Russia Ukraine War News Highlights | Looking at keeping economic ties with Russia stable: MEA

India on Thursday reiterated that it has been looking at keeping its economic ties with Russia stable and that it procures "very little" Russian crude oil. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said this when asked at a media briefing about reports that India is buying more Russian crude oil.

Bagchi said India's position on Russia has been "clear and steadfast" "We are looking at how to keep our economic relations stable... We procure very little oil from Russia. It is not done on a government-to-government basis," he said.

British finance minister Rishi Sunak and his Canadian counterpart Chrystia Freeland walked out of an International Monetary Fund meeting in Washington on Thursday when Russia's delegate spoke, a British finance ministry spokesperson said.

"(Sunak) describedPutin's assault on Ukraine as an assault on the rules and norms that are the foundation of our economic way of life," the spokesperson said.

Earlier on Thursday, Britain ramped up trade sanctions on Russia, targeting luxury goods including caviar, silver, and diamonds through import bans and higher tariffs, seeking to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.

So-called "Ghost" drones that are part of a new $800 million U.S. arms package for Ukraine were rapidly developed by the U.S. Air Force for Kyiv and have similar capabilities as armed "Switchblade" drones, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

"This was rapidly developed by the Air Force in response specifically to Ukrainian requirements," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.

The White House said earlier on Thursday that over 121 Phoenix Ghost Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems would be provided to Ukraine as part of the new arms package.

Vagit Alekperov, a former Soviet deputy oil minister and a supporter of close ties between Russia and OPEC, has resigned as president of Russia's second-largest oil producer Lukoil and from its board, the company said on Thursday.

Lukoil did not say why Alekperov, 71, resigned or who would take over. Britain imposed an asset freeze and travel ban on Alekperov last week as part of sanctions over Russia's military operation in Ukraine.

A source familiar with the matter said Alekperov, ranked by Forbes as Russia's 10th richest man with a fortune of $10.5 billion, decided to leave after he was sanctioned in order to protect the company's operations. Another company source said the board would elect a new head of the company.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is among five people named Thursday as recipients of the John F Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for acting to protect democracy.

Zelenskyy was chosen because of the way he has marshalled the spirit, patriotism, and untiring sacrifice of the Ukrainian people in a life-or-death fight for their country, as Russia pours in troops and assaults cities and towns, the John F Kennedy Library Foundation said.

Sweden will speed up its review of security policy, which includes a view on possible NATO membership, with the result to be published in mid-May rather than at the end of that month, Foreign Minister Ann Linde said on Tuesday.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has left Sweden and neighbouring Finland - neither of which is a member of NATO - scrambling to react to a more threatening security environment.

"We have agreed that we will bring forward the publication of the report to May 13. That's roughly two weeks earlier than we have said until now," Linde told reporters after meeting leaders of Sweden's other political parties.

"If Finland finally makes this decision (to join NATO), and everything points in that direction ... it will naturally have a big influence on our analysis," she added.

US President Joe Biden announced on Thursday the United States will ban Russian-affiliated ships from American ports, joining Canada and European nations, in the latest step to pressure Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

The White House will release a proclamation with more details. Reuters first reported Biden's planed action on Thursday and reported in early March the ban was under consideration by the White House.

"That means no ship, no ship that sails under the Russian flag or that is owned or operated by a Russian entity will be allowed to dock in a United States port or access our shores. None," Biden said Thursday.

United States President Joe Biden announced an additional $800 million security assistance package for Ukraine on Thursday morning to further shore up support for the embattled European country as it faces a fresh onslaught by Russia on its eastern flank.

Addressing Americans from the White House's Roosevelt Room, Biden pledged to send dozens of howitzers, 144,000 rounds of ammunition and tactical drones, as he called on Congress for supplemental funding to provide additional aid for Kyiv.

"We’re in a critical window now of time where they’re going to set the stage for the next phase of this war,” Biden said. The United States and allies are “moving as fast as possible” to provide Ukraine with the equipment and weapons it needs.

US President Joe Biden says he will ask Congress to expand Ukraine's military aid and said that it is “questionable” if Russians control the Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

Russia handed over to Ukraine 10 soldiers, including two officers, and nine civilians in an exchange of prisoners of war, Iryna Vereshchuk, the Ukrainian deputy prime minister said on Thursday. "This time there were wounded among those released and ... now they will be able to receive full treatment and undergo rehabilitation," she said via Telegram messaging app.

Spain has shipped 200 tonnes of military material, including heavy transport vehicles, to Ukraine: Spanish PM

An adviser to the Ukrainian president says Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision not to storm the last remaining Ukrainian stronghold in Mariupol means that the Russian military is unable to perform the task.