The United Kingdom will not let legal threats hinder its ability to sanction Russian oligarchs, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warned on Thursday. "I'm very clear that legal threats will have no impact on our ability to sanction oligarchs," Truss told reporters in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius.
The UK is "absolutely determined" to sanction Russian oligarchs, the foreign secretary stressed, adding that it is working through "a further list" of oligarchs to sanction. "There is nowhere for any of Putin's cronies to hide," Truss continued.
Britain is also focused on "cutting off funding for Putin's war machine," particularly the oil and gas sectors, she added. To achieve this, the UK will work "in coordination" with its allies "to reduce dependency on Russian gas and oil," she said.
Zelenskiy seeks face-to-face with Putin
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called for direct talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, saying it was “the only way to stop this war”.
Speaking at a press conference, the Ukrainian president addressed Putin: "We are not attacking Russia and we do not plan to attack it. What do you want from us? Leave our land."
Referring to the Russian leader receiving world leaders at a now-famous enormously long table, Zelenskiy said: "Sit down with me. Just not 30 metres away like with (French President Emmanuel Macron)."
EU considers suspending equal treatment for Russia at WTO
The European Union said it was looking into suspending 'most-favoured nation' (MFN) treatment for Russia at the World Trade Organization over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, meaning the bloc would be able to hike tariffs or set quotas on Russian imports. "We are discussing options available to us in the WTO context. This includes the possibility of removing MFN treatment to Russia on the basis of the WTO national security exception," a European Commission spokesperson said on Thursday.
Russia has drawn up plans for public executions in Ukraine as and when cities are captured by Russian troops, Bloomberg reports
Bloomberg cites a European intelligence official as saying that Moscow has drafted strategies to break morale in order to discourage Ukrainians from fighting back as cities fall under the Kremlin’s control.
The official said Moscow plans to crack down on protest, detain opponents and potentially carry out public executions, the news agency writes.
US UN ambassador marks 'grim milestone' of 1 million refugees who have fled Ukraine in Putin’s 'war of choice': CNN
The US ambassador to the United Nations said a “grim milestone” has been reached in Vladimir Putin’s “war of choice against Ukraine,” marking that over 1 million people have left the war torn country as “civilian casualties and death tolls mount.”
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield reiterated US support for Ukraine and actions the US has taken including deploying experts to bolster the international and humanitarian response, and supporting the frontline countries of Poland, Moldova, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.
Russia has launched more than 480 missiles on Ukraine since beginning of invasion: US
Russia has launched “more than 480” missiles of “all sizes and stripes” on Ukraine since the beginning of their invasion of Ukraine, a senior US defense official said on Thursday. The invasion is in its eighth day.
“More than 230 of that 480 total are coming from inside Ukraine,” the official said. “They have mobile systems, they’re moving them inside,” the official added.
The next biggest chunk of missiles are coming from Russia, “about 160 from Russia" and about 70 are coming from Belarus, and a very small number — less than 10 — are coming from the Black Sea, the official added.
Bulgaria expels two Russian diplomats, Kremlin warns of 'retaliatory action'
Bulgaria has given two Russian diplomats 48 hours to leave the country over accusations of spying, Foreign Minister Teodora Genchovska said on Wednesday.
Bulgaria, Moscow's closest ally during the Cold War but now a European Union and NATO member state that has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has expelled eight other Russian diplomats over suspected spying since October 2019.
"Two Russian diplomats have been declared persona non grata, after we received a letter from the chief prosecutor," Genchovska told reporters.
Meanwhile, Russia's foreign ministry, in a tweet, condemned the expulsion of the diplomats and threatened 'retaliatory action'.
This tweet is especially chilling considering Russia's continuing aggression in Ukraine.
Moscow accuses BBC of spreading anti-Kremlin propaganda
Russia's foreign ministry said on Thursday, without providing evidence, that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was being used to undermine the internal political situation and security in Russia. Moscow has said foreign media, including from Britain, offer a partial view of the world. Some Western governments dismiss that assertion and accuse Russian state media of bias, including over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Britain's media regulator, Ofcom, launched 15 investigations on Monday into the output of Russian-backed television channel RT over the impartiality of its coverage of the invasion of Ukraine. "The fact that Russian journalists are still at least somehow able to work there (in Britain) is associated solely with London's fears of jeopardising the position of the BBC radio and television corporation in Russia, since it is far from being assigned the last role in undermining domestic political stability and security in our country," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a briefing in Moscow.
The acting head of Ukraine’s state-run nuclear company Energoatom, Petro Kotin, said Ukraine still controls both plants including Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, but Russian troops have advanced to within 34 kilometres of the Zaporizhzhia plant and the South Ukraine power plant.
Lions and tigers driven out of Ukraine to safety in Polish zoo
A truck carrying six lions, six tigers, two caracals and an African wild dog from a sanctuary east of Kyiv reached Poland on Thursday after a two-day drive to escape the Russian invasion, a Polish zoo official said. The owner of the sanctuary had asked for help from Poznan zoo in western Poland to get the animals to safety. "They had to go a long way around to avoid Zhytomyr and other bombardment zones. They had to turn back many times, because all the roads were blown up, full of holes, impossible to pass with such cargo, which is why it took so long," said Poznan zoo spokesperson Malgorzata Chodyla.
