Russia war highlights: UK to send Stormer armoured vehicles to Ukraine
The Russian military reported hitting 423 Ukrainian targets overnight, including fortified positions and troop concentrations, while its warplanes destroyed 26 Ukrainian military sites, including an explosives factory and several artillery depots.
Air raid sirens were heard across much of Ukraine early Sunday evening, from Lviv in the far west to Odesa on the Black Sea to Kharkiv in the north as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine entered its third month. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin were in Kyiv late on Sunday night for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as war raged on....Read More
Ukraine also proposed on day 61 of war - a "special" round of negotiations with Russia - to be held in the shadow of Mariupol's Azovstal steel plant to discuss the fate of the civilians and Ukrainian troops still trapped in the city, an adviser to Ukraine's president said.
Ukraine was unable to evacuate civilians from Mariupol on Sunday without a cease-fire guarantee from Russia, deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said in televised remarks, adding, “We will continue trying tomorrow.”
More than 100,000 people — down from a prewar population of about 430,000 — are believed to remain in Mariupol with scant food, water or heat, according to Ukrainian authorities, who estimate that over 20,000 civilians have been killed in the city during the Russian blockade.
Nearly five million Ukrainians have fled the country, cities have been shattered and thousands have died since the start of the invasion on February 24.
Russia calls its action a special military operation to demilitarise Ukraine and eradicate what it calls “dangerous nationalists”. The West and Kyiv accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of unprovoked aggression.
26,397 internally displaced persons registered in Kyiv: Ukraine
At least 26,397 internally displaced persons registered in Kyiv, said Ukrainian officials.
UK to send Stormer armoured vehicles to Ukraine
The UK will send a “small number” of such vehicles, fitted with Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles used to target planes and helicopters to Ukraine, reports the Kyiv Independent.
UN chief, Turkey president discuss Ukraine
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discuss Ukraine situation.
Putin says Russia's economy ‘stablizing’
President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Russia's economy was stabilising after being hit by unprecedented sanctions over the military campaign in Ukraine.
Russian strikes on railway infrastructure in central Ukraine kill 5, injures 18
Russian strikes on railway infrastructure in central Ukraine kill 5, injure 18, reports Kyiv.
Ukraine war has consequences for Asia: EU chief tells India
EU chief who is on a visit to India said that the Russia-Ukraine war has consequences for Asia.
US to give $700 million more military financing to Ukraine
The US has pledged more than $700 million in military financing for Ukraine and its allies.
Over 45,000 flee Ukraine in 24-hours: UN
More than 5.2 million Ukrainians have fled the country since Russia launched its invasion two months ago, with over 45,000 joining their ranks in the past 24 hours, the UN said.
No agreement on humanitarian corridor from Azovstal plant: Ukraine
Ukraine says 'no agreement' on humanitarian corridor from Azovstal plant.
Russia hits rail, fuel facilities in Ukraine
Russia unleashed a string of attacks against Ukrainian rail and fuel facilities on Monday, reported AP.
There are provocations against Russian military using foreign media: Putin
Russia's Putin has said that there are provocations against the Russian military using foreign media.
Russia to open humanitarian corridor
he Russian military says it will open a humanitarian corridor for civilians to evacuate from the besieged steel plant in Mariupol, reports AP.
US diplomats to return to Kyiv soon
The US promised on Monday to reopen its embassy in Kyiv soon, as Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Ukraine's capital.
Top US officials ensures ‘Ukraine win’ against Russia
Top US officials pledged Monday to help ensure Ukraine wins its fight against Russia following face-to-face talks with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
Putin congratulates Macron, wishes him 'success', reports AFP citing Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Emmanuel Macron, wishes him 'success' for securing a second term in French Presidential elections, reports AFP citing Kremlin.
Russia strikes Ukrainian oil depot and military installations
Russia's armed forces have struck Ukrainian military installations and the Kremenchug oil refinery, the Russian defence ministry reported on Monday as per news agency Reuters.
'Ukraine is succeeding,' says Blinken after meeting Zelensky
US Secretary of State Blinken says after visit to Kyiv that Russia is failing in its war aims, 'Ukraine is succeeding.'
Russian fuel depot close to Ukraine border in flames
A large fire was reported early on Monday at an oil storage facility in the Russian city which borders Ukraine, AFP reported.
