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Economic Times | 08 Mar, 2022 | 01.00PM IST
Russia Ukraine War News LIVE Updates: At least nine dead in bombing of Ukraine city Sumy
Russia Ukraine news Live: Russia's offensive in Ukraine continued but at a significantly slower pace on Tuesday, Ukraine's armed forces said.
- Oil crisis: Russia warned that oil prices could surge to $300 a barrel and it might close the main gas pipeline to Germany if the West halts oil imports over the invasion of Ukraine as peace talks made little progress.
- Death toll: Ukraine's military intelligence said on Tuesday that Ukrainian forces have killed a Russian general near the besieged city of Kharkiv, the second Russian senior commander to die in the invasion. Russia's defence ministry could not be immediately reached for comment. Reuters could not verify the report. Ukraine says its forces have killed more than 11,000 Russian troops. Russia has confirmed about 500 losses. Neither side has disclosed Ukrainian casualties.
- Aid: The World Bank approved $723 million in loans and grants for Ukraine to be transferred in the next few days. U.S. congressional negotiators neared a deal to provide Ukraine billions of dollars in emergency aid. The White House requested $10 billion.
- Talks: Negotiators make little progress Russian negotiators said they did not have positive developments to report following talks with Ukraine and warned not to expect the next round to bring a final result. The talks "are not easy," Vladimir Medinsky said. Ukraine's negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak said some small progress had been made on agreeing logistics for the evacuation of civilians, but no agreement was reached that significantly improves the broader situation. A fourth round will take place very soon, Russia said. The Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers are expected to meet in Turkey on Thursday.
- Fleeing conflict: A Russian air strike hit a bread factory in northern Ukraine and killed at least 13 civilians, Ukrainian officials said. As many as 5 million Ukrainians could flee the country if Russia's invasion continues, the EU's top diplomat said, while the United Nations' refugee agency said over 1.7 million have left so far. The United States and its allies at a UN meeting urged Russia to allow safe passage for civilians stuck in areas of active hostility.
- International repercussions: Germany will host a virtual meeting of agricultural ministers from G7 countries on Friday to discuss the impact of the invasion on global food security and how to best stabilize food markets, the government said. China says friendship with Russia 'rock solid' While promising humanitarian aid to Ukraine, China's foreign minister hailed Beijing's friendship with Russia as "rock solid".
- In Russia: 'No war' protests in Russia Police detained 5,020 people at Russia-wide protests against the invasion of Ukraine, according to an independent monitoring group. * Putin rules out conscripts for Ukraine Russia will not use any conscripted soldiers in Ukraine, President Putin said.
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China stocks close lower on Ukraine crisis, inflation worries
China stocks extended losses on Tuesday after hitting a 20-month low in the previous session, as little progress in Ukraine peace talks, worries on inflation, and domestic coronavirus outbreaks weighed on markets.The blue-chip CSI300 index fell 2.0% to 4,265.39, the lowest since July 1, 2020. The Shanghai Composite Index lost 2.4% to 3,293.53 points, the lowest since Nov 4, 2020.
UK Defence Minister Ben Wallace says whatever happens President Putin is a spent force in the world
London nickel prices more than doubled on Tuesday to cross the $100,000-a-tonne level for the first time ever, as tension in eastern Europe showed no signs of cooling and growing sanctions against Russia fuelled fears of a disruption in supply.
Three-month nickel on the London Metal Exchange soared 66.5% to $80,025 a tonne by 0635 GMT. Earlier in the session, the prices shot up nearly 111%, to a record $101,365. Russia supplies the world with about 10% of its nickel needs, mainly for use in stainless steel and electric vehicle batteries. "As sanctions against the Russians got rolled out last week with unprecedented speed, investors found themselves stripping away all Russian output from their supply and demand projections and marking up prices accordingly," ED&F Man Capital Markets analyst Edward Meir said in a note. Western nations put sanctions on Moscow to isolate it from global commerce and are now considering a ban on Russian oil imports, news of which drove crude prices to a 14-year high on Monday. Logistics disruptions have also roiled commodity markets.
