Ukraine newest: Fitch sees ‘imminent’ Russian default

Russia has unleashed an invasion of Ukraine after months of massing troops close to its borders. The navy motion, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 24, quantities to a full-scale invasion, says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Casualties are mounting on each side. The repercussions are being felt past Europe as rising geopolitical threat and unstable vitality and monetary markets rock Asia.

For all our protection, go to our Ukraine disaster web page.

Learn our in-depth protection:

— China says Moscow relations stable, accuses U.S. of constructing ‘Pacific NATO’

— Russia presents Center East fighters ‘$400 every week’ to hitch Ukraine struggle

— U.S. lawmaker urges India to talk out in opposition to Ukraine invasion

— Turkish drone success in Ukraine units stage for Asia roadshow

— Russia sanctions put highlight on crypto: 5 issues to know

Entries embrace materials from wire providers and different sources.

Notice: Nikkei Asia on March 5 determined to quickly droop its reporting from Russia till additional data turns into accessible relating to the scope of the revised prison code.

Listed here are the newest developments:

Wednesday, March 9 (Tokyo time)

12:00 p.m. Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo referred to as for a cease-fire within the struggle between Russia and Ukraine and mentioned continued dialogue moderately than financial sanctions on Russia is the way in which to resolve the disaster. Talking in an unique face-to-face interview on Tuesday with Nikkei Editor-in-Chief Tetsuya Iguchi, Widodo mentioned sovereignty and territorial integrity “should be revered by all events.”

11:59 a.m. Yum Manufacturers, mum or dad firm of fried rooster chain KFC, says it’s pausing funding in Russia, a key market that helped the model obtain report improvement final 12 months. Yum additionally says it’s suspending operations of its 70 KFC company-owned eating places within the nation and finalizing an settlement to droop all Pizza Hut restaurant operations in Russia, in partnership with its grasp franchisee. Yum has at the very least 1,000 KFC and 50 Pizza Hut places in Russia, practically all of them impartial franchisees.

7:57 a.m. Credit standing company Fitch downgrades Russia’s sovereign ranking by six notches additional into junk territory to C from B, saying a default is imminent as sanctions and commerce restrictions undermine its willingness to service debt. “Additional ratcheting up of sanctions and proposals that would restrict commerce in vitality enhance likelihood of a coverage response by Russia that features at the very least selective non-payment of its sovereign debt obligations,” the ranking company mentioned in an announcement.

7:40 a.m. Common Music Group says it’s suspending all operations in Russia and shutting places of work, because it joins a rising variety of corporations protesting the violence in Ukraine. The world’s largest music firm’s determination adopted the announcement final week by Spotify that it might shut its places of work in Russia in response to what it described as Moscow’s unprovoked assault on Ukraine.

6:25 a.m. Chinese language corporations that defy U.S. restrictions in opposition to exporting to Russia could also be minimize off from American tools and software program they should make their merchandise, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo tells The New York Instances. The U.S. may “basically shut” down Semiconductor Manufacturing Worldwide Corp. or any Chinese language corporations that defy U.S. sanctions by persevering with to produce chips and different superior know-how to Russia, she says.

6:00 a.m. Starbucks says it’s suspending all enterprise exercise in Russia, as is Coca-Cola. The espresso chain will droop cargo of its merchandise in addition to cafes run by a licensee. In the meantime, soft-drink and snack maker PepsiCo says it should droop all promoting in Russia and cease the sale of its drink manufacturers.

4:56 a.m. Poland is able to deploy all its MiG-29 jets to Ramstein Air Base in Germany and put them on the disposal of the U.S., the International Ministry says, urging different NATO members that possess planes of that sort to do the identical. The transfer follows a plea Saturday from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for fighter plane.

Warsaw is supporting Kyiv with defensive weapons, however has mentioned it might not ship jets to Ukraine, as Poland shouldn’t be a direct get together to the battle between Ukraine — which isn’t a NATO ally — and Russia.

4:30 a.m. The Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company‘s director basic, Rafael Mariano Grossi, says that distant knowledge transmission from safeguards monitoring techniques on the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine have been misplaced.

The techniques discuss with the sector of IAEA work aimed toward holding monitor of nuclear materials. The IAEA is trying into the standing of safeguards monitoring techniques at different places in Ukraine. Russia’s navy entered the Chernobyl web site following the nation’s invasion of Ukraine.

3:15 a.m. The BBC says it has determined to renew English-language reporting in Russia, which it had suspended final week in mild of a brand new regulation that makes it unlawful to report information that would discredit the Russian armed forces.

The transfer to restart reporting comes after “cautious deliberation,” the British broadcaster says. It contrasts with The New York Instances’ determination to pull its reporters from Russia.

In the meantime, McDonald’s says it should quickly shut its eating places in Russia. The U.S. fast-food chain will proceed to pay the salaries of its 62,000 staff within the nation.

2:50 a.m. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vows to withstand the Russian invasion in a video deal with to the U.Ok. Home of Commons with echoes of Winston Churchill.

“We are going to combat till the top. At sea, within the air, we are going to proceed preventing for our land no matter the associated fee,” Zelenskky says by means of an interpreter.

1:57 a.m. Britain will part out imports of Russian oil and oil merchandise by the top of 2022, Prime Minister Boris Johnson says, becoming a member of different nations together with the U.S. in decreasing vitality dependency on Russia. Enterprise minister Kwasi Kwarteng says he’s exploring choices to finish British imports of Russian fuel, which accounts for about 4% of provide within the nation.

U.S. President Joe Biden says America will halt imports of Russian vitality, saying there’s widespread help amongst Democrats and Republicans for such a transfer whereas acknowledging People can pay extra for gasoline.

1:20 a.m. Russia is believed to be recruiting fighters in Syria and elsewhere within the Center East to fortify the navy forces as its assaults on Kyiv and different main Ukrainian cities meet stiff resistance.

A senior U.S. Protection Division official says Moscow was recruiting primarily Syrians to combat within the struggle. Learn extra.

Tuesday, March 8

9:00 p.m. Ukrainian International Minister Dmytro Kuleba in his newest tweet is asking international companies to cease supporting Russia financially. “Ukraine requests the ethically and socially accountable international companies to cease or droop operations with or in Russia, due to this fact refusing to finance its violence, murders, and crimes in opposition to humanity,” Kuleba says within the twitter account of the ministry the place he hooked up his full enchantment to the worldwide enterprise group.

8:47 p.m. Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov and Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin have spoken on the telephone and expressed “hope for the subsequent spherical of talks between Moscow and Kyiv quickly and an settlement on the important thing points mendacity within the heart of the Ukrainian disaster with the intention to settle it and stop hostilities,” Interfax experiences, citing the Russian overseas ministry. The newest spherical of talks between Russia and Ukraine on Monday reportedly ended with no vital outcomes.

8:40 p.m. The advance of Russian forces in Ukraine has slowed considerably and Ukrainian forces are counterattacking in some areas, Reuters experiences citing Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych.

8:30 p.m. Chinese language President Xi Jinping requires “most restraint” in Ukraine and mentioned China is “pained to see the flames of struggle reignited in Europe,” Reuters experiences, citing state broadcaster CCTV, in his strongest assertion thus far on Russia’s invasion. Talking at a digital assembly with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Xi mentioned the three international locations ought to collectively help peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

6:58 p.m. Moscow is prepared for dialogue with the U.S. and expects that its relationship with Washington to return to regular, in accordance with an Interfax report citing Alexander Darchiyev, director of the North America Division on the Russian International Ministry.

“We’re open for an sincere and mutually respectful dialogue to the identical extent because the U.S. might be prepared for it,” Darchiyev says, including, “it might do properly to recollect the well-forgotten precept that labored through the Chilly Struggle, peaceable co-existence, regardless of the values and beliefs separating us which should not be pressured on one another.”

6:43 p.m. Ukrainian officers say the evacuation of residents has begun within the northeastern metropolis of Sumy which is beneath siege by the Russian navy. It’s the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine that persons are being evacuated by means of so-called humanitarian corridors the place preventing is ongoing. Evacuations have additionally begun in Irpin, close to Kyiv.

5:02 p.m. The Japanese bank card firm JCB pronounces that it’s halting fee transactions in Russia from March 14, shifting in keeping with main U.S. bank card corporations which have already suspended operations to squeeze Russia out of worldwide banking.

4:50 p.m. Russia has opened “humanitarian corridors” so folks could be evacuated from Kyiv and 4 different Ukrainian cities — Cherhihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Mariupol — the Interfax information company quotes Russia’s protection ministry as saying. The ministry provides that Russian forces in Ukraine launched a “silent regime” to make sure civilians’ security from 07:00 GMT, Interfax experiences.

3:00 p.m. Japan will ban exports of oil refining tools to Russia and dual-use merchandise to Belarus because it expands sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine, the highest authorities spokesman says. A complete of 32 Russian and Belarusian people, together with authorities officers and enterprise magnates, together with 12 entities, together with military-related corporations, have been added to the record of these dealing with asset freezes in Japan.

12:20 p.m. Viva Vitality, one in all Australia’s two refiners, says it should cease shopping for Russian crude oil, becoming a member of a rising variety of corporations to sever commerce ties with the nation over its invasion of Ukraine. The gas provider, which operates in Australia beneath the Shell model, says it’s “appalled” by the occasions in Ukraine as Russia continues its incursion. A spokesperson for Ampol, Australia’s solely different refiner, says the corporate has not purchased Russian crude oil or merchandise because the battle began.

11:41 a.m. Fitch turns into the second main credit standing company, following Moody’s, to droop its business operations in Russia with fast impact on Monday, saying its analysts outdoors the nation will present its protection as a substitute. Scores corporations are involved a couple of new regulation handed in Russia final week that threatens jail phrases of as much as 15 years for spreading what the Russian authorities describes as “pretend” data.

8:10 a.m. OPEC has no management over the occasions which have led to larger international oil costs, and there’s not sufficient capability to compensate for the lack of Russian provide, OPEC Secretary-Basic Mohammad Barkindo says. Russia is the world’s high exporter of crude and gas, delivery round 7 million barrels per day, or 7% of world provides. “There isn’t a capability on the earth that would substitute 7 tens of millions barrels per day,” Barkindo tells reporters at an business convention in Houston.

5:40 a.m. Russia might reply to European sanctions by halting the movement of pure fuel by means of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, says Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, in accordance with Interfax. No determination has been made but, Novak provides.

3:30 a.m. Russian negotiators say they don’t have any optimistic developments to report following talks with Ukraine and warn in opposition to anticipating the subsequent spherical to carry a ultimate consequence. The talks “aren’t straightforward,” negotiator Vladimir Medinsky mentioned. Ukraine negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak says that some small progress was revamped logistics for the evacuation of civilians however that no settlement that considerably improves the broader scenario was reached.

