Ukraine War: The NATO chief has accused Putin of making a "big mistake" by invading Ukraine.
The civilian death count in Ukraine due to the month-long Russian invasion has crossed 1,000, according to the United Nations human rights office.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden was in Brussels on Thursday for crunch summits with European, G7 and NATO allies.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg today accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of making a "big mistake" by invading Ukraine, as leaders gathered to discuss overhauling the alliance's eastern defences.
European Union's top diplomat Josep Borrell said as the Russian government has no interest in negotiating a ceasefire in Ukraine for now as its army has not reached its military goals.
Here are the Highlights on the Ukraine-Russia War:
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Ukraine War: Canada will boost oil exports to replace Russian energy
Canada announced Thursday it will boost oil exports by about five percent to help address supply shortages faced by allies shunning Russian energy after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
"Our European friends and allies need Canada and others to step up. They're telling us they need our help in getting off Russian oil and gas in the short term," Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said in a statement.
Ukraine War: Russia, Ukraine exchange prisoners
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged prisoners, Kyiv and Moscow confirmed Thursday, in what Ukraine said was the first swap of soldiers since Moscow ordered troops into Ukraine one month ago.
"Following an order from President Volodymyr Zelensky, the first fully-fledged exchange of prisoners of war has taken place," Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk wrote on Facebook.
"In exchange for 10 captured occupiers we rescued 10 of our servicemen," she said, referring to Russian and Ukrainian troops.
Four Russians indicted in US for energy sector hacks: Report
Four Russian agents have been indicted in the United States for hacking attacks targeting the energy sector around the world, the Justice Department said Thursday.
The Russian hackers targeted thousands of computers at hundreds of companies in 135 countries during the 2012 to 2018 attacks, the department said.
Ukraine War: Zelensky asks NATO for weapons, West adds pressure on Russia
President Volodymyr Zelensky pressed a NATO summit Thursday to flood weapons into Ukraine and Western allies responded with new sanctions against Russia, promises of military aid, and discussion of expelling Moscow from the international G20 body.
As battles raged across Ukraine, with television footage showing a large Russian warship ablaze at dockside near the southern city of Mariupol, Zelensky addressed the emergency NATO summit and a G7 leaders' meeting by video link.
Ukraine War: Russian space chief says cooperation with Europe now impossible
Russia's space director said on Thursday that Europe had wrecked cooperation by imposing sanctions against his agency, and rockets that were meant to launch European satellites would now be used for Russian companies or countries friendly to Moscow.
Ukraine Live: Biden Says US Would Respond If Russia Uses Chemical Weapons
US President Joe Biden said today that if Russia were to use chemical weapons in its invasion of Ukraine, the United States would respond. "We would respond, we would respond if he uses it. The nature of the response would depend on the nature of the use," Biden said at a news conference in Brussels. (Reuters)
Boris Johnson Says There's Evidence Russia Trying To Get Round Sanctions Using Gold
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said today there was evidence that Russia was trying to get round sanctions using its gold reserves. "There is evidence that the Russians may be trying to get round - the Russians are obviously going to try to get round - the sanctions on their gold, and we're taking steps to try to make sure that there's no leakage, no sale of bullion into markets around the world," Johnson told reporters in Brussels. (Reuters)
Ukraine War Live: Ukraine Tells Belarus To Cut Diplomatic Staff In Reciprocal Move
Ukraine's foreign ministry said today it had told Russia-allied Belarus to cut its diplomatic staff in Kyiv to five, responding to the expulsion of a dozen Ukrainian diplomats from Belarus a day earlier. "We caution the Belarusian authorities that any further unfriendly steps towards Ukraine will receive a decisive response," the Ukrainian foreign ministry said in a statement. Relations between the two countries have soured in the wake of the February 24 invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which used Belarusian territory as a staging post for its attack. (Reuters)
