Ukraine War: Mariupol has suffered some of the heaviest bombardments
Ukraine on Monday rejected Russian calls to surrender the port city of Mariupol, where residents are besieged with little food, water and power and fierce fighting shows little sign of easing.
Russia earlier called on Ukrainian forces in Mariupol to lay down their arms, saying a "terrible humanitarian catastrophe" was unfolding.
Mariupol has suffered some of the heaviest bombardments since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.
Here are the Highlights on Russia-Ukraine War
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Ukraine War: Biden calls India 'shaky' in Russia confrontation
US President Joe Biden said Monday that India was an exception among Washington's allies with its "shaky" response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Biden lauded the US-led alliance, including NATO, the European Union and key Asian partners, for its united front against President Vladimir Putin.
This includes unprecedented sanctions aimed at crippling Russia's currency, international trade and access to high-tech goods.
Ukraine War: Biden says Putin is weighing use of chemical weapons in Ukraine
Russian accusations that Kyiv has biological and chemical weapons are false and illustrate that Russian President Vladimir Putin is considering using them himself in his war against Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday, without citing evidence.
Ukraine War: Kyiv accuses Russian troops of kidnapping three Israelis
The Ukraine government accused Russian troops of kidnapping three Israelis in the southeastern town of Melitopol, which they have occupied.
"Today in Melitopol, the Russian occupiers kidnapped three Israeli citizens; Tatiana Kumok and her parents Vera et Mikhail Kumok", Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said, in comments posted on Facebook.
Ukraine War: Zelensky insists on need for 'meeting' with PutinPresident Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that a meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin "in any format" is needed to stop the war in Ukraine.
"I believe that without this meeting it is impossible to fully understand what they are ready for in order to stop the war," Zelensky said in an interview with the Ukraine regional media outlet Suspilne.
Ukraine War: Biden, allies discuss Russia's 'brutal' war in key week for Western unity
President Joe Biden and European allies discussed Russia's "brutal" war in Ukraine on Monday, kicking off a crucial week in the Western standoff with Moscow that will see Biden visit Poland after attending NATO and EU summits.
Biden hosted the call, lasting just under one hour, with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson "to discuss their coordinated responses," the White House said.
Ukraine War: Biden call to allies kicks off crucial week for West's Ukraine strategyUS President Joe Biden discussed Russia's "brutal" war in Ukraine in a phone call with European allies Monday ahead of attending NATO and EU summits, followed by a trip to Poland, in a crucial week for the West's standoff with Moscow.
The White House said Biden hosted the call, lasting just under one hour, with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson "to discuss their coordinated responses."
Ukrainians must vote on any compromise in Russia talks: Zelensky
Any deal agreed in peace negotiations with Russia will be submitted to a referendum in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky told a regional Ukrainian public media outlet Monday.
"I explained it to all the negotiating groups: when you speak of all these changes (in a future accord) and they can be historic... we will come back to a referendum," Zelensky told Suspilne, an internet news site.
Ukraine War: Biden tells US businesses to 'harden' defenses against Russian cyber threat
President Joe Biden on Monday warned US businesses to "immediately" prepare defenses against potential Russian cyberattacks.
"If you have not already done so, I urge our private sector partners to harden your cyber defenses immediately," he said in a statement.
Ukraine "Cannot Fulfill Russian Ultimatums", Says President ZelenskyPresident Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that Ukraine could not fulfil "Russian ultimatums," claiming Moscow was seeking to "destroy" his country.
"Ukraine cannot fulfil Russian ultimatums. We should be destroyed first, then their ultimatum would be fulfilled," he told local media. He said Moscow wanted Ukraine to "hand over" Kharkiv, Mariupol and Kyiv, adding that neither the people of those cities "or me, as president, can do this."
"Russia Shouldn't Be Seen As Completely At Fault": BJP MP On UkraineA Lok Sabha member on Monday said Russia should not be seen as completely at fault for what is happening in Ukraine.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey made the remarks in the House during Zero Hour, clarifying a statement he had made in his personal capacity earlier that was expunged.
Mr Dubey earlier had referred to the ongoing Russian attack on Ukraine during a discussion on the demand for grants for the road transport ministry, but his remarks was expunged by Speaker Om Birla.
Joe Biden Has Put US-Russia Ties "On Th Verge Of Rupture": MoscowRussia on Monday summoned the US ambassador in protest after President Joe Biden branded Russian leader Vladimir Putin a "war criminal" for Moscow's actions in Ukraine, saying he had endangered ties.
"Such statements by the American president, which are not worthy of a high-ranking statesman, have put Russian-American relations on the verge of rupture," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The statement said ambassador John Sullivan had been handed a formal letter of protest over "recent unacceptable statements" made by Biden.
He was warned that "hostile actions taken against Russia would receive a firm and decisive response," the ministry said.
Biden described Putin as a "war criminal" in remarks to reporters last week, amid heavy fighting in Ukraine after Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into the pro-Western country.
