Russia-Ukraine War Updates Day 5: India to send relief supplies to Ukraine today

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO had no intention of entering Ukraine by land or air to stop Russia.

Ukraine has turned to the European Union (EU) with the emergence of industrial technology, including air defense and missile defense systems, as well as guns, mortars and assault rifles.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed an application for membership of his country in the European Union, informed the Ukrainian Parliament on Monday.

Taking to Twitter, the official account of the Parliament of Ukraine stated: "President @ZelenskyyUa has signed application for the membership of #Ukraine in the European Union."

Earlier in a day, Zelensky appealed to be admitted to the European Union amid the ongoing tension between Moscow and Kyiv.
"Our goal is to be together with all Europeans and, most importantly, to be on an equal footing," Zelensky said during a video address, The Hill reported.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the entire government machinery is working round the clock to ensure that all Indians in Ukraine are safe and secure and that India will also help people from neighbouring and developing countries who are stranded in the eastern European nation. The prime minister made the remarks at a high-level meeting, his second of the day, that was held to review the ongoing efforts under "Operation Ganga" to bring back the Indians stranded in Ukraine, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The government has also decided to send Union ministers Hardeep Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju and General (retd) V K Singh to Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova to oversee the evacuation of Indians.

The MEA said Modi noted that the first consignment of relief supplies to Ukraine to deal with the humanitarian situation on the country's borders would be dispatched on Tuesday.

Putin tells French counterpart Macron: He'll stop strikes against civilian targets, according to the Elysée, and that he'll preserve civilian infrastructure to secure main roads, including the road south of Kyiv.

Amid delegation-level peace talks between Russia and Ukraine taking place in Belarus, Kyiv has said that talks with Moscow have reached ‘certain decisions’.

 Russian exporters must convert 80% of revenue into rubles: Kremlin

"Action plans were being made by Ukraine & Georgia to join NATO. Their (US) policy was to create anti-Russia Ukraine & ensured that it joined NATO. Ukraine joining NATO is a red line, compels us to adopt measures in response; has placed us at the verge of this conflict:"

"The Russian Federation did not begin these hostilities. They were unleashed by Ukraine residents, dissenters. Russians are seeking to end this war"

As of today, 352 people including 16 children killed on the Ukraine side. These numbers grow nonstop, shelling continues.

Russian troops are suffering, already lost over 1000s of manpower. Stop this offensive against Ukraine. We demand Russia to unconditionally withdraw its forces and demand full compliance with international humanitarian law.

Ukrainian authorities say at least 44 people have been wounded in fighting in Ukraine’s second-largest city of Kharkiv, and that seven of them died in hospitals.

It wasn't clear if the casualties, which covered the past 24 hours, were all civilians. The state emergencies agency said the casualties could be higher because the damage from Monday’s shelling of residential areas is still being assessed.

Ukrainian social networks featured videos showing residential quarters hit by a series of powerful explosions amid fighting with Russian forces.

The Russian military has consistently denied targeting residential areas despite abundant evidence of shelling of residential buildings, schools and hospitals.

• Mere idea of nuclear conflict is simply inconceivable: Guterres. 
• Enough is enough. Soldiers need to move back to their barracks.
• Russian nuclear forces being put on high alert is a chilling development.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday accused the opposition of playing politics of “appeasement” and alleged that the Bahujan Samaj Party’s list of candidates for the state polls resembled a "Muslim league". Addressing a series of meetings in the poll-bound state, he said the opposition parties are spreading hatred among communities to increase their votebank. “While the Samajwadi Party's (SP) candidate list gives a clear message that the party is not ready to leave criminals, goons and rioters, the Bahujan Samaj Party’s (BSP) list of candidates resembles a 'Muslim league'. This proves that they will not give equal representation to all sections and regions,” he said during public meetings at Pathardeva, Salempur and Rudrapur assembly constituencies in Deoria.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday claimed the BJP is hatching a conspiracy to end reservation and hence, is selling government organisations to the private sector. Addressing an election meeting in the Jalalpur assembly constituency, Yadav said his party will win all the seats of Ambedkarnagar as well as of neighbouring Azamgarh district in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. "The BJP is hatching a conspiracy to end reservation, and hence it is selling government organisations to the private sector," he said.

The mass exodus of refugees from Ukraine to the eastern edge of the European Union showed no signs of stopping Monday as they flee Russia's burgeoning war, with the UN estimating that more than 500,000 people have already escaped. Long lines of cars and buses were backed up at checkpoints at the borders of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and non-EU member Moldova. Others crossed the borders on foot, dragging their possessions away from the war and into the security of the EU.

Russia has closed its airspace to carriers from 36 nations, including European countries and Canada, responding in kind to their move to close their respective airspaces to all Russian aircraft. The move, announced Monday by the state aviation agency, follows a decision by the EU and Canada over the weekend to close their skies to the Russian planes in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.  It added that planes from those countries could only enter Russia's airspace with special permission.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday stressed that India must be made strong in view of emerging international challenges that were affecting every citizen of the world. He said being a big state, Uttar Pradesh has a "biggest" responsibility in making India powerful. His remarks at the Maharajganj rally come against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine from where India is trying evacuate thousands of its citizens.
Modi, however, did not specifically mention the crisis. Modi addressed another rally at Ballia.

The decline was the result of severe economic sanctions imposed against the aggressor state, including the anticipated cutting off selected Russian banks from the payment order system SWIFT.

The Congress on Monday alleged that the Indian embassy was not taking calls from students stranded amid the war in Ukraine.

Taking to reporters at party headquarters here, spokesperson Pawan Khera said 1,173 people from Uttar Pradesh are stuck in Ukraine amid a Russian military offensive.

The Indian embassy told the people in Ukraine to go to the Poland border from where arrangements were being made for them to return home.
When people reached the border, the phones in the embassy were not picked up, Khera claimed.

The government which does not care about its children and citizens is dreaming of becoming a “world guru”, he added.

BJP president J P Nadda charged the Samajwadi Party (SP) on Monday with giving protection to terrorists and gangsters, and said Uttar Pradesh is witnessing the rule of law today and not of any family or individual. "Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, during his tenure as the (Uttar Pradesh) chief minister, used to give protection to terrorists, withdraw cases against them and embrace them," Nadda said while addressing an election meeting here. After 2017, strict action has been taken against such elements with the formation of the BJP government in the state, he said, adding, "It is the rule of law in the state now and not that of a family or an individual."

