Ukraine War: At least 1,100 civilians have died and more than 10 million have been displaced
Volodymyr Zelensky said his government is "carefully" considering a Russian demand of Ukrainian neutrality, a key point of contention as negotiators for both sides prepare for a fresh round of talks aimed at ending the brutal month-long war.
The UN estimates that at least 1,100 civilians have died and more than 10 million have been displaced in a devastating war that has gone on far longer than Moscow leaders expected.
The new round of talks comes after the Russian army said it would begin focusing on eastern Ukraine in a move some analysts saw as a scaling back of Moscow's ambitions.
Here are the LIVE updates on the Russia-Ukraine war:
Ukraine Live: Russian Tactics In Ukraine Repeat Of Syria War: Amnesty
Amnesty International on Tuesday slammed "war crimes" in Ukraine, as the civilian toll continues to rise after Russia's invasion, likening the situation to the Syrian war. "What is happening in Ukraine is a repetition of what we have seen in Syria," Agnes Callamard, secretary general of the global rights watchdog, told AFP. She was speaking in Johannesburg at the launch of the rights group's annual report on the state of human rights in the world. "We are beyond indiscriminate attacks. We are in the midst of deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure," she said, accusing Russia of turning humanitarian corridors into "death traps". (AFP)
Ukraine War Live Updates: Ukraine Says 5,000 Dead In "Catastrophic" Mariupol Siege
Ukraine said Monday that at least 5,000 people have died in the "catastrophic" humanitarian crisis gripping pulverized Mariupol, as fighting raged around Kyiv including in a strategic suburb where defenders claim to have driven out Russian invaders. In the besieged southern port of Mariupol at least 5,000 people have already been buried, according to a senior Ukrainian official who said as many as 10,000 may have died -- appearing to confirm the darkest scenarios of devastation in the city. (AFP)
Ukraine Live: Ukraine President Says Tougher Russian Sanctions Needed QuicklyUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Western nations to toughen sanctions quickly against Russia, including an oil embargo, to stop Moscow having a free hand to escalate its measures against his country. In his nightly video address to Ukrainians, he said the West had miscalculated last year in delaying sanctions and the invasion had followed.
"A full-scale war has begun. Now there are many hints and warnings that supposedly tougher sanctions, such as an embargo on Russian oil supplies to Europe, will be put in place if Russia uses chemical weapons," Zelensky said, occasionally banging his hands on a table. (Reuters)
Russia Says Will Use Nukes Only In Case Of "Threat To Existence Of State"
Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov told PBS in an interview that Russia would resort to nuclear weapons only in the case of a "threat to the existence" of his country - and not as a result of the current conflict with Ukraine. "But any outcome of the operation (in Ukraine), of course is not a reason for usage of a nuclear weapon," Peskov said. "We have a security concept that very clearly states that only when there is a threat for existence of the state, in our country, we can use and we will actually use nuclear weapons to eliminate the threat for the existence of our country." (Reuters)
Ukraine Live: France, 6 Other EU Countries Urge Citizens Not To Join Ukraine War
Seven European Union countries have urged their citizens to refrain from joining the Ukrainian military resistance against Russia's invading troops. The appeal was issued by the justice ministers of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg and Belgium. The ministers of the seven countries "have unanimously discouraged Europeans from joining" the ranks of voluntary combatants heading to the war in Ukraine, according to a statement published after their meeting in Brussels. (AFP)
Ukraine Live: US Says Sending Radar-Jamming Planes To Germany To Bolster NATO
The US is sending six US Navy radar-jamming aircraft to Germany to enhance NATO capabilities, the Pentagon said Monday. The EA-18G Growler aircraft are "not being deployed to be used against Russian forces in Ukraine," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said. "They are being deployed completely in keeping with our efforts to bolster NATO's deterrence and defense capabilities along that eastern flank," he said. Meanwhile, in a budget proposal released on Monday, the White House unveiled plans to spend $6.9 billion to help Ukraine fend off Russia's invasion and support NATO member countries. (AFP)
Ukraine Live: UK Intel Says Russia's Private Military Firm Deployed To Eastern Ukraine
British military intelligence said on Monday the Russian private military company, the Wagner Group, has been deployed to eastern Ukraine. "They are expected to deploy more than 1,000 mercenaries, including senior leaders of the organisation, to undertake combat operations," Britain's Ministry of Defence said. (Reuters)
Ukraine Live: Ukraine Telecom's Internet Service Disrupted By "Powerful" Cyberattack
Ukraine's state-owned telecommunications company Ukrtelecom experienced a disruption in internet service on Monday after a "powerful" cyberattack, according to Ukrainian government officials and company representatives. The incident is the latest hacking attack against Ukrainian internet services since Russian military forces invaded in late February. (Reuters)
Ukraine War Live Updates: Ukraine Says Kyiv Suburb Of Irpin "Liberated"Ukrainian forces have "liberated" the Kyiv suburb of Irpin, Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky said late Monday in televised remarks. "In fact, this is now happening in parallel: the armed forces are advancing, the police are advancing, and immediately a sweep is going on completely through the streets... Therefore, the city has now been liberated, but it is still dangerous to be there, " Monastyrsky said. (AFP)
Ukraine Live: Biden Says "Not Walking Back" Suggestion Putin Should Leave PowerUS President Joe Biden has refused to back down on his weekend declaration in a major speech that Russian leader Vladimir Putin "cannot stay in power" -- arguing that he was voicing personal "outrage." "I'm not walking anything back... I want to make it clear, I wasn't then, nor am I now, articulating a policy change. I was expressing moral outrage that I feel -- I make no apologies for my personal feelings," he told reporters at the White House.
