

As per reports, around 300,000 people stuck in Kherson, occupied by Russian forces, are now running out of food and medical supplies, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s foreign ministry said. It is also pertinent to note that Kherson was the first major city that fell into the hands of Russia after Vladimir Putin announced the special military operation to 'demilitarise' Ukraine on Febeuary 24. 

Senior US official on Tuesday night revealed that the Russian forces have now entered the besieged southern city of Mariupol. On day 27 of the Russia-Ukraine war, at least two powerful bombs had rocked the city which Russia is desperate to capture. According to local officials, at least 200,000 people were still trapped in Mariupol. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of seizing a humanitarian convoy near Mangush. In the latest address to the nation, he said, "Employees of the State Emergency Service and bus drivers have been taken captive. We are doing everything to set our people free and unblocked the movement of humanitarian cargo,"

NATO has formally invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to address the summit on Thursday virtually. A NATOofficail said Tuesday, "President Zelensky is invited to address the NATO summit via video link...This will be an opportunity for allied leaders to hear directly from President Zelensky about the dire situation facing the people of Ukraine because of Russia's aggression".