Russia-Ukraine Crisis Highlights: Moscow says all foreign leased aircraft will remain in Russia

A day after inconclusive peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, pessimism about Russia’s willingness to tame its punishing attacks in Ukraine was growing Wednesday amid mixed signals emanating from the Kremlin’s negotiators and its officials and an intensifying humanitarian crisis provoked by the 5-week-old war.Local officials reported new attacks on the outskirts of Kyiv, the capital, and the northern city of Chernihiv, two areas where Russia had said it would sharply reduce combat operations. Stay tuned for updates.

Moscow says all foreign leased aircraft will remain in Russia

All foreign leased aircraft still in Russia after the termination of Western leasing contracts have been entered into the Russian aircraft register and will remain in Russia, Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said on Thursday.

The imposition of sanctions by Western powers in response to Russia's military campaign in Ukraine forced Western leasing firms to terminate leasing contracts with Russian airlines for more than 500 aircraft. More than 400 of these are still in Russia. - Reuters.

FIFA Congress applauds Ukrainian vow to beat Russian 'aggression'

Dressed in a bullet proof jacket, the head of Ukraine's football association on Thursday received a rapturous ovation from the FIFA Congress for his vow that his country would beat Russia in their military battle.

Andriy Pavelko spoke in a video from a square in Kyiv, as he could not fly to Doha, telling of the suffering following Russia's invasion.

The military assault means a World Cup playoff between Ukraine and Scotland has been suspended at least until June.

For more than a month, Ukraine has been resisting Russia's "military aggression", he said.

"We regularly receive the sad news of the death of football's representatives, killed by the aggressor's bullets and shells."

"Football has taken a back seat because every day children and adults die in our country." - AFP.

Ukraine's battle fronts are shifting, interior ministry adviser says

The southern city of Mariupol and a "corridor" between two eastern towns, Izyum and Volnovakha, are becoming the key battlefronts in Ukraine, an interior ministry adviser said on Thursday.

"(Russia) is withdrawing forces in the Kyiv region, but it's too early to say that the same is happening in the Chernihiv region," adviser Vadym Denysenko said.

Russia said on Tuesday it would scale down operations in the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions. NATO's chief said on Thursday this was a regrouping rather than a withdrawal. - Reuters.

Russia expands list of EU leadership banned from entry: ministry

Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday it will be expanding its list of EU figures banned from entering the country in response to sanctions imposed on Moscow over its military actions in Ukraine.

"The restrictions apply to the top leadership of the European Union including a number of European commissioners and heads of EU military structures as well as the vast majority of members of the European Parliament promoting anti-Russian policies," the ministry said in a statement. - AFP.

German economy minister calls for more sanctions on Russia

Germany's economy minister says Europe should impose additional sanctions on Russia to prevent what he described as a “barbaric” war in Ukraine.

Robert Habeck said he discussed what further measures could be taken with his French counterpart during a bilateral meeting in Berlin on Thursday.

“The last package (of sanctions) doesn't need to be the final one, it should not be the final one,” he told reporters, adding that he and French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire had “identified additional points that could be included in a (sanctions) package.”

Habeck declined to elaborate on what those points might be.

Speaking ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement on new rules requiring countries to pay for Russia's natural gas sales in rubles, Habeck insisted that contracts would be adhered to. These stipulate payment in euros or dollars. - AP.

Germany to continue paying for Russian energy imports in euros, finance minister says

Germany will continue paying for energy imports from Russia in euros, the country's finance minister, Christian Lindner, said on Thursday, adding that Berlin would now look into the technical details linked to Moscow's latest decree requiring to pay for gas in roubles.

Speaking at a joint news conference with French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, Lindner said that the two countries agreed that there could be "no political blackmail" linked to the question of gas imports. - Reuters.

Most Russian forces have left Chernobyl: Ukraine nuclear agency

Ukraine's state nuclear company Energoatom said on Thursday that most of the Russian forces that occupied the Chernobyl nuclear power station after invading Ukraine had left the defunct plant, and only a "small number" remained.

Though Russian troops seized control of Chernobyl soon after the Feb. 24 invasion, the plant's Ukrainian staff continued to oversee the safe storage of spent nuclear fuel and supervise the concrete-encased remains of the reactor that exploded in 1986.

Energoatom said these workers had flagged earlier on Thursday that Russian forces were planning to leave the territory. - Reuters.

US slaps sanctions on Russian tech firms, including largest chip maker

The United States hit a series of Russian tech firms with sanctions Thursday, including the nation's largest chip maker, in the latest economic punishment for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

The US Treasury said the sanctions are "part of its crackdown on the Kremlin's sanctions evasion networks and technology companies, which are instrumental to the Russian Federation's war machine." - AFP.

