Russia-Ukraine Conflict Highlights: The Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, which is surrounded by Russian troops, said it will restart efforts to evacuate civilians Sunday, after earlier efforts were scuppered by ceasefire violations, reported AFP.
"From 1200 (1000 GMT) the evacuation of the civilian population begins," city officials announced in a statement, which said a ceasefire was agreed with Russian-led forces surrounding the city. An earlier attempt on Saturday to allow civilians to leave by buses and private cars along the road northwest towards Zaporizhzhia failed when both sides accused the other of shelling.
Also, the Indian Embassy in Hungary began its last leg of Operation Ganga flights today and announced that all those students staying in their own accommodation (other than arranged by Embassy) are requested to reach the Hungaria City Centre, Rakoczi Ut 90, Budapest between 10 am-12 pm.
More than 11,000 Russian troops have been killed since Moscow launched an invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainian armed forces' general staff said on Sunday. Vladimir Putin threatened the existence of Ukrainian statehood as his army's invasion of the neighbour faces stiff resistance Sunday and his economy is increasingly asphyxiated by sanctions.
"The current (Ukrainian) authorities must understand that if they continue to do what they are doing, they are putting in question the future of Ukrainian statehood," Putin said on Saturday.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that he had spoken to US President Joe Biden and discussed security, financial support for Ukraine and the continuation of sanctions against Russia.
The number of Ukrainian refugees is expected to reach 1.5 million on Sunday as Russia continued its attack 11 days after invading Ukraine and Kyiv pressed for further Western action, including more sanctions and weapons.
Another round of talks is tentatively planned for Monday as Ukrainians who could escape spilled into neighboring Poland, Romania, Slovakia and elsewhere.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched what he called a special military operation before dawn on February 24, ignoring Western warnings and saying the "neo-Nazis" ruling Ukraine threatened Russia's security. Russia's assault is said to be the biggest on a European state since World War Two and threatens to upend the continent's post-Cold War order.
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Russian and Ukrainian weapons compete at Saudi defence show
Saudi Arabia leads a military coalition, which includes the UAE, that has been battling the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen for seven years.... Read More
Russia-Ukraine Crisis LIVE | US, European allies discussing banning Russian oil imports, says Antony Blinken
The United States and European partners are exploring banning Russian oil imports, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday, but stressed the importance of steady oil supplies globally.
"We are now in very active discussions with our European partners about banning the import of Russian oil to our countries, while of course, at the same time, maintaining a steady global supply of oil," Blinken said in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" show.
Blinken, who is currently on a trip across Europe to coordinate with allies against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, added that he discussed oil imports with President Joe Biden and his cabinet on Saturday.
Blinken's comments came as oil prices have soared over the past week after the United States and its allies sanctioned Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
Reuters
Russia-Ukraine Crisis LIVE |
India on Sunday continued its efforts to evacuate over 700Indianstudents from the embattled northeasternUkrainiancity ofSumybut with little success as severe shelling and airstrikes continued. Read full report
Russia-Ukraine Crisis LIVE | French official: Macron urged Putin to end military operations and protect Ukraine nuclear sites
French President Emmanuel Macron urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end Russia's military operations in Ukraine and to ensure the protection and security of Ukraine's nuclear sites, said an official from Macron's office. The French official confirmed that Macron had held a phone exchange of nearly two hours on Sunday with Putin. (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Crisis LIVE |
More than 3,500 people were detained at protests across Russia on Sunday against President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, according to data provided by the interior ministry. Thousands of protesters chanted "No to war!" and "Shame on you!", according to videos posted on social media by opposition activists and bloggers. Dozens of protesters in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg were shown being detained. One protester there was shown being beaten on the ground by police in riot gear. A mural in the city showing President Vladimir Putin was defaced. (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Crisis LIVE | Putin says Ukraine responsible for March 3 power plant incident: Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday accused Ukrainian radicals for an incident on March 3 at theZaporizhzhianuclear power plant in Ukraine, the Kremlin said.French President Emmanuel Macron asked Putin by telephone about a fire at Europe's biggest nuclear power plant.
