Russia-Ukraine war highlights: Biden announces $800 mn military aid, anti-aircraft system to Ukraine

US President Joe Biden announces additional defence support to war-hit Ukraine, bringing the total to $1 billion. He signed a new package on Wednesday that includes transfer of $800 million in military aid to the east European nation as well as “longer-range anti-aircraft system”. The package also includes small arms such as grenade launchers, drones and shotguns, according to agencies.

A theatre in Ukraine's Mariupol has been hit by Russian forces. Hundreds of civilians were sheltering at the venue in the port city, the city council said on Wednesday.

Russian law enforcement has announced the first known criminal cases against people posting what is deemed to be “false information” about the war in Ukraine.

The Investigative Committee, a law enforcement agency, listed three suspects, including Veronika Belotserkovskaya, who is a Russian-language cookbook author and popular blogger living abroad.

UN's highest court orders Russian Federation to suspend military operations in Ukraine, reports news agency AP. 

Ukraine, Russia draw up tentative peace plan to end war. The deal includes a ceasefire and Russian troop withdrawal if Kyiv renounces NATO membership ambitions and accepts limits on its armed forces, according to local media reports. 

The United Nations is appealing for $4.27 billion for Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country, with 161,000 people likely to experience famine there in 2022.

The virtual pledging conference is co-hosted by Sweden and Switzerland to alleviate what the UN says is the word's worst humanitarian crisis.

US NSA Jake Sullivan speaks to Russia’s General Nikolay Patrushev in first ‘high-level’ contact between 2 countries since beginning of Ukraine war, reports AFP.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called for an end to the “bloodshed and tears” from the conflict in Ukraine during a joint news conference with his Russian counterpart. Speaking after a meeting with Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday, Cavusoglu also called for an immediate cease-fire for the besieged city of Mariupol to allow the evacuation of stranded civilians, including Turkish citizens.

Zelenskky plays graphic video to Congress showing toll of Russian war in Ukraine, appeals for no-fly zone. 

Zelenskyy cites Pearl Harbor, 9/11 attacks in appeal to US Congress for help against Russia, 'we need you right now.'

There are no plans at this stage for French President Emmanuel Macron to travel to Ukraine, government spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Wednesday.

A trip can be envisaged as soon as a visit appears useful to resolve the crisis, Attal told a news conference following a cabinet meeting.

Ukraine rejects proposals of Austria, Sweden neutraliy models, reports AFP citing presidency. 

Explosions rock central Kyiv as Russia intensifies its attack on the capital, which is under a 35-hour curfew due to what its mayor called a "difficult and dangerous moment". Two residential buildings were damaged and two people wounded, emergency services say.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that some formulations for agreements with Ukraine were close to being agreed, with neutral status for Kyiv under "serious" consideration.

However, he told the RBC news outlet that there were other issues of importance too, including the usage of the Russian language in Ukraine and freedom of speech.

Multiple explosions were reported in Ukraine's capital city Kyiv as the Russian offensive entered the third week. 

The emergency service in Ukraine's eastern region of Kharkiv region said on Wednesday that at least 500 residents of the city have been killed since Russia launched a full-scale attack on February 24. 

The Ukrainian government said on Wednesday that 20,000 civilians have managed so far to leave the besieged port city of Mariupol in private cars. Mariupol is currently one of the worst-affected areas from the Russian invasion.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has said that 99% of the Ukrainian population could face poverty and extreme economic vulnerability if the war goes on over the next year. 

Japanese finance minister Shunichi Suzuki said that the G7 nations will hold an online meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss Russia's actions in Ukraine. 

Ahead of the sixth round of peace talks with Ukraine, Russia has escalated attacks on Kyiv and launched new assaults on the port city of Mariupol. 

The United Nations human rights office said on Wednesday that 691 people have been killed and 1,143 have been injured since the beginning of the Ukraine war on February 24. However, the real figures could be much higher. 

The Chinese government on Wednesday hit out at Taiwan's humanitarian aid on Ukraine and its sanctions imposed on Russia by saying that Taipei is taking advantage of other's difficulties. 

"The Democratic Progressive Party authorities are using the Ukraine issue to validate their existence and piggy back on a hot issue, taking advantage of other's difficulties," Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said. 

On Tuesday, the US senate unanimously passed a resolution condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin as a war criminal amid Moscow's full-scale attack on Ukraine. 

United States President Joe Biden will visit Europe next week in order to hold a discussion on the Ukraine war with NATO allies, the White House said. Biden will attend a meeting of NATO leaders military alliance's headquarters in Brussels on March 24. 

Amid mounting criticism from opposition parties over the delayed evacuation of Indian students from war-torn Ukraine, external affairs minister (EAM) S Jaishankar hit back by saying that the delay happened because of confusing political statements by the Ukrainian government.