(AFP)
Ukraine Live: Ukraine Says Russian Rocket Strikes Oil Depot In Rivne Region
The governor of Ukraine's northwestern Rivne region said Russian forces had carried out a rocket strike on an oil depot in the region on Monday. In a short video address posted online, Governor Vitaliy Koval said emergency services were at the scene, but did not give further details. (Reuters)
Ukraine and Russia prepare for peace talks
Ukraine and Russia were preparing for their first face-to-face peace talks in more than two weeks, with Kyiv insisting it would make no concessions on ceding territory as battlefield momentum has shifted in its favour.
Russian independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta suspends publication
Russia's top independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, whose chief editor was last year awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, said Monday it was suspending publication until the end of Moscow's military action in Ukraine.
Russia expels three Slovakian diplomats - foreign ministry
Russia has decided to expel three Slovakian diplomats in response to the expulsion of three employees of the Russian Embassy in Slovakia and told them to leave the country within 72 hours, the foreign ministry said on Monday.
Turkey faces risks acting as sanctions 'safe haven' for Russians
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine sparked a flurry of Western sanctions on Moscow, at least one oligarch and thousands of other Russians have arrived in Turkey, seen as a safe place to stay, invest and hold assets despite its NATO membership.
Ukraine President Zelensky to address Greek parliament on April 7Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky will address Greece's parliament on April 7. Zelensky accepted an invitation to address the assembly virtually from its speaker, Constantinos Tasoulas, following a telephone call with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Friday.
Heineken exits Russia in wake of Ukraine war
Dutch brewer Heineken on Monday joined the foreign business exodus from Russia over the war in Ukraine, saying it was "deeply saddened" to see the conflict intensify.
Ukraine says pausing civilian evacuationsUkraine said Monday it was pausing evacuations of civilians from war-scarred regions of the country because intelligence reports suggested invading Russian troops were planning attacks on humanitarian routes.
"Our intelligence has reported possible provocations by the occupiers on routes of humanitarian corridors. Therefore, for reasons of public safety, we are not opening humanitarian corridors today," Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said in a statement on social media.
Spain unveils 6 billion euro economic plan to ease war impact Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez unveiled Monday plans to offer 6.0 billion euros ($6.7 billion) in direct aid to households and businesses struggling with the economic impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
India not considering buying crude from Russia in rupeesIndia is not considering buying oil from Russia using Indian rupees, the junior oil minister told parliament on Monday, after Western nations imposed sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
"Oil public sector undertakings neither have any contract nor is any such proposal under consideration from Russia or any other country for purchase of crude oil in Indian rupees," junior oil minister Rameswar Teli said.
Ukraine says Russian forces are regrouping but are unable to advanceRussian forces are regrouping but are unable to advance anywhere in Ukraine, Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said on Monday.
She said Russian forces were trying to reinforce positions they already hold and were trying to break through the defences of Kyiv but had no hope of capturing the capital.
"As of today, the enemy is regrouping its forces, but they cannot advance anywhere in Ukraine," she told a briefing, without providing evidence of the Russian troop movements.
Mariupol mayor fears humanitarian catastrophe, says city must be completely evacuatedThe southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol is on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe and must be completely evacuated, its mayor said on Monday.
