Russia Ukraine War Day 12: UK, western nations consider sanctions targeting Russian energy exports

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced further £175million of aid to Ukraine, bringing the UK's total contribution to "around £400million", reported Sky News

A truck has rammed into the gates of Russian Embassy in Dublin, reported Russian news outlet Sputnik.

German Chancellor Scholz says EU energy needs can't be secured without Russian imports, no plans to suspend them

New Delhi:  An IAF flight carrying Indian student Harjot Singh, who was shot in Ukrainian capital Kyiv a few days ago, landed at the Hindon airbase here on Monday evening, officials said. Minister of State for Civil Aviation V K Singh and around 200 Indians, mainly students, also returned to India on the flight that landed at 6.15 pm, they said. V K Singh was in Poland to facilitate the evacuation of students. The Ukrainian airspace has been shut since February 24 due to the Russian military offensive. Indian citizens stuck in Ukraine are being airlifted once they cross to neighbouring countries such as Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland. READ

Foreign Ministers of Russia and Ukraine will meet in Antalya, says Turkish FM

Geneva: The United Nations' refugee agency says the number of people who have fled the war in Ukraine has increased to more than 1.7 million. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees on Monday put the number of people who have arrived in other countries since the Russian invasion started on February 24 at some 1.735 million. That's up from more than 1.53 million on Sunday. Nearly three-fifths of the total - nearly 1.03 million -- arrived in Poland, according to the agency. Over 180,000 went to Hungary and 128,000 to Slovakia. In Montpellier, France, EU foreign affairs policy chief Josep Borrell called on mobilizing “all the resources” of the bloc of 27 nations to help countries welcoming refugees from Ukraine, including neighboring Poland and Romania. Borrell spoke ahead of a meeting of development ministers of the EU.

Russia-Ukraine talks in Belarus will begin at 14:00 GMT: Kiev delegation

Harjyot Singh had taken 5 bullets in Kyiv and been operated upon there. He travelled across Ukraine from Kyiv to Lviv, then to Budomierz to cross into Poland and then to Rzeszow airport in a all-night dash to safely! The IAF Special Flight waited for him all night long; it took off finally at 6 am on 7th March.

Out of 20,000 Indian citizens,we've been able to evacuate more than 16,000 citizens. Around 3,000 citizens are still there in the neighbouring countries of Ukraine. Around 600 students are there in Sumy. The Embassy is making arrangements to evacuate them: MoS MEA V Muraleedharan

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson hosts Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Dutch PM Mark Rutte at Downing Street in London on Monday, as the trio visit a Royal Air Force (RAF) base to meet members of the UK armed forces. Downing Street said it marks the start of a week of focussed engagement with world leaders to mobilise a global outcry at the atrocities of Russian aggression into practical support for Ukraine.  The three prime ministers will convene for separate bilateral meetings and a joint trilateral meeting to discuss the next steps to counter attacks ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukrainian cities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks to Russian President Vladmiri Putin. The call between the two leaders lasted for around 50 minutes. READ FULL STORY 

Ukrainian representative tells U.N. court: "Russia must be stopped and the court has a role to play in stopping it," reports AP.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that he has informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the need to counter the "Russian aggressionö against his country and India has appreciated Ukraine's commitment to direct peaceful dialogue at the highest level with Moscow. "Informed Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi about Ukraine countering Russian aggression," President Zelenskyy tweeted after his telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Modi that lasted for around 35 minutes. "India appreciates the assistance to its citizens during the war and Ukraine's commitment to direct peaceful dialogue at the highest level. Grateful for the support to the Ukrainian people. #StopRussia," Zelenskyy added. It was the second telephonic conversation between Modi and Zelenskyy after the conflict began in Ukraine. 

As Russian forces pound Ukrainian cities with rockets despite announcing a cease-fire to allow civilians to flee some areas, lawyers representing Kyiv and Moscow face off Monday at the United Nations' top court in a legal bid to halt the devastating war. The International Court of Justice is opening two days of hearings at its headquarters, the Peace Palace, into Ukraine's request for its judges to order Russia to halt its invasion. Ukraine is scheduled to present its arguments Monday morning and Russia can respond Tuesday. Ukraine has asked the court to order Russia to “immediately suspend the military operations” launched Feb. 24 “that have as their stated purpose and objective the prevention and punishment of a claimed genocide" in the separatist eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk. A decision is expected on the request within days, though it remains to be seen if Russia would abide by any order the court might issue.