"But here they are, and we just can't believe it."
A first attempt to make the journey failed after the truck encountered Russian tanks and could not get through. Chodyla said all the animals, including tiger cubs, survived the long journey, but the zoo was worried about a 17-year-old female tiger who looked very tired. Helping the driver were three older men with no experience in handling wild animals, and who had now gone back to Kyiv to defend their city, she said.
After the animals have got some rest in Poznan, they may travel further west. A Belgian sanctuary declared it would take in the six lions and the African wild dog, Chodyla added.
In case you're just joining us, here's a quick summary of the day's key events
Russian forces have taken control of the key port city of Kherson, in the south of Ukraine. This is first major city to be captured by Russian troops.
The mayor of Mariupol, a strategic southern port city, says Russian troops have cut off electricity, food, water and heating.
Vladimir Putin told French President Emmanuel Macron that Russia will successfully demilitarise Ukraine, and warned any attempts by Kyiv to delay negotiations would result in Moscow adding to its list of demands.
A second round of talks has started in Belarus between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators, with Ukraine hoping to secure safe passage for civilians fleeing the war
Russia faces a war crimes investigation after its military was accused of bombing civilians.
Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has said that a third world war would be nuclear, but he says this is not something Russians are thinking about
The capital, Kyiv, remains in government control, although there have been several large explosions. A large Russian convoy remains some distance away
UEFA bars Belarus from hosting games; competition ban looms
The UEFA barred all Belarus teams on Thursday from hosting international football games, though they could still be expelled from European competitions for joining Russias war on Ukraine. Belarus is still at risk of being banned from international competitions as Russia was by UEFA and FIFA on Monday before its next scheduled home game on April 7. Iceland was due in Borisov for a group-stage game in qualifying for the 2023 Womens World Cup.
The UEFA executive committee will convene further extraordinary meetings, on a regular ongoing basis where required, to reassess the legal and factual situation as it evolves, the European soccer body said. Belarus is already eliminated from qualifying for the mens World Cup, and was not due to take part in European playoffs on March 24. Russia was scheduled to host Poland on that date and the national soccer federation is preparing to appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the ban by FIFA and UEFA.
The next senior competitive games for the Belarus men's team are in June, in a UEFA Nations League group with Slovakia, Azerbaijan plus either Kazakhstan or Moldova. When Belarus teams do play home games in neutral countries, no fans will be allowed to attend, UEFA said on Thursday.
Germany's economy minister has spoken out against an embargo on Russian energy imports, saying it could endanger social cohesion in the country. Germany gets about half of its coal and gas from Russia, and a third of its oil, the Associated Press reported.
Economy Minister Robert Habeck, who is also Germany's vice chancellor, said on Thursday that his country needs to free itself from imports of Russian energy but acknowledged that doing so will take time. Habeck told reporters in Berlin that the government is working on a series of measures to quickly increase energy independence, including securing new suppliers and ramping up the use of renewables.
He played down the suggestion that Germany should extend the lifetime of its three remaining nuclear power plants, which are scheduled to be shut down this year. But he left open the possibility that this might be considered, if it helps. Habeck said the government would also work on energy efficiency measures to reduce demand and encouraged Germans to do their bit, too. If you want to hurt Putin a bit, then save energy, he said.
At least 22 civilians were killed in the Russian airstrike on the northern city of Chernihiv. Rescuers are searching the debris for survivors, the Associated Press reported.
India, addressing the ongoing United Nations Human Rights Council session, said, "We urge immediate cessation of violence and an end to hostilities. No solution can ever arrive at the cost of human lives. Dialogue and Diplomacy are the only solutions for settling differences and disputes."
As war rages on in Ukraine, India on Thursday bolstered efforts to evacuate its citizens from the strife-torn country, with four IAF aircraft bringing back 798 people and more than 7,400 Indians expected to return home to safety over the next two days, officials said. An implacable Russia, which is pressing ahead with its bombardment of key Ukrainian cities, while rejecting calls by the international community for cessation of hostilities, bared a softer side, saying it is ready to send 130 buses to evacuate stranded Indian students and other foreigners from Ukraine's battle-scarred Kharkiv and Sumy cities to its Belgorod region.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), meanwhile, said evacuation efforts from Ukraine have gathered pace, with about 1,000 Indians having left Kharkiv for nearby Pisochyn pursuant to its advisory a day ago.
The United Nations human rights office said on Thursday that it had confirmed 249 civilians have been killed and 553 injured in Ukraine during the first week of the conflict following Russia's invasion. The toll, through midnight on Wednesday, rose from the 227 deaths and 525 injured in its previous report a day ago.
"Most of civilian casualties recorded from 4 am on 24 February 2022 until 12 midnight on 2 March 2022 were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multi-launch rocket systems, and missile and air strikes," it said in a statement.
Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova has accused the Russian Federation on Thursday of engaging in acts that amount to war crimes, adding that Russian forces in Ukraine have carried out “blatant violations” of human rights. “Recent events clearly point to the fact that the Russian troops fighting in Ukraine carry out the most blatant violations and abuses of human rights, systematically engaging in acts that clearly amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity,” Dzhaparova said.
“Russian bombs are destroying the cities and villages of my homeland, targeting residential areas, schools, orphanages, hospitals, churches, museums, TV towers, central squares and critical infrastructure,” she added. Addressing the United Nations Human Rights Council via video link, Dzhaparova called on the UN to hold the Russian Federation to account for its invasion of Ukraine and ongoing military aggression. (Image: Reuters)
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhaylo Podolyak said he and other officials have begun talks with Russian delegates in Belarus. The Ukrainian delegation’s agenda is to agree an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to leave front line communities.
Ukraine to unveil NFTs to support military as crypto funding push continues 20:22:28 IST
Poland to ramp up defence spending, army as Ukraine war rages
Poland will raise spending on its armed forces more than planned, the government said on Thursday, as a Russian invasion of neighbouring Ukraine focuses attention on Warsaw's defence capabilities. Moscow's assault on Ukraine has shaken NATO-member Poland, where memories of Soviet domination after World War Two run deep. "There will be an amendment (to the defence plan): 3% of GDP on defence next year, then we will increase it," Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of ruling nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS), told the lower house of parliament.
Poland has kept its annual defence spending to 2% of GDP in recent years, in line with its commitment to NATO. The 'Defence of the Fatherland Act', a bill first announced in October which parliament was debating on Thursday, had initially planned for an increase in spending to 2.5% from 2024. Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said the bill would raise the number of soldiers in the Polish army to 300,000 as part of a five-year plan. Poland currently has around 143,500 soldiers.
"There will be a framework for having one of the strongest armies in NATO," Blaszczak said. "Our Fatherland needs such a Polish Army, especially now, when the evil empire is trying to be reborn across our eastern border."
The reservation system that is the backbone of airlines worldwide says it has terminated its agreement with Russia's government-owned carrier, which could significantly hamper domestic travel, an international agency reported.
The technology company Sabre says Aeroflot has been removed from its global distribution system, meaning the airline will not be shown in its "marketplace used by travel agencies, travel websites and corporations around the world to shop, book and service flight reservations."
The move is the latest significant measure against Russian aviation industry after the western world closed airspace to Russian aircraft. Earlier this week, Boeing and Airbus said they would no longer do business with Russian customers. Last week, Delta Air Lines ended its codeshare booking agreement with Aeroflot.
“Sabre has been monitoring the evolving situation in Ukraine with increasing concern," said Sabre CEO Sean Menke in a statement. “We are taking a stand against this military conflict."
Ukraine's parliament passes bill to seize Russian assets in the country
Ukraine’s parliament has approved a bill to allow the seizure of assets or property in Ukraine owned by Russia or Russian citizens due to the invasion of Ukraine. Under the law, the government can suggest which assets to confiscate to the Security Council, which must then give its approval for their transfer to state ownership, Reuters reported.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs a while ago tweeted that the second round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are underway, and added that it hopes the talks "bring about an end to this situation, restore peace in #Donbass and enable all people in Ukraine to return to peaceful life".
As Russian forces advance on strategic points in southern Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities on Thursday called on compatriots to launch a guerrilla war against Russian forces. In a video message posted online, Ukrainian presidential aide Oleksiy Arestovich urged men to cut down trees and destroy rear columns of Russian troops. "We urge people to begin providing total popular resistance to the enemy in the occupied territories, Arestovich said. The weak side of the Russian army is the rear - if we burn them now and block the rear, the war will stop in a matter of days," he said. Arestovich said that such tactics are already being used in Konotop in northeast Ukraine and Melitopol near the Azov Sea, which were captured by Russian troops.
Tens of millions at risk in Ukraine, UN says
The United Nations' human rights chief said on Thursday that tens of millions of lives were at risk in Ukraine as the conflict there intensified. Michelle Bachelet called for an immediate halt to hostilities as she opened a debate at the Human Rights Council in Geneva on setting up a commission of inquiry into alleged violations by Russia. "Tens of millions of people remain in the country, in potentially mortal danger. I am deeply concerned that the current escalation of military operations will further heighten the harm they face," Bachelet said.
Cyber attacks on Ukraine's embassy in Britain
The Ukrainian embassy in the United Kingdom today tweeted that it has been hit by cyber attacks. In the tweet, the embassy says its official channels of communications are inoperable.
White House asks US Congress to approve $10 billion emergency aid for Ukraine
The White House has formally asked Congress to provide $10 billion in emergency military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine, according to a request obtained by the New York Times.
Kremlin's clampdown on media continues
Dozhd, Russia’s only independent television channel, will stop broadcasting after Thursday, its chief executive, Natalia Sindeyeva, said on the air, the New York Times reported. Combined with Thursday’s shutting down of the Echo of Moscow radio station, major independent broadcast media outlets have now all but ceased operating inside Russia. Russian lawmakers on Friday will take up a bill to make “fake news” about the war in Ukraine — which the Kremlin says is not a war — punishable by as much as 15 years in prison.
(With inputs from agencies)