- Ukrainian and Russian officers are holding face-to-face talks in Istanbul, Turkey, attended by
- Kyiv says its prime precedence from the discussions is to safe an instantaneous ceasefire, however either side have performed down the prospect of any breakthrough.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukrainian forces have retaken management of Irpin, a key city positioned close to the capital, Kyiv.
- Ukraine says it’s going to resume civilian evacuations by way of humanitarian corridors after a one-day pause over security considerations.
Listed here are all the most recent updates:
Abramovich attends Istanbul talks
Photographs posted on Telegram by Russia’s RIA Novosti information company seem to point out Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in attendance on the talks in Istanbul.
It was not instantly clear what function he was enjoying on the assembly, although the Chelsea Soccer Membership proprietor is believed to be working as a dealer between Kyiv and Moscow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying that Abramovich’s participation on the talks on Tuesday had been accepted by each Moscow and Kyiv.
A spokesman for the 55-year-old, who has been sanctioned by the UK over his alleged shut ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has beforehand stated his affect in negotiations up to now between the 2 sides had been “restricted”.
UN says it has helped as much as 900,000 folks in Ukraine up to now
UN assist businesses have managed to assist as much as 900,000 folks in Ukraine up to now, however they have to be assured protected passage by the fighters to have the ability to do extra, a spokesman for the world physique has stated.
Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the UN Workplace for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), informed a information briefing the variety of folks supplied with help up to now was “good however … removed from sufficient”.
Ukraine’s Kuleba warns negotiators to not ‘eat or drink’ at talks after poisoning experiences
Ukraine’s overseas minister has suggested members of the Ukrainian delegation “to not eat or drink something, and ideally keep away from touching any floor” throughout their negotiations with Russian officers in Istanbul.
Dmytro Kuleba’s feedback, given throughout an interview with Ukrainian information channel Ukrayina 24, got here after experiences on Monday instructed Abramovich and Ukrainian negotiators had suffered signs of suspected poisoning earlier this month.
However there may be some scepticism over the incident. Shortly after the experiences emerged, an unnamed US official was quoted by the Reuters information company as saying that intelligence instructed the trio’s signs had been on account of “environmental” elements, not poisoning.
Learn extra right here.
Ukrainian TV says talks begin with ‘chilly welcome’
Talks between the delegations from Ukraine and Russia started with no handshake, Ukrainian tv has reported.
“There was a chilly welcome, no handshake,” a Ukrainian reporter stated, with out making clear whether or not he had witnessed the delegations assembly or had been informed this by officers.
Mykhailo Podolyak, a political adviser to Zelenskyy, stated on Twitter that the heads of every aspect’s delegation had been discussing “the elemental provisions of the negotiation course of”.
“Delegations are working in parallel on the whole spectrum of contentious points,” he added.
Spherical of heads of delegations. David Arakhamia and Vladimir Medinsky. On the elemental provisions of the negotiation course of. Delegations are working in parallel on the whole spectrum of contentious points. pic.twitter.com/JsSZv7X9ZA
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) March 29, 2022
Erdogan requires ‘concrete outcomes’ in talks, finish to ‘tragedy’ of struggle
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has informed the Ukrainian and Russian delegations that they’ve a “historic duty” to cease the struggle.
“We consider that there will probably be no losers in a simply peace. Prolonging the battle shouldn’t be in anybody’s curiosity,” Erdogan stated as he greeted the officers, who had been seated on reverse sides of an extended desk.
“It’s within the palms of either side to cease this tragedy,” he added.
Erdogan additionally informed either side they’d “authentic considerations” however stated there was a necessity for “concrete outcomes” from the discussions and known as for an instantaneous ceasefire.
Ukraine resumes evacuations after Russian ‘provocations’
Ukraine says it’s reopening humanitarian corridors and evacuating civilians from war-scarred areas after a one-day pause over what Kyiv known as potential Russian “provocations”.
“Three humanitarian corridors had been agreed for as we speak,” Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk stated in a video assertion posted on Telegram, a day after saying their closure, citing intelligence experiences.
Ukraine: Russia assaults in Donetsk, Luhansk repelled
Ukraine’s military says it efficiently repelled seven Russian assaults within the Donetsk and Luhansk areas, two areas partially managed by pro-Moscow separatists.