Biden sends letter of thanks to South Korean President Moon Jae-in for joining financial sanctions and export controls against Russia
The country began halting transactions with the Russian central bank and immobilising its assets held in won currency from Tuesday, after stopping transactions with seven other Russian banks and their affiliates. "South Korea's resolute decision will be a strong message that it supports Ukraine's sovereignty," the spokeswoman quoted Biden as saying in the letter.
Humanitarian corridor in Ukrainian city of Sumy due to open on Tuesday, civilians to start leaving on buses at 0800GMT: Ukrainian Deputy PM
Ukraine's military intelligence on Tuesday said Ukrainian forces killed a Russian general near the besieged city of Kharkiv, the second Russian senior commander to die in the invasion.
At least nine dead in bombing of Ukraine city Sumy: Rescuers
Polish Border Guard says around 1.2 million people have entered Poland from Ukraine since Feb 24
War will not stop at Ukraine, Zelenskyy warns Western countries
Terming Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "beast" who will never be satisfied, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday (local time) warned Western countries that the ongoing war will not stop at Ukraine and will affect the rest of the world as well."Everyone thinks that we are far away from America or Canada. No, we are in this zone of freedom. And when the limits of rights and freedoms are being violated and stepped on, then you have to protect us. Because we will come first. You will come second. Because the more this beast will eat, he wants more, more, and more," CNN quoted Zelenskyy as saying during an interview on ABC World News Tonight with David Muir.
India has 'compulsions' with Russia and territorial issues with China: Former US diplomat Keshap
India has "compulsions" with Russia and territorial issues with China in its neighbourhood, a former American diplomat has told US lawmakers in response to a question on a string of abstentions at the United Nations by New Delhi against Russia's massive military offensive in Ukraine.India has faced criticism from US lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats, for choosing to abstain from the UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions against Russia's military operation in Ukraine.India has abstained on two resolutions on Ukraine in the 15-nation UN Security Council and one in the 193-member UN General Assembly.
Here's what you need to know right now
- Russia's offensive in Ukraine continued but at a significantly slower pace on Tuesday, Ukraine's armed forces said.
- Oil crisis: Russia warned that oil prices could surge to $300 a barrel and it might close the main gas pipeline to Germany if the West halts oil imports over the invasion of Ukraine as peace talks made little progress.
- Death toll: Ukraine's military intelligence said on Tuesday that Ukrainian forces have killed a Russian general near the besieged city of Kharkiv, the second Russian senior commander to die in the invasion. Russia's defence ministry could not be immediately reached for comment. Reuters could not verify the report. Ukraine says its forces have killed more than 11,000 Russian troops. Russia has confirmed about 500 losses. Neither side has disclosed Ukrainian casualties.
- Aid: The World Bank approved $723 million in loans and grants for Ukraine to be transferred in the next few days. U.S. congressional negotiators neared a deal to provide Ukraine billions of dollars in emergency aid. The White House requested $10 billion.
- Talks: Negotiators make little progress Russian negotiators said they did not have positive developments to report following talks with Ukraine and warned not to expect the next round to bring a final result. The talks "are not easy," Vladimir Medinsky said. Ukraine's negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak said some small progress had been made on agreeing logistics for the evacuation of civilians, but no agreement was reached that significantly improves the broader situation. A fourth round will take place very soon, Russia said. The Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers are expected to meet in Turkey on Thursday.
- Fleeing conflict: A Russian air strike hit a bread factory in northern Ukraine and killed at least 13 civilians, Ukrainian officials said. As many as 5 million Ukrainians could flee the country if Russia's invasion continues, the EU's top diplomat said, while the United Nations' refugee agency said over 1.7 million have left so far. The United States and its allies at a UN meeting urged Russia to allow safe passage for civilians stuck in areas of active hostility.