US Says It Wants More Direct Channel To Russian Defence Ministry About Ukraine
Washington would like to have a more direct communication channel with Russia's defence ministry in order to deal with unforeseen events in the conflict in Ukraine, the US ambassador to Moscow has said. John Sullivan told the independent news outlet Novaya Gazeta that an emergency hotline between Washington and Moscow, set up in the Cold War to pre-empt an accidental nuclear conflict, was still in existence. (Reuters)
Ukraine Russia War Live: Italy Tells Its Citizens Not To Go Fight In Ukraine
Italian nationals should not go and fight in Ukraine, the foreign ministry said today, following media reports that some Italians have signed up to battle the Russian invasion. A foreign ministry statement said such conduct "may be considered criminally relevant under current legislation," and reiterated its advice that Italians should not enter Ukraine. (Reuters)
Ukraine Russia War: Ukraine Passes Bill To Jail Collaborators With Russia
Ukrainian lawmakers voted today to punish anyone aiding and abetting Russian enemy forces with up to 12 years in jail, one month into Moscow's invasion. Members of Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada voted overwhelmingly to impose punishment of 10 to 12 years for "intentional activities aimed at aiding the aggressor state", a statement on the parliament's website said. (AFP)
Ukraine Live: G20 Host Indonesia "Impartial" Amid Russia Ban Calls
Indonesia will remain impartial as the rotating chair of the G20, the country's top diplomatic negotiator said Thursday, following mounting calls that Russia be barred from the forum's meetings. Dian Triansyah Djani made the statement after Russia's ambassador to Indonesia confirmed on Wednesday President Vladimir Putin planned to attend the November heads-of-state summit in Bali. (AFP)
Ukraine War Live: G7 Has "No Grievances" Against People Of Russia
The Group of Seven most industrialised nations said today they have no quarrel with the Russian people, stressing that it was President Vladimir Putin and his backers who are to blame for invading Ukraine. "The people of Russia must know that we hold no grievances against them," they said in a statement after an emergency summit in Brussels. (AFP)
Ukraine Live: G7 Says Will "Spare No Efforts" To Hold Putin, "Supporters" Accountable
The Group of Seven most industralised nations today said it would do everything in its power to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin and his supporters personally responsible for the Ukraine invasion. "We will spare no efforts to hold President Putin and the architects and supporters of this aggression, including the Lukashenko regime in Belarus, accountable for their actions," the G7 said in a statement after a summit in Brussels. "To this end, we will continue to work together, along with our allies and partners around the world." (AFP)
Ukraine Live Updates: NATO Wants China To Meet "Responsibilities" Over Ukraine War
NATO leaders meeting in Brussels want China to oppose Russia's invasion of Ukraine and work for a peaceful end to the conflict, a senior US official said Thursday. Briefing reporters at NATO headquarters during the talks, the official said several leaders had said "China needs to live up to its responsibilities within the international community as a UN Security Council member". "We need to continue to call on China not to support Russia in its aggression against Ukraine," the official said. (AFP)
Ukriane Live: Ukraine Says Many Russian Troops Lack Resources To Be On Offensive
Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said today that in many areas Russian troops did not have enough resources to push ahead with their offensive in Ukraine, leading to a slowdown in hostilities. "The front line is practically frozen," he said in a televised address. "The enemy in very many areas does not have the resources to continue the offensive." (Reuters)
Ukraine Live: G7 Leaders Tell Russia Not To Use Biological, Chemical, Nuclear Weapons
Leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized nations warned Russia not to use biological, chemical or nuclear weapons in its war with Ukraine, they said in statement released after talks in Brussels on Thursday. "We warn against any threat of the use of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons or related material," said the leaders in a joint statement released by Germany. All countries were ready to welcome refugees from Ukraine, they said. (Reuters)
Ukraine President Says There's "Real" Threat Russia Will Use Chemical Weapons
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today there is a "real" threat that Moscow will use chemical weapons in Ukraine, accusing Russia of having already used phosphorus bombs against civilians in the country. "The threat of full-scale use by Russia of chemical weapons on the territory of Ukraine is real," Zelensky told a G7 summit in Brussels via videolink, adding that Kyiv had information that Russian troops "used phosphorus bombs against peaceful people in Ukraine". (AFP)
