Biden Declares $800 Mn Package for Ukraine After Zelenskyy Addresses US Congress
Follow all the updates on the Russia-Ukraine war here.
People look at a burning apartment building in a yard after shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine.
(Photo: PTI)
European Leaders Meet Zelenskyy
Three European leaders travelled to Kyiv to express solidarity for Ukraine and to meet Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials, braving constant Russian bombardment that left roads and apartments in the capital destroyed.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala of the Czech Republic, Prime Minister Janez Jansa of Slovenia, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski of Poland were part of the European delegation.
Singapore Tells China to Exert Influence on Russia
Singapore's foreign minister, in an interview to Bloomberg, said that China should exert its influence over Russia to prevent further bloodshed in Ukraine, reminding Beijing that it has important principles to live up to in a "multilateral, rules-based world".
"I hope they will assert their influence with Chinese characteristics, which means quietly and discreetly, but effectively," Vivian Balakrishnan added, as quoted by the Financial Times.
Pakistan to Finalise Gas Pipeline Built by Russia
Pakistan's Finance minister Shaukat Tarin has said that the government is going to finalise a Russian-built gas pipeline despite the worldwide effort to isolate Moscow economically.
Tarin told the Financial Times that a deal with the Kremlin to build the multibillion-dollar pipeline, called Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline (PSGP), "is almost done".
Ambassador to US Says China Had No Prior Knowledge of Invasion Plans
The Chinese ambassador to the United States, in an op-ed for the Washington Post, has written that his government knew nothing of the Russians plans regarding the Ukraine invasion.
"Had China known about the imminent crisis, we would have tried our best to prevent it", Qin Gang wrote.
G7 to Hold Online Meeting
The Group of Seven (G7) nations will virtually meet today to discuss the Ukraine war, according to Japanese finance minister Shunichi Suzuki, Reuters reported.
The G7 nations are - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US.
Shelling Continues in Kyiv
A 12-storey residential building in Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi district was destroyed this morning due to Russian shelling, The Guardian has reported.
State emergency services confirmed that shell fragments fell into the building leading to its collapse. A 9-storey building next door was damaged as well.
UK Defence Ministry Report Says Russian Troops 'Struggling'
The latest report published by the defence ministry of the United Kingdom states that Russian forces are "struggling to overcome the challenges posed by Ukraine's terrain".
"Russian forces have remained largely tied to Ukraine’s road network and have demonstrated a reluctance to conduct off-road manoeuvre", it added.
US Senate Condemns Putin as a War Criminal
The United States Senate on Tuesday, 15 March, condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin as a war criminal for his actions in Ukraine, after a resolution for the same was passed unanimously.
The resolution was tabled by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and received bipartisan support.
UK PM Leaves for UAE and Saudi Arabia
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has left for a one-day visit to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, in order to explore "potential further measures to increase oil production", FT reported.
Johnson has been trying to build an international coalition to deal with the consequences of Putin's invasion of Ukraine, especially regarding oil and gas.
White House Mocks Russian Sanctions
At a White House news briefing, Press Secretary Jen Psaki mocked the sanctions that Russia imposed on the US, calling them "ineffectual", while also saying the Kremlin spelt Biden's name incorrectly.
"I'd first note that President Biden is a 'junior,' so they may have sanctioned his dad, may he rest in peace. None of us are planning tourist trips to Russia and none of us have bank accounts we won’t be able to access, so we will forge ahead", Psaki said.
Blinken Confident Ukraine Will Outlast Putin
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken believes that Ukraine will survive the Russian invasion and outlast the Putin government.
Talking to CNN, Blinken said that "there’s going to be a Ukraine, an independent Ukraine, a lot longer than there is going to be a Vladimir Putin. One way or the other Ukraine will be there, and at some point, Putin won't."
Oligarchs' Homes in UK & France Broken Into
Mansions and luxury villas in the UK and France have been broken into and occupied by anti-war activists in protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Two Russian activists have been arrested after they occupied a luxury villa in Biarritz owned by Kirill Shamalov, a Russian billionaire and the ex-husband of Russian President Vladimir Putin's younger daughter Katerina Tikhonova.
In London, squatters took over the mansion that is most likely owned by Oleg Deripaska, a Russian billionaire sanctioned by both the US and the UK.