- International repercussions: Germany will host a virtual meeting of agricultural ministers from G7 countries on Friday to discuss the impact of the invasion on global food security and how to best stabilize food markets, the government said. China says friendship with Russia 'rock solid' While promising humanitarian aid to Ukraine, China's foreign minister hailed Beijing's friendship with Russia as "rock solid".
- In Russia: 'No war' protests in Russia Police detained 5,020 people at Russia-wide protests against the invasion of Ukraine, according to an independent monitoring group. * Putin rules out conscripts for Ukraine Russia will not use any conscripted soldiers in Ukraine, President Putin said.
China's yuan firms as some see safe haven status amid Ukraine crisis
China's yuan touched a one-week high against the U.S. dollar on Tuesday, while the trade-weighted yuan index hit a fresh record, as investors eyed Chinese assets as a potential safe harbour amid heightened market volatility over the Ukraine crisis.However, some analysts cautioned that an imminent U.S. interest rate hike and possible deterioration in Sino-U.S. relations over the crisis could heap pressure on the Chinese currency.The yuan strengthened to as much as 6.3089 per dollar in morning trading, the highest level since March 1, after the People's Bank of China set a surprisingly firmer midpoint rate.
Foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine to meet in Turkey on March 10, reports Times Now
Ukraine has reportedly said that 13 people were killed in Russian attack on Makariv bakery.
Russian offensive slows, says Ukraine, as residents flee bombed-out cities
Russia's offensive in Ukraine continued but at a significantly slower pace on Tuesday and a second senior Russian commander had been killed, Ukrainian military and intelligence said, as frightened residents fled bombed-out cities. In the city of Irpin, on the northwest edge of Kyiv, residents ran with their young children in strollers, or cradling babies in arms, while others carried pet carriers and plastic bags and suitcases.
Ukraine's military intelligence said on Tuesday that Ukrainian forces killed a Russian general near the besieged city of Kharkiv, the second Russian senior commander to die in the invasion.
Major General Vitaly Gerasimov, first deputy commander of Russia's 41st army, was killed on Monday, the Chief Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ukraine's general staff of the armed forces said the Russian offensive continues although at a significantly slower pace.
Ukraine's military intelligence said on Tuesday that Ukrainian forces killed a Russian general near the besieged city of Kharkiv, the second Russian senior commander to die in the invasion.
Major General Vitaly Gerasimov, first deputy commander of Russia's 41st army, was killed on Monday, the Chief Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ukraine's general staff of the armed forces said the Russian offensive continues although at a significantly slower pace.
Russia's Gazprom continues gas shipments via Ukraine at same level - RIA
Russian natural gas company Gazprom continued gas shipments via Ukraine on Tuesday at the same volume of 109.5 million cubic metres a day, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.
Russia becomes world's most sanctioned country
Due to its war on Ukraine, Russia has become the most sanctioned in the world, according to a New York-based sanctions watchlist site. Castellum.AI said that sanctions were first imposed by the US and its allies on Russia on February 22 a day after President Vladimir Putin declared the two Ukrainian rebel regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as "independent states". After Russia announced its military operations against Russia on February 24, hundreds more sanctions followed. The site said that 2,754 sanctions were already in place against Russia before February 22 and 2,778 additional were imposed in the days following the assault, bringing the total to 5,532. Russia's number now outranks Iran's 3,616 sanctions, displacing Tehran from the top position, reports the BBC citing Castellum.AI as saying.
According to the site, the countries and regions targeting Russia with sanctions are
According to the site, the countries and regions targeting Russia with sanctions are
- Switzerland (568)
- the European Union (518)
- Canada (454)
- Australia (413)
- the US (243)
- the UK (35)
- Japan (35)
Ukraine crisis could boost ballooning fossil fuel subsidies
- Oil surges on potential Russian oil import ban
- Governments aim to shield consumers from high fuel costs
- Subsidies hit all-time low in 2020, bounce back in 2021
- Inducements to fossil fuel consumption hit renewables
Pakistan sent an aircraft to Poland on Tuesday to evacuate more than 300 Pakistanis who escaped fighting in Ukraine.