12:55 a.m. Ukrainian officers say a bread manufacturing unit has been hit by a Russian airstrike, Reuters experiences. The our bodies of at the very least 13 civilians had been recovered from rubble after the manufacturing unit in Makariv, west of Kyiv, was hit.

12:20 a.m. Japanese attire chain Uniqlo plans to proceed promoting garments at its 50 places in Russia, with Tadashi Yanai, CEO of mum or dad Quick Retailing, saying Russian folks want entry to every day requirements.

“Clothes is a necessity of life,” Yanai says. “The folks of Russia have the identical proper to stay as we do.” Learn extra.

Monday, March 7

11:55 p.m. Moscow approves a listing of overseas states and territories that dedicated “unfriendly actions” in opposition to Russia, its corporations and its residents, state information company Tass experiences. The record consists of Ukraine, Japan, the U.S., Canada, European Union states, the U.Ok., South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan.

The decree, following worldwide sanctions in opposition to Russia, lets the nation’s residents, corporations and authorities entities use rubles to pay overseas trade obligations to overseas collectors in these areas.

11:50 p.m. A 3rd spherical of talks between Ukrainian and Russian officers has begun, Interfax experiences.

In a Twitter put up forward of talks, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak urged the Russia to show its dedication to halting widespread assaults on civilians.

8:35 p.m. Ukrainian International Minister Dmytro Kuleba and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov are set to satisfy throughout a diplomacy discussion board in Turkey’s Antalya on Thursday, in accordance with Turkish International Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. The Turkish minister says he’ll attend the assembly.

8:30 p.m. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “recommended” to Russian President Vladimir Putin that “a direct dialog” between the Russian chief and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “might enormously help the continuing peace efforts.”

An Indian authorities assertion about their telephone name mentioned Putin “briefed” Modi on the standing of negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian groups. It added that Modi welcomed the talks and hoped they might result in a cessation of the battle.

The assertion mentioned the Russian president additionally “briefed [the] prime minister concerning the ongoing measures associated to humanitarian corridors for facilitating evacuation of civilians, together with Indian college students [stuck in Ukraine].”

5:40 p.m. Chinese language International Minister Wang Yi says that relations with Russia are “rock-solid” as he repeated requires dialogue to finish the struggle in Ukraine. China’s high diplomat doesn’t instantly deal with questions on calls from his Ukrainian counterpart for Beijing to dealer a cease-fire between Moscow and Kyiv, and there was little signal that Beijing was altering its cautious stance on the bloody battle.

5:16 p.m. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday who has briefed him “intimately concerning the battle scenario and the continuing negotiations between Ukraine and Russia,” in accordance with an Indian authorities assertion. On his half, Modi expressed “deep concern concerning the ongoing battle and resultant humanitarian disaster” and reiterated his name for “fast cessation of violence.”

3:30 p.m. Russia’s protection ministry says its navy will maintain hearth and open humanitarian corridors in a number of Ukrainian cities on Monday. In the course of the weekend, preventing stymied evacuation efforts, and civilian casualties mounted. The corridors will open at 10 a.m. Moscow time. They may lead from the capital Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol and Sumy, and are being arrange on the private request of French President Emmanuel Macron, the ministry says. “Makes an attempt by the Ukrainian aspect to deceive Russia and the entire civilized world … are ineffective this time,” the ministry provides.

2:39 p.m. Australia will assemble a nuclear submarine base within the east of the nation, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says. The venture, estimated to value greater than 10 billion Australian {dollars} ($7.4 billion), is aimed toward enhancing the nation’s protection and checking China’s ambitions within the Indo-Pacific area. The announcement additionally got here within the shadow of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Morrison framed as half of a bigger “assault” by autocracies in opposition to the rules-based worldwide order.

2:11 p.m. Japan has raised its journey alert for Russia to its second-highest stage to warn in opposition to all journeys there, as extra sanctions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine have left far fewer flights accessible and have begun severely disrupting the native economic system and residents’ lives. Japan’s overseas ministry lifted its threat warning to Stage 3 on its four-point scale, after European international locations and america closed off their airspace to Russian flights whereas Russia shut its airspace in retaliation.

12:20 p.m. Japan’s Nikkei share common plunges greater than 3% to a recent 15-month low, because the struggle in Ukraine reveals no indicators of abating, pushing up oil and different commodity costs and stoking fears of a stagflationary shock to the worldwide economic system.

11:30 a.m. Palladium jumps to a report excessive, whereas gold hits the important thing stage of $2,000 per ounce, as considerations over the Russia-Ukraine battle pushed buyers towards haven belongings.

9:25 a.m. U.S. gasoline costs on the pump jumped 11% over the previous week to their highest since late July 2008 as international sanctions cripple Russia’s skill to export crude oil, in accordance with vehicle membership AAA. The typical value for U.S. common gasoline hit $4.00 per gallon on Sunday, up 11% from $3.60 every week in the past and up 45% from $2.76 a 12 months in the past, AAA mentioned.

9:12 a.m. Oil costs soar greater than 10% in hectic buying and selling as the chance of a U.S. and European ban on Russian merchandise and delays in Iranian talks triggered what was shaping up as a serious stagflationary shock for world markets.

7:46 a.m. Accounting agency KPMG says it should go away Russia and Belarus, its announcement coming quickly after PwC declared its intent to go away Russia. “We consider we’ve a accountability, together with different international companies, to reply to the Russian authorities’s ongoing navy assault on Ukraine. In consequence, our Russia and Belarus companies will go away the KPMG community,” the agency mentioned in its information launch.

6:37 a.m. PwC has severed ties with its Russian companies, making it the primary of the Huge 4 accounting companies to exit the nation since Ukraine was invaded, the Monetary Instances experiences. The agency has some 3,700 companions and employees in Russia throughout 11 places. PwC’s Russian operations will keep on as a stand-alone agency however with no formal connection to the worldwide model.

5:51 a.m. Netflix and TikTok announce suspensions to their respective providers in Russia. Netflix’s determination cites “circumstances on the bottom,” whereas TikTok says it should halt livestreaming in addition to video uploads to its platform within the nation. TikTok, a Chinese language-owned social media firm, provides it’s reviewing “the security implications” of a media regulation signed on Friday by President Vladimir Putin imposing jail phrases of as much as 15 years for spreading what Moscow calls “pretend information.”

2:15 a.m. Russia’s sovereign bond funds to nonresidents will depend upon sanctions imposed by the West, the nation’s finance ministry says.

Russia will use rubles to make funds to residents on bonds denominated in overseas foreign money, in accordance with the ministry.

12:21 a.m. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, at the very least 364 civilians are confirmed to have been killed within the nation and one other 759 wounded, in accordance with the Workplace of the U.N. Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights. The figures comprise casualties by means of Saturday and are in all probability “significantly larger,” the monitoring mission experiences.

Sunday, March 6

11:12 p.m. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Tuesday to coordinate the response to the Russian assault on Ukraine, a U.S. State Division spokesperson says.

11:00 p.m. Russian shelling prevents evacuation of civilians from the Ukrainian port metropolis of Mariupol, native authorities say. The shelling continues regardless of a brief cease-fire settlement.

9:35 p.m. Russian President Vladimir Putin warns Ukraine that Russia’s navy operation would solely be halted if Kyiv stops resisting and fulfills all the Kremlin’s calls for.

“It’s hoped that through the deliberate subsequent spherical of negotiations, Ukraine’s representatives will present a extra constructive strategy, totally considering the rising realities,” the Kremlin says in a readout of a name with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

4:22 p.m. South Korea will implement export controls in opposition to Belarus for “successfully supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” Seoul’s overseas ministry says. The ministry didn’t element what measures could be taken, however says they are going to be utilized in the same solution to strikes already taken by South Korea in opposition to Russia. It condemned Moscow as having launched an “armed invasion” of Ukraine.

9:35 a.m. U.S. funds companies Visa and Mastercard are suspending operations in Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, and they’re going to work with purchasers and companions to stop all transactions there.

7:52 a.m. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with Chinese language International Minister Wang Yi about “Moscow’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified struggle in opposition to Ukraine,” a U.S. State Division spokesperson says.

7:50 a.m. Ukraine’s chief makes a “determined” plea to American lawmakers for the U.S. to assist get extra warplanes to his navy and minimize off Russian oil imports as Kyiv tries to stave off the Russian invasion.

5:29 a.m. Russian President Vladimir Putin warns that Ukrainian statehood is in jeopardy and likened the West’s sanctions on Russia to “declaring struggle,” in a televised assembly with flight attendants from Russian airline Aeroflot.

2:45 a.m. Russia and Ukraine will maintain a 3rd spherical of talks on Monday about ending hostilities, Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia mentioned in a Fb put up on Saturday, with out offering additional particulars, in accordance with Reuters.

Saturday, March 5

11:44 p.m. What seemed like a breakthrough cease-fire to evacuate residents from two cities in Ukraine rapidly falls aside as Ukrainian officers mentioned shelling had halted the work to take away civilians hours after Russia introduced the deal, in accordance with AP.

11:30 a.m. Samsung Electronics says shipments to Russia have been suspended “as a result of present geopolitical developments.” A press release from the corporate reads, “We proceed to actively monitor this advanced scenario to find out our subsequent steps.” Samsung Electronics’ handsets are the highest vendor in Russia, with a 30% share of the market as of the fourth quarter of 2021. Samsung can be donating $6 million, together with $1 million in shopper electronics in addition to voluntary donations from staff, to actively help humanitarian efforts “across the area,” together with assist for refugees.

11:00 a.m. Credit standing company S&P has minimize Belarus’ ranking to “CCC” from “B,” which means its sovereign debt is “susceptible,” and positioned it on detrimental because of the nation’s involvement in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Worldwide sanctions imposed on Belarus as a result of its involvement in Russia’s navy intervention in opposition to Ukraine are extreme, and we anticipate them to tighten additional,” the company mentioned. MSCI, which ranks corporations and international locations on their environmental, social and governance (ESG) efficiency, earlier this week downgraded Russia and Belarus in response to their struggle on Ukraine.

8:00 a.m. Russia says Meta Platforms’ Fb has been blocked for proscribing state-backed channels. Nick Clegg, Meta’s head of world affairs says the corporate will do all the pieces potential to revive providers. The transfer got here after the tussle between Russia and Western corporations escalated on Friday as Moscow blocked a slew of media corporations, and large manufacturers like Microsoft and Digital Arts introduced they had been shutting down gross sales within the nation.