Ukraine Live: India Abstains In UN General Assembly On Humanitarian Crisis Resolution
India today abstained in the UN General Assembly on a resolution by Ukraine and its allies on the humanitarian crisis in war-torn eastern European country. The 193-member General Assembly resumed its 11th Emergency Special Session on Ukraine and voted on Thursday on a draft resolution 'Humanitarian consequences of the aggression against Ukraine' by Ukraine and its western allies. The resolution was adopted with 140 votes in favour, 38 abstentions and five against. (PTI)
Ukraine War Live: US Making Plans In Case Russia Uses Chemical, Nuclear Weapons
The White House has set up a team of experts to plan how the US could respond should Russia use weapons of mass destruction - chemical, biological or nuclear - during its invasion of Ukraine, senior administration officials said on Thursday. Russia has repeatedly raised the prospect of using nuclear weapons as it struggles to overcome Ukraine's military during the month-old war that the Russian government calls a "special operation." This week, the Kremlin said such weapons would only be used in the case of an "existential threat." (Reuters)
Ukraine Live: Red Cross Chief, Russia Discuss Need To Protect Ukraine CiviliansThe president of the International Committee of the Red Cross today said he and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had discussed the need to protect civilians during Moscow's operations in Ukraine. "We certainly also discussed the international humanitarian law and provisions of the Geneva Conventions in regard to conduct of hostilities... that civilians must be protected," Peter Maurer said at a joint press conference with Lavrov. Maurer was visiting Moscow after spending five days in Ukraine last week. (AFP)
Ukraine Live: Ukraine Says It Has Destroyed A Large Russian Landing Ship
Ukraine said today it had destroyed a large Russian landing support ship, the Orsk, at the Russian-occupied port of Berdiansk on the Sea of Azov. Video footage, which Reuters was able to confirm was filmed from inside Berdiansk, showed a column of smoke rising from a blaze at a dock, and the flash of an explosion. Two vessels, one of which appeared to have been damaged, were seen in the footage sailing out of the dock as a third ship burned. Reuters could not confirm if it was the Orsk on fire in the film. Russian officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the report that the support ship had been destroyed. (Reuters)
Ukraine War Updates: US, Allies Could Give Ukraine Anti-Ship Missiles
The United States and its NATO allies are discussing sending anti-ship missiles to Ukraine, a senior US official said Thursday, after Russian vessels attacked Kyiv's Black Sea ports. "We have started consulting with allies on providing anti-ship missiles to Ukraine," the official told reporters as a NATO summit got under way in Brussels. "There may be some technical challenges with making that happen, but that is something that we are consulting with allies and starting to work on." (AFP)
Ukraine Live: China Opposes Claims Of "Prior Knowledge" Of Russia's Ukraine Attack
China's ministry of defence said today it was completely false to say that China had "prior knowledge" of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and that such claims were a smear. The ministry's comment came in response to foreign media reports which said China ignored warnings by the United States that Russia would attack Ukraine. (Reuters)
Ukraine Russia War Live: Ukraine War A New Blow For Poor Countries: UN
The war in Ukraine has sent commodity prices soaring, creating fresh shock waves across poorer countries already hard-hit by the pandemic, the UN said today, warning that "profound social anxiety" was spreading. In a new report, the UN trade, investment and development agency (UNCTAD) warned that the conflict raging in Ukraine was causing a global economic slowdown that was hitting developing countries the hardest. (AFP)
Ukraine War Live: US Sanctions Russia Lawmakers, Defence Contractors
The US has announced a fresh wave of sanctions against Russian lawmakers, oligarchs and defence companies in response to the invasion of Ukraine, the White House said. The measures, which involve freezing US-held assets, single out 328 members of Russia's lower house State Duma, and 48 defence companies "that fuel (President Vladimir) Putin's war machine", according to a statement released as US President Joe Biden attended summits in Brussels focused on the war. (AFP)
Ukraine Live: NATO Bolsters Chemical, Nuclear Defences For Eastern Flank Troops
