US Ends Normal Trade Ties With Russia Over Ukraine Invasion
Catch all the updates from the Russia-Ukraine war here.
A resident looks for belongings in an apartment building destroyed during fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces in Borodyanka, Ukraine, Tuesday, 5 April.
(Photo: AP/PTI)
The United States ended normal trade ties with Russia over their invasion of Ukraine, AFP reported on Thursday, 7 April.
This came after the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) suspended Russia from the Human Rights Council. Meanwhile, India abstained from voting on the draft resolution.
The UNGA held an emergency special session to suspend Russia over reports of "gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights" by the Russian troops in Ukraine.
Earlier, the Group of seven (G7) countries in a joint statement condemned Russian "atrocities" committed in Bucha and called for the country's expulsion from the Human Rights Council.
Days after hundreds of dead Ukrainians were discovered in the suburban town of Bucha, the town's mayor Anatoly Fedoruk has said that narly all of the Ukrainian civilians killed in Bucha were deliberately shot.
Meanwhile, the US has assessed that Russia has completed its withdrawal from around Ukraine capital Kyiv and is reequipping its troops for an expected redeployment into Ukraine, a senior US defence official has said.
Penalties were imposed on Putin’s two adult daughters as well as Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s wife and daughter on Wednesday
Ukraine’s deputy prime minister says authorities would try to evacuate civilians trapped in Mariupol through 11 humanitarian corridors
The Red Cross reports it led more than 1,000 people to Zaporizhzhia in a convoy from the besieged Ukrainian city
The mayor of Mariupol claims more than 5,000 civilians have been killed to date
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that the reason behind Russia blocking humanitarian access was that it wants to hide evidence of "thousands" of people killed there
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US Imposes Sanctions on Putin’s Children
The United States on Wednesday, announced another round of harsh economic measures against Russia, including sanctions on the children of President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's wife and daughter.
"These individuals have enriched themselves at the expense of the Russian people. Some of them are responsible for providing the support necessary to underpin Putin’s war on Ukraine. This action cuts them off from the US financial system and freezes any assets they hold in the United States," the White House said in a press release.
Teacher Faces Prison After Telling Students About Mariupol Bombing
Irina Gen, a 55-year-old English and German language teacher, in the Russian town of Penza, is facing a fine of three to five million roubles, or five to ten years in prison, after telling her students about Russian forces bombing Mariupol, The Guardian reported.
News organisation Radio Liberty reported that Gen was interviewed by an agent of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) after her students posted her lesson online.
She has been charged with spreading “fake news” about the Russian army.
US Senate to Vote to End Normal Trade Relations With Russia, Ban Oil Importation
The US Senate will vote on Thursday to end normal trade relations with Russia and to ban the importation of its oil.
While both the bills have faced obstructions in the Senate so far, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has said he wished the vote could have happened sooner.
However, he added, "after weeks of talks with the other side, it’s important that we have found a path forward.”
Australia Imposes Sanctions on 67 Russians
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne has said that Australia is imposing sanctions on 67 Russians.
Payne told reporters as she arrived at NATO, “Today, I’m announcing 67 further sanctions of Russian elites and oligarchs, those close to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin who facilitate and support his outrageous actions."
90 Percent of Bucha Victims Were Shot: Mayor
Nearly all of Ukrainian civilians killed in Bucha were deliberately shot, the town’s mayor, Anatoly Fedoruk, has said.
Dismissing Russian claims that the victims were killed by shelling from the Ukrainian side, Fedoruk told the Deutsche Welle broadcaster, “Almost 90 percent are bullet shots, not shrapnel."
He added that by Wednesday night, the bodies of 320 dead civilians had been found, but the number keeps growing because many bodies have been buried or left in parks and squares of villages outside Bucha, Al Jazeera reported.
‘Weapons, Weapons and Weapons’: Ukraine’s Foreign Minister at NATO
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has called on NATO members to provide Kyiv with all the weaponry it needs to fight Russia.