US envoy to UN to visit Moldova, Romania to see Ukraine refugee efforts

US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield will travel to Moldova and Romania this weekend to see efforts to help refugees arriving from Ukraine, the US mission to the United Nations said in a statement.

According to the United Nations more than 600,000 Ukranians have fled to Romania and another 388,000 to Moldova since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. Russia says it is carrying out a "special military operation" that aims to destroy Ukraine's military infrastructure. - Reuters.

Around 40-50 Indians still in Ukraine, of which only few willing to return: Govt

As many as 22,500 nationals have returned to India from Ukraine since February and around 40-50 Indians are still in the war-torn country, of which only a few are willing to return, Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.

"Overall, 22,500 nationals have returned to India since February 2022. Around 40-50 Indian nationals are still in Ukraine, of which only a few are willing to return to India. Their return is being facilitated by the Embassy," said Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi in a written response to a question on the number of people evacuated from Ukraine. - PTI.

Ukraine conflict to hit Kudankulam n-project schedules: Centre

The construction of upcoming units of the Kudankulam nuclear power project is likely to be delayed due to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, the government told Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

"The components and equipment to be imported from Ukraine and Russia may be delayed due to the logistical and ocean freight problems arising out of the conflict," Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh said in a written reply to a question by Rajya Sabha member Abir Ranjan Biswas. - PTI.

France, Germany reject Putin's roubles for gas demand

Germany and France on Thursday rejected demands by Russia that European countries pay for its gas in rouble as an unacceptable breach of contracts, adding that the maneuver amounted to "blackmail."

Speaking during a news conference, Germany Economy Minister Robert Habeck said he had not yet seen a new degree signed by President Valdimir Putin mandating gas payments in roubles, adding that Germany was prepared for all scenarios, including a stoppage of Russian gas flows to Europe.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said France and Germany rejected Russia's demand.

Russia's attempt to divide Western allies by requiring gas payments in roubles has failed, German economy minister Robert Habeck said on Thursday, adding that Western allies are determined to not be "blackmailed" by Russia. -Reuters.

NATO asks Denmark to deploy 800 soldiers to Latvia

NATO has requested Denmark to send a battalion of 800 soldiers to Latvia to bolster the military alliance's eastern flank, the Danish defence ministry said on Thursday.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said this week that Denmark was ready to send a battalion to the Baltic states on NATO's request, although such a request would still require parliamentary approval. - Reuters.

Ukraine war spurring NATO allies to spend more: Stoltenberg

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has created a "new sense of urgency" among NATO member states to boost defence spending, the alliance's chief Jen Stoltenberg said Thursday as he unveiled the organisation's 2022 annual report.

The report itself -- covering expenditures before Russia launched its war in February this year -- showed just eight of NATO's 30 member nations were meeting a target of spending two per cent of GDP on defence.

As usual, the United States -- by far the biggest military power in NATO -- led spending, with 3.6 per cent, around the same level as Greece. - AFP.

Putin says Russian gas must be paid for in roubles from Friday

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he had signed a decree saying foreign buyers must pay in roubles for Russian gas from April 1, and contracts would be halted if these payments were not made. - Reuters.

Blogger detained for treason in western Ukraine

A Ukrainian social media blogger has been detained for treason for "supporting" the Russian invasion, the country's SBU security service said on Thursday, and could face up to 15 years in jail.

"The special services have stopped the activities of a scandalous 'journalist' who was engaged in activities detriment to Ukraine's information security," the SBU's Lviv branch said on Facebook.

"Exploiting the media, the traitor supported the criminal actions of the aggressor country," it said. - AFP.

Senior Ukraine military official says Russian forces that remain around Kyiv are not insignificant

US says no 'red line' for India's oil imports from Russia

The United States will not set any "red line" for India on its energy imports from Russia but does not want to see a "rapid acceleration" in purchases, a top US official said on Thursday during a visit to New Delhi.

Lured by steep discounts following Western sanctions on Russian entities, India has bought at least 13 million barrels of Russian crude oil since the country invaded Ukraine in late February. That compared with some 16 million barrels for the whole of last year, data compiled by Reuters shows.

"Friends don't set red lines," Daleep Singh, US Deputy National Security Adviser for International Economics, told reporters, adding however that its partners in Europe and Asia had been urged to cut their reliance on "an unreliable energy supplier". - Reuters.

Zelenskyy asks Belgian lawmakers to help Ukraine with weapons, more sanctions on Russia, and EU membership

Zelenskky says everyone knows there is a humanitarian catastrophe in Mariupol

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says thousands of people have died in Mariupol

Italy's Draghi does not expect halt to Russian gas flows

Italy does not expect supplies of gas from Russia to be cut off, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said on Thursday, indicating that he believed that Russia had stepped back from a demand for payment in roubles.

"No they are not in danger," Draghi told a news conference when asked about supplies from Russia, which account for a significant proportion of Italian imports.

