There are no signs in Ukraine that Russia has backed off from its plan to surround the Kyiv capital in 2022
There are no signs in Ukraine that Russia has backed off from its plan to surround the Kyiv capital
Oleksander Motuzyanyk, a spokesman for the Ukrainian defence ministry, said on Monday there are no signs in Ukraine that Russia has backed off from its plan to surround the Kyiv capital. Over the past 24 hours, Russian forces have not significantly changed their disposition, but the Russian presence around Mariupol has grown, British military intelligence has reported.
Reports indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that peace talks between Russia and Ukraine may begin on Tuesday and that they must take place face-to-face after what he described as a lack of progress in negotiating so far, Reuters reported. During a phone conversation on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan agreed that Istanbul will host the talks, which Ankara hopes will lead to a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, said that was unlikely being that the negotiators would only be arriving in Turkey on Monday. The Turkish government suggested the talks could begin as early as Monday. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk has said Ukraine does not expect to open any humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians from besieged cities Monday thanks to intelligence reports warning of potential Russian “provocations” along the routes. To force Kyiv into surrendering part of its territory thereby potentially ending the war, Russia is increasingly focused on wearing down Ukraine’s military on the eastern front.
Live updates on the Russian-Ukrainian war: Rocket attacks strike Lviv; Biden criticizes Putin in Poland
Ukrainian officials say no signs suggest the Russians have backed down from their plan to surround Kiev
Oleksander Motuzyanyk, a spokesman for the Ukrainian defence ministry, said there is no sign on the ground that Russia has abandoned its plan to surround the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. The disposition of Russian forces has remained the same during the past 24 hours, but Russian forces have gained ground in the vicinity of Mariupol, reports Britain’s military intelligence.
He is backing Zelenskyy with the support of Italy, Draghi says
Mario Draghi met Monday with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the latest developments in that country’s war and to reaffirm Rome’s support for the Ukrainian people and authorities, Draghi’s office said.
The president expressed concern about the Russian blocking of humanitarian corridors as well as the Russian bombardment of schools and the siege of cities which has resulted in civilian casualties, including children, according to Draghi’s office.
Italian President Mario Draghi stated that Italy was “fully willing to contribute to international action to prevent a recurrence of the war and promote a permanent solution to the Ukraine crisis”. Reuters reports.
The Ukraine attack will have the most severe financial consequences for Russia, says the German chancellor
In moving its borders through force, Russia broke all the rules of international order, and it will be the country that mostly suffers from the consequences of this, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday.
“All of Europe’s governments, including Russia, agreed that providing for security in Europe is a key element of the post-war period after 1990,” Scholz said in a press conference following his meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson.”
To that question, there can only be one answer. Calling for an end to the war should be our first step. The second thing is that we make ourselves so powerful that an attack against EU or NATO countries cannot be launched, since we are strong enough to respond,” Scholz said.
Countdown to Carlsberg’s departure from Russia
Carlsberg will leave Russia, one of its primary markets, the company said.
According to the Kremlin, Biden’s remark about Putin’s elimination is alarming
Russian officials claimed on Monday that US President Joe Biden’s contention that Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power” was cause for alarm. The Kremlin’s response came in response to a call by the United States for Putin’s 22-year rule to end.
During his speech to a crowd in Warsaw on Saturday, Vice President Joe Biden stated, “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.” During the speech, he described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as part of a much broader struggle between democracy and autocracy.
On Sunday, Biden’s office attempted to clarify Biden’s remarks and the US president said he had not publicly called for regime change in Russia, the world’s largest country by area and the country with the most nuclear weapons in the world.
The Kremlin’s spokesman said: “This statement is certainly alarming.” About Biden’s comment that hardly received any coverage on Russian state television, Dmitry Peskov said: “This is a statement that certainly should be taken seriously.”
In response to Russian demands, the G7 rejects the ruble as a payment method for gas
The German energy minister said Monday that the Group of Seven major economies have rejected Moscow’s demand that Russian natural gas exports be paid for in rubles.
Habeck told reporters that “all G-7 ministers agreed that this action would be unfair and constitute a clear breach of existing contracts.” He said that country representatives from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada met Friday to coordinate their positions, and those EU representatives were also in attendance.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Habeck said that “payment in rubles is not acceptable and the companies affected must resist (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s demands.”
Last week, Putin announced that from now on, Russia only wants to take payment for natural gas in Russian currency from “unfriendly” countries. The central bank was instructed to plan a procedure that would allow Russian gas buyers to purchase rubles in their home country.
The Novaya Gazeta newspaper in Russia suspends its activities following an official warning
Activists from Novaya Gazeta, whose editor was co-winner of last year’s Nobel Peace Prize, announced on Monday that they would suspend their online and print activities until the end of Russia’s “special operation” in Ukraine.