"Vladimir Putin informed [Macron] about the provocation by Ukrainian radicals in the area of theZaporizhzhianuclear power plant," the Kremlin said. "The radiation levels are normal."
Putin also accused Ukraine of preventing civilians from leaving Mariupol. (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Crisis LIVE | More than 360 civilians confirmed killed in Ukraine so far, UN says
At least 364 civilians are confirmed to have been killed in Ukraine since Russian troops invaded on Feb. 24, and another 759 wounded, although the true numbers are probably "considerably higher", a U.N. monitoring mission said on Sunday.
The updated figures, relating to casualties through March 5, added a further 13 deaths and 52 injuries to the casualties that the monitors from the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported on Saturday. (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Crisis LIVE |
Pope Francis on Sunday rejected Russia's assertion that it is carrying out a "a special military operation" in Ukraine, saying the country was being battered by a war. "In Ukraine rivers of blood and tears are flowing. This is not only a military operation but a war which is leading to death, destruction and misery," the pope said in his weekly address to crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square. (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Crisis LIVE | Airport in central Ukraine's Vinnytsia destroyed in Russian strike: Zelenskyy
An airport in central Ukraine'sVinnytisahas been destroyed following a barrage of Russian missile strikes, Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyrZelenskyysaid. The airport has been "completely destroyed", he stressed, adding that around eight rockets were fired by the Russian side targeting it.
Russia-Ukraine Crisis LIVE | Putin tells Ukraine to stop fighting amid new ceasefire calls
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday his campaign in Ukraine was going according to plan and would not end until Kyiv stopped fighting, as efforts to evacuate the heavily bombarded city of Mariupol failed for a second day in a row.
He made the comments in a phone call with Turkish President Tayyep Erdogan, who appealed for a ceasefire in the conflict that the United Nations says has created the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War Two.
Russian television said Putin also held talks on Sunday with President Emmanuel Macron, who has stayed in regular contact but, as with other international efforts, has yet to convince Moscow to call off a campaign now in an 11th day. (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Crisis LIVE | Moody's cuts Russia rating to Ca on rise in default risk
Moody's cut Russia's credit rating to Ca on Sunday, the second-lowest rung of its ratings ladder, citing central bank capital controls that are likely to restrict payments on the country's foreign debt and lead to default. Moody's said its decision to cut Russia's rating was "driven by severe concerns around Russia's willingness and ability to pay its debt obligations". (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Crisis LIVE | Kyiv digs in for battle as fighting flares in areas nearby
Ukrainian soldiers bolstered defences around Kyiv on Sunday, digging trenches, blocking roads and liaising with civil defence units as Russian forces bombarded the surrounding areas and attacked towns and villages nearby.
While the armed forces and civilian volunteers dug in, thousands of people continued to try to flee the city of 3.4 million as fears of a full assault spread. Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 and has concentrated its heaviest attacks on the south and east of the country, besieging cities including Mariupol and Kharkiv with artillery fire and air strikes and causing extensive damage and casualties.
Kyiv has been spared the worst of the fighting so far, but intense battles have raged in surrounding towns and villages and Russia's defence ministry released footage on Sunday of some of its tracked military vehicles on the move near the capital. (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Crisis LIVE | Russian President Putin is lying, says German Envoy to India
“From day one Russian President Putin is lying...he said he is not invading but rescuing Russian speaking people there and now there is shelling and bombing. NATO is a defence alliance, we have never been aggressive, never invaded anything,” German Envoy to India said on the Ukraine Crisis.
He added: “This is a terrible situation, he (Putin) has to stop. Our stand is the same as other European countries (on Ukraine's refugees). Germany is strongly taking part in packages of sanctions. We had quite a lot of dependencies on Russian gas but we've reduced it.”
Russia-Ukraine Crisis LIVE |
Humanitarian assistance provided to stranded students at Sumy by Red Cross Ukraine in coordination with Indian World Forum. They are being provided with water and essential supplies.