NATO is stepping up chemical and nuclear defences for it forces in eastern Europe in the face of fears over Russia's war on Ukraine, alliance head Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday. "Our top military commander General Wolters has activated NATO's chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence elements, and allies are deploying additional chemical and biological and nuclear defences to reinforce our existing and new battle groups," Stoltenberg told journalists after a NATO summit in Brussels. (AFP)
Ukraine War: NATO To Set Up Units In Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary: Biden
NATO leaders have agreed to bolster defenses, particularly in Eastern Europe, and will deploy four new combat units in Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, US President Joe Biden said in a statement. NATO leaders will also develop plans for additional forces and capabilities before their June summit, Biden said in a statement during his trip to Europe to address Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (Reuters)
World Court Prosecutor Calls For International Support In Ukraine War-Crimes Probe
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has asked a coalition of countries in The Hague to back his war-crimes investigation in Ukraine, saying "things can get worse" if the international community fails to act now. ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan was speaking to a meeting of a British-led coalition, including prosecutors and justice ministers from dozens of countries, who have offered the Hague court financial, military and legal assistance. (Reuters)
Ukraine Live: US Issues Fresh Russia-Related Sanctions, Shows Treasury Website
The US has imposed fresh Russia-related sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine including sanctions against dozens of defense companies, 328 members of the Duma legislative body and the chief executive of Sberbank, the Treasury Department said. Gold-related transactions involving Russia may be sanctionable by US authorities, the Treasury Department also said in a statement. (Reuters)
Ukraine War: Ukraine's Confirmed Civilian Death Count Now Exceeds 1,000, Says UN
The United Nations human rights office said today at least 1,035 people have been killed and 1,650 wounded in one month of war in Ukraine. Ninety children were among the dead, it said in a statement, adding that the true figures were believed to be considerably higher due to delays in reporting from areas with intense hostilities, including the southern besieged city of Mariupol. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in a separate statement that 4.3 million children - more than half of the country's estimated 7.5 million residents under 18 - have been uprooted, including more than 1.8 million who have fled abroad. (Reuters)
Ukraine War Live News: Nearly 3.7 Million People Flee Ukraine, Says UNNearly 3.7 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia's invasion a month ago, the UN said Thursday, warning that half of the country's children are now displaced. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said 3,674,952 Ukrainians had fled the country -- an increase of 48,406 from the previous day's figure. In total, more than 10 million people -- over a quarter of the population in regions under government control before the February 24 invasion -- are now thought to have fled their homes, including nearly 6.5 million who are internally displaced. (AFP)
Live Updates: NATO Chief Stoltenberg To Stay In Office Extra Year Amid Ukraine War
The NATO leaders have extended the mandate of alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg for an extra year as the West grapples with Russia's war on Ukraine. "Honoured by the decision of NATO heads of state and government to extend my term as secretary general until 30 September 2023. As we face the biggest security crisis in a generation, we stand united to keep our alliance strong and our people safe," Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter. (AFP)
Ukraine War Live: Ukraine Says 6 Killed, 15 Wounded In Russian Strikes In KharkivRussian strikes on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv killed at least six civilians and wounded more than a dozen, the regional governor said Thursday, one month into Russia's invasion. "The Russians fired long-range weapons at a Nova Poshta office, near where Kharkiv residents were receiving aid," regional governor Oleg Synyegubov wrote on social media referring to a local postal delivery service. (AFP)
G7, EU To Announce Measures To Stop Russia From Avoiding Sanctions: US Official
The G7 group of nations and the European Union will announce a new initiative aimed at stopping Russia from evading Western sanctions, a senior US administration official said. The US and G7 will make clear that any transaction involving gold related to Russia's central bank is covered by existing sanctions, the official said. (Reuters)