UK Foreign Minister Says More Sanctions on the Way
UK foreign secretary Liz Truss said that Russian individuals and companies are going to be hit with more sanctions, particularly those in the oil and gas sectors.
Talking to Sky News, Truss added that Putin "only understands strength", while nothing that the current sanctions are having a "debilitating effect" on the Russian economy.
NATO Defence Ministers to Meet in Brussels Today
The defence ministers of NATO will meet in Brussels today to figure out how to bolster its support for Ukraine.
Secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg stated that NATO would consider increasing the number of troops on its eastern flank, as well as upping air and naval deployments.
Biden is also expected to travel to Brussels next week for a NATO leaders summit.
NATO to Continue Sending Weapons to Ukraine
The Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren said that the Netherlands and other NATO countries will continue to deliver weapons to Ukraine despite Russia's warning that these deliveries will be treated as legitimate targets for attacks by Russian forces.
"Ukraine has the right to defend itself, we will continue to support it", Ollongren said.
'Counteroffensive' Launched Against Russia
Zelenskyy's advisor has announced that Ukraine has launched a "counteroffensive" against Russian forces, in an attempt to "radically change the parties' dispositions".
Russia Says There's 'Hope for Compromise'
As talks for a ceasefire continue, the Russian foreign ministry has stated that there was "hope for reaching a compromise" with Ukraine.
Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, welcomed what he called the "realistic assessment of what is happening" by Zelenskyy.
Lavrov added that Russia's negotiators were cautiously optimistic about the situation.
Biden to Announce $800 mn in Military Aid to Ukraine
The Biden government is expected to announce a $800 million security aid package for Ukraine on Wednesday, 16 March.
The exact contents of the latest package are yet to be revealed. Washington has been sending Stinger antiaircraft systems, Javelin antiarmor missiles, and millions of ammunition to Kyiv.
Helicopters, patrol boats, and medical supplies have also been dispatched.
Boris Johnson Reiterates That Ukraine Will Not Join NATO
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that Ukraine is not going to join NATO anytime soon.
"And everybody’s always said, and we have made clear to Putin, there's no way Ukraine is going to join Nato any time soon", the prime minister confirmed, as quoted by The Guardian.
Ukraine Says More than 100 Children Have Died So Far
At least 103 children have died and more than 100 have been wounded in the war as of now, according to the Ukrainian prosecutor general's office.
Most of the victims were from Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donetsk and Kherson.
Viral Video Shows Russian Tank Shooting Pedestrian
A video that has gone viral on social media shows a Russian tank shooting a pedestrian on the street in Ukraine's Mariupol.
Kremlin Says 'Neutral State' Option on the Table
The talks between Russia and Ukraine are exploring options such as the Austrian or Swedish versions of neutrality, according to the Kremlin.
Neutrality in international politics usually means that a state promises to not join a military bloc or to not allow foreign military bases on its territory.
IEA Warns of Oil Supply Shock
Russian oil production is expected to drop by as much as 3 million barrels a day from the month of April, according to the International Energy Agency.
That will lead to the biggest supply shock in a generation.
"The implications of a potential loss of Russian oil exports to global markets cannot be understated," it said in its monthly oil report.
Japan to Revoke Russia's Most Favoured Nation Status
Japan will, in order to sanction Russia even further, revoke the latter's "most-favoured-nation" trade status, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said.
This would lead to higher tariffs for certain imported items like crabs and sea urchins, according to Japanese media.
Kyiv & Moscow Negotiating Security Guarantees
Some legally binding security guarantees that would ensure that Ukraine is protected from a future attack is "on the negotiating table" at the talks between Kyiv and Moscow, according to Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak.
Mayor and Deputy of Skadovsk Abducted
Russian troops have allegedly kidnapped the mayor and the deputy mayor of Skadovsk, a port city on the Black Sea in Kherson Oblast.
Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba claimed on Twitter that Mayor Oleksandr Yakovlev and his deputy, Yuri Palyukh, were abducted.
Ukrainain authorities have claimed in the past few days that the mayors of Melitopol and Dniprorudne have also been abducted by Russian troops.
Peace Deal With Ukraine May be Close
Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, has stated that negotiators are closing in on a peace deal with Ukraine regarding its "neutral status".
Johnson Speaks to MBZ
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the de facto leader of the UAE.