7:14 a.m. CNN will cease broadcasting in Russia “whereas we proceed to guage the scenario and our subsequent steps shifting ahead,” a spokesperson says.

Bloomberg will quickly droop newsgathering there, with its editor-in-chief saying a change to the prison code “makes it unattainable to proceed any semblance of regular journalism contained in the nation.” Those that unfold “pretend information” concerning the navy could be imprisoned for 15 years beneath the regulation.

The 2 U.S. media corporations comply with the BBC, which introduced the same transfer earlier.

6:39 a.m. S&P Dow Jones Indices, residence to the Dow Jones Industrial Common and the S&P 500, says it should take away all shares listed and/or domiciled in Russia from its commonplace fairness indexes at a value of zero.

It can additionally change the nation’s classification from an rising market to stand-alone, “given the deterioration within the stage of accessibility of the Russian market,” the firm pronounces.

5:00 a.m. The BBC says it’s quickly suspending its reporting in Russia in response to a brand new regulation that BBC Director-Basic Tim Davie mentioned “seems to criminalize the method of impartial journalism.”

“The security of our employees is paramount and we aren’t ready to reveal them to the chance of prison prosecution merely for doing their jobs,” Davie says.

Entry to the BBC has been restricted in Russia, together with different media shops authorities say are “publishing unreliable details about the particular navy operation in Ukraine,” TASS experiences, utilizing Moscow’s title for the struggle. Others embrace Meduza, the Voice of America, Radio Liberty and Deutsche Welle.

3:30 a.m. International ministers from seven main industrial nations name on Moscow to cease assaults near Ukraine’s nuclear energy crops, saying “any armed assault on and risk in opposition to nuclear services dedicated to peaceable functions constitutes a violation of the ideas of worldwide regulation.”

The highest diplomats from the Group of Seven additionally say in a assertion launched by the U.S. State Division that the nations are ready to impose additional sanctions on Russia and Belarus. “We want to clarify to the Russian and Belarusian those that the extreme sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus are a consequence of and clear response to President Putin’s unprovoked and unjustifiable struggle in opposition to Ukraine,” the assertion says.

In addition they condemn Russian assaults on civilians in addition to faculties and hospitals.

2:40 a.m. NATO has rejected a Ukrainian name for a no-fly zone over the war-torn nation, however a U.S. protection official says the Ukrainian air drive continues to be largely intact.

“The Ukrainians nonetheless have a major majority of their air fight energy accessible to them, each fixed-wing and rotary wing in addition to unmanned techniques and surface-to-air techniques,” Reuters quotes the official as saying. The official spoke on situation of anonymity.

2:15 a.m. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has advised Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan he’s “grateful to Turkey for the constant help,” Zelenskyy says on Twitter. He additionally says he spoke with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi.

In the meantime, Interfax experiences that Russia’s Protection Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke with United Nations Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres, telling him Russian troops in Ukraine have created corridors for the civilian inhabitants within the areas the place they maintain management.

Friday, March 4

11:48 p.m. Ukraine’s central financial institution governor calls on the U.S. and the European Union to freeze the belongings of all Russian banks inside their jurisdiction.

“We urge you to take choices that may assist in the worldwide combat in opposition to terrorist financing,” Shevchenko mentioned in an announcement.

6:17 p.m. Russia’s protection ministry blames an assault on the web site of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant in Ukraine on Ukrainian saboteurs, calling it a monstrous provocation. Ukraine has mentioned Russian forces attacked the plant within the early hours of Friday, setting an adjoining five-story coaching facility on hearth.

A Russian protection ministry spokesman mentioned the nuclear plant was working usually and the world had been beneath Russian management since Feb. 28. “Nonetheless, final night time on the territory adjoining to the facility plant, an try was made by the Kyiv nationalist regime to hold out a monstrous provocation,” spokesman Igor Konashenkov was quoted as saying.

5:55 p.m. Russia’s parliament has handed a regulation imposing jail phrases of as much as 15 years for spreading deliberately “pretend” details about the armed forces as Moscow fights again in what it casts as an data struggle over the battle in Ukraine. Russian officers have repeatedly mentioned that false data has been unfold by Russia’s enemies resembling america and its allies in an try and sow discord and divide its folks.

4:50 p.m. The New Improvement Financial institution established by the BRICS group of rising nations says it has put new transactions in Russia on maintain. “In mild of unfolding uncertainties and restrictions, NDB has put new transactions in Russia on maintain. NDB will proceed to conduct enterprise in full conformity with the very best compliance requirements as a global establishment,” it mentioned in an announcement posted on its web site. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — recognized collectively as BRICS — are members of the NDB.

4:31 p.m. China’s overseas ministry has urged all sides to make sure the security of nuclear services in Ukraine, after a hearth broke out in a constructing adjoining to a nuclear plant there throughout intense preventing. “We are going to monitor the scenario and name on all sides to train restraint, keep away from escalation and make sure the security of related nuclear services,” Wang Wenbin, ministry spokesman, mentioned at a every day briefing.

3:50 p.m. Russian navy forces have seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant — Europe’s largest — in Ukraine’s southeast, the regional state administration says. “Operational personnel are monitoring the situation of energy models,” it mentioned on social media, quoting the Ukrainian nuclear inspectorate. It additionally mentioned efforts had been being made to make sure the operations had been in keeping with security necessities.

2:24 p.m. Russia’s communications watchdog has restricted entry to the Russian-language web sites of the BBC and Radio Liberty for spreading what it forged as false details about the battle in Ukraine.

1:14 p.m. House rental firm Airbnb is suspending all operations in Russia and Belarus, CEO Brian Chesky says in a tweet.

11:46 a.m. U.S. Vitality Secretary Jennifer Granholm says the reactors at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy station “are protected by sturdy containment constructions and reactors are being safely shut down.” Granholm mentioned on Twitter she had simply spoken with Ukraine’s vitality minister concerning the scenario on the plant, the place a hearth broke out throughout preventing between Russian and Ukrainian forces. “Now we have seen no elevated radiation readings close to the power,” Granholm mentioned.

10:09 a.m. Alphabet’s Google says it has stopped promoting internet marketing in Russia, a ban that covers search, YouTube and outdoors publishing companions. The transfer by the world’s high vendor of on-line advertisements by income follows related pauses in Russia by Twitter and Snap following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “In mild of the extraordinary circumstances, we’re pausing Google advertisements in Russia,” the corporate mentioned in an announcement. “The scenario is evolving rapidly, and we are going to proceed to share updates when applicable.”

9:40 a.m. A spokesman for Europe’s largest nuclear plant says the power is on hearth after Russia attacked the facility station within the southern Ukrainian metropolis of Enerhodar. A authorities official tells The Related Press elevated ranges of radiation are being detected close to the positioning of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which offers about 25% of the nation’s energy technology. The official spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of the data has not but been publicly launched.

4:48 a.m. U.S. prosecutors cost a TV producer for Konstantin Malofeyev, described as a Russian oligarch, with violating Crimea-related sanctions. John Hanick, a U.S. citizen, was arrested in February in London, and the U.S. is searching for his extradition. Malofeyev is carefully tied to Russian aggression in Ukraine, prosecutors say in an announcement. Malofeyev owns Tsargrad TV, a Christian Orthodox tv channel, in accordance with Reuters.

4:40 a.m. U.S. President Joe Biden says Russia is firing indiscriminately in Ukraine because the U.S. pronounces extra sanctions to clamp down on Putin and other people round him. “The US can even impose visa restrictions on 19 oligarchs and 47 of their relations and shut associates,” the White Home says in an announcement.

4:14 a.m. Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company chief Rafael Grossi urges Russian and Ukrainian troops to cease preventing in Enerhodar, Ukraine, which is only a few kilometers away from the nation’s largest nuclear energy plant.

4:02 a.m. Officers within the southeastern Ukrainian port metropolis of Mariupol say they’re “being destroyed,” with Russia forces knocking out energy, water and heating provides as they bombard the town with heavy shelling. “Mariupol stays beneath hearth. Ladies, youngsters and the aged are struggling. We’re being destroyed as a nation. That is genocide of the Ukrainian folks,” the town’s council mentioned in an announcement.

3:17 a.m. Ukraine says a tentative settlement with Russia organizes protected corridors for civilian evacuations and the supply of humanitarian provides. Stop-fires could be noticed within the affected areas, says Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak, who took half within the talks in Belarus.

2:30 a.m. Russian President Vladimir Putin says on tv that the navy operation in Ukraine is continuing in accordance with plan and that its troopers are heroes.

With out proof, he accuses Ukrainian forces of holding foreigners hostage and utilizing human shields.

2:15 a.m. Ukrainian and Russian peace negotiators start their second spherical of talks.

12:54 a.m. Canada will take away most-favored-nation standing for Russia and Belarus as buying and selling companions and supply extra deadly assist to Ukraine together with rocket launchers and hand grenades.

The 2 international locations be a part of solely North Korea in missing that standing. Items from Russia and Belarus might be subjected to a 35% tariff when imported into Canada, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland mentioned.

12:05 a.m. The China-backed Asian Infrastructure Funding Financial institution pronounces that “all actions regarding Russia and Belarus are on maintain and beneath overview,” citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Learn right here

“Because the struggle in Ukraine unfolds, the Asian Infrastructure Funding Financial institution (AIIB) extends its ideas and sympathy to everybody affected. Our hearts exit to all who’re struggling,” an announcement posted on the Beijing-based lender’s web site reads.

For an establishment carefully linked to the Chinese language authorities, referring to the battle as a “struggle” is uncommon.

Thursday, March 3

6:12 p.m. Ukraine’s protection traces had been holding in opposition to the Russian assault, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says in his newest video, including there had been no respite in Moscow’s shelling of Ukraine since midnight.

Zelenskyy mentioned Russia’s altering ways and shelling of civilians in cities proved Ukraine was profitable in resisting Moscow’s preliminary plan of claiming a fast victory by means of a land assault.

5:30 p.m. The U.Ok.’s Ministry of Protection tweeted an intelligence replace that claims Russia’s lengthy convoy heading to Kyiv has made little progress

– “The primary physique of the big Russian column advancing on Kyiv stays over 30km from the centre of the town having been delayed by staunch Ukrainian resistance, mechanical breakdown and congestion. The column has made little discernible progress in over three days.”

– “Regardless of heavy Russian shelling, the cities of Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Mariupol stay in Ukrainian arms. Some Russian forces have entered the town of Kherson however the navy scenario stays unclear.”

– “The Russian defence ministry has been pressured to confess that 498 Russian troopers have already been killed and 1,597 wounded in Putin’s struggle. The precise variety of these killed and wounded will virtually definitely be significantly larger and can proceed to rise.”

