Russia-Ukraine war Highlights: Moscow, Kyiv agree to establish humanitarian corridors

Russia-Ukraine crisis: Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv continued to witness bombardment even as Russia risked increasing isolation on the world stage. According to reports, Russian troops have seized Ukraine's Kherson, a strategically important city. With Russia refusing to budge despite global pressure, the UN General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution that "demands" Russia "immediately" withdraw from Ukraine, in a powerful rebuke of Moscow's invasion by a vast majority of the world's nations....Read More
The United Nations human rights office said on Wednesday that it confirmed 227 civilians had been killed and 525 injured in Ukraine through midnight on Monday following Russia's invasion of its neighbour.
The biggest attack on a European state since 1945 has caused over 870,000 people to flee, a barrage of sanctions against Russia, and stoked fears of wider conflict in the West unthought-of for decades.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor on Wednesday said he would immediately open an investigation into possible war crimes committed in Ukraine, following requests to do so by an unprecedented number of the court's member states.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired another high-level meeting on Wednesday on the crisis that had arisen due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The PM has been discussing with top officials of the government about the safe evacuation of stranded Indians from war-torn Ukraine.
Moscow, Kyiv agree to set up humanitarian corridors
In second round of talks, Russia and Ukraine agree on humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians.
Biden administration seeks $32.5 billion more in Ukraine and Covid-19 aid
President Joe Biden's administration is seeking $32.5 billion in additional funding from Congress to bolster the US Covid-19 response and help Ukraine, the White House said on Thursday, reports news agency Reuters.
Putin says Russian military advance in Ukraine 'going to plan': AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Moscow's advance in Ukraine is going "according to plan" and ordered large compensations for Russian soldiers killed in the invasion.
"I want to say that the special military operation is going strictly according to schedule, according to plan," he said, opening a meeting with his security council. "We are at war with neo-Nazis," the Russian leader said, adding: "I will never give up on my conviction that Russians and Ukrainians are one people."
Prez Zelenskyy asks Putin to “sit down” for negotiation, says “I don’t bite”, reports AP
Ukraine President Zelenskyy has asked his Russian counterpart Putin to “sit down” for negotiation amid the ongoing war between both the countries.
“I don’t bite," Zelenskyy said further.
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US to impose new sanctions on Russian oligarchs, including travel ban, reports AFP
The United States will impose new sanctions on Russian oligarchs Thursday, a source familiar with the latest effort to pressure the Kremlin into stopping its invasion of Ukraine told AFP.
The sanctions, first reported by Bloomberg, will match earlier EU measures against Russia's wealthiest figures and expand them to include a travel ban to the United States and also prevent oligarchs from transferring their assets to family members.
Ukrainian parliament backs bill to seize Russia-owned assets in Ukraine
Ukraine's parliament on Thursday approved a bill to allow the seizure of assets or property in Ukraine owned by Russia or Russian citizens due to the invasion of Ukraine.
Under the law, the government can suggest which assets to confiscate to the Security Council, which must then give its approval for their transfer to state ownership.
Putin vows 'uncompromising fight' as Ukraine war enters second week
Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed no let-up in his invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, even as the warring sides met for ceasefire talks and Kyiv demanded safe passage for besieged civilians.
"Russia intends to continue the uncompromising fight against militants of nationalist armed groups," Putin said, according to a Kremlin account of a call with French President Emmanuel Macron.
9 dead after Russian forces strike Ukraine's Chernihiv city
Nine dead after Russian forces strike northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv, reports AFP citing the Governor.
Second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine kicks off, informs Belarus
The second round of Russia-Ukraine talks kick off in Belarus: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus
Second round of talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives underway in Balarus
Direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives are underway on Belarusian territory. We hope that they bring about an end to this situation, restore peace in Donbass and enable all people in Ukraine to return to peaceful life: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia
French President believes 'worse is to come' in Ukraine after Putin call, says aide
French President Macron believes 'worse is to come' in Ukraine after Putin call, reports news agency AFP citing an official.