Russia has snubbed a hearing at the United Nations' top court into a legal bid by Kyiv to halt Moscow's devastating invasion of Ukraine. A row of seats reserved for Russian lawyers at the International Court of Justice was empty Monday morning as the hearing opened. The court's president, American judge Joan E. Donoghue, said Russia's ambassador to the Netherlands informed judges that his government did not intend to participate in the oral proceedings. The hearing went ahead without the Russian delegation. The International Court of Justice is opening two days of hearings at its headquarters, the Peace Palace, into Ukraine's request for its judges to order Russia to halt its invasion. Ukraine is scheduled to present its arguments Monday morning and Russia has the opportunity to respond on Tuesday. 

Kyiv has rejected Moscow's proposal of humanitarian corridors to Belarus and Russia to evacuate civilians. Ukraine said that the proposal on humanitarian corridors was "completely immoral" after Moscow suggested it would allow people to flee Ukrainian cities provided they exited to Belarus or Russia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to bringing back every Indian stranded in war-hit Ukraine, said Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who returned to Delhi on Monday after completing the evacuation process of 6,177 Indian students through Hungary. Puri was one of the four Union ministers sent to countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate evacuation of Indians. "With the last flight yesterday, we completed evacuation of 6,177 students from Hungary. Five flights yesterday were almost full. A big thank you for all assistance we received from the government of Hungary, specially Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of Interior and other agencies," he tweeted.

Russian delegation flew to Belarus for the third round of talks with Ukraine. This will be the third round of talks between the two countries since Moscow launched a special military operation. 

China's Foreign Minister on Monday called Russia Beijing's most important strategic partner, amid its continued refusal to condemn the invasion of Ukraine. Wang Yi said ties with Moscow constituted one of the most crucial bilateral relationships in the world. "No matter how perilous the international landscape, we will maintain our strategic focus and promote the development of comprehensive China-Russia partnership in the new era," Wang told reporters at a news conference on the sidelines of the annual meeting of China's ceremonial parliament.  "The friendship between the two peoples is iron clad," he added.

While most of the world is shunning President Vladimir Putin over  Russia's invasion of Ukraine, one of the few leaders keeping an open line of communication is French President Emmanuel Macron. Macron's diplomatic efforts to prevent the war failed, but he's not giving up: the two men have spoken four times since Russian forces attacked Ukraine on February 24, and 11 times over the past month.  The French leader, whose country holds the European Union's rotating presidency, is now one of the few outsiders with a view into Putin's mindset at the time of the largest military invasion in Europe since World War II. 

The United States and NATO have provided more than 17,000 anti-tank weapons to Kiev in less than a week, according to media reports. Today is the 12th day of war. 

The gas price in Europe is increasing at an accelerated rate, exceeding $2,700 per 1,000 cubic meters for the first time in history. Energy markets have rocked ever since Russia was feared to invade Ukraine. 

New Zealand has imposed sanctions against more than 100 Russian politicians, businessmen and their relatives. Among them are Putin and Shoigu.

211 schools in Ukraine were damaged or destroyed by Russian troops. The figure is growing daily. Russian troops are deliberately shelling and striking schools. At the beginning of the Russian military aggression in Ukraine, a two-week vacation was announced, but soon they plan to resume training where possible (many children have left for the region, where there is still an opportunity to carry out the educational process). Where this is not possible, individual, distance learning is planned. Source: Minister of Education and Science Serhiy Shkarlet

China will make active efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, the Chinese Foreign Minister said. The Chinese Red Cross will soon provide assistance to Ukraine. In addition, China hopes that Russia and Ukraine will make progress in the third round of negotiations.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri returned from Hungary on Monday along with the last batch of 6711 stranded Indian students from Budapest after overseeing the 'Operation Ganga' launched by the government to bring back people from war-torn Ukraine. Puri reached Delhi on Monday along with the last batch of the evacuated Indians. Taking to Twitter, the Union Minister expressed happiness, saying youngsters of the country can now reach their respective home places and be united with their parents and families. "Delighted to reach Delhi with the last batch of our 6711 students from Budapest. There is joy, enthusiasm & relief as youngsters reach home & will soon be with their parents & families. Deeply privileged to be of help," Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted.

Nearly 5,000 people were detained on March 6 during anti-war protests in Russia. The largest arrests are traditionally in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Head of Russia's investigative committee orders criminal case be opened after missile attack on Lugansk oil depot

Minister of Defense of Ukraine Reznikov said that there is significant progress in the issue of supplying the country with weapons and ammunition and promised Russia a "surprise"

Kyiv is doing everything possible to open the humanitarian corridors in Mariupol - Minister of Defense of Ukraine Reznikov.