Ukraine War Live: NATO Heads Announce More Troops To Eastern Flank
NATO leaders meeting in Brussels today agreed to beef up their eastern flank in the face of the war waged by Russia in Ukraine, and warned Moscow against the use of chemical arms. "We remain united and resolute in our determination to oppose Russia's aggression, aid the government and the people of Ukraine, and defend the security of all allies," a joint statement said after national leaders of NATO's 30 member countries met in Brussels. They agreed to set up four more battlegroups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia, as well as warning China not to support Russia's war. (Reuters)
Kremlin Says Russian Billionaire Abramovich Played Early Role In Ukraine Peace Talks
The Kremlin today said sanctioned Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich played an early role in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, but the process was now in the hands of the two sides' negotiating teams. "He did take part at the initial stage," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "Now the negotiations are between the two teams, the Russians and Ukrainians." Western governments have targeted Abramovich and several other Russian oligarchs with sanctions as they seek to isolate President Vladimir Putin and his allies over events in Ukraine. (Reuters)
Ukraine War Live Updates: Russia Accuses Poland Of "Dangerous Escalation"Russia's foreign ministry has accused NATO member Poland, which neighbours Ukraine, of escalating the situation in eastern Europe after it expelled 45 Russian diplomats over alleged espionage. "Warsaw has embarked on a dangerous escalation in the region, proceeding not from national interests, but within the framework of NATO guidelines, which are based on outright Russophobia elevated to the rank of official policy," the ministry said in a statement. (AFP)
Ukraine War Live: Moscow Stock Market Partially Reopens After Month-Long Closure
The Moscow Stock Exchange resumed trading of some shares on Thursday, the second stage in a phased re-opening after being suspended for a month due to Russia's military operation in Ukraine. Trading renewed for only 33 of the largest companies that make up the ruble-denominated MOEX Russia Index, which saw early gains of over 10 percent. The RTS Index, which is calculated in US dollars, was down over 4.0 percent since markets opened. (AFP)
Ukraine Live: Russian Envoy Says Poland Blocked Embassy's Bank Accounts: Report
Russia's ambassador to Warsaw said today that Poland had blocked the embassy's bank accounts for allegedly financing "terrorist activity", RIA news agency reported. Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on February 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. (Reuters)
Ukraine Live News: Ukraine Minister Submits Resignation, Says Report Citing Aide
Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Roman Leshchenko has submitted his resignation, an aide told news agency Reuters on Thursday, without stating a reason. The aide, who declined to be named, said that the parliament would vote on whether to accept the resignation, possibly as soon as Thursday. Leshchenko's resignation had been reported by APK-Inform consultancy earlier on Thursday, four weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine, starting a war that has affected spring crop sowing and Ukraine's ability to export agricultural products. (Reuters)
Ukraine Live: Karnataka Governor Pays Tribute To Medical Student Who Died In Ukraine
Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot today paid tribute to medical student Naveen Gyanagouda who was killed following Russian shelling in Kharkiv in Ukraine on March 1. The Governor visited Naveen's house in Chalageri in Haveri district and offered floral tribute to the departed soul by garlanding his portrait. The 22-year-old medical student, who was in his fourth year of medical course, died when he ventured out of his bunker to get some food, water and exchange cash. (PTI)
Ukraine War: Swiss Freeze Over $6 Billion Worth Of Sanctioned Russian Assets
The Swiss government has frozen around 5.75 billion Swiss francs ($6.17 billion) worth of Russian assets in Switzerland covered by sanctions, and the number is likely to rise, a government official said. "Today, for the first time, I can give you an indication of the amount of frozen funds. To date, SECO has been notified of funds and assets totalling around 5.750 billion Swiss francs," said Erwin Hollinger, a senior official at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) agency overseeing sanctions. (Reuters)
Ukraine War News: Ukraine President Says Russia Using Phosphorus Bombs
