Russia Ukraine war Highlights: Ukrainian foreign minister urges US secretary of state for jets, air defence system

All countries who enjoy special relations with India can appeal to PM Modi to continue reaching out to Russia's President Putin to explain that this war is against the interest of all. People of Russia are not interested in it either: Dmytro Kuleba, Ukrainian foreign minister

Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba meets US secretary of state Antony Blinken, requests Washington to provide jets, air defence system.

Nearly 1.37 million people have fled Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion, according to the latest UN data.

Ukrainian websites have been under nonstop attack from Russian hackers since the Kremlin launched an invasion of the country last month, Kyiv's cyber watchdog agency said on Saturday, as reported by Reuters.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has visited a crossing on Poland's border with Ukraine where hundreds of thousands of people have been fleeing from advancing Russian forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made a "desperate plea" for eastern Europe to provide Russian-made aircraft to Ukraine during a call with U.S. senators on Saturday, said the chamber's majority leader, Chuck Schumer.

"These planes are very much needed. And I will do all I can to help the administration to facilitate their transfer," Schumer said in a statement. (Reuters)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that any country that sought to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine would be considered by Moscow to have entered the armed conflict, reports AFP.

Russian President Putin has said he has no plans to declare martial law in Russia, reports AFP.

“From Pisochyn & Kharkiv, we should be able to clear out everyone in the next few hours, so far I know no one left in Kharkhiv. Main focus is on Sumy now, challenge remains ongoing violence & lack of transportation; best option would be ceasefire,” says MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

15 flights have landed in the last 24 hours with around 2,900 onboard... Approximately 13,300 people returned to India so far. 13 flights scheduled for the next 24 hours, says MEA in a press briefing.

Union civil aviation ministry says 11 evacuation flights with 2,200 Indians will arrive on Sunday.

Russian flag-carrier Aeroflot will halt all international flights from March 8, reports Russia's Moscow Times.

As per Ukrainian President Zelensky, around 16,000 foreign fighters are expected in Ukraine. About 200 of mercenaries from Croatia have already entered the country through Poland and joined uncontrollable nationalist units in the South East of Ukraine, says Russian Embassy.

Western countries have increased the dispatch of mercenaries to the combat zones in Ukraine. The UK, Denmark, Latvia, Poland, and Croatia have officially allowed their citizens to participate in hostilities on the territory of Ukraine, says Russian Embassy.

US launched a large-scale campaign to recruit private military outfits such as Academi, Cubic, and DynCorp. The French Foreign Legion also plans to send ethnic Ukrainians. A number of fighters are expected to come from Germany, it added.

The Ukrainian president's office has said that civilian evacuations were halted in an area of the country where Russian defense officials had announced a ceasefire, reported Associated Press. Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, said the evacuation effort was stopped because the city of Mariupol remained under fire on Saturday.

“The Russian side is not holding to the ceasefire and has continued firing on Mariupol itself and on its surrounding area," he said. "Talks with the Russian Federation are ongoing regarding setting up a ceasefire and ensuring a safe humanitarian corridor.”

The Kremlin has defended its new legislation that could see people jailed for up to 15 years for publishing "fake news" about the Russian military, saying the country was facing "an information war".