LIVEBLOG: Russians set sights on Kyiv 2 weeks into invasion

UN Security Council to hold meeting over claims of bio weapons in Ukraine

The UN Security Council is slated to hold an urgent meeting over claims of biological weapons in Ukraine, following accusations by the Kremlin that the US and Ukraine are developing such weapons.

Zelensky accuses Moscow of attack on humanitarian corridor in Mariupol

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky Thursday said around 100,000 people had evacuated the country's cities in two days, but accused Russian forces of targeting a humanitarian corridor in the city of Mariupol.

He said he decided to send a convoy of trucks into the besieged port city with food, water and medicine, but "the occupiers launched a tank attack exactly where this corridor was supposed to be," Zelensky said in a video statement, describing it as "outright terror." - AFP

Ukraine's foreign minister alleges Russia preparing 'false flag' operation

Ukraine's richest man denounces 'crimes against humanity'

Ukraine's richest man Rinat Akhmetov on Thursday accused Russian troops of committing "crimes against humanity against Ukrainians" despite long being considered pro-Moscow. 

"What is unfolding here is a war crime and a crime against humanity, against Ukraine and the Ukrainians," Akhmetov told Forbes Ukraine magazine.

"This can neither be explained nor justified," Akhmetov said when asked why Russian troops were targeting civilians and shelling entire residential areas.

He said victory for Ukraine would mean returning to the borders that existed before Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and backed separatists who seized eastern parts of Ukraine including Donbas. -  AFP

US warns Russia may use chemical weapons in Ukraine

Russia sanctions may cause IMF to cut global growth forecast

The International Monetary Fund expects to cut its global growth estimate next month due to the economic damage caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Thursday.

The sanctions Western countries have imposed on Moscow in response to the war will lead to a "sharp contraction" of the Russian economy, Georgieva told reporters, adding that a Russian debt default is no longer "an improbable event."

Russia’s incursion into its neighbor prompted countries around the world to impose a slew of United States-led sanctions on Moscow in response, battering the state’s economy and sending the ruble into a state of free fall.

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Moscow says to open daily humanitarian corridors from Ukraine to Russia 

Moscow said Thursday that it will open daily humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians fleeing fighting in Ukraine to Russian territory, despite Kyiv insisting that no evacuation routes should lead to Russia. 

"Humanitarian corridors towards the Russian Federation will now be opened, without any agreements, every day from 10:00 am," defense ministry official Mikhail Mizintsev was quoted as saying by Russian agencies. He said evacuation routes in other directions would proceed "in agreement with the Ukrainian side". 

"We ask the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations to work closely with Ukrainian authorities on the ground to inform the population about this Russian imitative," he said. - AFP

Ukraine's FM speaks with IAEA chief Grossi on safety of nuclear facilities

US embassy praises explosive ordinance device technicians in Ukraine

UK PM: Chemical weapons ‘straight out’ of Russia’s playbook

The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson alleged during an interview on Thursday that Russia could deploy chemical weapons in Ukraine.

“The stuff that you're hearing about chemical weapons is straight out of their playbook,” the premier said while speaking on a Sky News television program, referring to Western allegations that Moscow could be preparing to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine.

On Tuesday, Russia accused the United States of running “biological weapons” operations in Ukraine, which Washington called “laughable.”

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i24NEWS: UK freezes assets of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich

UK PM Johnson warns 'barbaric' Russia over Ukraine chemical arms

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday the "barbaric" Russian regime was indulging in a tried-and-tested ruse as it lays the ground for the possible use of chemical weapons in Ukraine.

"The stuff which you are hearing about chemical weapons is straight out of the Russian playbook," he told Sky News, echoing US warnings that President Vladimir Putin could be set on a horrifying escalation.

"They start saying that there are chemical weapons that are being stored by their opponents or by the Americans, so that when they themselves deploy chemical weapons - as I fear they may - they have a fake story ready to go," Johnson said.

"You have seen it in Syria, you saw it even in the UK. It is a cynical, barbaric government I'm afraid." - AFP

G7 calls on oil, gas producers to boost deliveries

The G7 club of the most industrialized nations on Thursday urged big energy-producing countries to boost deliveries to blunt the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on prices.

"We call on oil and gas producing countries to act in a responsible manner and to examine their ability to increase deliveries to international markets particularly where production is not meeting full capacity noting that OPEC has a key role to play," G7 energy ministers said in a joint statement.

They added it was "necessary to consider effective measures in order to stop the increase in the gas price."

European wholesale gas and crude oil have rocketed to record or near-record prices this week due to supply fears linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to pour tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on February 24. - AFP

US VP Harris announces details of additional Ukraine aid

France's President Macron denounces hospital bombing in Ukraine

Russia's bombing of a maternity hospital in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol was "a disgraceful act of war," French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday.

France condemned the attack "in the firmest possible terms," Macron told reporters as EU leaders gathered outside Paris to discuss their response to the conflict, saying "the clear objective was to kill civilians, especially women and children." - AFP

European Union says no 'fast track' for Ukraine's bloc membership

European Union leaders told Ukraine on Thursday there was no fast way for the country to join the bloc, dousing Kyiv's hopes as it faces an onslaught from Russian forces.

"There is no such thing as a fast track," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said as he arrived for an EU summit at the Versailles Palace in France, reflecting the position of several member states.

"I want to focus on what can we do for (Ukrainian President) Volodymyr Zelensky tonight, tomorrow, and and EU accession of Ukraine is something for the long term, if at all," he added. - AFP

Lithuania bans rallies, media supporting Russian invasion

Lithuania on Thursday issued a temporary ban on all Russian and Belarusian state TV broadcasts and public events supporting Moscow's invasion in Ukraine, sparking an outcry from free speech activists.

There will also be a ban on taking photos or videos of strategic energy companies and the movement of national and allied military forces.

The bans were adopted by parliament as the Baltic NATO member extended a state of emergency imposed last month after President Vladimir Putin sent Russian troops into Ukraine.

The government said the new rules were necessary to ensure public order and resilience. - AFP

US Secretary of State Blinken speaks with Poland's FM on Ukraine aid

Canada's PM Trudeau says Putin will 'lose' Ukraine war

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday said Russian President Vladimir Putin had made "a terrible mistake" by invading Ukraine and would "lose" the war there.

"We will always have slightly different perspectives from one democracy to the next. Vladimir Putin was counting on those slight differences between us to lead to ineffective sanctions," Trudeau said. 

"But we have been strongly, unequivocally united on this," he told reporters alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw. 

"Vladimir Putin has made a terrible mistake. He's going to lose this war... because the ferocity and strength and resolve of the Ukrainian people defending their territory is inspiring us all," Trudeau said. - AFP

Third round of talks end without breakthrough