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of deploying phosphorus weapons in his country and urged NATO to provide military support. "This morning, by the way, phosphorus bombs were used. Russian phosphorus bombs. Adults were killed again and children were killed again," Zelensky said during a video address to the US-led military alliance. (AFP)
Ukraine Live: US To Accept Up To 100,000 Ukrainians Fleeing War, Says Report
The US plans to accept up to 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, two sources familiar with the forthcoming announcement told Reuters. The expected announcement comes as US President Joe Biden meets with European leaders today to coordinate Western nations' response to Moscow's assault on its neighboring country. (Reuters)
Ukraine Live Updates: Ukraine President Calls For Unrestricted NATO Military Aid
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today urged the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to provide Kyiv with unrestricted military aid, one month into Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "To save people and our cities, Ukraine needs military assistance without restrictions. In the same way that Russia is using its full arsenal without restrictions against us," the Ukrainian leader told NATO representatives via video-link. (AFP)
Ukraine War Live: Putin Has Crossed Red Line Into Barbarism, Says Boris Johnson
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson today accused Russia of crossing a red line into barbarism in its war with Ukraine and said the West needed to "tighten the vice" in sanctions to bring the conflict to an end. "Vladimir Putin has already crossed the red line into barbarism," Johnson told reporters on arrival in Brussels for an unprecedented one-day trio of NATO, G7 and EU summits. He said more sanctions needed to be imposed. (Reuters)
Ukraine War: Red Cross Chief Says Planning To Discuss War Prisoners' Issue With Russia
The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer, said in Moscow today that he planned to discuss prisoners of war with Russia's Defence Ministry. He also plans to discuss Geneva Conventions, he told a news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Maurer is in Moscow for talks on the Ukraine conflict. (Reuters)
Ukraine Live: UK Says It Sanctioned Russian Foreign Minister's 'Step Daughter'
Britain sanctioned another wave of Russia's banks, critical industries and a host of members of its elite on Thursday, including Gazprombank, Alfa Bank, and a woman they said was the stepdaughter of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The sanctions on 59 Russian and six Belarusian entities and individuals included state-run shipping firm Sovcomflot, private military contractor Wagner Group and Alrosa, the world's largest diamond producer with an estimated market value of $6.61 billion. (Reuters)
Ukraine Live: Zelensky Says Ukraine Deserves To Be Full Member Of European Union
Ukraine is fighting for the security of the whole of Europe and should be a full member of the European Union, President Volodymyr Zelensky told Swedish lawmakers today via video link. "We are not fighting just for the people of Ukraine, but for Europe's security and we have shown that we deserve to be a fully-fledged member of the EU," Zelensky said in an address to Sweden's parliament. (Reuters)
Ukraine Live: Russia Says Its Latest Expulsion Of US Diplomats Is Forced Measure
The Kremlin has said that Moscow's latest expulsion of US diplomats was a forced measure, after Washington last month said it was expelling 12 Russian diplomats at the country's UN mission in New York over national security concerns. The US Embassy in Moscow on Wednesday received a list of its diplomats that were declared "persona non grata" in what Russian media said was a response to the US move at the UN. (Reuters)
Ukraine War Live News: UK Sanctions 59 More Russian Firms, Individuals
Britain today slapped sanctions on 59 more Russian individuals and entities, including the shadowy mercenary group Wagner, in a further retaliation to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The government said its latest asset freeze targets 33 individuals and 26 entities as well as six other entities linked to the Belarus regime. (AFP)
EU's Borrell says Russia has no interest in negotiating ceasefire in Ukraine for nowThe Russian government has no interest in negotiating a ceasefire in Ukraine for now as its army has not reached its military goals, European Union's top diplomat Josep Borrell said on Thursday.
"Right now, Russia doesn't want to sit and negotiate anything: what it wants is to occupy the ground," Borrell said in an interview with Spanish TVE channel. "It wants to surround the coast to the border with Moldova and isolate Ukraine from the sea. It wants to negotiate in earnest only when it has secured a position of strength."