Draghi, who spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone on Wednesday said that Putin told him that current gas contracts remained in force and that European firms will continue to pay in euros and dollars, rather than in roubles.

"I don't think the Western countries have done anything except say that it would be unacceptable to pay in roubles, if not impossible," Draghi told journalists at Rome's Foreign Press Club. - Reuters.

NATO sees no Russian pull-back in Ukraine, expects more offensives

NATO is not seeing a pull-back of Russian forces in Ukraine and expects "additional offensive actions," the alliance's chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday.

"According to our intelligence, Russian units are not withdrawing but repositioning. Russia is trying to regroup, resupply and reinforce its offensive in the Donbas region" in eastern Ukraine, Stoltenberg told a media conference.

"At the same time, Russia maintains pressure on Kyiv and other cities. So, we can expect additional offensive actions, bringing even more suffering." - AFP.

Putin's popularity up since start of Ukraine conflict: poll

Vladimir Putin's ratings have seen a boost since the start of military actions in Ukraine, the independent Levada Centre said, with over 80 per cent of Russians saying they support the Russian president's actions.

The first poll conducted by Levada since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine on February 24, said 83 per cent of Russians approve of Putin's actions, up from 71 per cent in early February.

Levada said 15 per cent of respondents said they did not approve -- down from 27 per cent -- and 2 per centa said they had no opinion. - AFP.

OPEC+ says prolonged Ukraine conflict would be major blow to global economy

OPEC+ has warned the global economy would see a major blow from a prolonged conflict in Ukraine, the oil producing group said in an internal report, seen by Reuters.

"Consumer and business sentiment is expected to decline not only in Europe, but also in the rest of the world, when only accounting for the inflationary impact the conflict has already caused," it said. - Reuters.

Zelenskyy recalls ambassadors to Morocco, Georgia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has recalled Kyiv's ambassadors to Morocco and Georgia, saying they did not do enough to get arms for Ukraine or get these countries to institute sanctions against Russia.

"There are those who work so that Ukraine can defend itself and fight for its future and there are those who waste their time clinging to their posts. I have signed a first decree to recall such a person, the ambassador to Morocco," Zelenskyy said in a video message Wednesday.

"We have also recalled the ambassador Georgia," he added.

Kyiv's envoy to Georgia, Igor Dolgov, had been called for consultations earlier this month after Tbilisi refused to approve sanctions against Russia. - AFP.

Putin said not right time for Ukraine ceasefire- Draghi

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi that conditions were not yet in place for a ceasefire in Ukraine, Draghi told a news conference on Thursday when asked about a telephone call with Putin the previous day.

Draghi also said that Putin told him that current gas contracts remained in force and that European firms will continue to pay in euros and dollars, rather than in roubles.

"What I understood, but I may be wrong, is that the conversion of the payment.... is an internal matter of the Russian Federation," Draghi said. - Reuters.

Russia drafts 134,500 conscripts but says they won't go to Ukraine

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed a decree ordering 134,500 new conscripts into the army as part of Russia's annual spring draft, but the defence ministry said the call-up had nothing to do with the war in Ukraine.

The order came five weeks into Russia's invasion, which has run into fierce Ukrainian resistance. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday that none of those called up would be sent to any "hot spots". - Reuters.

Slovakia is working hard to reduce energy dependence on Russia -minister

Slovakia is working intensively to reduce its energy dependence on Russia, with increased deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as one of the options, Economy Minister Richard Sulik said on Thursday.

Sulik also said gas company SPP had paid its March invoice for deliveries from Russia in euros, in line with the contract.

Russia, under sweeping Western economic sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine, has said it wants to be paid in roubles in the future. - Reuters.

Russia to ban sunflower seed exports from Friday, farms ministry says

Russia will ban exports of sunflower seeds starting on Friday and impose an export quota of 1.5 million tonnes of sunflower oil between April 15 and Aug. 31, the Agriculture Ministry said on Thursday.

Russia has already taken steps to safeguard its food market in light of Western sanctions imposed over Ukraine. - Reuters.

UK makes 14 additions to Russia sanctions list

The British government said on Thursday it had made 14 additions to its list of sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

It did not immediately specify which individuals or businesses it had added. - Reuters.

Red Cross ready to lead Mariupol evacuations on Friday

The Red Cross said it was preparing to facilitate the safe passage of civilians from the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol on Friday, provided all the parties agree to the terms.

"It's desperately important that this operation takes place. The lives of tens of thousands of people in Mariupol depend on it," the International Committee of the Red Cross said in a statement. - AFP.

Zelenskyy urges Netherlands to boycott Russian energy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday urged the Netherlands to boycott Russian energy exports, in his latest address to a national parliament.

"Be willing to stop energy (exports) from Russia... so you don't contribute billions to the war," he said in a video address to Dutch lawmakers. - AFP.