5:13 p.m. Russian and Belarusian athletes won’t be able to compete on the Winter Paralympics in Beijing, the Worldwide Paralympic Committee says, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for which Belarus has been key staging space. The choice comes a day after the IPC gave athletes from the 2 international locations the inexperienced mild to take part as neutrals, saying that the governing physique had adopted its guidelines and that “athletes weren’t the aggressors.” “Following a specifically convened assembly, the IPC Governing Board has determined to refuse the athlete entries from the RPC and NPC Belarus for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Video games,” the IPC mentioned.

2:28 p.m. Amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Quad leaders will maintain a digital assembly on Thursday. India’s Ministry of Exterior Affairs mentioned in an announcement that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, U.S. President Joe Biden, Australia’s Scott Morrison, and Japan’s Fumio Kishida “will trade views and assessments about necessary developments within the Indo-Pacific. … The Quad leaders can even overview ongoing efforts to implement the leaders’ initiatives introduced as a part of the Quad’s up to date and optimistic agenda.” The assertion doesn’t point out the precise timing of the assembly.

1:30 p.m. Amazon.com is utilizing its logistics capabilities to ship provides to these in want, and its cybersecurity experience to assist governments and corporations, as a part of its help for Ukraine, Chief Govt Andy Jassy says on Twitter. “Amazon stands with the folks of Ukraine, and can proceed to assist,” Jassy mentioned, following Russia’s invasion, which Moscow calls a “particular operation.” Amazon, which earlier this week pledged to donate as much as $10 million for humanitarian efforts, is the newest firm to supply assist.

11:30 a.m. Fitch and Moody’s have downgraded Russia’s sovereign credit standing by six notches to “junk” standing, saying Western sanctions have thrown into doubt Russia’s skill to service its debt. Russia’s monetary markets have been thrown into turmoil by sanctions imposed over the nation’s invasion of Ukraine. S&P lowered Russia’s ranking to junk standing final week. The invasion additionally prompted index suppliers FTSE Russell and MSCI to announce they’ll take away Russian equities from all their indexes. The assertion got here after a high MSCI government referred to as Russia’s inventory market “uninvestable.”

10:20 a.m. Japan will freeze belongings of 4 extra Russian banks, Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki says, bringing the overall quantity to seven. The federal government didn’t disclose the title of the 4 banks.

10:00 a.m. The U.N. refugee company says 1 million folks have fled Ukraine since Russia’s invasion lower than every week in the past, an exodus with out precedent on this century for its velocity. The tally from UNHCR quantities to greater than 2% of Ukraine’s inhabitants on the transfer in beneath every week. The World Financial institution counted the inhabitants at 44 million on the finish of 2020. The U.N. company has predicted that as much as 4 million folks may finally go away Ukraine, however cautioned that even that projection could possibly be revised upward.

8:02 a.m. The Kremlin says its forces have taken the port of Kherson, a southern provincial capital of round 250,000 folks strategically positioned the place the Dnipro River flows into the Black Sea. Kyiv earlier denied this. Earlier, Kherson Mayor Igor Kolykhayev mentioned Russian troops had been within the streets and had pressured their means into the town council constructing.

7:52 a.m. The Russian Protection Ministry acknowledges for the primary time a considerable variety of casualties in Ukraine, saying 498 Russian troops have died and 1,597 extra have been injured.

Till now, the Russian aspect has been disclosed little or no details about what it calls a “particular navy operation.”

5:20 a.m. Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has determined to promote the Chelsea soccer membership after 19 years of possession, vowing to donate proceeds of the sale to victims of the struggle in Ukraine. Learn right here.

4:35 a.m. A Ukrainian delegation is headed for talks with Russia, Reuters experiences, citing Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak.

3:52 a.m. The White Home imposes extra sanctions on Russia and provides penalties in opposition to Belarus in response to the Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. “The US will take actions to carry Belarus accountable for enabling Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, weaken the Russian protection sector and its navy energy for years to come back, goal Russia’s most necessary sources of wealth, and ban Russian airways from U.S. airspace,” the White Home says in an announcement.

The brand new actions embrace: Restrictions on Belarus to choke off tech imports, sanctions on Russian protection entities, export controls concentrating on Russian oil refining, concentrating on entities supporting Russian and Belarusian militaries, and banning Russian plane from U.S. airspace.

2:30 a.m. In the meantime, Russia continues to justify its actions.

“The Russian troops, the Russian military are on an honorable mission: to eradicate the actual risk to Russia which till just lately was emanating from Ukraine, from the place, in opposition to the need of the Ukrainian folks, NATO bases, nuclear weapons and supply automobiles had been to seem within the close to future. Our Motherland might be protected,” Russian Protection Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov is quote as saying by Interfax.

2:15 a.m. The United Nations Basic Meeting has overwhelming adopted a decision calling on Russian forces to go away Ukraine.

The decision was supported by 141 member states. Russia, Belarus and three different international locations voted in opposition to it. China and India had been among the many 35 member states to abstain.

2:00 a.m. Russia has advised the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company that Russian forces have taken management of the world round Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Energy Plant, in accordance with a assertion by IAEA Director Basic Rafael Mariano Grossi.

The Russian aspect says that employees on the plant have continued to “work on offering nuclear security and monitoring radiation in regular mode of operation,” and that “the radiation ranges stay regular,” in accordance with the assertion.

1:40 a.m. Russia’s rising isolation from the world of sports activities has prolonged to video video games. EA Sports activities, writer of the FIFA soccer sport collection, says it should take away the Russian nationwide staff and Russian golf equipment.

12:30 a.m. Toyota Motor will droop auto manufacturing in Russia from Friday because it struggles to supply elements from abroad. Learn right here.

Wednesday, March 2

11:10 p.m. Ukraine disputes Russia’s declare that its forces had taken the port metropolis of Kherson. Learn right here.

In the meantime, different cities have seen districts turned to rubble by Russian missiles, Ukrainian authorities say. Amongst them are Zhytomyr, west of Kyiv. Two folks had been killed and 16 others, together with youngsters, injured within the assaults, authorities mentioned Wednesday morning native time.

9:00 p.m. Japan will soak up folks fleeing Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion and contemplate choices to work round stringent coronavirus-related entry curbs, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says.

Whereas Tokyo seems to focus initially on these with household or mates in Japan, it is not going to restrict entry to that group, Kishida mentioned, including that “we are going to reply from a humanitarian standpoint.”

The transfer is noteworthy for a rustic that sometimes accepts refugees solely in very small numbers.

8:30 p.m. Requested whether or not China would function a mediator, as Ukraine has requested, International Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin tells reporters that Beijing has at all times supported and inspired diplomatic efforts towards a peaceable settlement. He says China welcomes peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and expresses hope that the 2 will proceed with dialogue that takes each side’ respectable safety considerations under consideration.

China, he says, will proceed to play a constructive position.

7:45 p.m. Jailed Russian opposition chief Alexey Navalny has urged his compatriots to carry every day protests in opposition to the invasion of Ukraine, in a prolonged thread posted to his verified Twitter account.

Here is the complete thread:

1/12 We – Russia – need to be a nation of peace. Alas, few folks would name us that now.

2/12 However let’s at the very least not change into a nation of frightened silent folks. Of cowards who fake to not discover the aggressive struggle in opposition to Ukraine unleashed by our clearly insane czar.

3/12 I can not, don’t need and won’t stay silent watching how pseudo-historical nonsense concerning the occasions of 100 years in the past has change into an excuse for Russians to kill Ukrainians, and for Ukrainians to kill Russians whereas defending themselves.

4/12 It is the third decade of the twenty first century, and we’re watching information about folks burning down in tanks and bombed homes. We’re watching actual threats to start out a nuclear struggle on our TVs.

5/12 I’m from the united states myself. I used to be born there. And the principle phrase from there – from my childhood – was “combat for peace.” I name on everybody to take to the streets and combat for peace.

6/12 Putin shouldn’t be Russia. And if there’s something in Russia proper now which you can be most pleased with, it’s these 6824 individuals who had been detained as a result of – with none name – they took to the streets with placards saying “No Struggle.”

7/12 They are saying that somebody who can not attend a rally and doesn’t threat being arrested for it can not name for it. I am already in jail, so I feel I can.

8/12 We can not wait any longer. Wherever you might be, in Russia, Belarus or on the opposite aspect of the planet, go to the principle sq. of your metropolis each weekday and at 2 pm on weekends and holidays.

9/12 In case you are overseas, come to the Russian embassy. Should you can organise an illustration, accomplish that on the weekend. Sure, perhaps just a few folks will take to the streets on the primary day. And within the second – even much less.

10/12 However we should, gritting our tooth and overcoming worry, come out and demand an finish to the struggle. Every arrested individual should be changed by two newcomers.

11/12 If with the intention to cease the struggle we’ve to fill prisons and paddy wagons with ourselves, we are going to fill prisons and paddy wagons with ourselves.

12/12 All the things has a value, and now, within the spring of 2022, we should pay this value. There is no one to do it for us. Let’s not “be in opposition to the struggle.” Let’s combat in opposition to the struggle.

6:52 p.m. The European Union will impose extra sanctions on Russia by blocking seven of its banks from the SWIFT fee community

3:52 p.m. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, Vice President William Lai and Premier Su Tseng-chang every will donate one month’s wage to assist humanitarian reduction efforts for Ukraine, which is standing its floor in opposition to a navy invasion by Russia, the president mentioned.

3:35 p.m. Sberbank, Russia’s largest lender, is leaving the European market as its subsidiaries there face giant money outflows and what it says are threats to the security of staff and property. The financial institution says it’s not in a position to provide liquidity to European subsidiaries, following a central financial institution order, however its capital stage and asset high quality are ample to pay all depositors. “The group’s subsidiary banks have confronted irregular money outflows and threats to the security of its staff and branches,” it mentioned in an announcement.

10:11 a.m. Exxon Mobil will exit Russia operations, together with oil manufacturing fields, it pronounces on Tuesday, turning into the newest main Western vitality firm to stop the oil-rich nation following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Learn extra.

10:00 a.m. Boeing says it has suspended operations in Russia and quickly closed its workplace in Kyiv. The U.S.-based plane producer will halt gross sales of spare elements and upkeep help for Russian airways, which embrace nationwide flag provider Aeroflot and its fleet of Boeing 737s and 777s.

6:40 a.m. Apple pauses all product gross sales in Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

“We’re deeply involved concerning the Russian invasion of Ukraine and stand with all the people who find themselves struggling because of the violence,” Apple says in an announcement. “We’re supporting humanitarian efforts, offering assist for the unfolding refugee disaster, and doing all we are able to to help our groups within the area.”

