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NATO on Friday rejected Ukrainian calls to help it protect its skies from Russian missiles and warplanes, wary of being dragged into Moscow`s war on its neighbour, but Europe promised more sanctions to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy strongly criticised the decision, saying the alliance had given Russia the green light to continue its bombing campaign.

He had earlier appealed to NATO to set up a no-fly zone over Ukraine, which Russia invaded by land, sea and air on February 24.

"We are not part of this conflict," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in denying Ukraine`s request.

Ahead of the second phase of polling in Manipur, Congress on Friday petitioned the Election Commission with allegations that the ruling BJP is influencing the elections by releasing pending payments to banned militant outfits during the polls, while the underground groups are intimidating the voters in favour of BJP.

A delegation of Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Salman Khurshid met the chief election commissioner and the two election commissioners with a list of grievances. Ramesh had earlier demanded repolling in nine assembly seats in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts which voted in the first phase, alleging they were influenced by the banned Kuki National Outfit (KNO), which issued a statement asking voters to cast ballots in favour of BJP.

Differences between United States and India over Russia's invasion of Ukraine have spilled out in the open after the Biden administration on Thursday turned the heat on New Delhi to join the US-led condemnation of Moscow, warning that "there is no room for excuses or equivocation."

In an effort to force India to publicly denounced and renounce Russia, US President Joe Biden pulled out the China card, convening an emergency virtual meeting of Quad countries, whose other countries, Japan and Australia, are more openly aligned with Washington.

Although the Quad has been described a non-military grouping with focus on the Indo-Pacific, the White House move suggested its remit is now being expanded to the Euro-Atlantic region, the guidance for the meeting saying it would discuss the "war against #Ukraine and its implications for the Indo-Pacific."

The IAF has put on standby two IL-76 aircraft, which will fly to the Russian capital Moscow to evacuate Indian nationals. The two planes will fly to Moscow later tonight or tomorrow to ensure safe passage to the stranded citizens. Meanwhile, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sought direct talks with his Russian counterpart as “only way to stop war”.

Russia-Ukraine War News LIVE Updates: Putin Says Indian Students Taken Hostage by Ukraine; Two IAF Aircraft to Fly to Moscow for Evacuation© Provided by News18 Russia-Ukraine War News LIVE Updates: Putin Says Indian Students Taken Hostage by Ukraine; Two IAF Aircraft to Fly to Moscow for Evacuation

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.