LIVE: Biden says he thinks Russia should be removed from G-20

11:47 PM

Russia can't blackmail EU with its energy resources: Von der Leyen

Russia cannot blackmail Europe with its energy resources and will not be allowed to circumvent sanctions by demanding roubles for its shipments of oil and gas, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday.

 

"This would be a unilateral decision and a clear breach of contract," Von der Leyen said of Russia's demand to be paid in roubles.

 

"It would be an attempt to circumvent the sanctions. We will not allow our sanctions to be circumvented. The time when energy could be used to blackmail us is over."

 

11:33 PM

Biden says he thinks Russia should be removed from G-20

US President Joe Biden said he thinks Russia should be removed from the Group of Twenty (G-20) major economies and the topic was raised during his meetings with world leaders in Brussels earlier on Thursday.

 

"My answer is yes, depends on the G-20," Biden said, when asked if Russia should be removed from the group. Biden also said if countries such as Indonesia and others do not agree with removing Russia, then in his view, Ukraine should be allowed to attend the meetings.

 

11:26 PM

Biden: China knows its economic future is tied more to the West than Russia

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday that China understands its economic future is more closely tied to the West than to Russia, after warning Beijing it could face consequences for aiding Moscow's war in Ukraine.

 

"I made no threats but I made it clear to him - made sure he understood the consequences of helping Russia," Biden said of a recent conversation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.​ "China understands that its economic future is much more closely tied to the West than it is to Russia." Speaking at a news conference on the sidelines of emergency meetings in Europe, Biden said he also pointed out to Xi the number of American and foreign companies that have left Russia since its invasion of Ukraine.

 

11:24 PM

Birbhum killings: Calcutta High Court to pronounce the order tomorrow

10:54 PM

Erdogan says Ukraine, Russia remain at odds over territory

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that Kyiv and Moscow were in agreement on technical issues at peace talks, but that the sides remained at odds over territorial matters such as Crimea.

 

Speaking to reporters in Brussels following a NATO summit, Erdogan said the resolutions adopted by the alliance should not be perceived as a threat to Russia or any third country, but that they should be viewed as deterrance.

 

NATO member Turkey shares a martime border with Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea, has good ties with both and has offered to mediate the conflict. Erdogan said Turkey's main goal as part of its mediation efforts was to bring together the Ukrainian and Russian presidents for talks.

 

10:44 PM

Can't believe China would want escalation in Ukraine, Macron says

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that he believed China still wanted to do everything to stop the war in Ukraine and avoid doing anything that could escalate the situation.

 

"China, as a member of the United Nations Security Council and as a great power, cannot do anything but be a power of mediation and moderation and help us to convince Russia to stop this war," Macron told reporters after a G7 and NATO meeting.

 

"I want to believe that China will be consistent with its vision of territorial sovereignty and continue to seek to stop this war and I want to believe that China will not participate in any form of escalation."

 

10:22 PM

France's Macron says up to Renault whether it stays in Russia

President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday he respected French automaker Renault's decision to suspend its Moscow factory and said it was up to companies to decide whether they wanted to stay in Russia if their sector had not been hit by sanctions.

 

Speaking to reporters after a G7 and NATO conference, Macron said there was a "reputational risk" for companies which decided to stay.

 

10:12 PM

Ukraine presidential adviser says many Russian troops lack resources to be on offensive

Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said on Thursday that in many areas Russian troops did not have enough resources to push ahead with their offensive in Ukraine, leading to a slowdown in hostilities.

 

"The front line is practically frozen," he said in a televised address. "The enemy in very many areas does not have the resources to continue the offensive."

 

 

 

9:57 PM

Don't use chemical weapons in Ukraine, Scholz tells Moscow

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday warned Russia against using chemical weapons in Ukraine.

 

"Should Russia be preparing a false-flag operation in order to use such (chemical and biological) weapons (in Ukraine), this would be in violation of all rules, agreements and conventions," he told journalists after a NATO summit in Brussels.

 

"It is our concern not only to point this out but also to warn in the conversations we have: Don't do it," he added.

 

9:50 PM

G-7 leaders tell Russia not to use biological, chemical, nuclear weapons

Leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized nations warned Russia not to use biological, chemical or nuclear weapons in its war with Ukraine, they said in statement released after talks in Brussels on Thursday.

 

"We warn against any threat of the use of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons or related material," said the leaders in a joint statement released by Germany.

 

All countries were ready to welcome refugees from Ukraine, they said.