A bus carrying police personnel returning from election duty in the Balrampur assembly constituency was attacked by some miscreants in the trans-Ganga area near here, police said on Monday. The miscreants attacked the bus with iron rods shattering its window pans near Bangai village under the Tharvai police station area but no one was injured in the incident, police said. The bus was returning to Sant Kabir Nagar with policemen on poll duty, they said. As the bus was passing by the village, some youths walking on the road ahead refused to allow the bus to pass by them despite the driver repeatedly blowing the horn, police said.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday claimed the BJP is hatching a conspiracy to end reservation and hence, is selling government organisations to the private sector. Addressing an election meeting in the Jalalpur assembly constituency, Yadav said his party will win all the seats of Ambedkarnagar as well as of neighbouring Azamgarh district in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. "The BJP is hatching a conspiracy to end reservation, and hence it is selling government organisations to the private sector," he said. Ambedkarnagar has five assembly seats and will vote on March 3 in the sixth phase. Azamgarh, with 10 assembly seats, will vote on March 7 in the last phase. The BJP is in a bad situation after the polling so far, Yadav claimed.

National Bank of Ukraine receives Hr 1 billion ($33 million) in support for armed forces.

Earlier, the bank had opened a special account where Ukrainians and foreigners can donate money to support the military.

To bolster women empowerment, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday promised to increase the amount given to beneficiaries of Mukhayamantri Samuhik Vivah Yojana from Rs 51,000 to Rs 1 lakh, and that given to beneficiaries of Mukhayamantri Kanya Sumangla Yojana by Rs 10,000 if Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) retains power in the state.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday took a jibe at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and said that he has two spectacles, he sees only one caste from one of them and one religion from the other, adding that if SP comes to power in Uttar Pradesh then the party will only work for one caste and one religion.

SpiceJet, Air India Express and IndiGo will operate special flights from Hungarian capital Budapest and Romania's Bucharest on Monday and Tuesday to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive. 

India on Saturday began the evacuation of its citizens from Romania and Hungary -- countries sharing borders with Ukraine -- as the Ukrainian airspace has been closed since February 24 when the military offensive began.  Tata Group-owned Air India has evacuated 1,396 Indian nationals in six evacuation flights till now.

Around 14,000 Indians, mainly college students, are currently stranded in Ukraine.  SpiceJet said it will use its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for this special flight that will depart from Delhi on Monday evening.  

We have also set up a dedicated Twitter handle, @opganga. This handle is working in coordination with control centres of border crossings MEA control room has handled more than 8000 calls, it informed.

Flight Information: We are adding more flights according to demand. Over the next 24 hours, 3 more flights are scheduled - 2 from Bucharest, 1 from Budapest.

Flights are not the constraint, MEA added.

We have a new route through Moldova, it's operational now, our teams will assist you. They will assist in the evacuation of Indians through Romania, said MEA on the evacuation of stranded Indians in Ukraine.

Decision to deploy special envoys to the 4 countries bordering #Ukraine. Union Ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia will be going to Romania, Kiren Rijiju to Slovak Republic, Hardeep Puri to Hungary, VK Singh to Poland... to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process...: MEA

China is criticizing the imposition of Western sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine, saying that will harm the chances of finding a political settlement. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Monday reiterated China’s standard opposition to “unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law,” despite Beijing’s own use of such measures against countries such as Lithuania over its stance on Taiwan. “Facts have long proven that sanctions could not help solve problems but create new issues,” Wang told reporters at a daily briefing. “It will not only result in a lose-lose or multi-lose situation economically, but also disrupt the process of political settlement.” China, along with India and the United Arab Emirates, abstained in Friday’s 11-1 vote on a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding that Moscow immediately stop its attack on Ukraine.

The head of the United Nations refugee agency says more than a half a million people had fled Ukraine since Russia’s invasion on Thursday. Filippo Grandi of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees conveyed the latest update in a tweet Monday, saying more than 500,000 people had fled to neighboring countries. Shabia Mantoo, a spokesperson for the Geneva-based agency, said she had no details about the numbers by country.

Union Minister V K Singh said he is leaving for Poland Monday night to coordinate the evacuation of Indians from Ukraine amid a Russian military offensive. With the Ukrainian airspace being closed for civilian aircraft, India is evacuating its citizens through its neighbouring countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assigned four Union ministers to be on the ground in the neighbouring countries of Ukraine to facilitate the smooth and safe evaluation of Indian nationals. While Singh will coordinate the evacuation efforts in Poland, Kiren Rijiju will be in Slovakia and Hardeep Singh Puri in Hungary. Jyotiraditya Scindia will look after evacuation efforts from Romania and Moldova. Singh said Prime Minister Modi has taken a visionary step to send the Union ministers to neighbouring countries of war-torn Ukraine.

US governors are taking matters into their own hands and imposing their own economic sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Sunday asked the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to remove Russian-sourced products from stores in the commonwealth. He said the board has already identified Russian-sourced products currently being sold at Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores and urged for sales to cease as quickly as possible, WPXI-TV reported. The board later responded that all Russian-made products will be removed from the stores' shelves as a show of solidarity and support for the people of Ukraine. According to KDVR-TV, Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado on Thursday directed his state's Office of Information Technology and the Department of Personnel and Administration to look through current state contracts to see if there are any Russian state-owned companies currently doing business with Colorado. Any found will be terminated. On Saturday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin, of Virginia, ordered the Department of General Services to review all contracts to determine whether any state tax dollars were being spent on goods and services from primarily Russian companies, WRIC-TV reported. Youngkin requested that the Norfolk Sister City Association, a non-profit citizen diplomacy organization, immediately end its relationship with Kaliningrad, Russia. The Virginia Retirement System Board of Trustees and university endowment funds were also called to divest any and all holdings of the Russian ruble and any and all securities of R

Ordinary Russians faced the prospect of higher prices and crimped foreign travel as Western sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine sent the ruble plummeting, leading uneasy people to line up at banks and ATMs on Monday in a country that has seen more than one currency disaster in the post-Soviet era. The Russian currency plunged about 30% against the US dollar Monday after Western nations announced moves to block some Russian banks from the SWIFT international payment system and to restrict Russia's use of its massive foreign currency reserves. The exchange rate later recovered ground after swift action by Russia's central bank. People wary that sanctions would deal a crippling blow to the economy have been flocking to banks and ATMs for days, with reports in social media of long lines and machines running out. Moscow's department of public transport warned city residents over the weekend that they might experience problems with using Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay to pay fares because VTB, one of the Russian banks facing sanctions, handles card payments in Moscow's metro, buses and trams. A sharp devaluation of the ruble would mean a drop in the standard of living for the average Russian, economists and analysts said. Russians are still reliant on a multitude of imported goods and the prices for those items are likely to skyrocket.