Media workers are leaving Russia en masse for security reasons. Several Western media houses last week suspend their journalistic operations in Russia after a fresh crackdown on news and free speech by President Vladimir Putin.

Toyota will return to Japan employees who worked in Russia, according to the Nikkei newspaper. 26 employees and members of their families are to be evacuated. They will return to Japan via a third country, as there are currently no direct flights between Moscow and Tokyo.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke on the phone with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. He thanked Zelensky for the support in the evacuation of Indian nationals. The phone call lasted for about 35 minutes. The Prime Minister also appreciated the continuing direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine to end the war. READ FULL STORY 

Harjot Singh, an injured Indian student in Ukraine's capital Kyiv, has crossed the border and entered Poland. He will return to India today. Harjot had sustained bullet injuries in Kyiv while trying to flee. "Harjot Singh has crossed the border and entered Poland. Indian diplomats present with him. He has been shifted into an ambulance provided by Polish RedCross on the border," Puneet Singh Chandhok, president, Indian World Forum said.

UK injects $100 million into Ukraine’s economy to mitigate financial pressures created by Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion, the U.K. Prime Minister’s Office announced on March 7.

Russian military declares ceasefire in Ukraine from 07:00 GMT to open humanitarian corridors at Emmanuel Macron's, President of France, request. Russia declares ceasefire in the areas of Kyiv, Mariupol, Kharkov, and Sumy from 10 a.m. Moscow time to allow for evacuations

50 Russian diplomats including their family members return to Moscow from New York City. Their departure follows a request that 12 Russian U.N. diplomats withdraw from the U.S. by March 7. According to Ambassador Richard Mills, the diplomats were removed due to actions that were “not in accordance with their responsibilities and obligations as diplomats.”

PM Modi will speak to Russian President Putin on phone today afternoon: Govt sources, according to news agency PTI FULL STORY 

Zelensky called for organizing a tribunal to bring to justice those who order and carry out such crimes. "Think about the sense of impunity of the occupiers that they can announce such planned atrocities," he said.

As Russian forces increased their shelling of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to the West to strengthen sanctions. In a video statement Sunday evening, Zelensky heaped criticism on Western leaders for not responding to the Russian Defense Ministry's announcement that it would strike Ukraine's military-industrial complex, while telling employees of these defense plants not to go to work. "I didn't hear even a single world leader react to this," Zelensky said. "The audacity of the aggressor is a clear signal to the West that the sanctions imposed on Russia are not sufficient." FULL STORY

Pope Francis on Russian military aggression: "Rivers of blood and tears are flowing in Ukraine. This is not just a military operation, but a war that brings death, destruction and poverty.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, official sources said. Modi's expected talk with Zelensky comes amid India's all out efforts to evacuate its nationals, mostly students, from the country facing attack from Russia. This is the second time Modi will speak to Zelensky since the war began. The prime minister has also spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin after he launched an attack on Ukraine. 

Russian forces restrict access to external communication, block access to mobile networks and internet at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has assigned the entire territory of Russia the third level of danger out of four possible. 

The third level of danger means the recommendation to refrain from any trips to Russia.

Russian troops launch missile strike near the village of Tuzla in Odesa Oblast targeting critical infrastructure

South Korea will ban exports of strategic items to Belarus starting this week as the former Soviet republic has been supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the finance ministry has said.

The move came after South Korea decided to ban exports to 49 Russian organisations and firms last week, including Russia's defence ministry, Yonhap news agency reported.

Under the measure, a license is required to export or transfer major items to these entities, with limited exceptions.

"As we have concluded that the Republic of Belarus has been effectively supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine, we have decided to implement the export ban on Belarus as well," the Ministry of Economy and Finance said in a statement.

Amid the risk of food shortages due to the ongoing conflict with Russia, Ukraine has decided to suspend exports of some food products including meat, oats and sugar. A Ukrainian government statement said exports of "meat, rye, oats, buckwheat, sugar, millet and salt" will be halted.

The statement said exports of wheat, corn, poultry, eggs and oil will be allowed only with the permission of the country's Ministry of Economy.

According to the American broadcaster, supermarkets across Ukraine are running short of produce as supply routes become more difficult.

This comes as Russia's invasion of Ukraine has driven wheat prices to record highs.