 

On energy, the leaders called on oil- and gas-producing countries to act responsibly and boost supplies to international markets, adding that OPEC had a role to play in this. They also said they would avoid food export bans.

9:37 PM

UN blames Russia for Ukraine humanitarian crisis, urges aid

The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a resolution blaming Russia for humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and urging an immediate cease-fire and protection for millions of civilians and the homes, schools and hospitals critical to their survival.

 

The vote Thursday on the resolution was 140-5 with only Belarus, Syria, North Korea and Eritrea joining Russia in opposing the measure. There were 38 abstentions, including China.

 

The resolution deplores the dire humanitarian consequences of Russia's aggression which it says is on a scale that the international community has not seen in Europe in decades. It deplores Russia's shelling, airstrikes and besiegement of densely populated cities, including the southern city of Mariupol, and demands unhindered access for humanitarian aid.

 

The vote was almost exactly the same as on the March 2 resolution the assembly adopted demanding an immediate Russian cease-fire and withdrawal of troops. It demands protection for all civilians and infrastructure indispensable to their survival. That vote was 141-5 with 35 abstentions.

 

8:24 PM

China opposes claims of "prior knowledge" of Russian attack on Ukraine

China's ministry of defence said on Thursday it was completely false to say that China had "prior knowledge" of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and that such claims were a smear.

 

The ministry comment came in response to foreign media reports which said China ignored warnings by the United States that Russia would attack Ukraine.

 

China strongly disagrees and opposes these claims, which the United States made to "shirk responsibility and smear China", the defence ministry said in a statement.

 

8:24 PM

Kremlin says Abramovich played early role in Ukraine peace talks

The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich played an early role in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, but the process was now in the hands of the two sides' negotiating teams.

 

Abramovich was asked by Ukraine to help mediate because of his background in Russia, where he made a fortune in the chaotic 1990s period of post-communist privatisation.

 

"He did take part at the initial stage," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "Now the negotiations are between the two teams, the Russians and Ukrainians." Russia and Ukraine are talking about a peace deal while their soldiers kill each other after the Feb. 24 Russian invasion but the question of territory has threatened to derail negotiations. The talks began on Feb. 28.

8:15 PM

China Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives in India, likely to meet NSA Ajit Doval, EAM Dr S Jaishankar

8:01 PM

Russia to restart limited trading in more stocks, bonds and Eurobonds on Friday

Moscow Exchange will continue stock trading on Friday and restart limited trading in shares that are not included in the IMOEX benchmark stock index as well as in corporate bonds and Eurobonds, the central bank said on Thursday.

 

Energy and metals firms led a jump in Russian stocks on Thursday as trading resumed after a month's suspension, reflecting soaring global prices for oil, gas and other commodities on fears the Ukraine crisis will threaten supply.

 

7:48 PM

NATO allies have agreed to supply weapons to Ukraine to tackle such attacks: Jens Stoltenberg

7:42 PM

US to welcome 100,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing Russia’s aggression: White House

7:11 PM

Ukraine says Russian forces have been pushed back in some areas around Kyiv

Ukraine said on Thursday that its troops had pushed back Russian forces from some areas around Kyiv but that Russia had not given up hope of surrounding and seizing the Ukrainian capital.

 

"In some sectors the enemy was driven back by more than 70 km (44 miles), in some sectors the enemy is at a distance of 35 km," Defence Ministry spokesperson Oleksander Motuzyanyk told a televised briefing.

 

Without citing evidence, he said the Kremlin had been sending additional military equipment to Belarus to reinforce its troops attacking Kyiv.

 

 

6:57 PM

G7 restricting Russian bank's use of gold

Group of Seven leaders have announced they are restricting the Russian Central Bank's use of gold in transactions, while the US announced a new round of sanctions targeting more than 400 elites and members of the Russian State Duma.

 

Previously, sanctions against Russian elites, the country's Central Bank and President Vladimir Putin did not impact Russia's gold stockpile, which Putin has been accumulating for several years. Russia holds roughly $130 billion in gold reserves, and the Bank of Russia announced Feb 28 that it would resume the purchase of gold on the domestic precious metals market.

 

White House officials said Thursday the move will further blunt Russia's ability to use its international reserves to prop up Russia's economy and fund its war against Ukraine.

 

6:37 PM

US to welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing war: Report

The United States plans to accept up to 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing Russia's invasion, two sources familiar with the plan said, after a month of bombardments has brought Europe's fastest-moving refugee crisis since the end of World War Two.