Russia-Ukraine Crisis LIVE |
Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy is pushing his call for foreign countries to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Establishing a no-fly zone would risk escalating the conflict by involving foreign militaries directly. Although the United States and many Western countries have backed Ukraine with weapons shipments, they have sent no troops. (PTI)
Russia-Ukraine Crisis LIVE |
Eight flights with over 1,500 Indians will operate from war-torn Ukraine'sneighbouringcountries to India on Monday, the Civil Aviation Ministry stated on Sunday.
Read full reportRussia-Ukraine Crisis LIVE | More than 559 people detained at anti-war protests in Russia -protest monitor
More than 559 people were detained at protests on Sunday in 21 cities across Russia against President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, according to an independent Russian-based protest monitor. The OVD-Info protest monitoring group said people were detained at protests including in the Russian Pacific port city of Vladivostok and the Siberian city of Irkutsk. Opposition activists posted videos showing protests in other cities.
Reuters was not able to independently verify the information. Reuters was unable to reach spokespeople for the police in Vladivostok or Irkutsk. Russia's interior ministry could not be reached for comment. (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE | Indian embassy asks Indians still stranded in Ukraine to fill up online form
The Indian embassy in Ukraine on Sunday asked all Indians who are still stuck in the conflict-stricken country to fill up an online form on an urgent basis. "All Indian nationals who still remain in Ukraine are requested to fill up the details contained in the attached Google Form on an URGENT BASIS. Be Safe Be Strong," it said in a tweet.
The details sought in the Google form are name, e-mail, phone number, address of current stay, passport details, gender and age. In the Google form, the embassy has also asked for indicating the current location of the Indians stranded in Ukraine.
A list of locations has been provided in the form and an option given to select the location from it. The locations mentioned in the online form are Cherkassy, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmelnytsky, Kirovograd, Kyiv, Luhansk, Lviv, Mykolaiv and Odessa. (PTI)
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| Ukrainian city of Mariupol attempts second civilian evacuation after previous ceasefire violations, reports AFP
The Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, which is surrounded by Russian troops, said it will restart efforts to evacuate civilians Sunday, after earlier efforts were scuppered by ceasefire violations. "From 1200 (1000 GMT) the evacuation of the civilian population begins," city officials announced in a statement, which said a ceasefire was agreed with Russian-led forces surrounding the city. An earlier attempt on Saturday to allow civilians to leave by buses and private cars along the road northwest towards Zaporizhzhia failed when both sides accused the other of shelling. According to aid agency Doctors Without Borders (MSF) the humanitarian situation in Mariupol, a key target for the Russian invasion forces, is "catastrophic" with no power or water in civilian homes. "It is imperative that this humanitarian corridor ... is put in place very quickly,"(AFP)
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| TikTok is gripped by the violence and misinformation of the Ukraine War
TikTok has emerged as one of the most popular platforms for sharing videos and photos of the Russia-Ukraine war. The surge has put the Chinese-owned video app, known for viral dance and lip-syncing videos, in a challenging position. For the first time, it is dealing with moderating a flood of often unverified videos about a single event that has captivated a global audience. Read More
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| US top diplomat praises Moldova for taking in refugees from neighbor Ukraine
Washington’s top diplomat Antony Blinken on Sunday praised Moldova’s leaders for taking in refugees from Ukraine as he visited the country on a tour through eastern Europe in the wake of Russia’s invasion. More than 230,000 people had crossed into Moldova from Ukraine since the war began on Feb. 24, and 120,000 of them had stayed in the country, Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita said in a meeting with Blinken in the capital Chisinau. “For a small country like Moldova, this is a very large number” and Moldova will need assistance to deal with the influx, she said. Blinken, the Biden's administration's secretary of state, said he admired Moldova’s generosity and hospitality in taking in those fleeing the conflict, which the U.N. refugee agency said could have caused 1.5 million people to flee Ukraine by Sunday. (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| Embassy asks Indian students to reach Hungaria City Centre in last leg of Operation Ganga
Embassy of India begins its last leg of Operation Ganga flights today. All those students staying in their own accommodation (other than arranged by Embassy) are requested to reach Hungaria City Centre , Rakoczi Ut 90, Budapest between 10 am-12 pm, says the Embassy. (ANI)
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| Earlier, Ukraine Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