211 Ukrainian schools have been destroyed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine 

The oil price surpassed $130 per barrel amid panic over the war in Ukraine, beating 2012's peak of over $128.

The only higher oil price was in 2008 - $143. But even that record is not so far.

Two residential buildings and an employment center destroyed in airstrikes in Ovruch.

Several apartment buildings have been damaged.

Hacking group Anonymous interrupts Russian state TV programs with footage of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and an anti-war message.

It claims to have accessed TV channels “Russia 24”, “Channel 1”, “Moscow 24”, & streaming services Wink and Ivi.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday said it is "absolutely essential" to pause the fighting in Ukraine to allow for the safe passage of civilians caught in the conflict in areas like Kharkiv and Sumy.

Israel’s prime minister spoke Sunday evening by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a day after his snap trip to Moscow to discuss the more than weeklong Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Naftali Bennett also spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whom he visited in Berlin on Saturday as well, and French President Emmanuel Macron, his office said.

In a video statement Sunday evening, Zelenskyy heaped criticism on Western leaders for not responding to the Russian Defense Ministry’s announcement that it would strike Ukraine’s military-industrial complex, while telling employees of these defense plants not to go to work.

“I didn’t hear even a single world leader react to this,” Zelenskyy said. 

“The audacity of the aggressor is a clear signal to the West that the sanctions imposed on Russia are not sufficient.”

Russian forces stepped up their shelling of Ukrainian cities in the center, north and south of the country late Sunday

The latest wave of missile strikes came as darkness fell.

KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers both said Sunday they would end their relationships with their Russia-based member firms. KPMG said it was also pulling out of Belarus.

KPMG International said in a statement it would be “incredibly difficult” to have its Russia and Belarus firms leave the network. KPMG has more than 4,500 employees in the two countries.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said more than 20,000 people from 52 countries have already volunteered to fight in Ukraine, where they will serve in a newly created international legion. He did not say how many of the foreign volunteers have arrived in Ukraine.

Chinese video-sharing app TikTok has suspended livestreaming and new content to video services in Russia following the introduction of new 'fake news' law in the country that threatened jail terms of up to 15 years.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed a federal law criminalizing the spread of disinformation about the Russian armed forces, their defamation, as well as the calls for sanctions against Russia.

Global news media including CNN and BBC said they were suspending their operations to protect their journalists from the new law.

"Russian occupiers gathered sufficient troops near Kyiv and will try to seize the capital in the next few days," says Vadym Denysenko, advisor to the interior minister of Ukraine

Ukraine introduces export licence for key agricultural commodities

More than 4,300 detained at anti-war protests in Russia

Russia announced that tomorrow it'll be bombing our defense industry enterprises. Most of them are located in our cities, with civilians around. It’s a murder. I didn’t see any world leader react to it today, any Western politician, says Ukrainian President Zelensky

Zelensky gives the honorary title "Hero City" to Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Mariupol, Kherson, Hostomel, and Volnovakha. 

It's a reference to the Soviet tradition: 12 cities of the Soviet Union were awarded the title following the WWII

American Express has announced the suspension of its operations in Russia and Belarus over the ongoing military operation in Ukraine. This comes a day after credit card and payment giants Mastercard and Visa announced that they were suspending operations in Russia and that their cards issued by Russian banks will no longer work outside the country.

"In light of Russia's ongoing, unjustified attack on the people of Ukraine, American Express is suspending all operations in Russia. As a result, globally issued American Express cards will no longer work at merchants or ATMs in Russia," American Express said in a statement

Netflix joins western companies in suspending services in Russia

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that all sides in the Russian-Ukraine conflict are working to preserve the country's civilian nuclear facilities. Macron made these remarks after holding talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

These talks come as Russia has taken control of Europe's largest nuclear power station after the fire was reported at the Zaporizhzhia plant in Ukraine.

The UN's nuclear watchdog said radiation levels and the safety of reactors were not affected. But the watchdog expressed concern about developments at the Zaporizhzhia plant.

Russia recruiting Syrians skilled in urban combat to be sent to Ukraine to help take Kyiv, as per US officials

Wall Street Journal said it's unclear how many fighters have been identified, but some are already in Russia preparing to enter Ukraine, as per an official

A special flight, carrying 160 Indian evacuees from Ukraine, landed here on Monday from Budapest in Hungary.

The Air Asia flight, which evacuated the citizens, evacuated the stranded students from Hungary and landed at the airport at around 4-4.30 am.