Ukrainian forces destroyed 10 jets, three helicopters, 4 drones, 12 Russian tanks, 10 armoured autos and shot down two cruise missiles, the military stated. It added that an unspecified variety of Russian troopers had been additionally killed within the assaults.
Al Jazeera couldn’t independently confirm the figures offered.
Ukraine human rights commissioner: A minimum of 144 kids killed
Ukraine’s human rights commissioner Denisova Lyudmila says at the least 144 kids have been killed because the begin of Russia’s invasion and 220 left wounded by indiscriminate shelling.
On Thursday, the UN’s kids company, UNICEF, stated about half of Ukraine’s kids – 4.3 million – have been uprooted by the battle.
A minimum of 1.8 million crossed into different international locations, whereas 2.5 million have been internally displaced, the company stated.
Greater than 17,000 Russian ‘occupiers’ killed: Ukraine military
Ukraine’s military says 17,200 Russian “occupiers” have been killed within the nation because the invasion started.
Russia has misplaced 597 tanks, 1,710 armoured autos, 127 jets, 129 helicopters and 7 ships, the Ukrainian navy stated in a submit shared on Fb.
On Friday, Moscow stated it misplaced 1,351 servicemen within the Ukraine struggle. Al Jazeera couldn’t independently confirm the figures offered.
Ukraine says 5,000 useless in besieged Mariupol
A senior Ukrainian official says at the least 5,000 folks have been buried within the besieged southern metropolis of Mariupol because the invasion started, however that our bodies have gone uncollected amid persevering with Russian shelling.
Tetyana Lomakina, a presidential adviser now in command of humanitarian corridors, says as many as 10,000 might have died – showing to substantiate the darkest situations of devastation within the metropolis.
Al Jazeera couldn’t independently confirm the figures offered.
Russia warns Poland to remain out of the Ukraine struggle
Poland has develop into important within the Western effort to defend Ukraine, and among the preventing is getting near its border.
Final week, Russian forces focused the western Ukrainian metropolis of Lviv – close to the Polish border, simply because the US president was visiting Poland. The scenario has compelled NATO to resolve on how to reply to such incidents throughout the borders of its member states.
So, is there a threat of a battle spillover?
Russia nonetheless poses a big risk to Kyiv: UK navy
Russia poses a big risk to Kyiv by their assault functionality despite the fact that Ukrainian forces proceed localised counterattacks to the northwest of the town, in line with British navy intelligence.
Russian forces have maintained their offensive on Mariupol with steady heavy shelling of the town, the Ministry of Defence stated in a press release, though the town’s centre continues to be beneath Ukrainian management.
Elsewhere, Russian forces are sustaining blocking positions whereas making an attempt to reorganise and reset their forces, it added.
Russia-Ukraine talks will happen at Istanbul’s Dolmabahce Palace: Report
Ukraine’s state-run Ukrinform information company says talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators will happen at Istanbul’s Dolmabahce Palace on Tuesday.
The discussions will start at 10:30am (07:30 GMT), it stated.
Earlier than they sit down, the negotiators are anticipated to satisfy with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the company added.
Russia not demanding Ukraine be ‘de-Nazified’: Report
The Monetary Occasions says Russia is not saying Ukraine must be “denazified” and is ready to let Kyiv be a part of the EU if it stays militarily non-aligned as a part of ceasefire negotiations.
Citing 4 folks briefed on the talks, the FT stated the draft ceasefire deal doesn’t comprise any dialogue of three of Russia’s preliminary core calls for – “denazification”, “demilitarisation” and authorized safety for the Russian language in Ukraine.
Asia complying with Russia export controls: US
A senior US official says Washington has not seen any indications of non-compliance in Asia with export controls on Russia.
“We definitely haven’t seen any indication that there’s non-compliance, the truth is, we’ve seen the reverse,” stated Matthew Borman, a deputy assistant secretary on the commerce division. “I feel there’s additionally a good quantity of extra self-sanctioning, if you’ll, by multinational firms working in Russia,” he added.
Main gamers know there’s a vital threat to their enterprise in the event that they don’t comply, Borman stated.
“We all know that Russia is kind of dependent upon overseas provides for some key inputs like semiconductors so I feel it will likely be comparatively readily obvious if there may be non-compliance and the duty will probably be to hint that again to its origin.”