Ukraine Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Ukrainian-Polish border; held talks on "further deliveries of necessary weapons for Ukraine, ways to ensure the efficiency of sanctions and increase pressure." (ANI)
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| WHO confirms ''several attacks'' on Ukraine health centres
The World Health Organization has confirmed "several" attacks on health care centres in Ukraine and is investigating others, the agency's chief said on Sunday. The attacks caused multiple deaths and injuries, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus added in a Twitter message. "Attacks on healthcare facilities or workers breach medical neutrality and are violations of international humanitarian law," he said. (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| Russia strikes Ukrainian military air base with long-range weapons
Russia struck and disabled Ukraine's Starokostiantyniv military air base with long-range high-precision weapons, Russia's defence ministry said on Sunday. "The Russia armed forces continue to strike the military infrastructure of Ukraine," Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said. "On the morning of March 6, strikes were carried out by high-precision long-range weapons. The Ukrainian air force base near Starokostiantyniv was disabled." He said a Ukrainian-controlled S-300 missile system had also been destroyed by Russian rocket forces. He said Russia had downed 10 Ukrainian planes and helicopters over the past 24 hours. (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| "They're so young": Residents of Ukrainian orphanage flee to safety
More than 200 children evacuated from an orphanage in Ukraine's conflict zone arrived in the western city of Lviv on Saturday after a 24-hour train journey with their carers. The 215 children, ranging from toddlers to teenagers, left their orphanage in Zaporizhzhia, in southeast Ukraine, on the day Russian troops attacked a nearby nuclear power station. "My heart is being torn apart," said Olha Kucher, director of the Zaporizhzhia Central Christian Orphanage. Then she started sobbing. "I'm sorry . . . I simply lack words. And I feel so sorry for these children. They're so young."As night fell and the temperature plunged, the children waited patiently on a platform at Lviv train station, the older ones looking after the young, while orphanage staff carefully counted them all. The very young clutched cuddly toys. None of the children cried or complained. (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| 'Urge PM Modi to Make Putin Understand': Ukraine's SOS to 'Friends of India' amid shelling
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday called on governments of several countries including India to appeal to Russia to stop the ongoing conflict and demanded a fresh round of sanctions. In a televised address, he accused Russia of violating ceasefire agreements and urged it to stop violence in Ukraine to allow citizens, foreign students to evacuate. Kuleba claimed that Russia’s trying to “win the sympathy” of countries that have foreign nationals in Ukraine. He said that if Russia stops “manipulating" the issue of foreign students, they will all be safely evacuated. “I call on the governments of India, China, and Nigeria, to appeal to Russia to stop the fire and allow civilians to leave,” he said. Read More
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| More than 11,000 Russian troops killed since Moscow invasions, says Ukraine
More than 11,000 Russian troops have been killed since Moscow launched an invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, the Ukrainian armed forces' general staff said on Sunday. A day earlier, it put Russian casualties at over 10,000. It did not report Ukrainian casualties. (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| Japan may take more action vs Russia, could impact energy sector: lawmaker
Japan may take more action in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine which could significantly impact Japan's energy sector, a senior ruling-party lawmaker said on Sunday, while expressing caution toward a complete end to Russia oil and gas usage. Sanctions against Moscow - such as freezing assets, banning exports of high-tech goods and excluding some Russian banks from the SWIFT international payments network - are having a major impact, said Hiroshige Seko, upper house secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party. "What's important above all is to let Russia change action," Seko said. "There's a possibility we may impose further sanctions, which could have ramifications for the energy sector through financial institutions involved with transactions." "Sanctions could have a big impact on (Japanese) people's livelihoods, so we would have to seek their understanding for the sake of solidarity with Ukraine," Seko told a political debate programme on public broadcaster NHK. (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| Ukraine president says he spoke to Musk, will get more Starlink internet terminals
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday he had spoken to SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk and announced the country would receive more of its Starlink satellite internet terminals next week. "Talked to Elon Musk. I'm grateful to him for supporting Ukraine with words and deeds," Zelenskiy tweeted. Musk said on Thursday that Starlink was the only non-Russian communications system still working in some parts of Ukraine in the wake of Russia's invasion. (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| Russia targeting populated areas in Ukraine, says UK Intelligence