The newspaper, which had already taken down its website’s accounts of Russia’s military action in Ukraine as required by a new media law, said it received a further warning from the State Communications Regulatory Commission on Monday about its reporting, which led it to pause publication. (Reuters)
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia and Ukraine will begin talks on Tuesday in Turkey
Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine could get underway in Turkey on Tuesday, according to the Kremlin, which said the talks should take place face-to-face following a lack of major progress in negotiations so far. In a telephone conversation, President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Tayyip Erdogan, agreed that the talks to end the Ukraine conflict would take place in Istanbul.
According to Turkey, negotiations could commence on Monday, while Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said it was unlikely since the negotiators would only arrive in Turkey on Monday.
Peskov held a conference call with reporters on Monday, in which he said that although progress at the talks cannot and will not be discussed, there is something important about their continuing in-person nature. The Kremlin is adhering to a policy of not divulging information about the talks, which the White House believes will only damage negotiations. Peskov added that no major progress had been achieved in the talks themselves, or on the prospect of Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meeting for the first time. It is unfortunate that (in the talks) we haven’t seen any substantial achievements or breakthroughs,” he said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in separate remarks that a meeting between the two leaders would have counterproductive effects if held now. He said the two leaders should meet to discuss progress once all parties have made it to that point. According to Sergey Lavrov in an interview with Serbian media, a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy will be needed as soon as all key issues have been resolved. (Reuters)
Germany could make displaying the ‘Z’ symbol a criminal act, a government official told the media
An Interior Ministry spokesperson warned on Monday that individuals who display the letter “Z” in Germany to show support for Russia’s war in Ukraine could face prosecution.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced earlier that Berlin authorities would punish cases where the Z symbol is used to endorse Russian aggression, following Bavaria and Lower Saxony in announcing they, too, would punish such incidents.
As a spokesperson for the federal government’s Interior Ministry told reporters: “The letter Z is not forbidden as such, but its use may constitute an endorsement of Russia’s war of aggression in certain situations.”
Throughout the war, the letter Z has been used as a marking on vehicles used by the Russian military. Russians supporting the war have prominently displayed the letter on flags and at rallies in support of the Kremlin.
According to the Russian Interior Ministry spokesperson, “the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine is a criminal act, and whoever publicly supports this war of aggression can also be prosecuted,” the official said at an official government press conference. (Reuters)
Ahead of talks between Ukraine and Russia, Ukraine insists on maintaining its territorial integrity
Russian President Vladimir Putin is currently in Turkey for peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He previously suggested he was willing to compromise but has since insisted that the country’s territorial integrity must be preserved.
The Ukrainian President said in a video address to the people on Sunday that his government would prioritize the ‘territorial integrity of Ukraine in discussions due to take place in Istanbul.
Zelenskyy later withdrew that tone in comments made to Russian journalists earlier in the day, in which he said Ukraine was willing to take on a neutral status and compromise over the status of the eastern Donbas area as part of a peace deal.
Zelenskyy said any agreement must be guaranteed by third parties and put to a referendum in the video call that the Kremlin has preemptively warned journalists not to report. Reuters reports.
Talks between Russia and Ukraine have made no breakthrough so far, says Kremlin
The Kremlin said Monday talks between negotiators from Moscow and Kyiv have so far made no breakthroughs on the conflict in Ukraine as the delegations prepare for a new round of talks in Istanbul.
The Kremlin also expressed concern after US President Joe Biden called the Russian leader Vladimir Putin a “butcher” over his military operation in Ukraine. (AFP)
A train departing from Helsinki is the last one to leave Russia
As the Allegro express train from St Petersburg pulled into the Finnish capital on Sunday, marking the shut-down of the last rail link between Russia and the EU, it confirmed the end of the last rail link between Russia and the EU.
VR, the Finland-based railway operator, announced on Friday that it would suspend the Allegro service, which became a regular sell-out in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine when Russians were eager to leave before Western sanctions make flying impossible.
Having picked up his cats, Alex stated, “I don’t have any reason to go back now; everything that matters to me is here,” before departing the train with the briefcase containing his two long-haired pets.
He described himself only by his first name, a Muscovite who has lived in Helsinki for some time.
AFP reports that university student Ivan told AFP that the situation in Russia has become more complicated since they travelled from Moscow where he studies to Portugal for the Easter holidays. (AFP)
An official with the Turkish government tells Reuters that Russian and Ukrainian negotiators will begin talks on Monday
A senior Turkish official said that Ukrainian and Russian negotiators will begin peace talks in Istanbul on Monday, but provided no further details.
In a phone call on Sunday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed that Istanbul would host the talks that will hopefully lead to a ceasefire.
It is not possible to open new humanitarian corridors
Ukrainian government officials have no plans to open humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians from besieged cities Monday in light of intelligence reports that warn of possible Russian provocations along the routes, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said.
As part of its strategy to grind down the Ukrainian army in eastern Ukraine, Russia has shifted its focus
The Russian army has increasingly focused on destroying Ukraine’s military in the east as it hopes to force Kyiv to surrender part of its territory. Because Russia’s aspirations for a quick victory were dashed by a robust Ukrainian resistance, the country has increasingly turned its attention to grinding down the military.