France delivers fireplace and rescue vehicles to Ukraine
France has delivered 27 fireplace and rescue vehicles, in addition to 50 tonnes of medical and emergency gear to Ukraine.
French ambassador Etienne de Poncins posted photos of the handover on Twitter, saying: “Effectivity and solidarity between France and Ukraine … Mission achieved.”
Nous y sommes! @FranceenUkraine a remis officiellement aux autorités 🇺🇦 les 27 camions et les 50t de matériel. Moins de 3 semaines entre l’expression des besoins 🇺🇦 et cette remise. Efficacité et solidarité 🇫🇷🇺🇦Un immense merci à tous. Mission accomplie https://t.co/tVgki4YoFB pic.twitter.com/5eHm8Pxb0v
— Etienne de Poncins (@EdePoncins) March 28, 2022
Zelenskyy says Ukrainian forces accountable for Irpin
Zelenskyy says Ukrainian forces have retaken the important thing Kyiv suburb of Irpin however cautioned that Russian forces nonetheless management areas north of the capital.
“The occupiers have been pushed away from Irpin and Kyiv. Nevertheless it’s nonetheless too early to speak about security on this a part of our area. Combating continues,” he stated in his nightly video handle.
“Russian troops maintain the north of Kyiv area beneath management. They’ve sources and manpower. They’re attempting to rebuild destroyed items.”
Ukrainian journalist ‘taken captive’ by Russian forces
A Ukrainian journalist working for the UNIAN information company has been taken captive by Russian forces, in line with his colleague.
Dmytro Khyliuk went lacking in early March and is being held in a city exterior Kyiv, his colleague Natalia Boguta stated in a Fb submit.
⚡️Ukrainian journalist goes lacking, believed to be captured by Russians.
UNIAN information company reporter Dmytro Khyliuk is believed to be held in captivity in Kyiv Oblast since early March, in line with his good friend, journalist Natalia Boguta. pic.twitter.com/SQnWKeQiV1
— The Kyiv Unbiased (@KyivIndependent) March 28, 2022
Banksy paintings offered to boost funds for Kyiv kids’s hospital
An nameless donor has raised $106,505 for a kids’s hospital in Kyiv by auctioning a chunk of anti-war paintings by Banksy.
The Okhmatdyt Hospital is Ukraine’s greatest kids’s hospital and treats critically in poor health sufferers, in line with The Kyiv Unbiased, a Ukrainian information outlet.
⚡️Banksy artwork piece sale raises $106,000 for kids’s hospital in Kyiv.
An nameless donor offered an anti-war piece by U.Okay. avenue artist Banksy. The sum will go to Okhmatdyt, Ukraine’s greatest kids’s hospital that treats critically in poor health sufferers.
Picture: MyArtBroker pic.twitter.com/eRYqbBIDjr
— The Kyiv Unbiased (@KyivIndependent) March 28, 2022
Russia received’t provide fuel to Europe at no cost: Kremlin
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Russia is but to take a closing resolution on the best way to reply ought to European international locations refuse to pay for Russian fuel exports in roubles, however warned that Moscow wouldn’t provide gasoline to the continent at no cost.
Peskov’s warning got here after G7 nations rejected Russia’s demand that “unfriendly” international locations pay for Russian oil and fuel in roubles, not euros.
“We aren’t going to provide fuel at no cost, that is clear,” Peskov stated. “It’s hardly potential and cheap to interact in charity in our scenario.”
Japan will ask companies to not pay in roubles for Russia transactions
Japanese Chief Cupboard Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno says Japanese firms will probably be requested to refuse if Russia asks for rouble funds for financial transactions, particularly within the vitality sector.
Russia demanded final week that “unfriendly” international locations should pay in roubles, not euros, for its fuel within the wake of the US and European allies teaming up on a sequence of sanctions aimed toward Moscow.
Japan to ban luxurious items exports to Russia
Japan’s commerce ministry says it’s going to ban the export of luxurious items to Russia efficient on April 5 over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Banned objects embrace luxurious vehicles, bikes, liquors, cosmetics, style objects and artwork items, the ministry stated.
Macron and Putin to talk once more on Tuesday
French President Emmanuel Macron is planning to as soon as once more converse along with his Russian counterpart on Tuesday, the Russian TASS information company reported.
