Russia Ukraine War Day 11: NATO countries have 'green light' to send fighter jets to Ukraine, says Blinken

2,000 foreign citizens can't leave Ukraine due to Russian shelling According to Iryna Vereshchuk, the minister for reintegration of temporarily occupied territories, foreign students are left in locations facing Russian shelling and can’t leave the country.

Russian troops have shelled a nuclear research facility in Kharkiv. The Kharkiv branch of Ukraine’s Security Service reported that Russia used Grad multiple rocket launchers to shell the Kharkiv Physics and Technology Institute.

Russia's Defense Ministry says countries which use their airfields to supply Ukraine with fighter jets may be regarded as participants in the conflict

As per BNO news, the U.S. is talking with European partners and allies to consider banning the import of Russian oil, said Secretary of State Blinken

As per the Russian Interior Ministry, about 1,700 people have been detained at an unauthorised rally in Moscow, and about 750 in St. Petersburg, reported Sputnik.

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Sibiga has said that Volodymyr Zelenskyy is ready for direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin - NEXTA

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to French counterpart Emmanuel Macron for nearly 1 hour 45 minutes as Moscow's invasion bid of Ukraine advances reports Sputnik.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russian rockets had completely destroyed the civilian airport of the central-western region capital of Vinnytsia, Reuters reported.

Approximately 5,200 Indian nationals were returned home country yesterday. Today around 889 are returning to their home country. We're operating the last leg of 'Operation Ganga' flights today, said Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

Putin's phone call with Erdogan | Highlights

• Russia's president informed his Turkish counterpart about the course of the special military operation to protect Donbass, explained the main goals and objectives, stressing that it is going according to plan.
• The Russian side is ready for dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities and with foreign partners to resolve the conflict, Putin said.
• Russia will not tolerate any attempts to drag out the negotiation process used by the Ukrainian security forces to regroup their forces.
• Putin said that suspending the special operation is only possible if Kyiv ceases hostilities and fulfills Russia's requirements.
• Russia's president hopes that representatives of Ukraine will show a more constructive approach during the next round of negotiations.

Turkish President Erdogan in talks with Putin, has called for an 'urgent general ceasefire', reports AFP.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed in conversation with Erdogan that the special operation was proceeding as planned, Sputnik quoted Kremlin as saying.

Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy is pushing his call for foreign countries to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

Establishing a no-fly zone would risk escalating the conflict by involving foreign militaries directly. Although the United States and many Western countries have backed Ukraine with weapons shipments, they have sent no troops.

Zelenskyy said in a video address on Sunday that “the world is strong enough to close our skies."

NATO countries have ruled out policing a no-fly zone, which would bar all unauthorised aircraft from flying over Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that Moscow would consider any third-party declaration of a no-fly zone over Ukraine as “participation in the armed conflict.

Israel's prime minister says his country will continue to assist in finding a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis, even if the chances for success are few.

Naftali Bennett spoke Sunday to a meeting of his Cabinet, hours after he returned from a surprise meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where the two discussed the war with Ukraine.

He then travelled to Germany where he met Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russian forces are preparing to bombard Ukraine port city Odessa, AFP reported.

Under Operation Ganga, 2135 Indians have been brought back today by 11 special civilian flights from Ukraine’s neighbouring countries. With this, more than 15, 900 Indians have been brought back since the special flights began on 22nd February, 2022, says the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Tomorrow, 8 special flights are expected to operate including 5 flights from Budapest, two flights from Suceva, and one flight from Bucharest, bringing in more than 1500 Indians back home, it said.

India has excellent diplomatic service, they know what to do... It's not about Ukraine or the EU, it is about the global world order...We all have to stand together against it, says Walter J Lindner, German Envoy to India on Ukraine Crisis.

Turkey's President Erdogan holds phone call with Russian counterpart Putin, reports TRT World.

More than 1 million people have now fled Ukraine to seek safety, and millions more are likely to join them, says United Nations.

Through 'Operation Ganga', We've evacuated 448 students of Karnataka origin. 47 batches from Delhi & Mumbai have reached. 12 flights have been scheduled for tomorrow. We've another 236 students who have to be evacuated from Ukraine, said Dr Manoj Rajan, Dr Manoj Rajan, Commissioner KSDMA.

India sends humanitarian assistance to Ukraine via Poland through an Indian Air Force special flight.

Indian Embassy in Hungary in an important announcement informed that it will begin its last leg of 'Operation Ganga' flights today. All those students staying in their OWN accommodation (other than arranged by Embassy) are requested to reach @Hungariacitycentre, Rakoczi Ut 90, Budapest between 10 am -12 pm.

Vodafone mobile network has stopped working in Berdyansk, says the head of the Zaporizhzhia region.

WHO chief Tedros has confirmed several attacks on healthcare facilities in Ukraine, causing multiple deaths and injuries.

All Indian nationals who still remain in Ukraine are requested to fill up the details contained in the attached Google Form on an URGENT BASIS. Be Safe Be Strong, says Indian Embassy in Kyiv. Direct link to fill up form

Russia says struck and destroyed Ukraine's Starokostiantyniv military air base with long-range high-precision weapons, reports Reuters.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has developed a six-point plan to counter the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

• Forming an international coalition to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
• Supporting Ukraine's self-defense.
• Increasing economic pressure on Russia.
• Preventing "creeping normalization" of Russian activities in Ukraine
• Strengthening security and stability throughout the Euro-Atlantic region.
• Pursuing diplomatic ways toward de-escalation with Kyiv's full participation.

The US has requested proposals from companies to integrate the Baltic states into the NATO air defense system, reports NEXTA.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the “evolution” of the situation in Ukraine is “something China does not want to see” in a phone call with US Secretary of State Blinken on March 5, according to a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs published by CNN.