Russia bombards areas where it pledged to scale back

Russian forces bombarded areas around Kyiv and another city just hours after pledging to scale back operations in those zones to promote trust between the two sides, Ukrainian authorities said Wednesday.

The shelling — and intensified Russian attacks on other parts of the country — tempered optimism about any progress in the talks aimed at ending the punishing war.

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IMF warns Russia sanctions threaten to chip away at dollar dominance

Financial sanctions imposed on Russia threaten to gradually dilute the dominance of the US dollar and could result in a more fragmented international monetary system, Gita Gopinath, IMF's First Deputy Managing Director, told The Financial Times.

US won't provide security guarantees to Ukraine

White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield said at a briefing that President Joe Biden doesn’t intend to participate in a direct military confrontation with Russia.

Kyiv sends 45 buses to evacuate civilians from Mariupol

Kyiv is sending 45 buses on Thursday to evacuate civilians from the besieged city of Mariupol, where the Russian defence ministry has announced a local ceasefire, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.

"Tonight, we were informed by the International Committee of the Red Cross that Russia is ready to open access" to a humanitarian corridor from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhia via the Russian-controlled port of Berdiansk, she said in video posted on Telegram. "We are sending 45 buses on this corridor."(AFP)

Zelenskyy tells Australia more Russian sanctions needed

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Australia's parliament on Thursday that new and stronger sanctions against Russia were needed to increase the pressure on Moscow over its invasion of his country.

Australia has supplied defence equipment and humanitarian supplies to Ukraine, as well as imposing a ban on exports of alumina and aluminum ores, including bauxite, to Russia.(Reuters)

Convoy of buses trying to reach trapped civilians in Mariupol, Ukraine says

A convoy of Ukrainian buses set out for the southern port city of Mariupol on Thursday to try to reach trapped civilians, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.

She said the International Committee of the Red Cross had confirmed that Russia had agreed to open a humanitarian corridor to the besieged city where tens of thousands of civilians remain after weeks of Russian bombardment.(Reuters)

Atomic Energy executive visits Ukraine nuke plant

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency visited a nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine on Wednesday to meet Ukrainian officials and provide technical assistance.

Rafael Mariano Grossi said the IAEA is not involved in political talks with the Russians.

“We are trying to be very active in order to ensure that as soon as possible, the situation is regressed, and the facilities are back in the hands of the Ukrainians,” Grossi said.(AP)

UK spy chief says Russian soldiers disobey orders in Ukraine

Demoralised Russian soldiers in the Ukraine were refusing to carry out orders and sabotaging their own equipment and had accidentally shot down their own aircraft, a UKintelligence chief said on Thursday.

Jeremy Fleming, who heads the GCHQ electronic spy agency, made the remarks at a speech in the Australian capital Canberra.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had apparently “massively misjudged” the invasion, he said.(AP)

Biden weighs 180 million bbl draw of oil from emergency reserves over months

The move is an attempt to control oil prices that have shot over $100 a barrel on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and on high global demand.

Oil prices dive as Biden weighs massive reserves release

Oil prices dived more than $5 a barrel on Thursday as the United States is considering the release of up to 180 million barrels from its strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) over several months to calm soaring crude prices.

Russia concerned at Islamic State's plans to destabilise Central Asia: Report

Russia is concerned about the plans of militant group Islamic State to destabilise central Asia and spread instability to the country as well, the RIA news agency said.

It was quoting remarks on Thursday by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at an Afghanistan-focused conference in China.

Lavrov added that the first diplomat appointed by Afghanistan's Taliban government started work in Moscow last month after being accredited by Russia.(Reuters)

Putin misled by Russian military, says White House

The United States has information that Russian President Vladimir Putin felt misled by his military, the White House said Wednesday adding that the Ukraine war has been a strategic blunder.

“What I can say is, of course, we have information that Putin felt misled by the Russian military, which has resulted in persistent tension between Putin and his military leadership,” White House Press Secretary Kate Bedingfield told reporters at her daily news conference.(PTI)

Ukraine preparing for new Russian offensive in the east, Zelenskyy says

Ukrainian forces are preparing for new Russian attacks in the east of the country as Moscow builds up its troops there after suffering setbacks near the capital Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday.

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Russia and Ukraine will resume talks online on April 1

Russia and Ukraine will resume their peace talks online on April 1, a senior Ukrainian official said on Wednesday after the latest round of negotiations had ended in Turkey.

Nearly half of Ukraine 'polluted' by Russian explosives: Kyiv

Nearly half of Ukraine's territory has been contaminated by explosives as part of Russia's war against its neighbour, a senior Kyiv official said Wednesday, according to a local media report.

Zelenskyy dismisses Russian claims of scaleback

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday he didn't trust Russian vows to scale back military activity and that his army was getting ready for further fighting in the east.