Macron expects to debate with Putin the main points of a deliberate humanitarian operation aimed toward evacuating civilians from the besieged metropolis of Mariupol, TASS quoted a spokesman for the French chief as saying.
Amnesty accuses Russia of struggle crimes in Mariupol
Amnesty Worldwide is accusing Russia of committing struggle crimes within the Ukrainian port metropolis of Mariupol.
“The siege of Mariupol, the denial of humanitarian evacuation and humanitarian escape for the inhabitants, and the focusing on of civilians, in line with Amnesty Worldwide’s investigation, quantities to struggle crimes,” stated the group’s Secretary-Common Agnes Callamard.
“The disaster in Ukraine proper now, the invasion … is not only any sort of violation of worldwide legislation,” she stated. “It’s an aggression. It’s a violation of the UN constitution of the sort that we noticed when the US invaded Iraq.”
Prospects for a ceasefire in Ukraine stay slim: Analyst
William Courtney, a former US ambassador to Georgia, says he sees no signal of Russian willingness to barter a ceasefire in Ukraine.
“Russia is apprehensive that there’s not a notion of adequate Russian bargaining energy. The worldwide media are portraying Ukraine as holding off Russian forces. Some say Russia has begun to lose the struggle,” he informed Al Jazeera.
“So Russia appears to now wish to focus its forces in japanese Ukraine, the place it has larger relative benefit and doubtless to attempt to get a victory someplace to strengthen its hand within the negotiations. We’ve seen no signal on the battlefield that Russia is starting to tug out troops, which could signify that it’s keen to barter an settlement.
“For instance, on this challenge, Russia continues to be attempting to pursue victory in all of Ukraine. It hasn’t given up on seizing Kyiv, and that had been its major intention to date.”
Pentagon might have extra funding to assist Ukraine
The Pentagon says it might must ask the US Congress for added cash to assist Ukraine’s battle, together with replenishing the arsenal of weapons despatched to Kyiv.
Rolling out the defence division’s $773bn request for the fiscal yr 2023, the Pentagon stated the funds was finalised earlier than the invasion so it has no particular cash for the struggle. Congress accepted a $13.5bn emergency funding package deal in early March.
The Pentagon officers who introduced the request stated it was too early to foretell how rapidly Ukrainian forces will use the weapons and ammunition already offered, and the way a lot the US might want to change that.
Hearth at Lutsk oil depot extinguished
Ukrainian firefighters have introduced a blaze at an oil depot – hit by a Russian rocket assault late on Sunday – within the far northwestern area of Volyn beneath management.
The assault set a number of storage tanks on fireplace and a video launched by Ukraine’s emergency companies confirmed firefighters battling the devastating inferno.
Продовжується гасіння пожежі, що сталася на одному з промислових підприємств для зберігання пального у Луцьку внаслідок обстрілу 27 березня.
Сьогодні о 08:12 її вдалося локалізувати, наразі триває ліквідація. pic.twitter.com/87lvi0Lcgi
— DSNS.GOV.UA (@SESU_UA) March 28, 2022
The mayor of Lutsk, the capital of Volyn which is 120km (75 miles) north of Lviv, on Monday stated the oil saved on the depot had burned out and the positioning’s constructions had been critically broken.
Zelenskyy urges Russian oil embargo at once
Ukraine’s president has urged Western nations to toughen sanctions towards Russia, together with imposing an embargo on Russian oil.
“Now there are lots of hints and warnings that supposedly harder sanctions, corresponding to an embargo on Russian oil provides to Europe, will probably be put in place if Russia makes use of chemical weapons,” Zelenskyy stated in his nightly video handle.
“Doesn’t all the pieces the Russian navy has finished up to now warrant an oil embargo? Don’t phosphorus bombs warrant it? A shelled chemical manufacturing facility or a shelled nuclear energy plant doesn’t warrant it?
“If the sanctions packages are weak or don’t work strongly sufficient, if they are often circumvented, it creates a harmful phantasm for the Russian management, as if they are going to be permitted to proceed doing what they’re doing now,” he stated.
US deploys plane specialising in digital warfare to Europe
The Pentagon has stated it’s deploying six Navy plane that concentrate on digital warfare and about 240 Navy personnel to bolster NATO defences in Jap Europe.
Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby says the EA-18G Growler plane, primarily based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington state, will arrive on Monday at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany, the place they are going to be stationed. They don’t seem to be meant to be used in Ukraine, he stated.
“The aim of this deployment is to bolster readiness, improve NATO’s collective protection posture and additional improve air integration capabilities with our allied and associate nations,” Kirby stated in a press release.
Russia repeats that nuclear weapons are just for existential threats
Kremlin spokesperson Peskov has informed US broadcaster PBS in an interview that Russia would solely resort to nuclear weapons within the case of a “risk to the existence” of the nation.
“However any consequence of the operation (in Ukraine), in fact, shouldn’t be a cause for utilization of a nuclear weapon,” stated Peskov, echoing feedback he made to CNN final week.
“We now have a safety idea that very clearly states that solely when there’s a risk for existence of the state, in our nation, we are able to use and we’ll truly use nuclear weapons to get rid of the risk for the existence of our nation.”
Seven EU international locations warn residents towards becoming a member of Ukraine battle
Seven European Union international locations are telling their residents to steer clear of the struggle towards Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The attraction was issued by the justice ministers of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg and Belgium.
The ministers “have unanimously discouraged Europeans from becoming a member of” the ranks of voluntary combatants heading to the struggle in Ukraine, they stated in a press release revealed after their assembly in Brussels.
Ukraine delegation lands in Turkey for Russia talks
A Ukrainian delegation has landed in Istanbul forward of talks with Russian negotiators aimed toward ending the struggle, Turkey’s personal IHA information company has reported.
The talks between the 2 sides are scheduled to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday.
UK intelligence: Russia’s Wagner Group deploying to japanese Ukraine
Russian personal navy firm, the Wagner Group, is deploying fighters to japanese Ukraine, British navy intelligence has stated.
“They’re anticipated to deploy greater than 1,000 mercenaries, together with senior leaders of the organisation, to undertake fight operations,” Britain’s Ministry of Defence stated.
Final week, the Pentagon warned that the Wagner Group is trying in the direction of “rising their footprint in Ukraine”.
Newest Defence Intelligence replace on the scenario in Ukraine – 28 March 2022
Discover out extra concerning the UK authorities’s response: https://t.co/LGcaASzEkJ
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/qWJcREPqRN
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) March 28, 2022
US funds to allocate funds to ‘forcefully reply’ to Putin
Biden says his proposed annual funds, which features a rise in navy spending, allocates funds to deal with the disaster in Ukraine. It allocates $813.3bn in defence spending, up from $777.7bn final yr.
“This funds offers the sources we have to [ensure] our navy stays one of the best ready, finest skilled, best-equipped … on the planet,” Biden stated.
“This funds additionally offers extra funding to forcefully reply to Putin’s aggression towards Ukraine and its financial, humanitarian and safety penalties.”
Biden doesn’t rule out assembly with Putin
Regardless of the escalating disagreement between the Kremlin and the White Home, Biden has not dominated out direct talks with Putin.
Requested on Monday whether or not he can be keen to satisfy along with his Russian counterpart, Biden stated: “It is dependent upon what he desires to speak about.”
Ukraine aiming to safe ceasefire at Russia talks: Overseas minister
Kuleba has stated Ukraine’s most formidable purpose at talks with Russia in Turkey this week will probably be to agree on a ceasefire.
“The minimal programme will probably be humanitarian questions, and the utmost programme is reaching an settlement on a ceasefire,” he stated on nationwide tv when requested concerning the scope of the most recent spherical of peace negotiations anticipated on Tuesday.
What would a ‘rupture’ in US-Russia relations imply?
The struggle in Ukraine is pushing US-Russia ties to the brink, with the Kremlin warning that bilateral relations are nearing “rupture” after Biden accused Putin of being a “struggle felony”.
Ought to relations fully break down, analysts say the ramifications might ripple properly past any potential ceasefire or peace negotiations to different areas of US-Russian diplomacy, together with most notably the Iran nuclear talks.
“Russia might attempt to block an understanding that brings the US and Iran again into compliance,” stated Daryl Kimball, government director of the Arms Management Affiliation.
Welcome to Al Jazeera’s persevering with protection of the struggle in Ukraine.
Learn all of the updates from Monday, March 28 right here.
