Russia-Ukraine crisis: 'The world doesn’t believe in Russia’s future, doesn’t talk about it,' says Zelenskyy

“The world doesn’t believe in Russia’s future, doesn’t talk about it. They talk about us, they are helping us, they are ready to support our recovery after the war," said Ukrainian President Zelenskyy

. Russia has suspended the sale of foreign currencies until September 9, the central bank said Wednesday, amid unprecedented economic sanctions on the country following its offensive in Ukraine.

Between March 9 and September 9 "the banks will not be able to sell foreign currencies to citizens," said the statement, which added that Russians would however be able to change foreign currencies into the local ruble unit during that window. ( AFP )

. British transport minister Grant Shapps said in a tweet on Tuesday that any Russian aircraft to enter UK airspace will now be a "criminal offence."

"I have made it a criminal offence for ANY Russian aircraft to enter UK airspace and now HMG can detain these jets," Shapps said in a tweet. ( Reuters )

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. President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is no longer pressing forNATOmembership forUkraine, a delicate issue that was one ofRussia's stated reasons for invading its pro-Western neighbor.

In another apparent nod aimed at placating Moscow, Zelensky said he is open to "compromise" on the status of two breakaway pro-Russian territories that President Vladimir Putin recognized as independent just before unleashing the invasion on February 24.

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. A six-year-old girl has died from dehydration under the rubble of her destroyed home in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol, the city council said Tuesday.

Mariupol is surrounded by Russian forces, who have bombarded the port city despite promises of a ceasefire to allow civilians to be evacuated.

It is not known how long the girl, named only as Tanya, had been under the ruins of her home before she died, but her mother was found dead at the scene.

. "We have already started the evacuation of civilians fromSumyto Poltava (in central Ukraine), including foreign students," the foreign ministry said in a tweet. "We call on Russia to agree on other humanitarian corridors in Ukraine."

. The head of the UN's refugee agency said Tuesday he expected the number of refugees fleeing the war inUkraineto top two million in the next two days.

"I do think that we will pass the 2 million mark today or maybe at the latest tomorrow. So it doesn't stop," Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, told reporters in Oslo.

. Pakistan has expressed its desire to play a role towards the de-escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine via mediation and table talks amid the ongoing Moscow-Kyiv war.

Taking to Twitter on Monday, Khan said: "Earlier today I spoke with EU Council President Charles Michel about the Ukraine situation. Shared concern over continued military conflict, highlighted its adverse economic impact on developing countries, stressed urgent need for ceasefire & de-escalation.

. Ukrainebegan evacuating civilians from the northeastern city of Sumy and from the town of Irpin near the capital Kyiv on Tuesday, Ukrainian officials said.

The evacuations began after Russian and Ukrainian officials agreed to establish "humanitarian corridors" to allow civilians out of some towns and cities besieged by Russian forces.

"As of 09:30 (0730 GMT), more than 150 people have been evacuated and (evacuation) activities are underway," said Oleksiy Kuleba, governor of the Kyiv region.

. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address British lawmakers via videolink in the House of Commons on Tuesday, the first time a president of another country has addressed the main Westminster chamber.

Zelenskyy, who has spoken to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on several occasions since Russia invaded his country, has made a number of impassioned speeches to Western leaders in the last week, asking for supplies and military support.

. Russia has opened "humanitarian corridors" so people can be evacuated from Kyiv and four other Ukrainian cities: Cherhihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Mariupol, the Interfax news agency quoted the Russian defence ministry as saying on Tuesday.

The defence ministry added that Russian forces in Ukraine had introduced a "silent regime" from 0700 GMT, Interfax reported.

. At least nine people, including two children, have died in an air strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, some 350 kilometres east of Kiev, the rescue services said Tuesday.

. Russia planned to open humanitarian corridors in Ukraine Tuesday for civilians to flee besieged cities, but Kyiv insisted the move was a publicity stunt and people would not be able to escape.

. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday stated that the authorities have recovered the body of Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagaudar, the Indian student from the state who died in Russian shelling in Ukraine.

. Russian aircraft bombed cities in eastern and central Ukraine overnight, Ukrainian officials said. Shelling pounded suburbs of the capital, Kyiv.

In Sumy and Okhtyrka, to the east of Kyiv near the Russian border, bombs fell on residential buildings and destroyed a power plant, regional leader Dmytro Zhivitsky said. He said there were dead and wounded but gave no figures.

Bombs also hit oil depots in Zhytomyr and the neighbouring town of Cherniakhiv, located west of Kyiv.

In Bucha, a Kyiv suburb, the mayor reported heavy artillery fire.

. India and its allies in pushing for the reform of the Security Council have called for a serious look at the veto powers of the permanent members which are "undermining the legitimacy" of the UN's highest decision-making body.

Presenting the joint position of India, Brazil, Germany and Japan, Tokyo's Permanent Representative Ishikane Kimihiro said on Monday: "Due to the use of veto, the Security Council has at times failed to fulfil its responsibility to maintain international peace and security. We have seen these failures are seriously undermining the legitimacy of this important body on multiple occasions."

. Where there is war, there is grief. Nearly two weeks into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, even those of us who are thousands of miles away are grappling with the hierarchy of grief. Can there be 'greater grief' and 'lesser grief'? These are uncomfortable questions at any time. The stark reality is that prejudice and racism continue during war, and amid solidarity talk at war zones.

