Russia-Ukraine Highlights: UN chief warns Russia against annexation in Ukraine

UN chief warns Russia against annexation in Ukraine

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a Security Council meeting on Ukraine on Thursday that talk of a nuclear conflict is "totally unacceptable" and effectively warned that so-called referenda in areas under Russian control would be annexation.

Germany ready to take in Russian deserters: ministers

Germany is ready to take in Russian deserters, ministers signalled Thursday, amid reports of people fleeing the partial mobilisation ordered by President Vladimir Putin.

"Deserters threatened with serious repression can as a rule obtain international protection in Germany," Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said, according to excerpts from an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper.

"Anyone who courageously opposes Putin's regime and thereby falls into great danger, can file for asylum on grounds of political persecution," she said.

Russian central bank says support still required as economy falters

Russianeeds to continue support measures as its economy falters, an official at the central bank said on Thursday.

"We have an extended downturn in the economy and there is a need for support measures," said Elizaveta Danilova, head of the central bank's financial stability department.

She added that banks were also resuming risky practices, such as lending with low fees and "near-zero rates", and that reasonable regulatory restrictions were needed.

Poland distributes iodine pills as fears grow over Ukraine nuclear plant

Poland, concerned about fighting around Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, has distributed iodine tablets to regional fire departments to give to people in the event of radioactive exposure, a deputy minister said on Thursday.

Hungarian PM wants EU sanctions on Russia lifted by year end

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wants EU sanctions onRussiaover its invasion of Ukraine lifted by year end, a pro-government daily newspaper said Thursday.

Orban, who has sought close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent years, has frequently railed against the sanctions, saying they are hurting Europe more thanRussia.

Baltics say no automatic asylum for Russians fleeing draft

The three Baltic states say they are not prepared to automatically offer asylum to Russians fleeing mobilisation into the military, hoping that discontent with the Russian authorities will grow at home instead.

Large numbers of Russians rushed on Wednesday to book one-way tickets out of the country after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilisation of military reservists for the war in Ukraine.

Putin's moves only strengthen German support for Ukraine, says German defence minister

Russia's partial mobilisation and the planned referenda in occupied parts of Ukraine will not dampen Germany's military backing for Kyiv, the German defence minister said on Thursday.

"Rather, this reaction from Putin to Ukraine's successes spurs us on to continue to support Ukraine and send this clear signal," Christine Lambrecht said in Berlin following a meeting with her French counterpart.

Separatists say 6 killed by Ukraine shelling on Donetsk market

Kremlin-backed authorities in the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk in east Ukraine said Thursday that at least six people were killed by Ukrainian strikes on an outdoor market in the city.

"According to initial information, six people were killed and six more were injured in shelling of the Kryty market," city official Alexei Kulemzin said in a statement on social media, while pro-Russian media released footage showing charred vehicles, a corpse and shattered glass from the scene.

Russia confirms 55 servicemen freed in prisoner swap with Ukraine

Russia's defence ministry said on Thursday that 55 of its servicemen had been returned toRussiain the largest prisoner exchange deal with Ukraine since the start of the war.

Russia agents in Ukraine defence sector pass battle plans to Moscow: Zelenskiy official

Russiahas agents in Ukraine's defence sector who pass information to Moscow and allowRussiato anticipate Ukrainian moves on the battlefield, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's representative to the Ukrainian parliament said on Thursday.

Some Russians rush for the border after mobilisation order

Some Russian men rushed for the exits on Thursday after President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilisation, with traffic at border crossings with Finland and Georgia surging and prices for air tickets from Moscow rocketing.

OSCE slams 'climate of fear, intimidation' in Russia

The world's largest security body said on Thursday that laws enacted by Russia's government have created a "climate of fear and intimidation" that has curtailed the work of journalists and activists.

The new report commissioned under the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) noted "repression has gradually intensified since 2012... and reached its peak with the new reform laws adopted after the beginning of the war" in Ukraine.

According to the report, "a climate of fear and intimidation" had been created through the use of criminal law, violence against civil society activists and media, propaganda and other tactics.

The new legal provisions had led to activists, journalists, lawyers and others "to reduce or abandon their activities or to leave the country".

Any Russian weapons, including nuclear, can be used to defend territories admitted to Russia, Russia's Medvedev has said

Ukraine allies must stand firm against Russian 'blackmail': Macron

Ukraine's allies must stand firm against Russian President Vladimir Putin's "blackmail" of suggesting that nuclear weapons could be used in the war against Kyiv, French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview broadcast on Thursday.

"Our task is to hold our line, that is to say, help Ukraine as we are doing, to protect its territory and never to attack Russia," Macron told BFM television during his return from the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.

Finland says traffic on border with Russia increasing

Traffic arriving at Finland's eastern border with Russia has "intensified" during the night, the Finnish Border Guard said early on Thursday, while adding that the situation was under control.

Finland is closely monitoring the situation in its neighbour following President Vladimir Putin's order of military mobilisation, defence minister Antti Kaikkonen said on Wednesday.

G7 countries agree on unity in Ukraine support -Japan FM

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies confirmed in a meeting in New York on Wednesday their cooperation in extending support for Ukraine, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said.

The statement of support follows President Vladimir Putin's announcement that Russia will enact its first wartime mobilisation since World War Two and annex swaths of Ukrainian territory, while threatening to use nuclear weapons to defend the country.

Zelenskyy vows Ukraine will win as Russia redoubles effort

Ukraine's president has implored the world to punish Russia for its invasion, even as the leader vowed his forces would win back every inch of territory despite Moscow's decision to redouble its war effort.

In a much-anticipated video address to the UN General Assembly hours after Russia on Wednesday announced it would mobilise some reservists, Volodymyr Zelenskyy portrayed the declaration as evidence the Kremlin wasn't ready to negotiate an end to the war — but insisted his country would prevail anyway.

“We can return the Ukrainian flag to our entire territory. We can do it with the force of arms,” the president said. “But we need time.”

Truss at UN vows UK military aid 'until Ukraine prevails'

British Prime Minister Liz Truss vowed Wednesday before the United Nations to keep up military aid to war-ravaged Ukraine until it triumphs against Russia.

Truss became the latest Western leader at the UN General Assembly in New York to rail against Russian President Vladimir Putin, who hours earlier mobilized reservists in a clear sign he is in no rush to end the conflict.

Putin's move only highlights the "catastrophic failure" of Russia's invasion of its neighbor, and reinforced the resolve of Western allies to back Kyiv, she said.

Putin's troop call-up will prolong but not win war: experts

Western experts predicted Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin's new troop mobilization would prolong the war but not change the balance on the ground, and warned against downplaying his renewed nuclear threat.

Putin announced the call-up of 300,000 reservists -- more than the nearly 200,000 mustered to invade Ukraine in February -- after his troops have lost significant parts of territory seized early in the war.

It came as Moscow signaled it was determined to keep occupied territories in eastern and southern Ukraine by holding local referendums to absorb them into Russia.

But analysts said it was a politically risky move for the Russian leader, with increased domestic resistance to the war and a structure for military mobilization that has atrophied over the past decade.

Russia to face UN heat as Zelensky urges punishment

Russia is set to face direct pressure Thursday at the United Nations over its invasion of Ukraine, whose leader Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to the world to punish Moscow.

As global leaders convened for the annual General Assembly, the Security Council will hold a special session among foreign ministers called by France on impunity for rights abuses in Ukraine.

The morning session is expected to bring Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov face to face with top Western diplomats including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has refused a one-on-one meeting since the February 24 invasion.

Borrell says EU ministers considering new sanctions on Russia