He stressed the need to work together to ensure stability in global energy markets.
Russian Forces Allegedly Shoot 10 People Dead
Russian forces shot and killed 10 people who were standing and waiting for bread in Chernihiv (northern Ukraine), the American embassy in Kyiv said.
Zelenskyy Addresses US Congress
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the United States Congress from Ukraine.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced Zelenskyy and praised his courageous defence forces against invading Russian forces.
The Ukrainian president said that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was about more than just Ukraine, it was about democracy, about freedom, and about choice.
He reminded the US Congress of the Pearl Harbor attack by Japan, and about the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US by al-Qaeda in 2001.
Zelenskyy Urges US To Impose No-Fly Zone
The Ukrainian president invokes Martin Luther King Jr, and asks for a NATO enforced no-fly zone over Ukraine.
"I have a need," he says.
'Skies Source of Death': Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy asserted that what is happening to Ukraine is something that "Europe has not seen in 80 years".
"I call on you to do more," he said.
He added that the Russian forces have "turned the skies into a source of death" for the Ukrainian people.
'Close the Sky Over Ukraine'
Zelenskyy showed Congress a video that captured the destruction of Ukrainian cities and of the Ukrainian people.
Zelenskyy Reminds Congress About Collective Action During COVID
Zelenskyy compared the speed with which vaccines against the coronavirus were developed, and claims that if that kind of collective action were to happen for Ukraine, then "we will be able to save thousands of lives in our country."
Appeal to Biden
The Ukrainian president concluded his speech in English, and says: "As the leader of the nation I am addressing President Biden, you are the leader of the nation. I wish you to be the leader of the world. Being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace. Thank you"
"Slava Ukraini!"
Additionally, US government is expected to announce an $800 million security aid package for Ukraine.
Turkey Calls for Peace
The Turkish foreign minister has called for an end to the "blood and tears flowing in Ukraine" during a visit to Moscow, as reported by FT.
Mevlut Cavusoglu said that he was hoping for a breakthrough in the peace talks.
Ankara has been eager to play a role as a mediator in the conflict, and is keen on maintaining ties with both Kyiv and Moscow. You can read more on that here.
Kyiv and Moscow Making Progress on 15-Point Peace Plan
Ukraine and Russia have reportedly made progress on a tentative 15-point peace plan.
Some of the points in the plan include a ceasefire, and the withdrawal of Russian troops if Ukraine declares neutrality.
It would also require Kyiv to declare that it will not join NATO and that it will not host foreign military bases in the country.
US & Russia Make 1st High-Level Communication Since Ukraine War
US national security adviser Jake Sullivan spoke Wednesday with General Nikolay Patrushev, secretary of the Russian Security Council, in the first high-level contact between Washington and Moscow since Russia invaded Ukraine, as per the White House .
Sullivan communicated the US' opposition to the invasion and told Patrushev "that if Russia is serious about diplomacy then Moscow should stop attacking Ukrainian cities and towns," the White House statement said.
ICJ Orders Russia To Suspend Ukraine Invasion
The International Court of Justice of the UN has ordered Russia to suspend Ukraine invasion.
"Ukraine gained a complete victory in its case against Russia at the ICJ. The ICJ ordered to immediately stop the invasion. The order is binding under international law. Russia must comply immediately. Ignoring the order will isolate Russia even further," Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said in a statement.
US Prez Biden Announces $800 Million Assistance to Ukraine
President Biden has announced an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine. The new package includes drones and anti-aircraft systems.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his address to the US House of Representatives on Wednesday, 16 March, asked the US and NATO allies to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
Soon after the address, US President Joe Biden has announced an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine. The new package includes drones and anti-aircraft systems.
Meanwhile, Russian troops have allegedly kidnapped the mayor and the deputy mayor of Skadovsk, a port city on the Black Sea in Kherson Oblast.
US Senate unanimously passed a resolution condemning Vladimir Putin as a war criminal
As of now, 2,000 cars have been able to leave Mariupol
Leaders from Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovenia, travelled to Kyiv and met Zelenskyy
Russian oligarchs' homes in UK and France broken into by anti-war activists
Russia says that there's hope for reaching a compromise with Ukraine
Japan will revoke Russia's "most-favoured-nation" trade status
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