Pakistan International Airlines says most of them are students. Pakistan has refused to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, even as it has denounced war as a solution to differences and called for negotiations and a cease-fire. Prime Minister Imran Khan met with President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin just hours after the Russian leader sent tanks into Ukraine on Feb. 24. Pakistan abstained from last week's U.N. General Assembly vote condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Naveen's body will be brought to India once shelling stops in Ukraine: CM Bommai
Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar informed the Karnataka government that the body of Naveen Shekharappa who died in Ukraine amid the Russian military operations will be brought to India once shelling stops there, said Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday.Bommai also said that Naveen's body has been embalmed and kept in a mortuary in Ukraine.
Russia to open Ukraine 'humanitarian routes', but fears persist
Russia planned to open humanitarian corridors in Ukraine Tuesday for civilians to flee besieged cities, but Kyiv insisted the move was a publicity stunt and people would not be able to escape. Moscow's offer to evacuate residents was condemned because most of the routes led into Russia or its ally Belarus, and as the invading forces maintained a devastating shelling campaign.
Conscripts, reservists don't & won't take part in Ukraine conflict: Putin
In a video put out by the Kremlin on the occasion of International Women's Day, the President emphasized that "soldiers who are doing military service do not and will not participate in hostilities. There will be no additional call-up of reservists from the reserve. "The assigned tasks are solved only by professional military men. I am confident that they will reliably ensure security and peace for the people of Russia." Addressing the "mothers, wives, sisters, brides and girlfriends of our soldiers and officers who are now in battle", Putin said: "I understand how you worry about your loved ones and loved ones. You can be proud of them just as the whole country is proud of them and worries about them together with you..."
Apple suspends Search Ads on App Store in Russia
Apple has reportedly suspended Search Ads service on the App Store in Russia until further notice. According to an email shared with developers, Apple Search Ads ads, that allow developers to run advertising campaigns on the App Store, have now been placed on hold in Russia amid Ukraine invasion, reports TechCrunch. No new Search Ads campaigns will be eligible to run on the App Store in Russia for the duration of the suspension, the email read. The company also disabled both traffic and live incidents in Apple Maps in Ukraine as a safety measure. Apple is prompting users to donate to Unicef, with banners and notices on its website and in some apps urging customers to aid Ukraine.
Australia announces fresh sanctions against 'propagandists' Russia
Australia has imposed another round of sanctions against Russia for its "unjustified invasion" of Ukraine and is targeting Moscow's senior military officers, as well as state propagandists spreading "pro-Kremlin disinformation".As per an official statement by Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, the Australian government is placing sanctions on Moscow's "propagandists and purveyors of disinformation" trying to legitimise Russia's invasion with false narratives such as the "de-Nazification" of Ukraine."The new round of sanctions will impose targeted financial sanctions on the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, and targeted financial sanctions and travel bans against an additional six senior Russian military commanders responsible for implementing naval, ground and air attacks on Ukraine," said the statement.
Rupee near all-time lows of 77 per Dollar, after a record weak close of 76.93
Nissan plans to halt production in Russia
Nissan Motor Co. did not provide a specific date but said Tuesday production will stop ``soon.'' Its plant in St. Petersburg produced 45,000 vehicles last year, including the X-Trail sport utility vehicle.The Yokohama-based manufacturer said the safety of its employees is its top priority.Nissan earlier stopped exports to Russia.
FIFA to let foreign players leave Ukraine and RussiaFIFA on Monday announced that it will suspend the contracts of foreign players currently tied to Ukrainian and Russian clubs for the rest of the 2021-22 season.