China's foreign minister also called on the US, NATO, and the EU to “pay attention to the negative impact of NATO’s continuous eastward expansion on Russia’s security."

3,000 American volunteers are ready to confront Russia in Ukraine as part of an international battalion, reports @VoaNews. Among those willing are veterans of combat operations in Iraq and other hot spots around the world.

Senior US officials will meet with members of the Venezuelan government, reports The New York Times. The Biden administration wants to "intensify efforts to separate Russia from its remaining international allies".

In the Kharkiv region, the Armed Forces of Ukraine seized 30 units of Russian equipment.

Ukraine’s Gas Transmission System Operator has had to shut down 16 gas distribution stations in six of Ukraine's oblasts - Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Donetsk and Luhansk, as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

As a result of attacks, the operator is unable to restore gas supply in some areas.

Russian troops are dropping bombs on residential areas of Chernihiv for fortifications and military-industrial facilities, says Vyacheslav Chaus, chairman of the Chernihiv regional military administration.

Hundreds of men have been lining up in Kyiv to join the Ukrainian army. An order from Ukraine's government prohibited men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country to keep them available for military conscription.

But some like Volodymyr Onysko volunteered to fight.

“We know why we are here. We know why we defend our country. And our guys that are actually standing there and fighting Russian military forces,” he told Britain's Sky News. 

“We know what we are doing and that's why we will win.” Others, like British Army veteran Mark Ayres, travelled to Ukraine to help.

3,000 US volunteers have responded to Ukraine’s call for people to serve in an international battalion that will help resist Russia’s all-out invasion, a representative of the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington told VOA, reports Voice of America.

Ukraine’s General Staff of the Armed Forces said those interested in fighting against Russia could apply by going to their Ukrainian embassy.

Adobe has stopped selling its services in Russia

The next round of talks between Ukraine and Russia will be held on Monday, Ukrainian official Davyd Arakhamia said Saturday.

Arakhamia is head of the parliamentary faction of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Servant of the People party and a member of Ukraine's delegation at the talks.

Monday's will be the third round of talks as the two sides try to negotiate a cease-fire and safe passage corridors for civilians.

Russian forces have now seized two Ukrainian nuclear power plants and are advancing toward a third, Ukraine's president said during a call with US senators Saturday. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the third plant currently under threat is the Yuzhnoukrainsk nuclear power plant, located 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Mykolaiv, one of several cities the Russians were trying to keep encircled Saturday.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the United Nations is committed to scaling up its humanitarian operations to help both those who have stayed in Ukraine and the millions who have fled. Guterres relayed the promise to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in a phone call on Saturday, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that China opposes any moves that “add fuel to the flames” in Ukraine.

Blinken says the world is watching to see which nations stand up for the principles of freedom and sovereignty.

The two spoke by phone on Saturday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Poland may provide Ukraine with MiG-29 fighters and Su-25 attack aircraft and receive F-16 fighters in exchange from the US, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources in the US administration

Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) will suspend flights to Russia from March 6

One of the world's most popular gaming platforms Epic Games stated that they are suspending all commercial relations with Russia, but do not plan to block access to the games

US President Joe Biden on Saturday spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and discussed issues concerning security and financial support for Ukraine. This is the second phone call between the two leaders this week.

The first batch of UNICEF humanitarian supplies has arrived today in Lviv, western Ukraine, from UNICEF's Global Supply and Logistics Hub in Copenhagen. It is part of a six-truck convoy containing an estimated 62 tonnes of supplies on its way to the war-ravaged country.

In a press statement, the UNICEF said that the supplies include personal protective equipment to protect health workers from COVID-19 as they respond to the critical health needs of children and families, as well as desperately needed medical supplies, including medicine, first aid kits, midwifery kits and surgical equipment, and early childhood and recreational kits.

Demanding fresh rounds of sanctions against Russia, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday called on governments of several countries including India to appeal to Russia to stop the ongoing conflict. During a televised address, Kuleba accused Russia of violating the ceasefire agreements and urged it to stop shooting to allow civilians, including foreign students, to evacuate.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister claimed that Russia's trying to "win the sympathy" of countries that have foreign nationals in Ukraine. He said that if Russia stops "manipulating" the issue of foreign students, they will all be safely evacuated. 

"I call on the governments of India, China, and Nigeria, to appeal to Russia to stop the fire and allow civilians to leave," he said.

Puma decides to suspend operations at all its stores in Russia; had already stopped deliveries to Russia following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday held talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Polish border and discussed anti-Russia sanctions and the strengthening of Kyiv's defense capabilities.

The Ukrainian foreign minister said the talks were "productive" and the two sides affirmed the "effectiveness" of the sanctions already imposed against Russia.

Mariupol Mayor says Russia blockades city, denies humanitarian corridor. According to Mayor Vadym Boychenko, the city has been left without water and electricity, while 400,000 city residents are held hostage by the Russians

Credit card and Payment giants Mastercard and Visa announced that they were suspending operations in Russia and that their cards issued by Russian banks will no longer work outside the country.

"Effective immediately, Visa will work with its clients and partners within Russia to cease all Visa transactions over the coming days. Once complete, all transactions initiated with Visa cards issued in Russia will no longer work outside the country and any Visa cards issued by financial institutions outside of Russia will no longer work within the Russian Federation," Visa said in a Saturday statement.

A special flight carrying 154 Indian nationals stranded in crisis-torn Ukraine reached Delhi on Sunday. The special flight had departed from the city of Kosice in Slovakia on Saturday under Operation Ganga. Union Minister of State of Chemicals and Fertilizers Bhagwanth Khuba received the passengers at Indira Gandhi International Airport.