Page 322 - Latest Updates on Ukraine peace talks

Ukraine war: US works to 'seize and freeze' wealth of Russian oligarchs

Announcing tough sanctions against Russian oligarchs over the war in Ukraine was step one. Now the US and its allies are creating new teams to act on their vow to "seize and freeze" the giant boats, estates and other pricey assets of Russian elites. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday for the first time convened a multilateral task force known as REPO, one of several new efforts dedicated to enforcing sanctions. REPO short for Russian Elites, Proxies and Oligarchs will work with other countries to investigate and prosecute oligarchs and individuals allied with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The group is now looking into 50 individuals, with 28 names publicly announced. The effort faces several challenges, including varying laws across countries that could make legal discovery difficult and the risk of penalizing innocent people whose property may be tied up in an oligarch's seized assets. And time presents a problem: Investigatio

Encourage Indian leaders to stand up against Ukraine invasion: US

The United States remains in touch with Indian leaders and continues to encourage them to work closely with it to stand up against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the White House said

Mayor of Ukrainian city of Melitopol no longer in Russian custody

The mayor of the southeastern Ukrainian city of Melitopol has been freed after he was seized by Russian forces five days ago, a Ukrainian official said Wednesday.

Pope Francis urges peace, not politics in call to Russian patriarch

Pope Francis stressed the need for religious leaders to preach peace, not politics in a video call on Wednesday with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church

French govt unveils aid to counter fallout from Russia-Ukraine war

France's government announced a massive emergency aid program for farmers, fishermen, truckers and other professionals battered by fuel-price surges resulting from Russia's war in Ukraine.

Biden announces additional $800 mn in security assistance to Ukraine

US President Joe Biden in a press conference on Wednesday announced an additional USD 800 million in security assistance to Ukraine amid the country's ongoing conflict with Russia.The new security assistance provided to Ukraine includes 800 anti-aircraft, 9000 anti-armour systems, 7,000 small arms such as machine guns, shotguns, and grenade launchers as well as drones and other military equipment."I'm once again using my presidential authority to activate additional security assistance to continue to help Ukraine fend off Russia's assault, an additional USD 800 million in assistance," Biden said during the press conference as quoted by Sputnik.The development comes a day after the US announced an additional USD 186 million to the war-torn country in humanitarian assistance to support internally displaced persons and the more than three million refugees affected by Russia's war in Ukraine."This will provide further support for humanitarian organizations responding to the crisis and ...

Text of Ukraine President Zelenskyy's address to US Congress

Text of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's address to Congress on Wednesday. He speaks Ukrainian, which was simultaneously translated into English by his interpreter. Madam Speaker, members of the Congress, ladies and gentlemen, Americans, friends, I am proud to greet you from Ukraine, from our capital city of Kyiv. A city that is under missile and airstrikes from Russian troops every day, but it doesn't give up. And we have not even thought about it for a second. Just like many other cities and communities in our beautiful country, which found themselves in the worst war since World War II, I have the honour to greet you on behalf of the Ukrainian people brave and freedom-loving people who for eight years have been resisting the Russian aggression. Those who give their best sons and daughters to stop this full-scale Russian invasion. Right now, the destiny of our country is being decided. The destiny of our people. Whether Ukrainians will be free, whether they will be abl

UK wants every country to 'move away' from Russian oil: PM's spokesperson

The UK wants every country to move away from using Russian oil and gas because it directly funds President Vladimir Putin's war machine, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesperson said

India may import 15 million barrels of cheap Russian oil

Doesn't violate sanctions but on wrong side of history: US

Russian tech entrepreneurs to launch 'Rossgram' after Instagram is blocked

The new service, known as Rossgram, will launch on March 28

US sending more anti-aircraft systems, drones to Ukraine, says Biden

President Joe Biden said on Wednesday the US is sending more anti-aircraft, anti-armour weapons and drones to Ukraine to assist in its defense against Russia. The president's comments came as he formally announced his administration was sending an additional USD 800 million in military assistance to Ukraine, making a total of USD 2 billion in such aid sent to Kyiv since Biden took office more than a year ago. About USD 1 billion in aid has been sent in just the last week. We're going to give Ukraine the arms to fight and defend themselves through all the difficult days ahead," Biden said. Biden spoke hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a video address to members of US Congress in which he made an impassioned plea for the US and West to provide more help to save his young democracy than world leaders have so far pledged to provide. Livestreamed into the Capitol complex, Zelenskyy said the US must sanction Russian lawmakers and blockimports. But rather than

India's benchmark indices surge on easing global oil prices

A 25 per cent drop in crude prices from recent highs, favourable outcome in state polls and bargain hunting after a sharp drop in the market have propelled the market.

Oil importers India, Thailand to be hit hardest by Ukraine crisis: S&P

Large oil importers like India and Thailand will be the most affected among Asia-Pacific countries by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, S&P Global Ratings has said. S&P estimates the Indian economy to grow 7.8 per cent in the next fiscal year beginning April 1, 2022. Besides, the economy is expected to grow 6 per cent and 6.5 per cent in 2023-24 and 2024-25, respectively. It projected inflation at 5.4 per cent in the current fiscal year. It said banks in Asia-Pacific (APAC) region have small direct exposure to Russia which will soften the impact of the conflict, but proximate downside risks -- in particular, actual and potential secondary economic and other risks -- lie ahead. The biggest risk of the Ukraine conflict is market volatility and higher commodity prices; emerging economies with large energy imports are most at risk, S&P said in a report. India relies on overseas purchases to meet about 85 per cent of its oil requirement, making it one of the most vulnerable in ...

Oligarchs got richer despite sanctions but this time may be different

For nearly a decade, sanctions have been little more than names on a list for wealthy Russians and now governments are working to give them bite

Don't want to occupy Ukraine, says Russian President Vladimir Putin

'Keeping Russia in check a long-term policy of the West'

We need you right now, Zelenskyy tells US; invokes Pearl Harbor, 9/11

Zelenskyy said negotiations were becoming "more realistic"

Largest ceramic manufacturing cluster bears brunt of gas price hike

The industry is facing natural gas supply and price hike issues

Covid, conflict and China

For the countries of Europe, the conflict poses existential questions

India acts to seize gap in wheat export market left by Ukraine war

India is rolling out ambitious measures over the coming weeks to try to establish the country as a dominant exporter of high-quality wheat as importers scramble for supplies after Ukraine invasion

Lessons from Ukraine crisis

It's time to cushion India from the same 'oil shock' story