In order to facilitate the departure of foreign players and coaches from Russia, in the event that clubs affiliated to the Football Union of Russia (FUR) do not reach a mutual agreement with their respective foreign players and coaches before or on March 10, 2022 and unless otherwise agreed in writing, the foreign players and coaches will have the right to unilaterally suspend their employment contracts with the FUR-affiliated clubs in question until the end of the season in Russia (30 June 2022).The suspension of a contract as per the paragraphs above will mean that players and coaches will be considered "out of contract" until June 30, 2022 and will therefore be at liberty to sign a contract with another club without facing consequences of any kind.
Despite repeated urgings, no safe corridor for students stranded in Sumy: India tells UNSC
India, which has managed to safely bring back over 20,000 of its nationals from Ukraine amid the ongoing war, said it is “deeply concerned” that despite its repeated urgings to both Russia and Ukraine, the safe corridor for Indian students stranded in eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy did not materialise.“India has been consistent in calling for an immediate end to all hostilities,” India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti told the UN Security Council meeting Monday on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.He said India has reiterated its urgent demand for safe and uninterrupted passage for all innocent civilians, including Indian nationals remaining in Ukraine.“We are deeply concerned that despite our repeated urgings to both sides, the safe corridor for our students stranded in Sumy did not materialize,” Tirumurti said.
Ukraine says aircraft bombed cities overnight
- Russian aircraft bombed cities in eastern and central Ukraine overnight, Ukrainian officials said. Shelling pounded suburbs of the capital, Kyiv.
- In Sumy and Okhtyrka, to the east of Kyiv near the Russian border, bombs fell on residential buildings and destroyed a power plant, regional leader Dmytro Zhivitsky said. He said there were dead and wounded but gave no figures.
- Bombs also hit oil depots in Zhytomyr and the neighboring town of Cherniakhiv, located west of Kyiv.
- In Bucha, a Kyiv suburb, the mayor reported heavy artillery fire.
Germany to host G7 meeting on Ukraine invasion's impact on food security
"The provision of foodstuffs in Germany and the European Union is safe but greater shortages can be expected in some countries outside the EU - especially where scarcity already reigns today due to issues like drought," German Agriculture Minister Cem Oezdemir said in statement."Price hikes for agricultural products cannot be excluded in industrialized nations either."Germany holds the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven most advanced economies this year.Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation” that it says is not designed to occupy territory but to destroy its southern neighbour's military capabilities and capture what it regards as dangerous nationalists.
New nuke research facility in Khakiv damaged by shelling: IAEA chief
Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said that a new nuclear research facility in Ukraine's Kharkiv city producing radioisotopes for medical and industrial applications, has been damaged by shelling.Citing Ukraine's national nuclear regulator, Grossi on Monday said the incident which took place a day earlier did not cause any increase in radiation levels at the site."Because the nuclear material in the facility is always sub-critical and the inventory of radioactive material is very low, the IAEA's assessment confirmed that the damage reported to it would not have had any radiological consequence," the Director General said in a statement posted on the regulator's website.
South Korea bans transactions with Russian Central Bank
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday, "Following the sanctions against Russia taken effect since March 1, Korea has decided to join additional sanctions such as banning transactions with Russian central bank in consideration of the international community's level of economic sanctions on Russia."The Korean government has previously banned transactions with seven Russian major banks such as Sberbank as a part of sanctions against Russia following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Oil prices could surge to $300 a barrel: Russia
Russia has warned that oil prices could surge to $300 a barrel and it might close the main gas pipeline to Germany if the West halts oil imports over the invasion of Ukraine as peace talks made little progress.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he's in Kiev, not hiding
In the video posted on his Facebook page late Monday night, Zelensky shows the views of the city from his office in the heart of the capital city. "I stay in Kiev. On Bankova Street. I'm not hiding. And I'm not afraid of anyone. As much as it takes to win this Patriotic War of ours," the President added.