The bulk of the Ukrainian army is concentrated in eastern Ukraine, where it has been locked up in fighting with Moscow-backed separatists in a nearly eight-year conflict.
The possibility exists that, if Russia succeeds in encircling and destroying Ukrainian forces in the industrial heartland of the country called Donbas, it may attempt to impose its terms on Kyiv and possibly partition the country.
Peace talks between Ukraine and the West are unlikely to produce any breakthroughs, Ukrainian official says
In an interview with The Huffington Post before the talks between Ukrainian and Russian representatives in Turkey, a senior Ukrainian official predicted no breakthrough.
“I do not believe there will be any breakthroughs on the major issues,” Vadym Denysenko, minister for the interior, said on Monday.
Everything you need to know about Ukraine and Russia war right now
➡️ As part of a peace agreement, Ukraine is willing to begin negotiations on becoming neutral, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as another Ukrainian official accused Russia of planning to divide the country in two.
➡️ According to the Ukrainian intelligence chief, Russia attempted to take over the entire country but failed. It is now trying to divide Ukraine into two to create a Moscow-controlled region.
➡️ Luhansk, a rebel region in eastern Ukraine supported by Russia, said it will likely hold a referendum on joining Russia, drawing a warning from Kyiv that such a vote would lack legal basis and spark a strong response from the international community.
➡️ The General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces confirmed that Russia continued its ‘full-scale armed aggression’, while Ukrainian forces successfully repelled seven attacks in the eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk.
➡️ Ukraine’s deputy prime minister said that Russian forces were militarizing the exclusion zone surrounding the occupied Chernobyl power station.
➡️ Although the Russian forces’ disposition has not changed significantly in the past 24 hours, Russian troops have gained ground near Mariupol, British military intelligence reported.
➡️ A Ukrainian negotiator announced on social media on March 28-30 that the next round of face-to-face talks between Ukraine and Russia will take place in Turkey.
The British intelligence community says the Russian military’s deployment in Ukraine remains unchanged
Britain’s military intelligence agency said on Monday that no significant changes have been seen in Russian forces’ disposition in Ukraine during the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, Russia continues to gain ground in the south, near Mariupol, as it makes its way to capture the port, according to the minister of defence.
Ukrainians brace for the attack on Odesa as they endure their own “personal tragedy”
As fears grow that Russia might take Ukraine’s coastline from it, the Black Sea port of Odesa is mining its beaches and defending its cultural heritage from a fate that could follow Mariupol’s, leaving the city vulnerable to a similar fate.
In addition to being deeply meaningful to Ukrainians and even to Russians, the multi-cultural jewel would be an enormous strategic gain for Russia. Ukraine’s largest port is extremely important for grain exports as well as the Ukrainian Navy’s headquarters. the bombing from the sea over the weekend further heightened fears that the city is in Russia’s sights.
The red carpet at the 2022 Oscars was decorated by stars wearing flags, ribbons, and pins that showed their support for Ukraine
Taking place at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre after last year’s reduced event at Union Station Los Angeles, Hollywood returns to its usual location this year to celebrate its biggest night. As the stars prepare for the awards show, they present memorable moments on the red carpet, dressed in pieces by the world’s best designers and fashion houses.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine loomed heavy even as several stars showed support for Ukrainians despite the virus getting easier to deal with this year. The war was mentioned in speeches by some, but others, such as Jason Momoa, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jamie Lee Curtis, Samuel L. Jackson, Tyler Perry, and Don’t Look Up composer Nicholas Britell, wore their support on their lapels or fingers in the form of ribbons and pins in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.
A Letter From Lviv: “We can’t lose since we can only win.”
Lviv’s Les Kurbas Academic Theatre, which was named after Ukraine’s most famous movie and stage director, is situated in a five-story beige building that looks far less baroque than the rest of the city. It is situated less than 300 meters from the city centre, and its programs to provide shelter for Ukrainians fleeing the war with Russia have been suspended for more than a month.
King Lev of Ruthenia named the city after his son Lev, which translates to lion when it was founded in the 13th century. That is why it is called the Lion City in the local language. In the month since the war began, while Russia has destroyed Ukrainian cities, Lviv has been somewhat spared, despite three explosions on the outskirts of the city on Saturday. The city has thus become one of the gateways into Ukraine for foreigners.
There are missile incidents in Lviv, and the city’s opera season begins
Lviv was jolted out of its lull on Saturday afternoon when at least five missiles fired by Russia struck just east of the city, injuring five people. As a haven for people wanting to enter or leave Ukraine, the city of Lviv provided a passage for people seeking to get in or out of Ukraine.
The first explosion occurred around 4.45 pm, shortly after an opera performance in front of the Lviv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre with a singer from Kharkiv – that city that has been attacked by the Russians – had to be halted due to air raid sirens.
edited and proofread by nikita sharma