British military intelligence said on Sunday that Russian forces were targeting populated areas in Ukraine but that the strength of resistance was slowing the Russian advance. "The scale and strength of Ukrainian resistance continue to surprise Russia," British military intelligence said in an update. Russia "has responded by targeting populated areas in multiple locations, including Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Mariupol." "Russia has previously used similar tactics in Chechnya in 1999 and Syria in 2016, employing both air and ground-based munitions," British military intelligence said. Russia has repeatedly denied that it is targeting civilian areas. (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| Back from Ukraine: Escaping war to land in the thick of life's battles
The troubles of the students returning from Ukraine to India are not over yet. Most of the Indian students have returned to their homes safely, but their future now hangs in the balance. Among them, there are about 4,000 students who were in the final year of the MBBS course. There is no option available to these students who have spent 5 years of their life and lakhs of rupees on MBBS studies. Read More
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| Oil major Royal Dutch Shell to put profits from Russian oil trade into Ukraine aid fund
Oil major Royal Dutch Shell (SHEL.L) will put profits from any Russian oil it purchases into a fund that will go towards humanitarian aid to Ukraine, the company said on Saturday. Shell had on Friday bought a cargo of Russian crude oil at a record low discount, the first such trade since Russia invaded Ukraine last week. The deal, which did not violate Western sanctions on Moscow, was criticized by Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Read More
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE: Relax rules for medical students returning from Ukraine: Varun Gandhi
BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Sunday said that medical students returning from Ukraine should be structurally integrated into Indian institutions by relaxing rules, while suggesting that the NRI quota of medical colleges be utilised for them. Underlining that the war in Ukraine has mentally broken the students, Gandhi said, "We have to accommodate these students in Indian institutions by relaxing rules."In a tweet, Gandhi said on the one hand, the students have bitter memories of war and on other hand, their future hangs in balance. There are over 20,000 Indian students who are in the process of being evacuated from Ukraine. For many of them, an education stint in Ukraine has meant spending Rs 15-30 lakhs in savings to gain education at a college that has probably been destroyed by now, Gandhi said. (PTI)
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| Russia, without evidence, says Ukraine making nuclear "dirty bomb"
Russian media cited an unnamed source on Sunday as saying that Ukraine was close to building a plutonium-based "dirty bomb" nuclear weapon, although the source cited no evidence. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, with the aim to "demilitarise" and "denazify" its pro-Western neighbour and prevent Kyiv from joining NATO. The West, dismissing that rationale as a pretext, has responded with harsh sanctions on Moscow and heavy military and other aid to Kyiv.The TASS, RIA and Interfax news agencies quoted "a representative of a competent body" in Russia on Sunday as saying Ukraine was developing nuclear weapons at the destroyed Chernobyl nuclear power plant that was shut down in 2000. (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| Russian invasion reorders West's calculations on cost of war
Not longer after winding down 20 years of war, President Joe Biden now finds the United States entrenched in a conflict in Ukraine, even without sending in US troops, that could have a more far-reaching effect on a larger cross section of Americans than Afghanistan or Iraq ever did. Fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq cost the lives of more than 6,900 US troops and more than 7,500 US contractors, and American spending topped $2.3 trillion. But those wars had little impact on how the vast majority of Americans lived their daily lives. It was a 20-year period where people experienced both the Great Recession and the longest US economic expansion, touchstones that were little influenced by the two grinding conflicts. Read More
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| War in Ukraine will have 'severe impact' on global economy, says IMF
The International Monetary Fund on Saturday said it expected to bring Ukraine's request for $1.4 billion in emergency financing to its board for approval as early as next week and was in talks about funding options with authorities in neighboring Moldova. Read More
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| Italy seizes oligarchs' villas and yachts to put pressure on Russia
Italian police have seized villas and yachts worth 143 million euros ($156 million) from five high-profile Russians who were placed on sanctions lists following Moscow's attack on Ukraine, the government said on Saturday. The luxury properties were sequestered in some of Italy's most prestigious retail estate locations - the island of Sardinia, by Lake Como and in Tuscany - while two superyachts were grabbed at their moorings in northern ports. Read More
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| Men line up in Kyiv to join Ukrainian army