Russian forces have taken over the area around the Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant, the Ministry of Defense announced on Monday. Last week, Moscow took control of the Chernobyl facility. "Russian Forces have taken control over the cities of Berdyansk, Energodar. Russian troops have complete control and are protecting the territory around the Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant," spokesperson Major General Igor Konashenkov said. READ FULL STORY 

Talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations, first since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion on February 24, have started at the Belarussian border as the threat of nuclear war looms large, according to Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin dramatically escalated East-West tensions by ordering Russian nuclear forces put on high alert on Sunday. Citing “aggressive statements” by NATO and tough financial sanctions, Putin issued a directive to increase the readiness of Russia’s nuclear weapons, raising fears that the invasion of Ukraine could lead to nuclear war, whether by design or mistake which could entirely wipe out Europe. READ FULL STORY 

President Zelensky announced creating an International Legion of Territorial Defense consisting of foreigners who are willing to join the resistance to the Russian invaders and protect global security.

Japan imposes sanctions against Russia's Central Bank. The country said that it stands with Ukraine and added that Tokyo is working closely with G7 nations to ensure effective economic sanctions against Russia.

Some political leaders on Monday criticised India for abstaining from vote in the UN Security Council to call for a rare special emergency session of the UN General Assembly on Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Though the Congress did not comment on the issue, Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena leaders hit out at India for refusing to call the Russian aggression a war against Ukraine. "And now the threat of going nuclear. Stay calm, Be Neutral, no?" Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted. Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra said, "India's refusal to call war, war, will prove expensive in our lifetime. Humouring power-hungry dictators never helps." "Emboldened by Russian move, if and when China aggresses into India, we could be left with few allies given our sorry balancing act," the Lok Sabha MP from West Bengal tweeted.

"Discussed the Ukraine developments with Zbigniew Rau, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland. Appreciate Poland’s facilitation of the evacuation of Indian students from Ukraine," tweets EAM S Jaishankar

U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet says her office has confirmed that 102 civilians, including 7 children, have been killed, and 304 others injured in violence in Ukraine since Thursday, as she cautioned that the tally was likely a vast undercount. She cited updated U.N. figures that more than 420,000 people have fled the country in the last several days. “Most of these civilians were killed by explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multi-launch rocket systems, and air strikes,” Bachelet told the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday. “The real figures are, I fear, considerably higher.” The count by the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights follows strict methodology and verification measures. Bachelet said millions of people have been “forced to huddle in different forms of bomb shelters.” U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres told the council: “The escalation of military operations by the Russian Federation in Ukraine is leading to escalating human rights violations.”

The Russian government on Monday accused the European Union of acting in a 'hostile fashion' towards Russia, Reuters reported. "Weapons supplies to Ukraine are dangerous and destabilising," Russia added, saying that the decision to demilitarise its neighbour was correct.

Outgunned but determined Ukrainian troops slowed Russia's advance and held onto the capital and other key cities - at least for now. In the face of stiff resistance and devastating sanctions, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's nuclear forces put on high alert, threatening to elevate the war to a terrifying new level. Explosions and gunfire that have disrupted life since the invasion began last week appeared to subside around Kyiv overnight, as Ukrainian and Russian delegations prepared to meet Monday on Ukraine's border with Belarus. It's unclear what, if anything, those talks would yield. Terrified Ukrainian families huddled in shelters, basements or corridors, waiting to find out. Exact death tolls are unclear, but Ukraine's president says at least 16 children have been killed and another 45 wounded, among hundreds, perhaps thousands, of other casualties. Millions have fled homes or the country all together.

Russia's envoy to South Korea warned the two countries' cooperative ties could "change course," after Seoul announced its decision on Monday to join a sanctions campaign to hold Moscow accountable for its invasion of Ukraine. Ambassador Andrey Kulik made the remarks hours after Seoul's Foreign Ministry announced its decision to bar the exports of strategic materials to Russia and join the multinational move to exclude the country from the SWIFT global payment network, Yonhap news agency reported. "The decision is deeply regrettable," Kulik told a press conference. "Russia-South Korea relations have developed only in a positive way in the past 30 years. The upward trajectory, I think, will now change course."

Russia will be able to ride out Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, a Kremlin spokesman said Monday, while President Vladimir Putin will be meeting officials to discuss the economic impact

People, mostly students, who returned to Bengaluru from war-torn Ukraine said their journey was hassle-free due to the efforts made by the Indian Embassy officials in Ukraine as well as Hungary and Slovakia. Mohammed Shoaib and Prathik Nagaraj, who are first-year students in the Uzhhorod National Medical University, said they were in the western part of Ukraine, which largely remained unaffected by the Russian attack on the country. After the war broke out between Russia and Ukraine, buses were arranged for them by the Indian Embassy officials to transport them to neighbouring Hungary and Slovakia, the medical students said. "Our passports were verified at the border, after which we were allowed to enter Hungary. From there, we boarded a flight to India and reached our country," Nagaraj told PTI. According to him, five buses were arranged from there to take Indians to neighbouring countries. The two students said there was no war-like situation in the western part of Ukraine unlike in Kyiv, the national capital of Ukraine, and another key city of Kharkiv. Meanwhile, Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority Commissioner Manoj Rajan said Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has directed the officials to open facilitation centres at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi and Mumbai Airport to coordinate and support stranded students hailing from Karnataka. "The air tickets from New Delhi and Mumbai to Bengaluru is borne by the state government. Further, the Nodal Officer and his team are in constant touch with MEA to evacuate remaining stranded students in Ukraine," he said in a statement. Rajan also said 37 people, including students, returned from Ukraine and many more will be flying back soon. He added that India is making every effort to bring back every citizen stuck in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian authorities are trying to assist in the evacuation of stranded Indian nationals, notwithstanding "very difficult and complex" ground situation, the country's envoy said on Monday. Ambassador Igor Polikha said he himself reached out to Ukrainian security forces requesting them to assist the stranded Indians. "The situation is very difficult and complex. My resources are limited. We are victim of an aggression. Still we are trying to help people including those from other countries," he said at a media briefing. Polikha said the situation in the Ukraine-Poland border crossing is challenging as lakhs of people, including diplomats, foreigners and Ukrainian citizens, are queuing up to exit Ukraine. "In case of Indian nationals, we are even trying to use our personal contacts to help them. But, you have to understand the ground realities. We are in a war," he said. Asked whether he can assure safety of Indian students, Polikha said only Russian President Vladimir Putin can give that assurance. "I don't know what will happen there after three hours. We are trying to be helpful to everyone," he said. According to Indian officials last week, there were around 16,000 Indian nationals in Ukraine. Following a Russian military offensive, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Sunday that over 2,000 Indian nationals were evacuated in the last few days.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday offered unconditional support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Ukraine issue and urged him to consider convening an all party meeting for a national resolve to emerge from the  crisis in sync with the country's long-standing stand for international peace and non-aggression. In a letter to the prime minister, Banerjee iterated that the country stands united with regard to evacuation of the stranded Indians in Ukraine and specially in giving a "quick hand to our students there in distress". "I would request you to accept my unconditional support during the ongoing international crisis and to consider whether you will like to have an all party meeting now for consolidating our national resolve to come out of the crisis with our head held high," the letter said. Being the largest democracy in the world, India must take lead to offer a peaceful solution to the world, and we must offer it undaunted and unhesitant, Banerjee said. "... In times of grave international crisis we keep aside our domestic disagreements to stand united as a nation. We do this to make sure that our dignity as a nation is unchallenged and unviolated. We do this to ensure that the principles on which we conduct our foreign affairs continue to be stable in the global arena," the letter said. Banerjee, who is the TMC supremo, said as a senior chief minister and as  leader of a national political party "I reiterate our adherence to this long-standing norm of our polity during the current international crisis of the Ukraine War". Banerjee said concerns had been expressed on "our general stand on the war though."