Ukrainian delegation arrives for talks with Russian side in Belarus
The Ukrainian delegation of negotiators has arrived by helicopter for talks with the Russian side in Belarus, Russian state news agency TASS: Reuters
A few hundred Indians still remain in Kharkiv in Ukraine, says MEA
This increased number of flights reflects the large of Indians who have crossed over from Ukraine and are now in the neighboring countries. We will further step up efforts to bring all these Indian nationals back to India at the earliest: MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi
We are scheduling more flights and a large number of Indians will be back home in the next 2-3 days. I would like to appreciate the Ukrainian government and the neighboring countries for hosting our people and providing support in evacuating them: Arindam Bagchi
Ukraine-Russia talks to start soon, focus on humanitarian corridors
Talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations will begin in Belarus at about 1400 GMT and Kyiv plans to discuss setting up humanitarian corridors before moving on to other issues, Ukrainian negotiator Davyd Arakhamia said on Facebook.
'Cease all actions at Ukraine's nuclear facilites': UN's cry to Russia
The United Nations' nuclear watchdog passed a resolution Thursday urging Russia to "cease all actions" at Ukraine's nuclear facilities, including the site of the Chernobyl disaster, which it captured after it invaded the eastern European country last week.
Second round of talks between Russia & Ukraine to start in a couple of hours
A Ukrainian delegation is on its way to talks with Russia by helicopter and negotiations will kick off in a couple of hours, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said in an online post on Thursday.
Earlier, Belarusian state news agency Belta quoted chief Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky as saying the second round of talks would start in Belarus at 1200 GMT.
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Russian forces have control of regional admin building in Kharkiv, reports Reuters citing Governor of Kherson region
Governor of Ukraine's Kherson Region says Russian Forces have control of Regional Administration Building (in Kharkiv): Reuters
Ikea suspends Russia, Belarus operations, affecting 15,000 staff
Swedish furniture giant Ikea said Thursday it would suspend its activities in Russia and Belarus, affecting nearly 15,000 employees, 17 stores and three production sites, in response to the war in Ukraine.
"The war has had a huge human impact already. It is also resulting in serious disruptions to supply chain and trading conditions. For all of these reasons, Ikea has decided to temporarily pause operations in Russia," the company said in a statement to AFP.
Ukraine is staging counter-attacks against Russian troops, Ukrainian official says
Ukraine is able to launch counter-attacks against invading Russian forces even as it defends itself, a military adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday.
"Help to us is increasing every minute and the strength of the enemy is decreasing every minute. We're not only defending but also counter-attacking," he said in a televised briefing.
Ready for 'peace' but will destroy Ukrainian military, says Russia
Russia is ready for peace talks with Ukraine but will not stop targeting its military facilities and bases, foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday. Delegations from the two countries were due to talk late last night but that was called off after Ukraine demanded Russia stop its attacks before coming to the negotiation table.
The Russians, meanwhile, have submitted their demands to Ukraine officials are awaiting a response. As part of its demands, Russia has insisted on provisions that Ukraine will never again represent a military threat.
Satellite operator OneWeb suspends Baikonur launches
Global satellite communications company OneWeb announced on Thursday that it was halting all launches from Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
"The Board of OneWeb has voted to suspend all launches from Baikonur," London-based OneWeb said, after Russia sought assurances that satellites it was due to launch later this year would not be used for military purposes.
Ukraine President Zelensky vows to rebuild Ukraine after war
Ukraine President Zelensky vows to rebuild Ukraine after war, says Russia 'will reimburse us for everything you did against our state', reports news agency AFP.
Russian foreign minister accuses Western politicians of considering 'nuclear war': AFP
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday accused Western politicians of considering nuclear war, one week after Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine. "I would like to point out that it's in the heads of Western politicians that the idea of a nuclear war is spinning constantly, and not in the heads of Russians," Lavrov said in an interview with Russian and foreign media.