The corporate additionally says it stopped all exports into its gross sales channels within the nation. Apple Pay and different providers have been restricted, the corporate says. Russian state media, RT News and Sputnik News, are not accessible for obtain from the Apple Retailer outdoors Russia.

6:00 a.m. Canada decides to close its ports to Russian-owned ships later this week in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says.

“Russia should be held accountable for its invasion of Ukraine,” Alghabra mentioned. “As we speak, we’re taking steps to shut Canadian waters and ports to Russian-owned or registered ships. We are going to proceed to take motion to face with Ukraine,” he added.

1:50 a.m. The European Union is making ready for “tens of millions” extra refugees fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, EU House Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson says.

Johansson says it was troublesome to estimate exactly what number of refugees may stream by means of EU borders after Russia invaded Ukraine final week, after greater than 400,000 had come by means of up to now.

“Sadly, we’ve to organize for tens of millions of individuals to come back,” Johansson tells a information convention within the Slovak capital Bratislava, an EU member that shares a border with Ukraine. “On the identical time we’ve large and pressing humanitarian wants in Ukraine, numerous internally displaced folks.”

12:20 a.m. Chinese language International Minister Wang Yi speaks together with his Ukraine counterpart Dmytro Kuleba on the telephone, with the latter asking for mediation for a cease-fire, CCTV experiences.

Wang didn’t give a transparent response as as to if China would play a peace dealer.

Tuesday, March 1

10: 40 p.m. The second spherical of Russia-Ukraine talks is deliberate for March 2, Russia’s TASS information company experiences, quoting a supply on the Russian aspect.

After the primary spherical of negotiations produced no tangible outcomes, the 2 sides had mentioned they might meet once more within the coming days.

6:30 p.m. An Indian scholar was killed when the Ukrainian metropolis of Kharkiv was shelled on Tuesday, India’s Ministry of Exterior Affairs says.

5:50 p.m. YouTube is obstructing channels related to Russian state-backed media shops RT and Sputnik throughout Europe, efficient instantly, because of the scenario in Ukraine, the corporate operated by Alphabet’s Google, says. “It’s going to take time for our techniques to totally ramp up. Our groups proceed to watch the scenario across the clock to take swift motion,” a YouTube spokesperson says. The corporate’s actions follows that of Fb mum or dad Meta, which on Monday mentioned it should limit entry to tv community RT and information company Sputnik on its platforms throughout the European Union.

5:35 p.m. Human rights teams and Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S. accuse Russia of attacking Ukrainians with cluster bombs and vacuum bombs, weapons which have been condemned by quite a lot of worldwide organizations. Amnesty Worldwide and Human Rights Watch each mentioned Russian forces appeared to have used broadly banned cluster munitions. Oksana Markarova, Ukraine’s ambassador to america, advised reporters after assembly with members of the U.S. Congress that Russia had used a thermobaric weapon, often called a vacuum bomb, in its invasion of her nation.

2:40 p.m. The Worldwide Olympic Committee’s government board has advisable sports activities federations ban Russian and Belarusian athletes and officers from competing in occasions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The IOC mentioned the chief board made the choice “with the intention to defend the integrity of world sports activities competitions and for the security of all of the individuals,” and that the physique was appearing with a “heavy coronary heart.” The Russian Olympic Committee slammed the IOC determination, saying it “contradicts each the regulatory paperwork of the IOC and the [Olympic] Constitution.”

12:17 p.m. Mastercard says it has blocked a number of monetary establishments from its fee community because of sanctions imposed on Russia over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

11:08 a.m. Taiwan will be a part of strikes to dam some Russian banks from the SWIFT worldwide funds system, the federal government says, including that it has despatched humanitarian assist to Ukraine in a present of help for the worldwide “democratic camp.” Because it joins many Western and different democracies in sanctioning Russia, Taiwan can be voicing sympathy for the Ukrainian folks, drawing parallels with what it views as Beijing’s threats in opposition to the island. Premier Su Tseng-chang advised reporters Taiwan’s sanctions determination was in lock-step with its democratic companions around the globe, including that the federal government will “cooperate” with what Western international locations have determined relating to SWIFT.

9:30 a.m. Soccer’s FIFA and UEFA have suspended Russia’s nationwide groups and golf equipment from worldwide competitions, becoming a member of the governing our bodies of different sports activities which have made related strikes in protest of Russia’s navy assault on Ukraine. It’s now possible Russia might be excluded from this 12 months’s World Cup and the ladies’s Euro 2022 match.

7:55 a.m. Turkey has warned all international locations to not ship warships by means of key passages to the Black Sea after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan mentioned the nation would take motion based mostly on a 1936 settlement to “cease escalation” in Ukraine. Learn right here.

6:44 a.m. A no-fly zone over Ukraine is “not a good suggestion,” White Home press secretary Jen Psaki says.

“What that will require is implementation by the U.S. navy,” Psaki says. “It will basically imply the U.S. navy could be taking pictures down planes — Russian planes. That’s undoubtedly escalatory. That might probably put us into a spot the place we’re in … a navy battle with Russia. That isn’t one thing the president needs to do.”

“We aren’t going to have a navy struggle with Russia with U.S. troops,” she says.

6:33 a.m. Shell will exit its joint ventures with Gazprom, together with a 27.5% % stake in Sakhalin-2. Learn right here.

4:15 a.m. The U.S. has moved to expel a dozen Russian diplomats to the United Nations over nationwide safety considerations.

Russia’s ambassador to the U.N., Vassily Nebenzia, tells reporters that the unidentified officers have been ordered to go away by March 7.

He describes the transfer as “unhappy information” and one other demonstration of “gross disrespect” by the U.S. relating to its commitments as host of U.N. headquarters in New York.

The American aspect calls the 12 personnel “intelligence operatives from the Russian Mission who’ve abused their privileges of residency in america by participating in espionage actions which might be antagonistic to our nationwide safety.”

“We’re taking this motion in accordance with the UN Headquarters Settlement,” the U.S. assertion says. “This motion has been in improvement for a number of months.”

3:36 a.m. Microsoft pronounces “new steps to cut back the publicity of Russian state propaganda, as properly to make sure our personal platforms don’t inadvertently fund these operations.”

“In accordance with the EU’s latest determination, the Microsoft Begin platform (together with MSN.com) is not going to show any state-sponsored RT and Sputnik content material,” Microsoft President and Vice Chair Brad Smith writes. “We’re eradicating RT information apps from our Home windows app retailer and additional de-ranking these websites’ search outcomes on Bing so that it’s going to solely return RT and Sputnik hyperlinks when a consumer clearly intends to navigate to these pages. Lastly, we’re banning all commercials from RT and Sputnik throughout our advert community and won’t place any advertisements from our advert community on these websites.”

3:21 a.m. Russia’s central financial institution says Moscow’s inventory market is not going to open Tuesday, after it ordered the market to to not open on Monday.

2:00 a.m. Finland will ship weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. The help will consist of two,500 assault rifles, 150,000 cartridges, 1,500 single-shot anti-tank weapons and 70,000 fight ration packages, in accordance with the Finnish Ministry of Protection.

1:35 a.m. The preliminary spherical of peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian officers ends, in accordance with Russian sources. The talks will resume within the coming days after negotiators seek the advice of with management at their respective capitals, Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky says.

1:30 a.m. French President Emmanuel Macron asks Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone to finish assaults on Ukraine’s civilians and residential areas, protect civilian infrastructure, and safe most important roads. Macron suggests staying in contact to stop the scenario from worsening, and Putin agrees.

12:50 a.m. Switzerland says it should undertake European Union sanctions in opposition to Russians concerned within the invasion of Ukraine and freeze their belongings.

The alpine nation additionally adopts monetary sanctions in opposition to President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and International Minister Sergey Lavrov.

“Switzerland reaffirms its solidarity with Ukraine and its folks; it is going to be delivering reduction provides for individuals who have fled to Poland,” the federal government says.

12:20 a.m. The Worldwide Olympic Committee decides to strip President Vladimir Putin and different Russian authorities officers of the Olympic Order, the group’s highest award. The IOC additionally urges sports activities federations to exclude Russian athletes and officers from worldwide competitions and pronounces a solidarity fund for Ukrainian athletes. The transfer follows an earlier name for sports activities our bodies to take away competitions from Russia. The Paralympics are set to start in Beijing on Friday.

Monday, Feb. 28

10:58 p.m. The U.S. shuts its embassy in Minsk and permits nonemergency staff and relations to depart from its embassy in Moscow. All American employees have departed Belarus, U.S. Ambassador to Belarus Julie Fisher tweets.

“We took these steps as a result of safety and security points stemming from the unprovoked and unjustified assault by Russian navy forces in Ukraine,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken says.

10:56 p.m. The referendum in Belarus to ditch its non-nuclear standing is a “enormously worrying” transfer orchestrated by the nation’s strongman chief Alexander Lukashenko, European Union overseas coverage chief Josep Borrell says. The vote to alter the structure, handed with 65% in accordance with official knowledge, may see nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil for the primary time because the nation gave them up after the autumn of the Soviet Union.

10:20 p.m. Russia has barred airways from 36 international locations together with Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy and Canada from utilizing its airspace — a retaliatory transfer after sweeping sanctions concentrating on its aviation sector.

9:12 p.m. Chinese language trip hailer Didi International has scrapped plans to withdraw from Russia — a choice a supply mentioned displays strain in China to stay by Moscow amid the Ukraine struggle.

8:45 p.m. Dozens had been killed in rocket strikes on the Ukrainian metropolis of Kharkiv on Monday morning, an inside ministry adviser says. “Kharkiv has simply been massively fired upon by grads (rockets). Dozens of useless and lots of of wounded,” Anton Herashchenko writes on Fb in a put up seen by Reuters.

8:30 p.m. The Russian Embassy in China posts a notice Monday night time concerning the Feb. 25 name between Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin on the favored messaging platform WeChat, revealing extra particulars that Chinese language state broadcaster CCTV did not point out three days in the past.

The embassy mentioned within the put up that “Xi Jinping confused his respect for the actions taken by the Russian chief within the present disaster scenario.”

The put up continues: “The 2 sides assessed the present worldwide scenario and reaffirmed their willingness to additional shut coordination and mutual help on the [United Nations] and different multilateral platforms. They famous that using unlawful sanctions to attain the self-interested targets of particular person international locations should not be allowed.”

7:30 p.m. Talks between Ukraine and Russia are underway on the Belarusian border, a Ukrainian presidential adviser tells Reuters. The Ukrainian president’s workplace has mentioned the objective is to attain a right away cease-fire and withdrawal of Russian forces.