Nearly 3.5 Million Ukrainians Flee The Country: UNNearly 3.5 million Ukrainians have now fled the country following Russia's invasion, the United Nations said Monday, praising neighbouring countries for showing overwhelming compassion towards their "extreme plight".
More than 10 million people -- over a quarter of the population in regions under government control -- are now thought to have fled their homes, including the millions of internally displaced people.
UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, said 3,489,644 Ukrainians had fled the country since Russia invaded on February 24 -- a figure up 100,600 on Sunday's update.
"Over the last four weeks, the world has watched in disbelief. Countless lives have been lost while millions of others have been completely upended," UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi said.
"As if to counter the despair, we have also witnessed overwhelming acts of welcome and compassion as neighbouring countries, particularly local responders, have opened their hearts and homes to Ukrainians.
U.N. says 925 civilians killed in Ukraine since conflict began
The U.N. human rights office (OHCHR) said on Monday it had recorded 2,421 civilian casualties in Ukraine - 925 killed and 1,496 injured - as of midnight on March 20.
Russia May Not Stop With Ukraine - NATO Looks To Its Weakest LinkHours after Russian missiles first struck Ukrainian cities on Feb. 24, German naval commander Terje Schmitt-Eliassen received notice to sail five warships under his command to the former Soviet Republic of Latvia to help protect the most vulnerable part of NATO's eastern flank.
The hasty dispatch was part of Germany's scramble to send "everything that can swim out to sea," as the navy's top boss phrased it, to defend an area military strategists have long deemed the weakest point for the alliance. The vessels' sudden departure demonstrated how NATO, and Germany, were propelled by Russia's invasion into a new reality and face what officials, diplomats, intelligence officials and security sources agree is the most serious threat to the alliance's collective security since the Cold War.
Germany determined to deliver more arms to UkraineThe German government is determined to deliver more arms to Ukraine, a government spokesperson said on Monday.
One way that could be done is by placing orders through defence companies, the spokesperson told a regular news conference.
The spokesperson added that further deliveries would be based on what Germany has already delivered to Ukraine.
Russia warns European oil embargo would 'hit everyone'An embargo on Russian oil imports, pushed for by some European countries over Moscow's military action in Ukraine, would have a direct impact on everyone, the Kremlin said Monday.
Some EU countries including Baltic states have called for an embargo on Russian oil and gas, while Germany has opposed an outright halt on Russian energy imports.
EU foreign ministers on Monday are meeting to discuss the situation in Ukraine and possible tightening of sanctions.
US President Joe Biden is set to attend an EU summit on Ukraine on Thursday in Brussels that will debate energy prices and supply security.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that an oil embargo "is a decision that will hit everyone".
"Such an embargo will have a very serious impact on the world energy market, it will have a very serious negative impact on Europe's energy balance," he said.
Kyiv mayor announces new curfew from late Monday to Wednesday morningKyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko announced a new curfew for the Ukrainian capital later on Monday that would last until Wednesday morning.
The curfew "will begin at 8:00 pm (1800 GMT) and last until 7:00 am (0500 GMT) on March 23," Klitschko wrote on Telegram.
Kremlin says peace talks with Ukraine yet to yield breakthroughThe Kremlin said on Monday that peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv had yet to yield any major breakthroughs and called on countries that can exert influence over Ukraine to use their clout to make Kyiv more constructive at the negotiations.
Speaking to reporters on a conference call, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said significant progress in the talks still had to be made for there to be a basis for a possible meeting between President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it called a special operation to degrade its southern neighbour's military capabilities and root out people it called dangerous nationalists.
Ukrainian forces have mounted stiff resistance and the West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia in an effort to force it to withdraw its forces.
Kremlin says peace talks with Ukraine yet to yield breakthroughThe Kremlin said on Monday that peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv had yet to yield any major breakthroughs and called on countries that can exert influence over Ukraine to use their clout to make Kyiv more constructive at the negotiations.
Russian assault on Mariupol is 'massive war crime': EU European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday decried Russia's attack on the Ukrainian port city Mariupol as "a massive war crime", as the bloc discussed imposing more sanctions on Moscow.
"What's happening now in Mariupol is a massive war crime, destroying everything, bombarding and killing everybody," Borrell said at the start of a meeting of EU foreign ministers.
Ukraine says situation in Mariupol 'very difficult'Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on Monday that Ukraine had "of course" rejected a Russian ultimatum for people in Mariupol to surrender and the situation in the besieged city ere was "very difficult".
Putin ally Timchenko resigns from Novatek boardGennady Timchenko, a long-time ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, resigned from the board at gas producer Novatek on Monday after he was targeted by sanctions over Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
Novatek, Russia's largest private natural gas producer, did not provide a reason for his resignation. A representave of Timchenko, who had served on the company's board of directors since 2009, declined to comment.