 

The expected announcement would coincide with US President Joe Biden's meeting with European leaders on Thursday to coordinate the Western response to the crisis.

 

More than 3.5 million people have fled since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, according to the United Nations.

The sources who spoke to Reuters did not clarify how the United States would handle travel and immigration logistics.

 

6:22 PM

Continue to support Ukraine with security assistance to fight Russian aggression: US President Biden

6:20 PM

UK imposes new sanctions to cut off Russia's key industries

The UK government announced 65 new Russian sanctions on Thursday against a range of key strategic industries and individuals, which it says are aimed at cutting off support for President Vladimir Putin's “war machine” in Ukraine.

 

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said the latest set of sanctions, which add to over 1,000 already imposed by the UK, target key industries supporting Russia's illegal invasion, including Russian Railways and defence company Kronshtadt, the main producer of Russian drones.

 

The Wagner Group, the organisation of Russian mercenaries reportedly tasked with assassinating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has also been sanctioned.

5:43 PM

Providing £25 mn in financial backing for Ukrainian military, apart from £400 mn committed in aid: UK PM

5:38 PM

Ukrainian president to press Biden, NATO for more support

Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy called on people worldwide to gather in public Thursday to show support for his embattled country as U.S. President Joe Biden and other world leaders met for talks focused on pressuring Russia to end the invasion that is entering its second month.

 

“Come to your squares, your streets. Make yourselves visible and heard,” Zelenskyy said in English during an emotional video address late Wednesday that was recorded in the dark near the presidential offices in Kyiv. “Say that people matter. Freedom matters. Peace matters. Ukraine matters.”

 

Brussels was the center Thursday of a flurry of diplomatic activity. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg opened an emergency summit bringing together Biden and other leaders by saying that the alliance is determined to continue to ratchet up the costs on Russia for its aggression.

 

5:13 PM

WB govt orders a 10-day special clean-up drive; directs Police to uncover illegal arms and ammunition

4:38 PM

China rejects disinformation accusations

China is rejecting accusations of helping Russia spread disinformation over Washington's involvement in Ukraine, while repeating Moscow's baseless claims about secret American biological warfare labs in Ukraine.

 

“Accusing China of spreading disinformation on Ukraine is disinformation in itself,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily Briefing Thursday. He said China has acted in “an objective and just manner." Wang claimed the international community continues to have “grave concerns” about US biolabs in Ukraine, despite rebuttals from independent scientists.

 

4:38 PM

Birbhum killing: BJP delegation, led by WB BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar, reaches Bagtui to meet the victims

4:05 PM

'We stand for peace', Jaishankar briefs Rajya Sabha on Ukraine war

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday told the Rajya Sabha that India's stand on the Russia-Ukraine war is based on six principles.

 

Responding to a question, he said that India has called for immediate cessation of violence and end to all hostilities. "We stand for peace, we believe that there is no other way than a return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy. We recognize that the global order is anchored on international law, UN charter and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states and we call for humanitarian access to a conflict situation."

 

He also said, "We have given 90 tonnes of humanitarian assistance so far and we are looking to providing more, especially medicines."

 

Jaishankar also said that the Government of India is in touch with the leadership of both the Russian Federation and Ukraine on this matter. "The Prime Minister himself has spoken with the Presidents of both the countries. This was also mentioned in a statement made before the House recently," he added.

 

3:50 PM

Biden, Western allies open 1st of 3 summits on Russian war

US President Joe Biden and Western allies opened the first of three summits Thursday focused on increasing pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin over his war in Ukraine while tending to the economic and security fallout spreading across Europe and the world.

 

Biden and the leaders of other NATO countries met at the alliance's headquarters where they posed for a group photo memorialising the urgent gathering before retreating behind closed doors for their summit, which was expected to last several hours.

 

Over the course of Thursday, the European diplomatic capital is hosting an emergency NATO summit as well as a gathering of the Group of Seven industrialised nations and a summit of the 27 members of the European Union.

 

Biden will attend all three meetings and plans to hold a news conference at the end of the day.

 

Biden arrived here late Wednesday with the hopes of nudging allies to enact new sanctions on Russia, which has already seen its economy crippled by a steady stream of bans, boycotts and penalties over the past four weeks.

3:45 PM

NHRC takes suo motu cognizance of Birbhum killings, investigations to be carried out by team there