German concern  Volkswagen temporarily suspended the supply of cars in Russian dealerships.

Air India Express joins Operation Ganga. IX 1201 Mumbai- Bucharest (flight) departed at 1:50 pm. Scheduled arrival in Bucharest at 6:15 pm local time; intends to carry 182 passengers. Departure from Bucharest at 7:15 PM (local time). Arrival in Mumbai at 9:30 am tomorrow

Moscow stock exchange to remain closed all day. Russia's Central Bank has sharply raised its key rate from 9.5% to 20% in a desperate attempt to shore up the plummeting ruble and prevent the run of banks amid crippling Western sanctions over the Russian war in Ukraine. The bank's action follows the Western decision Sunday to freeze its hard currency reserves in an unprecedented move that could have devastating consequences for the country's financial stability. It was unclear exactly what share of Russia's estimated $640 billion hard currency coffers will be paralysed by the move, but European officials said that at least half of it will be affected.

Zelensky: “Already 4,500 Russian soldiers have been killed. Why did you all come here? Drop your weapons and leave, don’t trust your commanders, don’t trust your propagandists, just save your lives - leave.”

The UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, alongside the Bank of England on Monday announced the UK government's plans to impose further economic sanctions in response to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia by targeting the country's Central Bank of the Russian Federation (CBR). The move, which the UK Treasury department said is in concert with the US and the European Union (EU), is aimed at preventing the CBR from deploying its foreign reserves in ways that undermine the impact of sanctions imposed by the west, and to "undercut" its ability to engage in foreign exchange transactions to support the Russian currency Rouble. Under the plans, British people and businesses will be banned from making transactions with the Russian central bank, its finance ministry and its wealth fund. "These measures demonstrate our determination to apply severe economic sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine," Sunak said.

We are grateful to our partners for being with us, but our goal is to be with all Europeans and, most importantly, to be equal. We ask the European Union for Ukraine's immediate accession under a new special procedure: Ukraine President Zelensky 

The Ukrainian delegation includes: Chairman of the "Servant of the People" faction David Arakhamia, Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov, Advisor of the Head of the President's Office Mikhail Podolyak.

We support Ukraine and are helping it in providing ammunition & all types of support. The whole European Union airspace is closed for Russian aircraft including private jets. Japan, US and other countries have also imposed sanctions on Russia. There will be special flights for Indian students. Poland is cooperating & will also help India's High-level delegation in evacuation process. Indian nationals can cross into Poland border without any visa: Ambassador of Poland to India, Adam Burakowski 

Already more than 2 lakh people have crossed the border into Poland including Indian students. The border points are overcrowded but we are receiving everyone with a warm heart: Ambassador of Poland to India, Adam Burakowski

The prime minister of Georgia has confirmed that the country will not join sanctions against Russia. Georgians themselves are coming out to rallies of many thousands in support of Ukraine and demanding that the government take action against Russia.

Poland and the Baltic states asked Meta, Twitter, Google, and YouTube to suspend the accounts of the authorities and propaganda media of Russia and Belarus.

The Russian delegation will be represented by Russian Ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov, MP Leonid Slutsky, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko, and Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin. The delegation will be headed by Vladimir Medinskiy.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says allies are stepping up support to Ukraine with air defence missiles, anti-tank weapons, as well as humanitarian & financial aid: Reuters

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky appeals to Russian soldiers in speech - "Save your lives and leave". He also says Ukraine will release prisoners with military experience if willing to join fight against Russia. 

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare revises International Travel advisory; provides various exemptions for Indians being evacuated from Ukraine. Mandatory pre-boarding negative RTPCR test and Vaccination certificate exempted for Indian Nationals; Uploading documents before departure on Air-Suvidha Portal exempted. In case a traveler is not able to submit a pre arrival RT PCR test or who has not completed their Covid-19 vaccination, they have been allowed to submit their samples on arrival with the advice to continue to self-monitor their health for 14 days after arrival in India. As on 28th February 2022, 1156 Indians from Ukraine have arrived in India with none of the passengers kept under isolation

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion can come to the UK if they already have members of their immediate family settled in the country. As part of a new GBP 40 million humanitarian package for the supply of basic necessities and medical supplies such as medicines, syringes, dressings and wound care pack, Johnson confirmed that any person settled in the UK will be able to bring their Ukrainian immediate family members to join them here. Downing Street said this would benefit many thousands of people who at this moment are making desperate choices about their future. "The UK will not turn our backs in Ukraine’s hour of need. We are providing all the economic and military support we can to help those Ukrainians risking everything to protect their country,” Johnson said. "In the last days the world has witnessed awe-inspiring displays of bravery and heroism from the Ukrainian people in response to those who seek to obliterate their freedom by force,” he said. More details of the new Ukrainian visa policy is set to be announced in Parliament this week.

More than 400 Russian mercenaries have been flown in from Africa to assassinate Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Daily Mail reported. A private militia known as the Wagner Group allegedly has orders from Vladimir Putin to take out Zelensky - and 23 other government figures - to allow Moscow to take over its eastern European neighbour, the report said. According to the Times, UK, the army-for-hire, run by oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin - a close ally of the Russian president who is often dubbed 'Putin's chef' - was flown in five weeks ago and is being offered a huge sum for the mission. The highly-trained operatives are said to be waiting for the green light from the Kremlin to pounce, with their hit list also including Ukraine's prime minister, the entire cabinet, mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko and his brother Wladimir - both boxing champions who have become iconic figures on the front lines of the capital. However, the plans were rumbled after they reached the upper echelons of the Ukrainian government on Saturday morning, the report said. (IANS) READ FULL STORY 

China's top diplomat called on the US on Monday to take steps to improve ties, as tensions simmer over Taiwan, trade and other issues. Foreign Minister Wang Yi's remarks Monday were delivered virtually to a forum marking the 50th anniversary of the Shanghai Communique signed during the icebreaking 1972 visit to China by President Richard Nixon. That trip led seven years later to the US and China establishing diplomatic relations, upon which the US cut formal ties with Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory to be brought under its control by force if necessary. Wang urged Washington to reinstate a reasonable and pragmatic China policy and work with China to put their relations on track. He reiterated China's complaints that the US was not upholding its commitments but didn't mention any specific steps China would take. The sides need to view their relations in the broader perspective, with a more inclusive attitude, and choose dialogue over confrontation, cooperation over conflict, openness over seclusion, and integration over decoupling, Wang said.