EU's Borrell says Russia has no interest in negotiating ceasefire in Ukraine for nowThe Russian government has no interest in negotiating a ceasefire in Ukraine for now as its army has not reached its military goals, European Union's top diplomat Josep Borrell said on Thursday.
"Right now, Russia doesn't want to sit and negotiate anything: what it wants is to occupy the ground," Borrell said in an interview with Spanish TVE channel. "It wants to surround the coast to the border with Moldova and isolate Ukraine from the sea. It wants to negotiate in earnest only when it has secured a position of strength."
Over half of Ukrainian children displaced by war
More than half of all children in Ukraine have been displaced from their homes since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, the United Nations said Thursday.
UK PM Johnson says pressure could be applied to Putin's gold reservesBritain and its western allies will increase the economic pressure on Russia by examining whether more can be done to prevent President Vladimir Putin from accessing gold reserves, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday.
Western sanctions have frozen much of Russia's central bank's $640 billion in assets, barred several banks from global payments system SWIFT and hammered the rouble.
Putin made 'big mistake' invading Ukraine: NATO chief
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of making a "big mistake" by invading Ukraine, as leaders gathered to discuss overhauling the alliance's eastern defences.
Strikes kill 4 near Lugansk: Ukrainian official
At least four people were killed, including two children, and six wounded from overnight strikes in eastern Ukraine, the governor of the Lugansk region said Thursday.
Moscow stock exchange partially reopens after one-month closureThe Moscow Stock Exchange resumed trading of some shares Thursday, as it continued re-opening after a month-long suspension over Russia's military operation in Ukraine.
Trading resumed for only around 30 of the largest companies that make up the ruble-denominated MOEX Russia Index, which saw early gains of up to 10 percent.
Turkey urges more Ukraine ceasefire efforts, to continue mediationTurkey called for ramped up efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine and vowed to continue its "mediation and facilitation" work between Moscow and Kyiv, ahead of a NATO summit where leaders will discuss Russia's invasion.
NATO member Turkey shares a maritime border with Ukraine and Russia and has good ties with both. While supporting Ukraine and criticising Russia, Ankara has also opposed sanctions on Moscow and launched mediation efforts.
Russia Central Bank Chief Wanted Out Over UkraineRussia's highly regarded central bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina sought to resign after Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine, only to be told by the president to stay, according to four people with knowledge of the discussions.
Read More Japan considers doubling humanitarian aid, loans to UkraineThe Japanese government is considering extending additional humanitarian aid of $100 million to Ukraine and neighbouring countries, on top of the $100 million in assistance Japan has already announced, public broadcaster NHK said on Thursday.
The government is also looking into doubling emergency loans to Ukraine to $200 million and dispatching Self-Defence Force medical officers to support Ukrainian refugees in Poland and other neighbouring nations, NHK said.
WHO says there were 64 instances of attacks on health care since Ukraine war startedThe World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday it had verified 64 instances of attacks on health care in Ukraine between Feb. 24 and March 21 resulting in 15 deaths and 37 injuries.
Close to 7 million Ukrainians have been internally displaced in the one month of war, with one in three of them suffering from a chronic health condition, according to the global health agency.
UN To Again "Demand" Russia "Immediately" Stop War In UkraineThe UN General Assembly was debating on Wednesday a new non-binding resolution which, if adopted by a majority of member states, will "demand" that Russia stop the war in Ukraine "immediately".
On March 2, 141 countries approved an earlier resolution that demands that Russia immediately cease the use of force against Ukraine.
Five states, including Russia, voted against and 35 abstained. The resolution was non-binding and, other than demonstrating Russia's isolation on the world stage, did not appear to impact the fighting.
"Come To Your Streets": Ukraine President Zelensky Urges Global Protests Against RussiaUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday urged citizens around the world to take to the streets to protest Russia's invasion of his country.
"Come with Ukrainian symbols to support Ukraine, to support freedom, to support life," Zelensky said in a video address in English. "Come to your squares, to your streets, make yourselves visible and heard."