There have been numerous reports of African and Asian students in Ukraine facing discrimination at the hand of border guards while trying to flee. This can't be casually shrugged off, even amid death and devastation, and even as we grieve the loss of innocent lives, pounding of huge swathes of Ukrainian cities into rubble by Russian bombardment.

. Ukrainian civilians receive weapons training, in the outskirts of Lviv, western Ukraine, Monday, March 7, 2022. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has entered its 12th day following what Ukrainian authorities described as increased shelling of encircled cities and another failed attempt to evacuate civilians from the port of Mariupol. Russia announced yet another cease-fire and humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to flee Ukraine on Monday but nothing has happened so far. Two previous cease-fire attempts failed.

. Russia planned to open humanitarian corridors in Ukraine Tuesday for civilians to flee besieged cities, but Kyiv insisted the move was a publicity stunt and people would not be able to escape.

Moscow's offer to evacuate residents was condemned because most of the routes led into Russia or its ally Belarus, and as the invading forces maintained a devastating shelling campaign.

The Ukrainian military said Tuesday, nearly two weeks into the war, that Russia was ramping up its troops and equipment around the main conflict zones.

The invasion has sparked the biggest war in Europe and the continent's largest refugee crisis since World War II, while the West has responded with sanctions on Russia that have reverberated around the global economy.

Russia's defence ministry said it would open the "humanitarian corridors" from 0700 GMT Tuesday, subject to Ukraine's approval, listing routes from the capital Kyiv as well as the cities of Mariupol, Kharkiv and Sumy -- all of which have been under heavy attack.

. Singer Dolly Parton dedicated the Academy of Country Music Awards show to the people of Ukraine on Monday during a music-filled ceremony that saw Miranda Lambert crowned entertainer of the year.

. Ukrainian defence authorities have said that a top Russian general was killed during fighting near the country's second largest city of Kharkiv.

In a statement on Monday night, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine identified the slain general as Vitaly Gerasimov, who was a major general, chief of staff and first deputy commander of the 41st Army of the Central Military District of Russia.

According to the statement, Gerasimov took part in the Second Chechen War which took place from August 1999 to April 2000, and the Russian military operation in Syria.

"He received a medal for the return of the Crimea," it said.

. Almost two weeks into the Russian invasion of their country, Ukrainian forces have managed to hold up the advance of their foes with resistance that has won plaudits from Western allies.

Analysts say their performance against a numerically far superior army has been fuelled by a combination of good preparation, national solidarity and Russian mistakes. However the future remains unclear, with President Vladimir Putin repeatedly declaring that nothing will stand between him and his aims.

. At a UN Security Council meeting on the escalating humanitarian crisis in the country, Linda Thomas-Greenfield also called for the establishment of a system on the ground to facilitate the safe movement of aid convoys and flights so food, medicine and other supplies can get into Ukraine to reach those most in need.

. The “Z” first drew attention several weeks ago when it was painted a couple feet high on the sides of the thousands of tanks, armoured personnel carriers and other military vehicles mustering along the Russian border with Ukraine.

. The International Atomic Energy Agency said Monday it has received reports of artillery shells damaging a nuclear research facility in Ukraine's besieged second city Kharkiv, but there was no "radiological consequence".

. “It's just cynicism,” Zelenskyy said. By opening a small corridor to Russia, he said, Moscow is looking only for a propaganda victory.

. “They even mined the roads that were the agreed routes for taking food and medicine to the people, to the children, of Mariupol,” Zelenskyy said in what has become a daily video address close to midnight.

On Monday night he spoke from behind the ornate desk in his official office, visual proof that he remains in Kyiv.

. He is in the midst of danger, a war at that, but still Dr Bandi Giri Kumar is unconcerned about his safety, as much as he is bothered about the well being of his pet 'cats'--Yagwar and Sabina.

. Russian and Ukrainian negotiators failed to achieve significant results during their third round of peace talks in Belarus on Monday.

"The discussions continued on political and military aspects. However, it remains difficult. It is too early to talk about something positive," Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, also the head of the Russian delegation said following the talks. ( IANS )

. Alphabet Inc's Google said it has seen Russian hackers well-known to law enforcement, including FancyBear, engaging in espionage, phishing campaigns and other attacks targeting Ukraine and its European allies in recent weeks.

Google’s Threat Analysis Group, which focuses on disrupting computer hackers and issuing warnings about them to users, said in a blog post on Monday that over the past two weeks Russian hacking unit FancyBear, also known as APT28, has been sending phishing emails to Ukrainian media company UkrNet. ( Reuters )

. The United Nations needs safe passage to deliver humanitarian aid to conflict zones in Ukraine, a senior official with the organization told the Security Council on Monday.

"Civilians in places like Mariupol, Kharkiv, Melitopol and elsewhere desperately need aid, especially life-saving medical supplies," undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs Martin Griffiths told an emergency meeting on the disaster sparked by Russia's invasion.

Griffiths urged all sides to ensure that civilians, homes and infrastructure in Ukraine were safeguarded. ( AFP )

Russia-Ukraine crisis: 'The world doesn’t believe in Russia’s future, doesn’t talk about it,' says Zelenskyy

Russia suspends forex sales to September 9

Any Russian aircraft entering UK commit "criminal offence," UK's Shapps says

Zelenskyy addresses Britain's Parliament, urges UK to recognise Russia as a terrorist state

Ukrainian servicemen of the 93rd Independent Kholodnyi Yar Mechanized Brigade

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