Ukraine: We urge US citizens to depart now by private options, if safe. Consider routes & risk. Many Polish land border crossings & main Moldavian crossings have long waits. We recommend Hungary, Romania & Slovakia border crossings. Waits may be hours. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pushes for his country to join the EU. He said now was a 'crucial moment' and a 'new page in the history of our states'

The Vatican is offering its services for any negotiation aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's No. 2 official, told several Italian newspapers in an interview published on Monday, that even though what we feared and what we hoped wouldn't happen did happen, there is always space for negotiation. He noted that the Holy See, "offering its willingness to facilitate dialogue with Russia, is always ready to help the parties to get back on that path." On Friday, Pope Francis in an extraordinary step went to the Russian Embassy to the Holy See to meet with the Russian ambassador. The pontiff pressed for an end to fighting and a return to negotiations, Parolin noted. While Orthodox Christians are predominant among the faithful in Ukraine, the Catholic Church has a discreet presence in that country through believers who follow the Eastern Rite of Catholicism.

Ukraine President's office says its main goal of talks with Russia is immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops: Reuters 

IndiGo is operating two evacuation flights using A321 aircraft to bring back Indians safely. These flights are being operated from Delhi to Bucharest, Romania & Budapest, Hungary via Istanbul, today as part of Govt of India’s Operation Ganga mission. We are closely liaising with the government to offer our support for more such evacuations flights: IndiGo

The Ukrainian army said on Monday that the situation in Kiev was still under its control. As the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian army posted on Facebook, Ukrainian forces still had Kiev in control as it defeated the repeated attempts by Russian troops to storm into the outskirts of Kiev at night. Meanwhile, the Russian troops had failed to control any big regional cities and Ukrainian forces had repelled the Russians on all fronts last night, Fedir Venislavsky, a member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, said, Xinhua news agency reported citing local National News Agency of Ukraine.

They file into neighbouring countries by the hundreds of thousands - refugees from Ukraine clutching children in one arm, belongings in the other. And they're being heartily welcomed, by leaders of countries like Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania. But while the hospitality has been applauded, it has also highlighted stark differences in treatment given to migrants and refugees from the Middle East and Africa, particularly Syrians who came in 2015. Some of the language from these leaders has been disturbing to them, and deeply hurtful. "These are not the refugees we are used to...these people are Europeans," Bulgarian President Rumen Radev told journalists earlier this week, of the Ukrainians. "These people are intelligent, they are educated people...This is not the refugee wave we have been used to, people we were not sure about their identity, people with unclear pasts, who could have been even terrorists..." "In other words," he added, "there is not a single European country now which is afraid of the current wave of refugees."

India is more worried about the impact caused by the standoff between Ukraine and Russia, particularly on its exports, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday. Interacting with industry captains at an event here, Sitharaman said the Centre was seized of the matter and discussions were on between Ministries for a "complete assessment" on the issue. "On the larger issue of the situation prevailing in Ukraine and about India's position in the UN Security Council and so on. It is widely open and I went through the press releases and press commentaries which the External Affairs Ministry is making," she said. Voicing concern over the country's imports and exports from Russia and the war-torn nation, she said, "As regards to what is going to have a bearing on our immediate imports and equally on our exports to Ukraine, we are rightly worried about what comes from there, but I am more worried, about what is going to happen to our exporters who are doing very well, particularly to the farming sector."

The Ukrainian delegation arrived in the area of the Ukrainian-Belarusian border to take part in talks with representatives of the Russian Federation.

The Russian military says that residents of the Ukrainian capital can use a safe corridor to leave the city if they want. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Monday that Kyiv residents can safely use a highway leading to Vasylkiv just southwest of the Ukrainian capital. The statement came as fighting raged in various parts of the Ukrainian capital, with Ukrainian authorities saying that they were fighting small groups of Russian forces in various sectors of the capital. Konashenkov charged that Ukrainian nationalists were deploying military equipment using the city residents as shields, the allegations that can't be independently verified. Despite Russian military claims that it wasn't targeting populated areas, residential buildings, hospitals and schools have been hit all across Ukraine during the Russian invasion that began Thursday. Konashenkov also announced new land gains, saying Russian troops have taken control of the area around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in the south, noting that the plant was safe and the radiation levels in the area have remained normal.

We've further isolated Russia from int'l financial system this morning. Working with our partners, and G7, we are determined to impose the most severe economic measures possible against President Putin for his abhorrent campaign against Ukraine. Putin must fail: UK PM

Ukrainian military said that Russian troops have slowed down "the pace of the offensive". Meanwhile, the Ukrainian delegation for talks with Russia has reached Belarus. The talks are expected to start soon. Ukraine agreed to hold talks with Russia at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border near the Pripyat River, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday via social media.

Today's talks will be the first negotiations between the two countries since Russia started its invasion on February 24. READ FULL STORY 

Indian students stuck in Ukraine being taken to Budomierz (Poland)

The Indian embassy in Ukraine has informed that weekend curfew in Kyiv, the capital city, has been lifted. The embassy also said that the Ukrainian Railway is running special trains for evacuations and asked students to reach the railway station in order to board trains to reach the western borders.

Russia's central bank says it has ordered brokers to suspend the execution of all orders by foreign legal entities and persons who want to sell off their Russian investments, such as stocks and shares, BBC reported. The Bank of Russia also said it had yet to decide whether to open the Moscow Exchange, other than the forex and money market, on Monday. The opening time has already been pushed a few times in the last few hours. It comes as the rouble plunged to a new record low after Western nations announced new sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, BBC reported. Earlier, Russia's central bank appealed for calm amid fears that new financial sanctions could spark a run on its banks - that is, too many people trying to withdraw money, BBC reported.

Russian propagandists claim that the start of the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations may be delayed because... the Ukrainian delegation may want to sleep after the trip.

Talks between Ukrainian and Russian representatives are set to begin at the Belarus border on Monday morning local time, according to Ukrainian officials.

Talks between Ukrainian and Russian representatives to begin at Belarus border 

Weekend curfew lifted in Kyiv. All students are advised to make their way to the railway station for onward journey to the western parts. Ukraine Railways is putting special trains for evacuations.