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PM rightly spoke to the Russian President on the evacuation of Indian students from Ukraine: Priyanka Chaturvedi
This (evacuation of Indians) should be our priority. PM rightly spoke to the Russian President, talks are going on with Ukrainian Foreign Ministry too. Contacts were established with rest of the bordering nations too: Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi
People protesting against Russia's invasion of Ukraine detained in Saint Petersburg
Many anti-war demonstrators were detained in Russia's Saint Petersburg late on Wednesday after jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny called on Russians to protest against President Putin's invasion of Ukraine, reported news agency AFP.
China & Pak getting closer to Russia, says Rahul at MEA consultative panel meet on Ukraine
Rahul Gandhi raises the issue of China and Pakistan getting closer to Russia during MEA consultative panel meet on Ukraine. The Congress leaders say the Modi government was late in reacting to the crisis and advisories were confusing, sources in the external affairs ministry told news agency ANI
Kiren Rijiju sees off students evacuated from Ukraine before their departure to India
Union minister Kiren Rijiju sees off a group of Indian students evacuated from Ukraine before their departure to India from Kosice, Slovakia.
34 civilians killed in Kharkiv, no water in Mariupol
Russian shelling and attacks on civilian populations killed 34 civilians in Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region in the past 24 hours between March 2-3, the emergency services said on Thursday as per news agency Reuters.
Separately, the governor of the Ukraine-controlled eastern Donetsk region said the port city of Mariupol, one of the first targets of the Russian invasion, was without electricity or water supplies.
Fashion retailer H&M to cut business in Russia
H&M said it’s “deeply concerned about the tragic developments in Ukraine,” and is temporarily stopping all sales in Russia. The Swedish retailer already suspended Ukrainian operations on safety concerns, reports Bloomberg.
EU bans 70% of Belarus exports to bloc with new sanctions over Ukraine invasion
The European Union has approved new sanctions against Belarus for its supporting role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, effectively banning about 70% of all imports from that country, the EU said on Wednesday.
Kharkiv still in Ukrainian hands: UK Defence Intellegence
UK slaps Russian space and aviation companies with new sanctions
Britain announces new sanctions preventing Russian companies in the aviation and space industry from accessing British insurance and reinsurance services following the invasion of Ukraine, the treasury office says in a statement as per news agency AFP.
UK intelligence says Russian advance on Kyiv has made little progress
British military intelligence says that Russia's advance on the Ukrainian capital has made little progress over the past three days and the cities of Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Mariupol remain in Ukrainian hands, Reuters reported.
"The main body of the large Russian column advancing on Kyiv remains over 30km from the centre of the city having been delayed by staunch Ukrainian resistance, mechanical breakdown and congestion," Britain's defence ministry said in an intelligence update.
Nearly 650 Delhi residents stranded in Ukraine, reports PTI
Around 650 Delhi residents are still stranded in war-torn Ukraine while 215 people belonging to the national capital have been brought back so far, officials in the city government said on Thursday.
Government officials said that according to a list given by the Centre, nearly 870 people of Delhi were in Ukraine, news agency PTI reported.
France advises its citizens to leave Russia
The French government on Thursday advised French citizens to leave Russia where possible, in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
UAE says Ukrainians eligible for visas on arrival, in apparent about-face
The United Arab Emirates said on Thursday that Ukraine nationals are eligible for visas on arrival in the Gulf Arab state, in an apparent reversal of a decision to suspend visa waivers to Ukrainians as thousands flee war in their country, reports Reuters.
Beijing Paralympics bans Russian, Belarusian athletes
Russian, Belarusian athletes banned from Beijing Paralympics in reversal of original decision by organizers, reports AP.
