Russia-Ukraine Crisis: G7 condemns Russia's 'indiscriminate attacks'

Ukraine handed over nine captured Russian soldiers to secure the freedom of the mayor of the city of Melitopol, who was detained last week, Interfax news agency reported. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also addressed the lawmakers in the US and Germany virtually, invoking events of World War II and Cold War to garner their support. US President Joe Biden called Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a war criminal and announced that he would send more defence systems to Kyiv. Stay tuned to DH for live updates.

G-7 decries Russia's 'indiscriminate attacks'

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven leading economies are calling onRussiato comply with the International Court of Justice's order to stop its attack on Ukraine and withdraw its military forces.

In a joint statement, the G-7's top diplomats condemned what they described as “indiscriminate attacks on civilians” by Russian forces including the siege of Mariupol and other cities.

Very big gap remains in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine: Western officials

Ukraine andRussiaare taking peace talks seriously but a very big gap remains between the two sides, Western officials said on Thursday, adding Russian President Vladimir Putin did not seem in the mood to compromise.

Although both sides have pointed to limited progress in peace talks this week, Putin showed little sign of relenting during a televised speech in which he inveighed against "traitors and scum" at home who helped the West, and said the Russian people would spit them out like gnats.

"Both sides are taking (the talks) seriously but there is a very, very big gap between the positions in question," one Western official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

French President does not rule out the possibility of a big war in Europe

“Our forces are the only full-fledged army on the Europeancontinent. We need to prepare for a possible high-intensity armed conflict and increase investment (in the army),"Emmanuel Macron said.

(NEXTA)

Zelenskyy speaks with Guatemala, calls for anti-war coalition

UK says it is freezing tax cooperation with Russia and Belarus

Britain said on Thursday it was suspending the exchange of tax information withRussiaand Belarus in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

"The UK is freezing tax cooperation withRussiaand Belarus by suspending all exchange of tax information with them," Lucy Frazer, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said in a written statement to parliament.

Moscow regrets suspension of Russian-European Mars mission: Roscosmos

Moscow regrets the "bitter" decision by the European Space Agency to suspend a Russian-European mission to land a rover on Mars over the Kremlin's Ukraine offensive,Russia's space chief said Thursday.

"This is a very bitter (decision) for all the enthusiasts of space," Dmitry Rogozin, head ofRussia's space agency Roscosmos, said on Telegram, calling it a "shame".

In call with Putin, Erdogan offers to host him and Zelenskyy for talks

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered in a phone call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday to host him and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy for talks, according to his office.

US citizen killed in Russian firing

A US citizen was killed by Russian forces’ artillery fire in Chernihiv downtown on March 17. Chernihiv Oblast Police reported that the Russian forces again targeted civilians in Chernihiv, a regional capital in northern Ukraine. The total number of casualties is unknown.

(The Kyiv Independent)

Russian-European Mars mission suspended over Ukraine war: European Space Agency

War in Ukraine will take global economic toll, group warns

Russia's war in Ukraine will disrupt commerce and clog up supply chains, slashing economic growth and pushing prices sharply higher around the globe, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development warned on Thursday.

In a grim new assessment, the 38-country OECD said that over the next year, the conflict would reduce gross domestic product — the broadest measure of economic output — by 1.08 per cent worldwide, by 1.4 per cent in the 19 European countries that share the euro currency and by 0.88 per cent in the United States.

Russia shells Chernihiv again, more injuries reported

"Russian occupiers have fired on Chernihiv. There are new injured people. Among them, there is a citizen of the US," the police of Chernihiv said.

(KyivPost)

Russian invasion of Ukraine largely stalled on all fronts, says UK defence ministry

Russian forces have made minimal progress on land, sea or air in recent days and they continue to suffer heavy losses, the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Thursday. In its latest Defence Intelligence Update posted on social media, the MoD said that while the Russian invasion had largely stalled, the Ukrainian resistance remained well-coordinated.

“The Russian invasion of Ukraine has largely stalled on all fronts,” the MoD intelligence update reads.

“Russian forces have made minimal progress on land, sea or air in recent days and they continue to suffer heavy losses. Ukrainian resistance remains staunch and well-coordinated. The vast majority of Ukrainian territory, including all major cities, remains in Ukrainian hands,” it adds.

More than 100,000 Ukrainian refugees flee in 24 hours

The number of refugees fleeing Ukraine sinceRussia's invasion grew by more than 100,000 over the past 24 hours, the United Nations said Thursday.

UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, said 3,169,897 Ukrainians had fled across the border since the war began on February 24, a figure up 106,802 since Wednesday's update.

"More than three million people have fled the country, the vast majority women, children and older people who left behind their homes and often family members, not knowing what's to come," the agency said.

Russia ally Uzbekistan calls for swift halt to Ukraine conflict

Uzbekistan, a Central Asian republic with close ties toRussia, called on Thursday for a diplomatic resolution of the conflict in Ukraine and said it would not recognise Moscow-backed separatist statelets.