A senior U.S. intelligence official says Belarus is expected to send troops into Ukraine as soon as Monday to fight alongside Russian forces that invaded Ukraine last week. Belarus has been providing support for Russia’s war effort, but so far has not taken a direct part in the conflict. The American official has direct knowledge of current U.S. intelligence assessments and says the decision by Belarus’ leader on whether to bring Belarus further into the war depends on talks between Russia and Ukraine happening in the coming days. The official spoke anonymously to discuss the sensitive information. Russian forces have encountered strong resistance from Ukraine defenders, and U.S. officials say they believe the invasion has been more difficult, and slower, than the Kremlin envisioned, though that could change as Moscow adapts.

Ten students from Assam stranded in war-torn Ukraine have been evacuated along with other Indians so far and they have reached New Delhi and Mumbai on separate flights, the state administration said. The Assam government said it has been in constant touch with the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure safe return of all people from the state, who are stuck in the restive country. The administration has also given WhatsApp numbers and email ids, along with a web link for people, who are still stranded in war-hit Ukraine so that they can reach out to the authorities. A statement issued by the state government on Sunday said personnel of Assam Bhavan in Mumbai and New Delhi have received the students and made necessary arrangements to send them home. Two of the 10 students who have been evacuated arrived in Mumbai, and others in New Delhi. "Tickets have been arranged by the Government of Assam," the statement said.

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Monday expressed anguish over the Ukraine crisis, and said that problems and disagreements are best resolved through dialogue. War is outdated and non-violence is the only way, the Nobel peace prize winner said on the Russian offensive in Ukraine. In a statement issued here, he said, "I have been deeply saddened by the conflict in Ukraine. Our world has become so interdependent that violent conflict between two countries inevitably impacts the rest of the word. War is outdated non-violence is the only way. We need to develop a sense of the oneness of humanity by considering other human beings as brothers and sisters. This is how we will build a more peaceful world." "Problems and disagreements are best resolved through dialogue. Genuine peace comes about through mutual understanding and respect for each other's wellbeing," the Dalai Lama said. Hoping that peace is swiftly restored in Ukraine, he said, "We must not lose hope. The 20th century was a century of war and bloodshed. The 21st century must be a century of dialogue."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday asked the government to urgently share its evacuation plan with those stranded in Ukraine and their families as he shared a video of some students being harassed by the military there. "My heart goes out to the Indian students suffering such violence and their family watching these videos. No parent should go through this," he said on Twitter while sharing the video of some students. "The GOI must urgently share the detailed evacuation plan with those stranded as well as their families. We can't abandon our own people," Gandhi also said. Gandhi and the Congress party have been criticising the government for not evacuating Indian students in time from Ukraine and have called for urgent steps to evacuate them, after Russia attacked Ukraine. A number of Congress leaders have shared videos of Indian students in Ukraine highlighting their plight and making appeals to the Indian government to evacuate them soon.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Monday welcomed 27 students hailing from the state who reached Gandhinagar in a bus from Delhi where they had landed after evacuation from Ukraine by a special flight. In the last two days, around 100 students studying in war-torn Ukraine have reached their home state Gujarat from Mumbai and Delhi. The 27 students who reached capital city Gandhinagar hail from different parts of Gujarat. The state government is making arrangements to send them along with their parents to their respective destinations, the government said in a statement. "Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Monday morning welcomed the youths with flowers and asked about their well-being. The students had reached the Gandhinagar circuit house from Delhi by the Volvo bus around Sunday midnight," the Chief Minister's Office said. Patel interacted with the students and assured their parents of all possible help from the government. 

The government is sending four Union Ministers to the neighbouring countries of Ukraine to coordinate the evacuations of stranded Indian nationals. The four Ministers are -- Hardeep Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju and Gen VK Singh. They will be going as Special Envoys of India to coordinate with officials of the countries to expedite the evacuation process of Indian nationals. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting today morning in Delhi, presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister is personally monitoring the evacuation exercise of Indian nationals from the war-torn nation and speaking to officials. READ FULL STORY 

The USA has announced nearly $54 million in additional humanitarian aid for Ukraine. Earlier on Sunday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces £40 million of further humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Asian stock prices have fallen after Western nations moved to tighten sanctions against Russia and as President Vladimir Putin escalated tensions by ordering Russian nuclear forces on high alert. US futures fell, with the contract for the S&P 500 down 2.5% early Monday. The stock markets in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai declined while Sydney was higher. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused markets to swing wildly, given the potential impact on inflation, energy supplies and other areas. The Russian ruble has weakened sharply but was steady early Monday at 83.86 to the dollar. Japan joined moves by the U.S. and Western nations to impose sanctions on Russia, including blocking some Russian banks from the SWIFT global payment system.

Brazillian President Jair Bolsonaro on Sunday declined to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, saying that Brazil would remain "neutral". "We will not take sides, we will continue being neutral, and help with whatever is possible," Bolsonaro was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters at a press conference on Sunday. "A big part of Ukraine's population speaks Russian," he added. On Friday, Brazil had voted to 'denounce' the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the UN Security Council, despite reluctance by Bolsonaro. Russia vetoed the resolution.

European Union has banned operations related to management of reserves and assets of the Central Bank of Russia. 

Russian ruble down 41% against US dollar in early trade. According to Bloomberg, the dollar is trading at about 113.5 rubles and the #euro at 127 rubles in the Forex market, reaching historic highs.

After being banned from flying to the United Kingdom, Russian airline Aeroflot has decided to cancel all flights to Europe from Monday (February 28). The airline has decided to stop all flights until further notice after the decision by many countries to close their airspace in protest at Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The United Nations' nuclear watchdog says missiles have hit a radioactive waste disposal site in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, but there are no reports of damage to the buildings or indications of a release of radioactive material. In a statement late Sunday, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi says Ukrainian authorities informed his office about the overnight strike. He says his agency expects to soon receive the results of on-site radioactive monitoring. The report came a day after an electrical transformer at a similar disposal facility in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv was damaged. Such facilities typically hold low-level radioactive materials such as waste from hospitals and industry, but Grossi says the two incidents highlight a 'very real risk.'' He says if the sites are damaged there could be 'potentially severe consequences for human health and the environment.''  (AP)

A referendum in Belarus on Sunday approved a new constitution ditching the country's non-nuclear status at a time when the former Soviet republic has become a launch pad for Russian troops invading Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, meanwhile, announced plans for a meeting with a Russian delegation at an unspecified location on the Belarusian border.

The United States and NATO have condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order to put his nuclear forces on high alert as dangerous and unacceptable, while the White House said it has not ruled out imposing new sanctions on Russia’s energy sector. In issuing the order to prepare Russia’s nuclear weapons for increased readiness for launch, Putin cited “aggressive statements” from NATO allies and widespread sanctions imposed by Western nations.