Russia hits military facility in Ukraine's Rivne region with cruise missilesRussian air forces hit a Ukrainian army military facility in Rivne Region with cruise missiles, Russia's Defence Ministry said on Monday. "High-precision air-launched cruise missiles have struck a training centre for foreign mercenaries and Ukrainian nationalist formations," Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.
Ukraine says no agreement reached to evacuate Mariupol civilians on MondayAgreement has been reached on creating eight humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians from besieged towns and cities on Monday but the city of Mariupol is not among them, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said. She said efforts to reach Mariupol with humanitarian supplies continued to fail.
China says it will offer 10 million yuan more of humanitarian aid to UkraineThe Chinese Red Cross will offer an additional 10 million yuan ($1.57 million) of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters on Monday.
Wang's comments came at a regular briefing in Beijing and the promise of aid follows previous pledges of aid to Ukraine including one of 5 million yuan from earlier this month.
Ukraine war could lead to global food crisis, says French farming minister
The war between Ukraine and Russia, two of the world's top crop producers, could lead to a food crisis "on the global" scale, French farming minister Julien Denormandie said in Brussels on Monday ahead of a EU agriculture meeting.
Russian Forces Advance On Kyiv
Russian forces advancing on Kyiv from the north-east have stalled and the bulk of its forces remain more than 25 kilometres from the centre of the city, British military intelligence said on Monday.
At least six dead in overnight bombing in Ukraine's KyivAt least six people were killed in an overnight bombing on a shopping centre in Ukraine's capital Kyiv, an AFP journalist said on Monday.
Six bodies were laid out in front of the "Retroville" shopping mall in the northwest of Kyiv, according to the journalist. The building had been hit by a powerful blast that pulverised vehicles in its car park and left a crater several metres wide.
Senior Russian navy commander killed in UkraineA senior naval commander from Russia's Black Sea Fleet had been killed in Ukraine, said governor of Sevastopol, a port city on the Crimea Peninsula, on Sunday.
Post-Captain Andrei Paliy, the fleet's deputy commander, died during fighting in the eastern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, Mikhail Razvozhayev said on the messaging app Telegram.
China pressed to choose sides on Ukraine
US President Joe Biden's warning of "consequences" for any aid China may give to Russia's Ukraine war effort could force Chinese President Xi Jinping to choose between a longstanding lucrative trade relationship with the West and a growing strategic partnership with Moscow.
Kyiv shopping centre bombed, one killedAt least one person is killed when Russian forces shell a shopping centre in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, the city's mayor says.
Read More Ukrainians told to shelter after 'leak' at ammonia plantResidents of the northern Ukrainian town of Novoselytsya should seek shelter after an ammonia leak at a nearby chemical factory, an official said Monday, as intense fighting with Russian forces in the area continues.
Sumy regional governor Dmytro Zhyvytsky said there had been an "ammonia leakage" at the Sumykhimprom facility, affecting an area within 2.5 kilometres (1.5 miles) of the plant, which produces fertilisers
US could expand sanctions against RussiaThe United States could impose more sanctions on Russia and the White House is "nowhere near" lifting any of the restrictions, Daleep Singh, the deputy national security adviser for international economics, said.
"We can broaden our sanctions. So - take the measures, take the sanctions we've already applied, apply them in more targets. Apply them to more sectors," Singh said on Sunday on CBS News' "60 Minutes."
New Zealand to provide Ukraine with non-lethal military assistanceNew Zealand said on Monday it will provide Ukraine with a further NZ$5 million ($3.46 million) in funds and non-lethal military assistance including some surplus equipment. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the money would be primarily directed to a NATO Trust Fund that provides fuel, rations, communication equipment and first aid kits to support Ukraine as its battles Russian forces that invaded on February
Ammonia leak reported at chemicals plant in Ukraine's besieged SumyThere is an ammonia leak at a chemicals plant in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy besieged by Russian troops, Sumy regional governor Dmytro Zhyvytskyy said on Monday.
10 million have fled their homes in UkraineTen million people -- more than a quarter of the population -- have now fled their homes in Ukraine due to Russia's "devastating" war, the United Nations refugees chief says Sunday. More than 3.3 million of them have escaped the country.
Ukraine President says Israel good place for holding talks with RussiaUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday that Israel was undertaking many efforts to arrange top-level peace talks between his country and Russia and suggested they might take place in Jerusalem.
Zelenskiy, speaking in his daily video appeal to Ukrainians after addressing Israel's parliament by video link, said Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had been trying to act as an intermediary between Kyiv and Moscow
Negotiation Only Way Out Of War, Says Ukraine President Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has renewed his plea for talks with his Russian counterpart, taking to US television to say negotiations were the only way to "end this war."
Ukraine refuses to surrender Mariupol as Russia warns of humanitarian 'catastrophe'Ukraine on Monday rejected Russian calls to surrender the port city of Mariupol, where residents are besieged with little food, water and power and fierce fighting shows little sign of easing.
"There can be no question of any surrender, laying down of arms," the Ukrainska Pravda news portal cited Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk as saying early on Monday.