In the strongest anti-war statement to come fromRussia's former Soviet allies so far, Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov told parliament that while Tashkent wanted to maintain good relations with both Moscow and Kyiv, it opposed the war.

"First, Uzbekistan is seriously concerned by the situation around Ukraine," he said.

UK very disappointed with India's stance on Ukraine: Trade minister

Britain is very disappointed with India's stance onRussia's invasion of Ukraine but still regards it as an important trading partner, trade minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said on Thursday.

Asked if India's stance would impact trade talks with Britain, Trevelyan said: "We are very disappointed. We continue to work with Indian partners."

Brent oil price jumps 5% on Ukraine tensions

Benchmark oil contract, Brent North Sea crude, jumped more than five per cent Thursday after key producerRussiarejected a ruling from the UN's top court to suspend its Ukraine offensive. Brent surged 5.1 per cent to $103 per barrel in London morning deals.

UN agency to give protective gear to Ukraine journalists

The United Nations' cultural agency said Thursday it would provide bulletproof vests and helmets to journalists working in Ukraine after the deaths of several reporters coveringRussia's invasion.

UNESCO will also organise online training courses for working in combat zones and first aid. It is also trying to provide in-person training soon for journalists in Lviv, the western city where many media organisations have moved as the capital Kyiv is besieged.

53 killed in Chernihiv on March 16, claims Ukraine

Russian air strikes and shelling killed 53 civilians in Chernihiv in just one day, on March 16, according to Chernihiv Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Chaus.

(The Kyiv Independent)

India's Reliance may avoid Russian fuel after sanctions, official says

India's Reliance Industries Ltd, operator of the world's biggest refining complex, may avoid buying Russian fuels for its plants following Western sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, a senior company official said.

"Even if we can source some of the feeds (fromRussia), probably we will be out of it because of the sanctions," Rajesh Rawat, senior vice president and business head cracker, told an industry event on Wednesday.

Russia warns United States: We have the might to put you in your place

Russiawarned the United States on Thursday that Moscow had the might to put the world's pre-eminent superpower in its place and accused the West of stoking a wild Russophobic plot to tearRussiaapart.

Dmitry Medvedev, who served as president from 2008 to 2012 and is now deputy secretary ofRussia's Security Council, said the United States had stoked "disgusting" Russophobia in an attempt to forceRussiato its knees. "It will not work -Russiahas the might to put all of our brash enemies in their place," Medvedev said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Foreign Minister of the UAE Abdullah Al Nahyan commence bilateral talks in Moscow

Russia's finance ministry says completed $117.2 million interest payment on two foreign bonds following fears Moscow may default

Ukraine war to almost halve Germany's 2022 growth to 2.1%

Ukraine Defence minister says Russia is using Belarus as a logistical hub in war against Ukraine

Zelenskyy urges Germany to tear down new Russian 'Wall' in Europe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Germany in an emotional video address before parliament Thursday to help destroy a new "Wall"Russiawas erecting in Europe.

"It's not a Berlin Wall -- it is a Wall in central Europe between freedom and bondage and this Wall is growing bigger with every bomb" dropped onUkraine, Zelensky told MPs.

"Dear Mr Scholz, tear down this Wall," he implored German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, evoking US President Ronald Reagan's Cold War appeal in Berlin.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy tells German MPs Russia building new 'Wall' against freedom

Ukraine defence minister says Russian troops are committing genocide in Mariupol and Russia's goal is to destroy Ukraine

Ukrainian defence minister says Kremlin is the "real Hitler of our time"

Zelenskyy says Ukraine will join EU.

Russia says it hit military depot in western Ukraine

Russia's armed forces hit a military depot in the Rivne region in westernUkraineon Wednesday, Russian news agencies reported on Thursday, citing the defence ministry.

High-precision missiles hit a depot in Sarny, Rivne region, destroying storage facilities for missiles and ammunition, the ministry said.

Losses mount in Ukrainian city of Chernihiv, regional governor says

Losses are mounting in the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv, with 53 people killed by Russian forces on Wednesday alone, the regional governor said on Thursday.

"We are suffering heavy losses - 53 citizens were killed yesterday," Governor Viacheslav Chaus said.

The information could not immediately be verified.Russiadenies targeting civilians.

Russia will put its enemies such as United States in their place, former President says

Russiahas the might to put enemies led by the United States in their place and Moscow will foil the West's Russophobic plot to tearRussiaapart, one of President Vladimir Putin's closest allies said on Thursday.

Dmitry Medvedev, who served as president from 2008 to 2012 and is now deputy secretary ofRussia's security council, said the United States had stoked "disgusting" Russophobia in an attempt to forceRussiaon its knees and then rip it apart.

"It will not work -Russiahas the might to put all of our brash enemies in their place," Medvedev said.

More than 3 million Ukrainian refugees have fled: UN Chief

One killed in new Kyiv strike

One person was killed and three injured when debris from a downed rocket hit a Kyiv apartment block Thursday, as Russian forces press in on the capital, emergency services said.