The U.N.'s two major bodies -- the 193-nation General Assembly and the more powerful 15-member Security Council -- will hold separate meetings on Monday on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a reflection of widespread international demands for an immediate cease-fire and escalating concern for the plight of millions of Ukrainians caught up in the war. The Security Council gave a green light on Sunday for the first emergency session of the General Assembly in decades. It will give all U.N. members an opportunity to speak about the war on Monday and vote on a resolution later in the week that U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said would "hold Russia to account for its indefensible actions and for its violations of the U.N. Charter."

UN to hold 2 meetings on Monday 

Seven more students from Uttarakhand who arrived from Ukraine were received by Additional Resident Commissioner Ajay Mishra and his team.

Australia will provide lethal military equipment to Ukraine to help the Ukrainians resist the Russian invasion. The Australian government's announcement on Monday gave no details on what material it may be sending. The move follows an offer on Friday of non-lethal military equipment, medical supplies and a USD 3 million contribution to a NATO trust fund for support of the besieged country. Australia has imposed sanctions on more than 350 Russian individuals, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, since Thursday. Australia has also targeted with sanctions 13 individuals and entities in Belarus, including that country's defence minister, Viktor Khrenin. Belarus is supporting Russia in its war with Ukraine. 

Belarus preparing to send soldiers into Ukraine in support of Russia's invasion as early as Monday, U.S. official says

India abstained from a procedural vote taken in the UN Security Council to call for a rare special emergency session of the UN General Assembly on Russia's aggression against Ukraine, even as New Delhi welcomed Moscow and Kyiv's decision to hold talks at the Belarus border. READ FULL STORY 

Russian forces have destroyed Ukraine's flagman aircraft An-225 Mriya, the world's biggest cargo plane, Ukraine's state defense conglomerate Ukroboronprom said on Telegram. The aircraft was destroyed in an attack by Russian troops on the Hostomel airport outside Kiev, Ukroboronprom added on Sunday.

The restoration of the plane will cost more than $3 billion and will take a long time, it said.

The An-225 Mriya, designed in the 1980s, is the longest and the heaviest airplane ever built. It was capable of carrying up to 640 tons of cargo, Xinhua news agency reported.

Kiev is still under the control of Ukrainian forces, the Kyiv City State Administration said in a statement.

"The situation in Kiev is calm, the capital is completely controlled by the Ukrainian Army and Defense. There were several clashes with sabotage groups during Saturday evening," said Mykola Povoroznyk, first Deputy Head of the administration.

According to Ukraine's government-run Ukrinform news agency, a curfew is implemented here until 8 a.m. (0600 GMT) Monday, and the movement of private vehicles without special passes is prohibited during the period, Xinhua news agency reported.

Due to the closure of European Union airspace to Russia, the French Foreign Affairs Ministry has asked its nationals to immediately leave Russia.

"Due to the increasing restrictions on air traffic between Russia and Europe, it is strongly recommended that non-resident French nationals in Russia make arrangements to leave the country without delay by existing air links," the French Ministry on Sunday said in the latest travelling notice.

According to the Ministry, most European companies, including Air France, have suspended from this Sunday evening flights in and out of Russia after the European Union has decided to close its airspace to Russia, Xinhua news agency reported.

In a second travelling notice concerning Belarus, the Ministry also asked its nationals to leave immediately Belarus through land borders.

"Our partnership with the people of Ukraine is steadfast and enduring, and we are focused on Ukraine’s urgent humanitarian needs as an important part of our response to Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack," says US Department of State

"It is with welfare of ordinary Ukrainians in mind that we're announcing provision of nearly $54 mn in humanitarian assistance to those affected by Russia’s further invasion.This includes nearly $26 mn from Dept of State&$28 mn from US Agency for International Development," says US Dept of State

The Russian military said Sunday that some of its troops were killed and some were wounded in Ukraine -- admitting for the first time that it had suffered casualties since the Russian invasion.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Sunday “there are dead and wounded among our comrades,” without offering any numbers, but adding that Russia's losses were “many times” fewer than those of Ukraine's forces.

It was the first time Russian military officials mentioned casualties on their side. Ukraine has claimed that its forces killed 3,500 Russian troops.

Konashenkov also said that since the start of the attack Thursday, the Russian military have hit 1,067 Ukrainian military facilities, including 27 command posts and communication centers, 38 air defense missile system and 56 radar stations.

Konashenkov's claims and Ukraine's allegations that its forces killed thousands of Russian troops can't be independently verified.

In a dramatic escalation of East-West tensions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian nuclear forces put on high alert in response to what he called "aggressive statements" by leading NATO powers. Sunday's directive to put Russia's nuclear weapons in an increased state of readiness for launch raised fears that the crisis could boil over into nuclear warfare, whether by design or mistake.

Putin's step is "potentially putting in play forces that, if there's a miscalculation, could make things much, much more dangerous," said a senior U.S. defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Ukraine launched a case against Russia at the United Nations' highest court accusing Moscow of planning genocide and asking for the court to intervene to halt the invasion and order Russia to pay reparations. The case filed on Sunday also asks the International Court of Justice, based in The Hague, to indicate "provisional measures" ordering Moscow to "immediately suspend the military operations" that were launched February 24.

The case says Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine based on false claims of acts of genocide in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions of eastern Ukraine and now is planning genocidal acts in Ukraine.

Ukraine "emphatically denies that genocide happened in the eastern regions" and says it filed the case "to establish that Russia has no lawful basis to take action in and against Ukraine for the purpose of preventing and punishing any purported genocide," the court said in a statement.

The court will schedule a hearing soon to hear the provisional measures request.

The UN Security Council has voted for the 193-member General Assembly to hold an emergency session on Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Monday. The vote on Sunday to authorise an emergency meeting was 11 in favour, Russia opposed, and China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstaining. That was the exact same vote on a resolution Friday demanding that Moscow immediately stop its attack on Ukraine and withdraw all troops. But in that case, Russia used its veto and the resolution was defeated.

Ukrainian UN Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya asked for the General Assembly meeting to be held under the so-called "Uniting for Peace" resolution, initiated by the United States and adopted in November 1950 to circumvent vetoes by the Soviet Union during the Korean War.

The UN Security Council has voted for the 193-member General Assembly to hold an emergency session on Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Monday. The vote on Sunday to authorise an emergency meeting was 11 in favour, Russia opposed, and China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstaining. That was the exact same vote on a resolution Friday demanding that Moscow immediately stop its attack on Ukraine and withdraw all troops. But in that case, Russia used its veto and the resolution was defeated.