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Russian shelling continues in Mariupol
Russian forces again attempted to storm the Azovstal steel plant, the main remaining Ukrainian stronghold in Mariupol, Ukrainian officials said, adding that more than 1,000 civilians are also sheltering there.
Blinken told Zelensky US diplomats to return to Ukraine 'this week'
US diplomats will return to Ukraine as Washington pledged $700m in military aid. Austin and Blinken's trip came after several foreign officials had already visited, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
US announces new military assistance for Ukraine
The US has announced new military assistance for Ukraine and a renewed diplomatic push in the war-ravaged nation as President Joe Biden's secretary of state and Pentagon chief completed a secrecy-shrouded trip to Kyiv, news agency AP reported.
Austin and Blinken announced a total of $713 million in foreign military financing for Ukraine and 15 allied and partner countries; some $322 million is earmarked for Kyiv. The remainder will be split among NATO members and other nations that have provided Ukraine with critical military supplies since the war with Russia began, officials said.
Brussels prepares to hit Russia with 'smart sanctions' on oil imports : report
The European Union is preparing "smart sanctions" against Russian oil imports, The Times reported on Monday, citing the European Commission's executive vice president, Valdis Dombrovskis.
"We are working on a sixth sanctions package and one of the issues we are considering is some form of an oil embargo. When we are imposing sanctions, we need to do so in a way that maximises pressure on Russia while minimising collateral damage on ourselves," Dombrovskis told The Times.
Large fire at oil depot in Russia's Bryansk, near Ukraine: report
A large fire was reported early on Monday at an oil storage facility in the Russian city of Bryansk, Russian news agencies reported, citing the emergency services ministry.
No further detail has been provided.
Bryansk is located about 380 km (236 miles) southwest of Moscow. The city is the administrative centre of the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine.
Switzerland declines Germany's request to export Swiss weapons to Ukraine
Switzerland has rejected two requests by Germany to export Swiss ammunition to Ukraine, citing the Alpine nation’s strict neutrality, news agency AP reported.
Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs confirmed that “both requests from Germany, whether the ammunition received from Switzerland can be passed on to Ukraine, were answered negatively with a reference to Swiss neutrality.”
Germany needs Switzerland’s consent for the arms delivery as part of the original sale contract. The Swiss office declined to specify what type of ammunition Germany had sought to export to Ukraine.
Stop the suffering of the exhausted people: Pope Francis
Pope Francis has renewed his call for an Easter truce as Orthodox Christians celebrated Easter Sunday, when the faithful mark the resurrection of Jesus.
Without naming countries, Francis urged aggressors to “stop the attack to help the suffering of the exhausted people.”
Francis told a crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square that two months had passed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and said that “instead of stopping, the war got worse. It is sad that in these days that are the holiest and most solemn for all Christians, the deadly clamor of arms is louder than the sound of bells announcing the Resurrection.”
Zelensky congratulates 'true friend' Macron for presidential win
At a time when Ukraine is fighting the Russian aggression, Zelensky called the French leader Emmanuel Macron, 44, “a true friend of Ukraine” and congratulated him for securing a second term as the President of France.
Zelensky tweeted -“Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron, a true friend of Ukraine, for his re-election! I wish him further success for the good of the people of France . I appreciate his support and I am convinced that we are moving forward together towards new common victories. Towards a strong and united Europe!”
Zelensky speaks to Erdogan over evacuation of civilians
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky says he has discussed the evacuation of civilians from Mariupol in a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Zelenskyy said on Twitter that he “stressed the need for immediate evacuation of civilians from Mariupol, including Azovstal, and immediate exchange of blocked troops” in Sunday’s call with Erdogan. He noted that the call came before Erdogan’s planned conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine has urged Russia to allow the evacuation of civilians holed up at the giant Azovstal steel plant, the last remaining Ukrainian pocket of resistance in the strategic Sea of Azov port. It also has pushed Russia to conduct talks on a safe exit for the Ukrainian defenders of the plant, but Moscow has stonewalled the demands.
Zelensky meets top-level US delegation
The US secretaries of state and defense met Sunday night with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the highest-level visit to the country’s capital by an American delegation since the start of Russia's invasion, news agency AP reported.
The meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, which was confirmed by a senior Ukrainian official, came as Ukraine pressed the West for more powerful weapons against Russia's campaign in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, where Moscow's forces sought to dislodge the last Ukrainian troops in the battered port of Mariupol.