Mayor Vadym Boichenko said about 160,000 civilians were trapped in the city without power. Twenty-six buses were waiting to evacuate civilians but Russian forces had not agreed to give them safe passage, he said.
Heineken exits Russia in wake of Ukraine warDutch brewer Heineken announced on Monday it was pulling out of Russia, becoming the latest Western firm to exit the country in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
"Following the previously announced strategic review of our operations, we have concluded that Heinken's ownership of the business in Russia is no longer sustainable nor viable in the current environment," the beer company said in a statement.
China's DJI rejects claim that Russian military uses its drones in UkraineChinese drone maker DJI has dismissed as "utterly false" accusations that the Russian military is using its drones in Ukraine after a German retailer cited such information as the reason for taking its products off the shelves.
The rejection followed Friday's Twitter revelation of the removal by German electronics and home appliances giant MediaMarkt in response to "information from various sources", although it gave no details of the information it received.
Turkey could be among countries to offer Ukraine security guaranteesTurkey is among countries that could offer Kyiv security guarantees as part of any deal with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, a senior Ukrainian official said on Monday. "Turkey is among those countries that could become guarantors of our security in the future," Ihor Zhovkva, deputy head of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office, said ahead of peace talks scheduled between Kyiv and Moscow in Turkey.
Ukrainian official says he expects no major breakthrough at peace talks A senior Ukrainian official said ahead of talks between Ukrainian and Russian representatives in Turkey that he did not expect any major breakthrough. "I don't think there will be any breakthrough on the main issues," interior ministry adviser Vadym Denysenko said on Monday.
May Vote On Joining Russia, Says Ukraine Rebel RegionThe head of Ukraine's Lugansk separatist region said Sunday it may hold a referendum on becoming part of Russia, after Moscow sent troops into its pro-Western neighbour.
"I think that in the near future a referendum will be held on the territory of the republic, during which the people will... express their opinion on joining the Russian Federation," Russian news agencies quoted Leonid Pasechnik as saying.
Taiwan sees Ukraine war helping Chinese yuan's internationalisationThe war in Ukraine and Russia's effective exclusion from the global currency system could be an opportunity for China to raise the profile of its currency in a challenge to the U.S. dollar, a senior Taiwanese security official said on Monday.
Russia has said it is counting on China to help it withstand the blow to its economy from Western sanctions, and will use Chinese yuan from its foreign exchange reserves after the sanctions blocked its access to its U.S. dollars and euros reserves.
Germany Says NATO Not Seeking Regime Change In RussiaRegime change in Russia is not NATO's objective, despite Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Sunday, a day after US President Joe Biden branded Vladimir Putin a "butcher" who "cannot remain in power".
Brazilians join fight in far-away Ukraine Wearing a camouflage T-shirt that clings to his biceps, Brazilian policeman Saulo packs his bag with combat boots, camping gear, gun holsters and a knife -- "just the essential" to go fight in Ukraine.
The 35-year-old Sao Paulo man quit his job as a military police officer to travel more than 11,000 kilometers (nearly 7,000 miles) and join Ukraine's fight against the Russian invasion.
Mayor of Chernobyl workers' town says Russian forces have leftRussian forces have left the Ukrainian town of Slavutych, home to workers at the defunct nuclear plant of Chernobyl, after completing their task of surveying it, the mayor said early on Monday.
On Saturday, the Kyiv regional governor said Russian forces had taken control of the town just outside the safety exclusion zone around Chernobyl, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster in 1986, where Ukrainian staff still manage the plant.
Oscars holds moment of silence for UkraineHollywood A-listers held a moment of silence at Sunday's Oscars gala to show support "for the people of Ukraine currently facing invasion, conflict and prejudice within their own borders."
"While film is an important avenue for us to express our humanity in times of conflict, the reality is millions of families in Ukraine need food, medical care, clean water and emergency services," read slides projected at the glamorous night celebrating the movie industry.
Russian Forces Near Chernobyl Could Pose New Radiation Threat: UkraineA senior Ukrainian official accused Russia on Sunday of "irresponsible" acts around the occupied Chernobyl power station that could send radiation across much of Europe, and urged the United Nations to dispatch a mission to assess the risks.
President Zelensky says eying Russia neutrality demand
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday his government is "carefully" considering a Russian demand of Ukrainian neutrality, a key point of contention as negotiators for both sides prepare for a fresh round of talks aimed at ending the brutal month-long war.