5:00 p.m. Latvia’s parliament voted unanimously to permit its nationals to combat in Ukraine if they need, the legislative physique says. “Our residents who need to help Ukraine and volunteer to serve there to defend Ukraine’s independence and our widespread safety should be ready to take action,” mentioned Juris Rancanis, chairman of the parliamentary protection, residence affairs and corruption prevention fee, which drafted the regulation. Latvia, along with Baltic neighbors Estonia and Lithuania, was as soon as dominated by Moscow. The three have lengthy seen Russia as a risk, however in contrast to Ukraine, they’ve joined the European Union and NATO, which brings safety ensures.

4:18 p.m. The Russian central financial institution raises its key rate of interest to twenty% from 9.5% in an emergency transfer, and authorities have advised export-focused corporations to promote overseas foreign money because the ruble tumbled to report lows. “Exterior circumstances for the Russian economic system have drastically modified,” the central financial institution mentioned in an announcement.

4:10 p.m. Singapore Airways says it should droop its flights between the city-state and Moscow efficient Monday, citing “operational causes.” In a discover to passengers, the airline says the suspension will proceed “till additional discover.” There have been three return scheduled flights per week for the route, in accordance with its web site.

4:00 p.m. Japanese e-commerce group Rakuten says it should enable prospects to donate their rewards factors for humanitarian assist in Ukraine from right this moment by means of March 31. The fundraising drive follows a private donation from CEO Hiroshi Mikitani of 1 billion yen ($8.7 million). The corporate can be accepting donations by means of Rakuten bank cards and transfers to its subsidiary financial institution. “The funds raised this time might be used for humanitarian help resembling the availability of provides resembling consuming water, the availability of well being providers, and the safety of kids by means of the Ukrainian authorities and the Japan Committee for UNICEF,” Rakuten mentioned in an announcement.

2:15 p.m. Australia points an announcement saying it’s “holding Russian President Vladimir Putin to account for his egregious unjustified struggle in opposition to Ukraine.” The assertion says focused sanctions and journey bans took impact at midnight in opposition to Putin and a number of other high-ranking cupboard members. It notes that sanctioning a head of state is “exceedingly uncommon” and places Putin within the firm of Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe and Syria’s Bashar al-Assad. Canberra additionally says it’s giving $3 million to a NATO belief fund for nonlethal help for Ukraine, and that particulars of promised “deadly” assist might be forthcoming. The assertion additionally stresses help for eradicating sure Russian banks from the SWIFT system, and vows to “take complementary steps as required.”

1:47 p.m. Australia’s A$204 billion ($147 billion) sovereign wealth fund plans to wind down its publicity to Russian-listed corporations, a spokesperson tells Reuters, becoming a member of a worldwide monetary backlash following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Future Fund, which has investments unfold throughout international equities, debt, foreign money and infrastructure markets, says it has about 0.1% of its holdings, value about A$200 million ($144 million), in corporations listed on the Russian Inventory Change.

12:55 p.m. The top of a Russian delegation to a digital United Nations local weather convention apologized for his nation’s invasion of Ukraine on Sunday, in accordance with a number of experiences. “Let me current an apology on behalf of all Russians not in a position to stop this battle,” the official, Oleg Anisimov, was quoted as saying. He added that he may see no justification for the assault.

12:40 p.m. Australian Protection Minister Peter Dutton hits out at China for not utilizing its affect to assist cease the struggle. “This alliance that China and Russia have entered into needs to be deeply disturbing to the remainder of the world,” he tells Australia’s Sky News. “There’s one individual now, there’s one world chief that is standing out from the remaining who’re condemning President Putin and that’s President Xi [Jinping]. And President Xi has the facility and the connection with President Putin to select up the telephone and to instruct him to drag again and to rethink what’s a dreadful, dreadful determination.”

12:10 p.m. Russia’s foreign money fell 40% on Monday morning after the U.S. and main European international locations moved to exclude the nation’s main banks from the SWIFT international fee system. The ruble declined to a report low of 117.75 to the greenback from 83.75 on Friday, in accordance with Bloomberg knowledge.

11:30 a.m. Google confirms it has quickly disabled for Ukraine some Google Maps instruments that present stay details about visitors circumstances and the way busy numerous places are. The corporate says it took the motion of worldwide disabling Google Maps’ visitors layer and stay data on how busy locations like shops and eating places are in Ukraine for the security of native communities within the nation.

7:35 a.m. Within the newest European transfer towards monetary decoupling with Russia, Norway’s authorities says it should name on the nation’s oil fund to instantly freeze all Russian investments and be certain that it sells these holdings.

7:09 a.m. The Worldwide Chess Federation (FIDE) pronounces that it’s going to not maintain official competitions and occasions in Russia and Belarus, is not going to enable using Russian and Belarusian flags and nationwide anthems at FIDE-rated worldwide chess occasions, and can finish sponsorship agreements with “any Belarusian and Russian sanctioned and/or state-controlled corporations.”

The federation says it “condemns any public assertion from any member of the chess group which helps unjustified navy motion and brings the case of chess grandmasters Sergey Karjakin and Sergey Shipov to the Ethics and Disciplinary Fee,” elevating the potential for penalizing them for supporting the invasion of Ukraine.

7:04 a.m. Aeroflot says it should cancel all flights to Europe, Reuters experiences.

6:55 a.m. The Polish Soccer Affiliation blasts worldwide soccer governing physique FIFA for not taking stronger motion in opposition to Russia over Ukraine.

“If FIFA’s Human Rights Coverage is extra than simply phrases on a paper now’s the time to place it into apply by excluding the Russian Soccer Affiliation from the qualifiers for the World Cup in Qatar in 2022,” writes Cezary Kulesza, president of the Polish affiliation, in an announcement.

FIFA’s preliminary measures embrace forbidding worldwide competitions from being held on Russian territory, with “residence” matches being performed on impartial territory and with out spectators. Russia will compete beneath the title “Soccer Union of Russia,” and the nation’s flag and nationwide anthem can’t be used.

However “because of the brutal aggression of the Russian Federation in opposition to Ukraine and the struggle that continues there, we don’t see any risk of competing with the Russian nationwide staff in playoff matches for promotion to the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 whatever the title of the staff consisting of Russian footballers and the place of the match,” Kulesza writes.

4:40 a.m. The White Home is urging China to take a firmer stance in opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“This isn’t a time to face on the sidelines,” press secretary Jen Psaki tells MSNBC. “This can be a time to be vocal and condemn the actions of President Putin and Russia in invading a sovereign nation.”

In the meantime, U.S. and NATO officers have condemned Putin’s order to place Russian nuclear forces on excessive alert.

2:56 a.m. BP says it should exit its 20% stake in Russian state oil firm Rosneft. BP says it should not report reserves, manufacturing or revenue from Rosneft, and its chief government, Bernard Looney, will instantly resign the Rosneft board. Learn extra.

2:38 a.m. In a delayed assertion, overseas ministers of the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations have expressed concern over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, however with out condemning Moscow’s transfer. Learn extra.

1:40 a.m. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Fee, says European Union airspace is shut all the way down to Russian flights, together with personal jets of Russian oligarchs.

1:28 a.m. Extra European international locations are closing their skies to Russian flights. Since this put up by Flightradar24, Spain and Portugal have joined the record.

12:30 a.m. Talks between Russia and Ukraine haven’t but begun, because the negotiators are simply arriving on the venue, Interfax experiences, citing the Russian International Ministry.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko advised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that “all plane, helicopters and missiles” deployed in Belarus will stay on the bottom through the talks, Interfax experiences.

Sunday, Feb. 27

11:05 p.m. Ukraine and Russia have agreed to unconditional talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says.

Officers from each side have agreed to satisfy as Russian forces proceed their marketing campaign.

State tv in Belarus additionally experiences on the settlement. President Alexander Lukashenko has sought to dealer the talks.

10:00 p.m. Rakuten Group CEO Hiroshi Mikitani pronounces that he and his household would make a private donation of 1 billion yen ($8.7 million) for humanitarian assist to the Ukrainian authorities. The top of the Japanese conglomerate despatched a private letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying he was “deeply saddened” by information of Russia’s navy assault in opposition to the nation. Rakuten’s Viber messaging app is broadly utilized in Ukraine.

9:25 p.m. Japan will be a part of the worldwide effort to dam some Russian banks from the worldwide SWIFT fee system, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pronounces. He tells reporters that Japan additionally plans to freeze belongings held by Russian President Vladimir Putin and different officers.

9:10 p.m. Israel’s military radio experiences that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has proposed to Putin that his nation may mediate within the disaster.

8:20 p.m. Hungary’s overseas minister says 66,000 folks have crossed into the nation from Ukraine in latest days. The United Nations says the overall refugee outflow has hit 368,000 and “continues to rise.”

8:10 p.m. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his nation has submitted an software in opposition to Russia to the Worldwide Court docket of Justice.

7:45 p.m. Germany will increase protection spending to over 2% of gross home product in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz says throughout a particular parliament session. He says that is wanted to guard Germany’s “freedom and democracy.” The 2022 funds will embrace 100 billion euros for the navy.

The nation has resisted calls from different Western powers to hike protection outlays, partly as a result of its personal twentieth century historical past. However the Ukraine struggle seems to be forcing a change of coronary heart. The Scholz authorities has additionally damaged with a coverage of not delivering weapons to battle zones, agreeing to ship Ukraine anti-tank weapons, missiles and ammunition.

6:35 p.m. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been suspended as honorary president of the Worldwide Judo Federation, the game’s governing physique pronounces, “in mild of the continuing struggle battle in Ukraine.”

6:03 p.m. The U.Ok. says Moscow should withdraw its troops earlier than making an attempt to carry talks. “They can not negotiate with a gun to the pinnacle of the Ukrainians,” overseas secretary Liz Truss says.

5:48 p.m. Finland is ready to shut its airspace to Russian planes, its minister of transport says. Another European international locations, together with Lithuania and Latvia, have additionally mentioned they’ll do that, whereas Germany mentioned it was making ready to take action.

4:40 p.m. A Russian delegation has arrived in Belarus for talks with Ukraine, a Kremlin spokesperson was quoted by the Ifax information company as saying on Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the supply, saying Belarus itself was complicit within the Russian invasion, however he appears to go away the door open to negotiations in different places, in accordance with Reuters.

2:56 p.m. Russian troops have entered the town of Kharkiv, in accordance with an adviser to Ukraine’s inside minister.