Australian refiners cease purchase of Russian crude
Australian refiner Viva Energy said on Tuesday it would stop buying Russian crude oil, joining a growing number of companies to sever trade ties with the country over its invasion of Ukraine. Viva joins a spate of companies limiting, putting on hold, or exiting business activities in Russia following a wave of sanctions imposed on Moscow after the invasion - the biggest on a European state since World War Two.
Japan unveils new sanctions on Russians, bans refinery equipment exports
The newly added sanctions target 20 Russians including deputy chiefs of staff for President Vladamir Putin's administration, deputy chairmen of the state parliament, the head of the Chechen Republic and executives of companies with close ties to the government such as Volga Group, Transneft and Wagner. It also includes 12 Belarusian government officials and business people, as well as 12 organisations in Russia and Belarus.
Payment and capital transactions with those on the list must require government permits from now on, the ministry said in a statement.Japan is also banning exports of Russia-bound oil refinery equipment and Belarus-bound general-purpose items that could be used by its military, the ministry said.It will ban exports to the Belarusian defense ministry, armed forces and police organisations, and a Minsk-based company JSC Integral.
Payment and capital transactions with those on the list must require government permits from now on, the ministry said in a statement.Japan is also banning exports of Russia-bound oil refinery equipment and Belarus-bound general-purpose items that could be used by its military, the ministry said.It will ban exports to the Belarusian defense ministry, armed forces and police organisations, and a Minsk-based company JSC Integral.
Asia shares dip as Ukraine talks make little progress
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan lost 0.4% in early trade, tracking a bruising Wall Street session. Japan's Nikkei sank 0.3% while Australian shares were down 0.24% amid a sea of red across Asian markets. Chinese blue chips shed 0.15% while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 0.39% .
Dutch aid groups raise 106 mn euros for Ukraine
More than 106 million euros have been collected in the Netherlands to help victims of the war in Ukraine, a collective of aid groups said Monday. "The money raised can provide them with life-saving emergency aid," such as medical care, food, shelter and psychological help, they said. The 106 million euros included 15 million euros from the Dutch government, according to local media reports.
Russian general killed in fighting around Kharkiv
A Russian general was killed in the fighting around Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, which Russian forces have been trying to seize since the invasion began, the Ukrainian military intelligence agency said. It identified him as Maj. Gen. Vitaly Gerasimov, 45, and said he had fought with Russian forces in Syria and Chechnya and had taken part in the seizure of Crimea in 2014. Russia has not commented.
Another Russian general was killed earlier in the fighting. A local officers' organization in Russia confirmed the death in Ukraine of Maj. Gen. Andrei Sukhovetsky, the commanding general of the Russian 7th Airborne Division. Sukhovetsky also took part in Russia's military campaign in Syria.
Another Russian general was killed earlier in the fighting. A local officers' organization in Russia confirmed the death in Ukraine of Maj. Gen. Andrei Sukhovetsky, the commanding general of the Russian 7th Airborne Division. Sukhovetsky also took part in Russia's military campaign in Syria.
Fitch suspends commercial operations in Russia
Fitch became the second major credit rating firm to suspend its commercial operations in Russia with immediate effect on Monday, saying its analysts outside the country would provide its coverage instead. Ratings firms are facing the twin pressures of Western sanctions that ban transactions with targeted Russian firms and a new law passed in Russia last week that threatens jail terms of up to 15 years for spreading what the Russian government describes as "fake" information. The law makes it illegal to report any event that could discredit the Russian military.
India demands safe and uninterrupted passage for all innocent civilians, Indian nationals from Ukraine
"We've reiterated our urgent demand for safe passage for all civilians, including Indians. We're deeply concerned that despite our repeated urgings to both sides, a safe corridor for our students in Sumy didn't materialize," said India's Permanent Rep to UN, TS Tirumurti during a UNSC meeting.
"India has been consistent in calling for an immediate end to all hostilities. Our PM once again spoke to the leadership of both sides & reiterated our call for an immediate ceasefire & the need for both parties to return to the path of dialogue," the Indian envoy said at the UNSC meeting.