Ukrainian UN Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya asked for the General Assembly meeting to be held under the so-called "Uniting for Peace" resolution, initiated by the United States and adopted in November 1950 to circumvent vetoes by the Soviet Union during the Korean War.

The Nordic nations of Sweden and Finland said they will send military aid to Ukraine including anti-tank weapons, helmets and body armour.

Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist said at a news conference on Sunday that Stockholm would ship 5,000 anti-tank weapons, 5,000 helmets, 5,000 units of body armour and 1,35,000 field rations in support to Ukraine's military.

Neighbouring Finland said earlier on Sunday that it would send 2,000 helmets, 2,000 bulletproof vests, 100 stretchers and equipment for two emergency medical care stations as aid to Ukraine.

Russian forces invaded its smaller neighbour on Thursday, drawing sanctions and international condemnation. 

The US for the first time has approved the direct delivery of Stinger missiles to Ukraine as part of a package approved by the White House on Friday. The exact timing of delivery is not known, but officials say the US is currently working on the logistics of the shipment. The officials agreed to discuss the development only if not quoted by name.

The decision comes on the heels of Germany's announcement that it will send 500 Stinger missiles and other weapons and supplies to Ukraine.
The high-speed Stingers are very accurate and are used to shoot down helicopters and other aircraft. Ukrainian officials have been asking for more of the powerful weapons.

Estonia has also been providing Ukraine with Stingers since January, and in order to do that had to get US permission.

Assembly on Russia's aggression against Ukraine, even as New Delhi welcomed Moscow and Kyiv's decision to hold talks at the Belarus border. The resolution was adopted with 11 votes in favour, paving the way for the General Assembly to meet on the crisis as soon as Monday. India, China and the UAE abstained, while Russia voted against the resolution. This will be only the 11th such emergency session of the General Assembly since 1950.

The 15-nation Security Council met on Sunday afternoon to hold the vote on the emergency special session of the 193-member General Assembly on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

This comes two days after the Russian veto blocked a UNSC resolution on its "aggression" against Ukraine.

The vote calling for the UNGA session was procedural so none of the five permanent members of the Security Council -- China, France, Russia, the UK and the US -- could exercise their vetoes.

US State Department issues a travel advisory for its citizens to restrict travelling to "North Caucasus, including Chechnya & Mt Elbrus, & Crimea, due to Russia’s purported occupation of the Ukrainian territory and abuses by its occupying authorities."

Saudi Arabia confirms its commitment to the 'OPEC Plus' accord with Russia

Germany's stunning decision to send anti-tank weapons and surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine — abandoning its long-held refusal to export weapons to conflict zones — is nothing less than a historic break with its post-World War II foreign policy.

"A new reality," Chancellor Olaf Scholz called it in an uncharacteristically rousing speech on Sunday to a special session of parliament. The typically low-key Chancellor Scholz said Russia's invasion of Ukraine required a dramatically different response from Germany than in the past.

"With his invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, President Putin created a new reality," Scholz told the Bundestag, his speech repeatedly greeted by applause, particularly his condemnations of the Russian leader. 

"This reality demands a clear answer. We've given one." 

Ukraine's Interior Ministry said 352 Ukrainian civilians have been killed during Russia's invasion, including 14 children. It said an additional 1,684 people, including 116 children, have been wounded.

The ministry's statement on Sunday did not give any information on casualties among Ukraine's armed forces.

Russia has claimed that its troops are targeting only Ukrainian military facilities and says that Ukraine's civilian population is not in danger.

Europe and Canada said they would close their airspace to Russian airlines after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, raising the pressure on the United States to do the same. Canada's transport minister, Omar Alghabra, said his nation was closing its airspace to all Russian planes to hold the country accountable for an unprovoked attack on its neighbour.

The European Union action came after many of its member countries had said they were barring Russian planes or planned to do so by Sunday night.

An Austria-based subsidiary of Russia's state-owned Sberbank has been ruled likely to fail after depositors fled due to the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The European Central Bank said early Monday that the bank had 13.6 billion euros in assets at the end of last year, but has experienced "significant deposit outflows" due to "geopolitical tensions."

The ECB said Vienna-headquartered Sberbank Europe AG "is likely to be unable to pay its debts or other liabilities as they fall due." The bank is a fully owned subsidiary of Russia's Sberbank, whose majority shareholder is the Russian government.

From Moscow to Siberia, Russian anti-war activists took to the streets again to protest Russia's invasion of Ukraine, despite the arrests of hundreds of protesters each day by police. Demonstrators held pickets and marched in city centres on Sunday, chanting "No to war!" as President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian nuclear deterrent to be put on high alert, upping the ante in the Kremlin's standoff with the West and stoking fears of a nuclear war.

Protests against the invasion started on Thursday in Russia and have continued daily ever since, even as Russian police have moved swiftly to crack down on the rallies and detain protesters. The Kremlin has sought to downplay the protests, insisting that a much broader share of Russians support the assault on Ukraine.

As Russian troops draw closer to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv's mayor is filled with pride over his citizens' spirit yet anxious about how long they can hold out. Mayor Vitali Klitschko was silent for several seconds when asked if there were plans to evacuate civilians if Russian troops managed to take Kyiv.

"We can't do that, because all ways are blocked," he finally said, speaking in English. "All ways are blocked and right now we are encircled — everywhere is Russians and we don't have a way to evacuate the people. And everyone who had plans to evacuate himself already moved."

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is severing ties with a research university it helped establish more than a decade ago in Russia, citing the country's "unacceptable military actions" in invading Ukraine. The Cambridge university said it notified the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology in Moscow on Friday that it was exercising its right to terminate the MIT Skoltech Program.

"This step is a rejection of the actions of the Russian government in Ukraine," MIT said in a statement posted on the program website. 

"We take it with deep regret because of our great respect for the Russian people and our profound appreciation for the contributions of the many extraordinary Russian colleagues we have worked with."

More than 500 people have been detained in Belarus for protesting against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to the country's most prominent human rights group. The Viasna human rights centre released the names of 530 people detained on Sunday across Belarus, where demonstrations against the war spanned at least 12 cities.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order forbidding her state from doing business with Russia, including cancelling its investments there. The governor also said New York will welcome Ukrainian refugees in response to Russia's invasion, noting at a press conference in Albany on Sunday that her state is home to the largest Ukrainian population in the US.

"We have said we'll open up our hearts, our homes, our resources to the people of the Ukraine, to say, We stand with you," Hochul said. 

Federal estimates show that around 1,40,000 of the more than 1 million people in the U.S. who report Ukrainian ancestry live in New York.

"If you need a place to stay, you want to come over here, we will help you become integrated into our community," she said, "as we have been open so to so many other refugees in the past, including those from Afghanistan most recently."