1:15 p.m. Australia will present “deadly assist” to Ukraine by means of NATO companions, specifically the U.S. and U.Ok., Prime Minister Scott Morrison says. “We’ll be working by means of these channels as a result of that is the simplest solution to do it,” Morrison is quoted as saying by nationwide broadcaster ABC. The report says the help is more likely to take the type of monetary contributions to weapons provides, moderately than direct shipments of arms. Canberra had beforehand promised nonlethal assist together with navy and medical tools.

11:45 a.m. Russian troops have blown up a pure fuel pipeline within the Ukrainian metropolis of Kharkiv, in accordance with Ukraine’s state service of particular communications and knowledge safety. A video posted on Telegram confirmed a mushroom-shaped explosion. It was unclear what position the pipeline performed and whether or not its destruction may disrupt fuel provides past the town or nation.

11:07 a.m. Here is our explainer of what Russia’s elimination from the SWIFT worldwide funds system means.

10:55 a.m. Russian missiles have hit the Ukrainian city of Vasylkiv southwest of the capital, Kyiv, setting an oil terminal ablaze, the city’s mayor mentioned in a video posted on-line.

10:53 a.m. Former U.S. President Donald Trump condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and mentioned he was praying for Ukrainians, marking a shift of tone from earlier this week when he praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.

9:05 a.m. Japan will coordinate carefully with its G-7 counterparts in deciding whether or not to impose additional sanctions in opposition to Russia, International Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi says.

Former International Minister Taro Kono asks in a tweet why Japan hasn’t joined the West’s elimination of Russia from SWIFT.

7:43 a.m. The US, Britain, Europe and Canada on Saturday moved to block Russia’s entry to the SWIFT worldwide fee system as a part of one other spherical of sanctions in opposition to Moscow because it continues its assault in opposition to Ukraine. The measures, which can even embrace restriction on the Russian central financial institution’s worldwide reserves, might be applied within the coming days, the nations mentioned in a joint assertion.

5:22 a.m. Chelsea proprietor Roman Abramovich has given trustees of the London soccer staff’s basis stewardship of the Premier League membership, the Russian billionaire says, amid calls within the U.Ok. that he be sanctioned over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Abramovich, who purchased the London membership in 2003, says the inspiration was within the “greatest place to take care of the pursuits” of the membership. Abramovich stays the membership proprietor and an announcement didn’t reveal why he was giving the inspiration stewardship nor any element on how the association would work.

4:20 a.m. An adviser to President Zelenskyy says Russia’s assault on Kyiv shouldn’t be advancing and that about 3,500 Russian troopers had been killed or injured up to now in Moscow’s assault. “We’re putting the enemy round Kyiv. The enemy shouldn’t be shifting for now,” says Oleksiy Arestovych.

3:55 a.m. YouTube suspends a number of Russian channels, together with state-funded media outlet RT, from producing income on the positioning, following the same transfer by Fb proprietor Meta Platforms. “In mild of extraordinary circumstances in Ukraine … we’re pausing quite a lot of channels’ skill to monetize on YouTube, together with a number of Russian channels affiliated with latest sanctions,” YouTube mentioned in an announcement.

2:31 a.m. Britain’s Prince William and his spouse Kate say they stand with the folks of Ukraine as they “bravely combat” the invasion by Russia, in a uncommon public remark for British royals on political points.

The British royal household don’t normally touch upon main political issues, sticking to a constitutional norm that they need to stay impartial. Nonetheless, William’s youthful brother Harry and his spouse Meghan, who’ve stepped down from royal duties to maneuver to Los Angeles, mentioned on their web site on Thursday that in addition they stood with the Ukrainian folks “in opposition to this breach of worldwide and humanitarian regulation.”

2:05 a.m. Berlin will provide Ukraine with defensive anti-tank weapons, surface-to-air missiles and ammunition, in a shift of coverage as Russia’s forces continued to pound Kyiv and different cities on day three of its marketing campaign. After dealing with criticism for refusing to ship weapons to Kyiv, in contrast to different Western allies, Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Berlin will provide Ukraine with 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles from Bundeswehr shares. Germany additionally approves the supply of 400 rocket-propelled grenades from the Netherlands to Ukraine. Nations aiming to move on German weapons exports want to use for approval in Berlin first.

1:18 a.m. Germany pulls an about face over restrictions on Russian entry to the SWIFT international interbank fee system, becoming a member of different Western powers in help of harsher sanctions aimed toward halting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “We’re urgently engaged on the way to restrict the collateral harm of decoupling from SWIFT in such a means that it impacts the appropriate folks. What we’d like is a focused and purposeful restriction of SWIFT,” German International Minister Annalena Baerbock and Economic system Minister Robert Habeck say.

12:30 a.m. 5 Chinese language teachers from distinguished universities condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a uncommon occasion of high-standing professors going in opposition to the federal government line.

“We strongly oppose Russia’s struggle on Ukraine,” the professors say. “We firmly help the actions of the Ukrainian folks to defend their nation. We’re involved that Russia’s acts of drive will result in turmoil in Europe and your entire world, and set off wider humanitarian disasters.”

The assertion is signed by Solar Jiang of Nanjing College, Wang Lixin of Peking College, Xu Guoqi, of the College of Hong Kong, Zhong Weimin, of Tsinghua College, and Chen Yan of Fudan College.

The assertion was launched on WeChat, however has been eliminated by the platform.

Saturday, Feb. 26

11:53 p.m. Russian forces have gotten more and more annoyed by what the U.S. believes is “viable” Ukrainian resistance, a U.S. protection official says. “We all know that they haven’t made the progress that they’ve wished to make, significantly within the north. They’ve been annoyed by what they’ve seen is a really decided resistance,” the official tells Reuters, with out offering proof.

11:15 p.m. France seizes a automobile cargo ship within the English Channel that Washington says was linked to the son of a former Russian spy chief, in one of many first seen shows of the West imposing sanctions on Moscow over its Ukraine invasion. The Baltic Chief was headed for St. Petersburg however was diverted to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France, Captain Veronique Magnin of the French Maritime Prefecture tells Reuters. The vessel was “strongly suspected of being linked to Russian pursuits focused by the sanctions,” she says.

10:45 p.m. President Joe Biden instructed the U.S. State Division to launch as much as an extra $350 million value of weapons from U.S. shares to Ukraine on Friday because it struggles to repulse a Russian invasion, Reuters experiences. Ukraine has been asking for Javelin anti-tank weapons and Stinger missiles to shoot down plane.

10:32 p.m. Hungary is accepting all Ukrainian residents and authorized residents, no matter whether or not they’re topic to navy conscription into the Ukrainian armed forces, Prime Minister Viktor Orban tells a information convention. “We’re letting everybody in,” Orban says. “I’ve seen individuals who don’t have any journey paperwork, however we’re offering them too with journey paperwork. And we’re additionally permitting in those that have arrived from third international locations after the correct screening.”

6:15 p.m. Moscow will reply to the seizure of cash held overseas by its residents and corporations by seizing the funds of foreigners and overseas corporations in Russia, the RIA information company quoted Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of the Safety Council of Russia, as saying on Saturday. Russia doesn’t rule out nationalizing the belongings of corporations registered within the U.S., EU and different “unfriendly jurisdictions,” Medvedev was quoted as saying.

5:47 p.m. Russia’s communications regulator accused 10 native media shops on Saturday of falsely depicting what Russia calls a particular navy operation in Ukraine and distributing false details about occasions there. Amongst these despatched warning letters had been Echo Moskvy, a preferred radio station, and Novaya Gazeta, a newspaper important of the federal government whose editor-in-chief, Dmitry Muratov, was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize final 12 months. Roskomnadzor, the regulator, ordered the media to delete the offending data or face restricted entry to their web sites and media sources.

5:28 p.m. Not less than 198 Ukrainians, together with three youngsters, have been killed because of the Russian invasion, the pinnacle of the Ukrainian Well being Ministry was quoted by the Interfax information company as saying on Saturday. He mentioned 1,115 folks had been wounded, together with 33 youngsters. It was unclear whether or not he was referring solely to civilian casualties.

5:04 p.m. The Ukrainian Embassy in Moscow’s employees is evacuating to Latvia, the Latvian overseas ministry tells Reuters. “It was their plea, we readily agreed. We’re helping them within the course of and assist with settling down,” Latvian overseas ministry spokesperson Janis Bekeris says. He declined to say whether or not the embassy employees had already arrived in Latvia, citing safety considerations.

2:00 p.m. Zelenskyy was requested by the U.S. to go away Kyiv, however declined, in accordance with The Related Press. “The combat is right here; I would like ammunition, not a trip,” he’s quoted as saying by an American intelligence official, who describes the president as upbeat regardless of obvious Russian strikes to encircle the capital.

1:47 p.m. After suggesting Chinese language nationals show their nation’s flag of their automobiles for cover in Ukraine two days in the past, China’s embassy within the nation is now urging its folks to not reveal their identification or give any figuring out indicators. The message was despatched by means of a WeChat put up, citing “more and more excessive habits” in Ukraine.

11:42 a.m. Russian troops attacked a military base positioned on a most important avenue within the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv however the assault was repelled, the Ukrainian navy says.

Individually, the Interfax Ukraine company says Russian troopers had been attempting to seize one of many metropolis’s electrical energy producing stations.

9:26 a.m. The U.S. authorities joins European international locations in slapping sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and International Minister Sergey Lavrov.

“President Putin and Minister Lavrov are instantly chargeable for Russia’s unprovoked and illegal additional invasion of Ukraine, a democratic sovereign state,” the Treasury Division mentioned in an announcement.

8:15 a.m. Zelenskyy has requested Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to mediate within the battle with Russia, Reuters experiences, citing the Ukrainian envoy to Israel mentioned.

7:54 a.m. Russia vetoed a Western-led U.N. Safety Council decision condemning its invasion of Ukraine by voting in opposition to it. India, China, and the United Arab Emirates abstained. There have been 11 votes in favor.

“You can not veto the reality,” the U.S. consultant says.

7:25 a.m. The U.S. tables a decision on the U.N. Safety Council with an enchantment: “Vote no, or abstain, if you don’t help the constitution and align yourselves with the aggressive and unprovoked actions of Russia. Simply as Russia had a alternative, so do you.”

6:53 a.m. The sports activities world is grappling with the way to react to Russia’s invasion. UEFA has moved the Champions League ultimate from St. Petersburg to Paris, and System 1 has canceled its Russian Grand Prix race.

The Worldwide Olympic Committee has urged sports activities our bodies to cancel or relocate occasions in Russia and Belarus. World championships for hockey, volleyball, and taking pictures are all at the moment scheduled to be held in Russia.