Hundreds of men have been lining up in Kyiv to join the Ukrainian army. An order from Ukraine's government prohibited men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country to keep them available for military conscription. Read More
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| British PM Boris Johnson sets out 6-point response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged other leaders on Saturday to join a six-point plan to respond to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, ranging from humanitarian support to inflicting the most economic pain possible on Moscow. Ahead of meetings with leaders from Canada, the Netherlands and Central Europe in London next week, Johnson said on Saturday that Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion had to fail and be seen to fail. "It is not enough to express our support for the rules-based international order - we must defend it against a sustained attempt to rewrite the rules by military force," Johnson said in a statement. Read More
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| For Indians travelling amid bombing in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia, how the evacuation bus became 'escape from death'
As the nuclear power station in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia got bombarded by Russian military, Andhra Pradesh native Kekireni Durga Bhavani and her friends at the state medical University saw hopes dying. 48 hours later, having escaped death by a whisker Badavat Nikhita is too overwhelmed to narrate the ordeal. “We were tensed about the war in any case, the radiation threat was the last straw," Durga Bhawani told News18 at a Budapest hotel where the group of 200 reached after evacuation. Jawat Khan, representative of the group said a train journey of 36 hours from Zaporizhzhia got them to Budapest. Read More
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| Biden, in call with Zelenskiy, welcomes Visa, Mastercard decisions on Russia
U.S. President Joe Biden, in a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, welcomed decisions by Visa (V.N) and Mastercard to suspend their operations in Russia, the White House said on Saturday. "President Biden noted his administration is surging security, humanitarian, and economic assistance to Ukraine and is working closely with Congress to secure additional funding," a White House readout of the call added. (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| Visa, Mastercard suspend operations in Russia over Ukraine invasion
US payments firms Visa Inc and Mastercard Inc on Saturday said they were suspending operations in Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, and that they would work with clients and partners to cease all transactions there. Within days, all transactions initiated with Visa cards issued in Russia will no longer work outside of the country and any Visa cards issued outside of Russia will no longer work within the country, the company said. "We are compelled to act following Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and the unacceptable events that we have witnessed," Al Kelly, chief executive officer of Visa, said in a statement. US President Joe Biden, in a call with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, welcomed Visa's and Mastercard's decisions to suspend their operations in Russia, the White House said. Read More
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| White House condemns new Russian media law that threatens 15 years of jail term for journalists
The United States on Saturday condemned a new law in Russia that threatens jail terms of up to 15 years for spreading what the Kremlin calls "fake news," and urged continued action across sectors to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms. "We condemn the move by the Russian Federation Council to approve a law threatening prison sentences of up to 15 years for journalists," White House National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne said in a statement. The new Russian law makes it illegal to report any event that could discredit the country's military.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| Canada tells citizens to leave Russia due to unpredictable security situation
Canada told its citizens on Saturday to leave Russia "while commercial means are still available," saying security conditions were unpredictable and could deteriorate without notice. "Flight availability is becoming extremely limited ... The ability of our embassy to provide consular services in Russia may become severely limited," Canada's foreign ministry said in a travel advisory. Canada, like many other Western nations, imposed broad sanctions on Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. (Reuters)
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LIVE| Israeli PM met Putin in Moscow, then spoke with Zelenskiy by phone
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Saturday to discuss the war in Ukraine and later spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Bennett's spokesperson said. Bennett is coordinating his efforts in the crisis with the United States, France and Germany, an Israeli official said. After his meeting with Putin, Bennett headed to Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, his spokesperson said.Israel, at the behest of Zelenskiy, has offered to mediate in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, though officials have previously played down expectations of any breakthrough.(Reuters)