"India has been consistent in calling for an immediate end to all hostilities. Our PM once again spoke to the leadership of both sides & reiterated our call for an immediate ceasefire & the need for both parties to return to the path of dialogue," the Indian envoy said at the UNSC meeting.
Another Jolt for Russia
IBM became the latest multinational to leave Russia. The tech giant today said that it has suspended all business in Russia.
Special flight brings 200 more from Ukraine
A special flight, carrying 200 Indian evacuees from Ukraine, lands in Delhi from Suceava in Romania. "While we wer… https://t.co/anj5w2CWMr
— ANI (@ANI) 1646698942000Russia recruiting Syrians to fight in Ukraine!
Russia is recruiting Syrians and other foreign fighters as it ramps up its assault on Ukraine, the Pentagon said Monday. Moscow entered the Syrian civil war in 2015 on the side of President Bashar al-Assad's regime, and the country has been mired in a conflict marked by urban combat for more than a decade. Now, US Department of Defense officials said, Russia's President Vladimir Putin was "on a recruiting mission" seeking to bring some of those fighters into the fray in Ukraine.
CME suspends approved status of six Russian precious metal refiners
CME Group Inc said on Monday it suspended its approved status for warranting and delivery of six Russian gold and silver refiners until further notice. The move follows closely after the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) suspended its accreditation of six Russian precious metals refiners, meaning they will no longer be able to sell gold and silver in the London market, the world's largest.
Ukraine accuses Moscow of 'medieval' tactics
At The Hague, Netherlands, Ukraine pleaded with the International Court of Justice to order a halt to Russia's invasion, saying Moscow is committing widespread war crimes.Russia ``is resorting to tactics reminiscent of medieval siege warfare, encircling cities, cutting off escape routes and pounding the civilian population with heavy ordnance,'' said Jonathan Gimblett, a member of Ukraine's legal team. Russia snubbed the court proceedings, leaving its seats in the Great Hall of Justice empty.
Tokyo stocks open lower on Ukraine uncertainty
Tokyo stocks opened lower Tuesday as investors remained worried over surging oil prices and uncertainties surrounding the Russia-Ukraine crisis. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index dropped 1.22 percent or 307.51 points to 24,913.90, while the broader Topix index fell 1.17 percent or 21.04 points to 1,772.99.
Ukraine gets $723 million from World Bank
The World Bank said its executive board on Monday approved a $723 million package of loans and grants for Ukraine, providing government budget support as the country battles a Russian invasion. The package includes a $350 million loan supplement to a prior World Bank loan, augmented by about $139 million through guarantees from the Netherlands and Sweden, the bank said in a statement. The package also includes $134 million in grants from Britain, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania and Iceland, as well as parallel financing of $100 million from Japan.
Russian, Belarusian hackers targeting Ukraine: Google
Alphabet Inc's Google said it has seen Russian hackers well-known to law enforcement, including FancyBear, engaging in espionage, phishing campaigns and other attacks targeting Ukraine and its European allies in recent weeks. Google’s Threat Analysis Group, which focuses on disrupting computer hackers and issuing warnings about them to users, said in a blog post on Monday that over the past two weeks Russian hacking unit FancyBear, also known as APT28, has been sending phishing emails to Ukrainian media company UkrNet.
Russia UN ambassador announces cease-fire plan
Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia says Russia will carry out a cease-fire on Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. Moscow time and open humanitarian corridors to evacuate citizens from Kiev, Chernigov, Sumy and Mariupol. He took the floor at the end of a U.N. Security Council meeting on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine on Monday to make the announcement. ``This proposal doesn't have any demands about the citizens being sent necessarily to Russia, into Russian territory,'' he said. ``There's also evacuation offered towards Ukrainian cities to the west of Kyiv, and ultimately it will be the choice of the people themselves where they want to be evacuated to,'' Nebenzia said.