Russian and NHL hockey star Alex Ovechkin has made an anti-war plea to the media. “Please. No extra struggle. It would not matter who’s within the struggle — Russia, Ukraine, completely different international locations — we’ve to stay in peace,” he says.

The F1 Russian Grand Prix is not going to be held, and soccer’s UEFA Champions League ultimate has been relocated.

5:40 a.m. All eyes are on China and India forward of a United Nations Safety Council assembly. The council is meant to vote on a Western-led decision on the scenario in Ukraine. Russia is anticipated to veto, placing the eye on how China and India vote.

The assembly has been delayed by a “language discrepancy” between the U.S. and an necessary accomplice.

4:50 a.m. A Russian warning on any strikes to incorporate Finland and Sweden in NATO has raised eyebrows.

“Their accession to NATO can have detrimental penalties,” Russian overseas ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova mentioned in a information convention, including that there could possibly be “navy and political penalties.”

3:11 a.m. Chinese language International Minister Wang Yi has spoken with European counterparts on Ukraine and detailed China’s place on the matter.

China “firmly advocates respecting and safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all international locations and earnestly abides by the needs and ideas of the UN Constitution,” in accordance with a information launch by the Chinese language Ministry of International Affairs. “This place is constant and clear, and it applies equally to Ukraine.”

Given many years of NATO eastward enlargement, Russia’s “respectable safety calls for needs to be taken severely and correctly addressed,” however that the present scenario in Ukraine is “one thing we don’t need to see,” the assertion says.

3:00 a.m. Zelenskyy holds a dialogue with U.S. President Joe Biden relating to U.S. and allied help for Ukraine.

2:15 a.m. Zelenskyy posts a video from the federal government quarter in Kyiv following hypothesis in Russian media that he had fled.

“We’re right here. We’re in Kyiv. We’re defending Ukraine,” he says within the video.

Zelenskyy stands with different officers, one in all whom — the prime minister — reveals his telephone to show that it is present.

1:25 a.m. Consensus amongst EU nations stays elusive on the severity of economic sanctions, together with the choice of banning Russia from the SWIFT international interbank system.

In a gathering of European ministers of economic system and finance in Paris, France’s Bruno Le Maire maintains that “all of the choices are on the desk.”

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner expresses cautious openness to a SWIFT ban.

“We’re open, however you need to know what you are doing,” Lindner tells reporters.

1:15 a.m. “NATO ought to have taken a extra decisive step” in response to the Ukraine disaster, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tells reporters after Friday prayers, including that Ukraine wants extra than simply “recommendation” from Western capitals.

“And not using a decided stance, a scenario emerges described by [Ukrainian] President Zelenskyy as ‘They’re solely giving us recommendation, no help,’ which is in opposition to friendship and solidarity.”

12:50 a.m. The European Union plans to freeze belongings of Russian President Putin and his overseas minister, Sergey Lavrov, The Washington Put up and different media report, citing folks accustomed to the talks.

“What’s necessary right this moment is that Mr. Putin and Mr. Lavrov, who’re chargeable for this case, will now be severely sanctioned by the European Union,” German International Minister Annalena Baerbock says.

12:20 a.m. U.Ok. International Secretary Liz Truss urges Chinese language counterpart Wang Yi to “get up for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Friday, Feb. 25

8:40 p.m. Chinese language President Xi Jinping tells Russian President Vladimir Putin that China helps resolving the Ukraine situation by means of negotiation. Xi says China maintains a constant fundamental place on respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all international locations and abiding by the needs and ideas of the United Nations constitution, in accordance with a tweet by the state-run International Instances.

A report on the talks by China’s CCTV says Putin defined the historic background and the standing of Russia’s navy operation, stressing that the U.S. and NATO had ignored Russia’s considerations. The report says Russia is keen to carry high-level talks with Ukraine. In line with the state broadcaster, Xi mentioned China would resolve its place based mostly on the deserves of the Ukraine situation itself.

6:40 p.m. Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, praises Japan’s “swift and sure” sanctions in opposition to Russia for invading Ukraine, warning {that a} lack of a coordinated response may threaten stability in Asia. “It needs to be famous why the international locations within the Indo-Pacific led by Japan however together with Australia and New Zealand, South Korea have spoken up,” Emanuel says in a press convention on the International Correspondents’ Membership of Japan. “As a result of whether or not it is in Europe or right here within the Indo-Pacific, there are fundamental tenets and ideas that uphold the system.”

5:00 p.m. Japan’s Rakuten Group CEO Hiroshi Mikitani says the corporate will present coupons for Ukrainian customers to make free worldwide calls with its Viber Out service. Viber, which the Japanese e-commerce group acquired in 2014, has 96% market penetration in Ukraine. “A social platform is what we’re pursuing … so we hope a democratic authorities might be maintained,” Mikitani mentioned throughout a Friday information convention in Tokyo.

4:33 p.m. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan expresses concern over the financial fallout of the Ukraine battle on creating international locations throughout a gathering with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Khan was the primary world chief to satisfy Putin since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine, having arrived in Moscow for a beforehand deliberate go to simply hours earlier than the assault started.

4:24 p.m. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin mentioned methods to guard bilateral ties in response to sanctions in opposition to Russia, Tokayev’s workplace says. Kazakhstan is carefully allied with Russia and leads financial and navy blocs tied to Moscow. The Kazakh tenge has plummeted together with the ruble since Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday.

3:00 p.m. Just a few dozen demonstrators gathered in entrance of the Russian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, to protest in opposition to the nation’s invasion of Ukraine. The protesters from multinational backgrounds held up placards calling on Russia and President Vladimir Putin to cease the aggression. Ukrainian individuals sang their nationwide anthem in solidarity with their nation.

2:15 p.m. U.S. wheat futures hit their highest in practically 14 years as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine stokes fears of disruptions within the provide of grain from the important thing Black Sea area. Essentially the most lively CBOT Might wheat contract was up 0.9% at $9.43 a bushel, after peaking at $9.60-3/4 earlier within the session, its highest since June 2008.

Wheat’s sharp positive factors over the previous few days spotlight that the market sees a excessive likelihood of wheat from Russia being largely sanctioned off market, mentioned Tobin Gorey, director of agricultural technique on the Commonwealth Financial institution of Australia, in accordance with Reuters.

10:50 a.m. Australia imposes extra sanctions in opposition to Russia, concentrating on a number of of its elite residents and lawmakers. Prime Minister Scott Morrison additionally says it’s “unacceptable” that China was easing commerce restrictions with Moscow on the time when it invaded Ukraine.

10:38 a.m. Taiwan’s Premier Su Tseng-chang says the island will be a part of democratic international locations in placing sanctions on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, though he didn’t give particulars, Reuters experiences.

9:57 a.m. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says the nation will impose extra sanctions on Russia, together with restrictions on chip exports. “The Ukraine invasion by Russia is a critical situation affecting worldwide order that features not solely Europe but additionally Asia,” Kishida advised reporters in a information convention.

8:00 a.m. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken talks with Indian Exterior Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar after President Joe Biden mentioned Washington had not but labored out its coordination with New Delhi on the Ukraine battle.

“Secretary Blinken confused the significance of a robust collective response to sentence Russia’s invasion and name for a right away withdrawal and cease-fire,” in accordance with an announcement by State Division spokesman Ned Worth.

Neither aspect supplied particulars on what, if something, the highest diplomats agreed on.

7:00 a.m. U.S. markets swing wildly in response to the Ukraine battle, establishing a turbulent buying and selling day in Asia. The S&P 500 index closes with a acquire after taking an early dive.

6:10 a.m. The European Council “condemns within the strongest potential phrases the Russian Federation’s unprovoked and unjustified navy aggression in opposition to Ukraine.”

5:50 a.m. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi tells Putin in a telephone name that NATO’s enlargement is a “critical risk” to the area’s safety and stability, Reuters experiences, citing the semiofficial Nour News.

5:20 a.m. The Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company points an announcement on the scenario in Ukraine: “Concerning the scenario on the Chernobyl Nuclear Energy Plant, Ukraine has knowledgeable the IAEA that ‘unidentified armed forces’ have taken management of all services of the State Specialised Enterprise Chernobyl NPP, positioned inside the exclusion zone. The counterpart added that there had been no casualties nor destruction on the industrial web site. Director Basic [Rafael] Grossi mentioned it’s of important significance that the protected and safe operations of the nuclear services in that zone shouldn’t be affected or disrupted in any means.”

5:00 a.m. Responding to the Russian assault, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Putin by phone to enchantment for “a right away cessation of violence,” in accordance with the prime minister’s workplace. Learn right here.

4:50 a.m. U.S. President Joe Biden pronounces new sanctions in opposition to Russia following the invasion, attempting to cripple the nation’s skill to conduct enterprise with the world and finally strain the Russian president to reverse course. “Putin is the aggressor. Putin selected this struggle, and now he and his nation will bear the implications,” Biden tells a information convention. Learn right here.

Thursday, Feb. 24

11:15 p.m. Leaders from the Group of Seven superior economies maintain an emergency digital assembly, agreeing to carry ahead “extreme and coordinated financial and monetary sanctions” in opposition to Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

“This disaster is a critical risk to the rules-based worldwide order, with ramifications properly past Europe,” they are saying in a joint assertion issued after the summit. “We name on the Russian Federation to cease the bloodshed, to instantly de-escalate and to withdraw its forces from Ukraine.” Learn right here.

11:00 p.m. Whereas the battle unfolds in Ukraine, in Asia, Taiwan says it had scrambled jets in response to Chinese language plane getting into its air protection zone.

9:05 p.m. China’s embassy in Ukraine notifies Chinese language nationals there that given the quickly worsening scenario, the embassy is making ready constitution planes to fly again residents in batches. The deadline to use for a spot is midnight on Feb. 27.

9:01 p.m. In Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s first feedback on the Ukraine battle, he says, “We discover the navy operation unacceptable and reject it.”

“This step is in opposition to worldwide regulation and strikes heavy blow to the area’s peace tranquillity and stability,” Erdogan says in a televised speech, including, “We’re saddened that Russia and Ukraine, each pleasant international locations with which we’ve shut political financial and social relations, are dealing with off one another.”

5:10 p.m. “Whether or not or not Putin deepens the disaster with an extra shock and awe assault to conduct a regime change in Kyiv or decides to consolidate his conquests within the southeast of Ukraine, there might be a collection of great impacts in Asia,” writes Adm. James Stavridis, the sixteenth supreme allied commander of NATO. Learn his op-ed right here.

12:02 p.m. Putin addresses Russians in a televised speech, saying a “particular navy operation” is underway in Ukraine. He says the objective is to not occupy the nation however “demilitarize” it.