Russian troops trying to encircle Kyiv have launched early morning strikes on the city for several successive days, putting traumatised residents further on edge.

Russian govt sites facing unprecedented cyber attacks

Russian government websites are facing unprecedented cyber attacks and efforts are being made to filter foreign web traffic, the TASS news agency cited the digital ministry as saying on Thursday.

Russia attacks a city of Merefa in Kharkiv Oblast

Merefa, home to 21,500 residents, was hit by an airstrike at 3:30 a.m. on March 17. As a result of the attack, a local school was damaged and local community center destroyed

Officials across Ukraine are struggling to count the civilian dead -- with authorities saying 103 children have been killed since the invasion began -- who have been targeted in homes, hospitals, ambulances and food queues

US launches task force to target Russian Oligarchs

The US Treasury Department announced the launch of a multilateral task force that will "collect and share information to take concrete actions, including sanctions, asset freezing, and civil and criminal asset seizure, and criminal prosecution" against Russian Oligarchs and elites.

In a statement, the Department said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on Wednesday virtually met with representatives from Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the European Commission, to launch the Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs (REPO) multilateral task force.

Ukraine winter wheat crops in good state, says deputy agriculture minister

Ukrainian winter wheat crops are in good condition and the country will have enough bread this year, Deputy Agriculture Minister Taras Dzoba said late on Wednesday.

Ukraineis among the world's leading producers and exporters of grain and Ukrainian analysts have said the 2022 grain harvest could fall sharply due to the Russian invasion ofUkrainewhich caused a reduction in sowing area.

Cathay Pacific says not routing flights through Russian airspace

Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd said on Thursday it was not routing flights throughRussia's airspace, joining a growing number of Asian airlines avoiding the area after the invasion ofUkrainedespite longer flight times.

"We regularly review our flight routings internally and also with information provided by external parties," Cathay said in a statement to Reuters. "We are currently not flying through Russian airspace."

Russian attacks batter Ukraine as Putin warns of 'traitors'

A Russian airstrike ripped apart a theater where hundreds of people have been living in the besieged city of Mariupol, Ukrainian officials said, as Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a “self-purification” to rid his country of anyone who questions his invasion.

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According to a new report of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian troops, without success in the ground operation, continue to launch missile and bomb strikes against infrastructure and densely populated areas of Ukrainian cities

FAO chief economist warns of Ukraine conflict's toll on food security

Maximo Torero, chief economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has warned against a possible heavy toll on global food security posed by the ongoingUkraineconflict.

To assess the potential impact on international food prices caused by a conflict-induced reduction in cereal and vegetable oil exports fromUkraineandRussia, simulations have been carried out, Xinhua news agency quoted Torero as saying to reporters at the UN Headquarters in New York.

HPCL buys 2 million barrels of Russian Urals crude

Refiner Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd has made a rare purchase of 2 million barrels of Russian Urals crude for loading in May, trade sources said on Thursday.

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Russia’s military has lost over 7,000 soldiers: US intelligence

Ukraine's military says it hit Kherson airport

Ukrainian military forces have dealt a punishing blow to the airport in Kherson, which Russian troops had seized early in the war, the General Staff said late Wednesday. It said the Russians were trying to remove any surviving military equipment.

Russian occupiers shell school in Kharkiv

Explainer: Who's a war criminal, and who gets to decide?

President Joe Biden on Wednesday flatly called Russia's Vladimir Putin a “war criminal” for the unfolding onslaught in Ukraine, where hospitals and maternity wards have been bombed. But declaring someone a war criminal is not as simple as just saying the words. There are set definitions and processes for determining who's a war criminal and how they should be punished.

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Zelenskyy signs law on cloud services on March 16: Report

The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine announced that state authorities will now be able to store data on cloud services. The law aims to help eliminate corruption and accelerate innovation within the government.

About 300 Mariupol refugees arrive in Russia - Ifax

Thirteen buses carrying around 300 refugees from the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol have arrived inRussia's Rostov region,Russia's Interfax news agency cited the Russian defence ministry as saying on Thursday.

US welcomes ICJ order asking Russia to immediately suspend military operations in Ukraine

'More than a thousand' were sheltering in bombed Ukraine theatre: Official

Refugees from Ukraine queue to get on buses to other destinations in Poland, outside the train station in Przemysl, near the Ukrainian-Polish border in southeastern Poland

(Credit: AFP Photo)

Canada closes its air space to Belarus

Melitopol mayor released in exchange for 9 Russian soldiers

Biden calls Putin a war criminal as Russia says mission 'going to plan'

US President Joe Biden calling Russian leader Vladimir Putin a war criminal on Wednesday is "unforgivable", the Kremlin said as it insisted the war in Ukraine was "going to plan" amid talk of compromise at peace talks.

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Sanctioned Russia teeters on brink of historic default

The economic cost of Russia's assault on Ukraine was further exposed on Wednesday as the sanctions-hit country teetered on the brink of its first default on international debt since the Bolshevik revolution.

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