Wax statue of Vladimir Putin removed from Paris museum
Russia's invasion of Ukraine prompted director of the Grevin Museum in Paris to remove the wax statue of Vladimir Putin on Thursday.
Ukrainian city of Mariupol may face strikes
Pro-Russian forces may launch targeted strikes on the Ukrainian city of Mariupol unless Ukrainian forces there surrender, Reuters reported quoting news agency Interfax news agency.
Russia and separatists say they have encircled the city of 430,000 located on the Azov Sea coast.
19 flights to bring back 3,726 Indians from Ukraine on Thursday: Aviation Minister
The IAF and Indian carriers will operate 19 flights to bring back 3,726 Indians from Ukraine's neighbouring countries to India on Thursday, Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said.
Under Operation Ganga, eight flights of the IAF, Air India and IndiGo will operate from the Romanian capital Bucharest to India on Thursday, he said on Twitter.
US mulling India sanction for S-400 missile system deal
The US is considering whether to impose or waive sanctions on India for its purchase of the S-400 missile system from Russia, which faces increasingly harsh measures against it for the invasion of Ukraine. This comes as India draws criticism from US lawmakers - both Republicans and Democrats - for being among 35 nations that abstained on Wednesday from a United Nations vote to rebuke Russia's invasion.
Read more: S-400 missile system deal - US may still sanction India, says top diplomat
Japan to freeze the assets of four more Russian banks
Japan will freeze the assets of four additional Russian banks, Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said on Thursday, taking to seven the total number to be slapped with such sanctions by Tokyo.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet approved the decision to freeze the assets of VTB Bank, Sovcombank, Novikombank and Otkritie, the Ministry of Finance said in a document.
The freezing of the assets of the banks, all closely related to the Russian government, will take effect on April 2, Reuters reported quoting a ministry official.
Amazon donates $10 million, to offer logistics support
Amazon is using its logistics network to get supplies to those in need and cybersecurity expertise to help governments and companies as part of its support for Ukraine, Chief Executive Andy Jassy said on Twitter on Wednesday. "Amazon stands with the people of Ukraine, and will continue to help," he said. Amazon earlier this week pledged to donate up to $10 million for humanitarian efforts.
Crypto industry must comply with sanctions: top US lawmakers
Senator Elizabeth Warren and three other Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday urged the Treasury Department to ensure the cryptocurrency industry is complying with sanctions imposed on Russia, expressing concern that digital assets could be used to undermine U.S. foreign policy goals, news agency Reuters reported.
Berlin residents welcome Ukraine refugees at central train station
Oil prices highest since Feb 2013, Brent crude crosses $118-mark
Oil prices extended their rally on Thursday, with Brent rising above $118 a barrel as trade disruption and shipping issues from Russian sanctions over the Ukraine crisis sparked supply worries, while U.S. crude stocks fell to multi-year lows.
Brent crude futures rose as high as $118.22 a barrel, the highest since February 2013, reported Reuters.
Wells Fargo, Bank of America pledge $1 million aid for Ukrainian refugees
Wells Fargo & Co and Bank of America, each pledged on Wednesday to donate $1 million to the American Red Cross and other non-profit groups that are helping Ukraine and refugees fleeing invasion by Russia, news agency Reuters reported.
Canada sanctions Russian energy companies: Ukrainian media outlet
The Canadian government has sanctioned prominent Russian energy companies and individuals linked to them as a move to condemn Russia's aggression in Ukraine, The Kyiv Independent reported.
Indians stranded in Kyiv & Kharkiv must be taken out soon: evacuated students
UNGA adopts resolution demanding Russia to immediately withdraw from Ukraine
On Wednesday, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution that demanded Russia to immediately withdraw from Ukraine. The resolution which also deplores Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in the strongest terms and condemns Vladimir Putin's decision to put nuclear forces on alert was backed by 141 out of 193 UN member states. India abstained from the vote.
Read here: India abstains from UNGA resolution 'deploring' Russian invasion of Ukraine