“My agenda is very simple. It has only three items on it. It’s weapons, weapons, and weapons,” Kuleba tells journalists at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Luhansk Governor Urges Citizens to Take 'Last Chance' to Flee
Serhiy Haidai, the governor of Luhansk, said in a post on Facebook that all villages in the area were currently under attack, and urged residents to flee from the eastern Luhansk region
"These few days may be the last chance to leave," he said, warning that Russian forces were "trying to cut off all possible ways of taking people out".
G7 Condemns Russian 'Atrocities in Bucha'
The Group of seven (G7) countries in a joint statement on Thursday, 7 April, condemned Russian "atrocities" committed in Bucha and called for the country's expulsion from the Human Rights Council.
"Haunting images of civilian deaths, victims of torture, and apparent executions, as well as reports of sexual violence and destruction of civilian infrastructure show the true face of Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine and its people," they said, as per a report by The Guardian.
"The massacres in the town of Bucha and other Ukrainian towns will be inscribed in the list of atrocities and severe violations of international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights, committed by the aggressor on Ukrainian soil," they added.
The G7 also asserted that Russia should be suspended from the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Zelenskyy Urges West to Ban Russian Oil Imports
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Western countries to “bring Russia to justice” by banning imports of Russian oil.
"Once and for all, we can teach Russia and any other potential aggressors that those who choose war always lose… those who blackmail Europe with economic and energy crisis always lose," Zelenskyy said in an address to Greek parliamentarians.
'100,000 People Yet to be Evacuated from Mariupol'
Mariupol’s mayor Vadym Boychenko said that more than 100,000 people still needed to be evacuated from the besieged Ukrainian port city.
"A full-scale evacuation is needed," he said, adding that those still trapped in Mariupol were "praying for rescue".
Kyiv's Draft Peace Deal Unacceptable: Russia
Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said that Kyiv presented Moscow with a draft peace deal that contained "unacceptable" elements, the Interfax news agency reported.
Lavrov also accused Ukraine of undermining the peace talks, but said Russia would nonetheless continue talks and press to secure its own requirements.
'Lower the Degree of Hostility': Ukraine to Russia
Ukraine's presidential adviser has urged Russia to 'lower the degree of hostility' to allow dialogue between the two countries, AFP reported.
'Political Colouring Should Not Be Attributed to India's Actions': MEA on Ties With Russia
The Ministry of External Affairzs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Thursday that 'political colouring' should not be attributed to India's actions concerning Russia.
"We've established economic relations with Russia. Our focus is on stabilising these relations in the current circumstances. We've been very open about it. I think that's very clear regarding our position," he said.
"Energy flows to Europe are continuing, fertiliser purchasing have been insulated, there are such other examples also. I think I will rely on what EAM said - political colouring should be not be attributed to our actions," he added.
"Talks of sanctions going on but it's not on entire trade. A lot of trade is going on, trade of oil too. Our focus is to maintain & stabilise our established economic relations with Russia," he further said.
Bucha Investigations Are 'Next Step': UN Humanitarian Chief
UN humanitarian chief said on Thursday that Bucha investigations will be the 'next step', reported AFP.
'Send Kyiv Arms Now Before It Is 'Too Late': Ukraine Foreign Minister to NATO
Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba has asked NATO to send Kyiv arms now before it is 'too late'.
UN to Vote on Suspending Russia From Human Rights Body
The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, 7 April, will vote to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council over reports of "gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights" by the Russian troops in Ukraine, Reuters reported.
A two-thirds majority of voting members can suspend a country from the 47-member council.
UNGA's Emergency Special Session Begins
UN General Assembly's emergency special session to vote on removing Russia from UN Human Rights Council begins.
"We are in a unique situation now, when on the territory of another sovereign state, a member of the UNHRC commits horrific human rights violations & abuses that would be equated to war crimes and crimes against humanity," said Ukraine's representative at UNGA's emergency session.
"The suspension of rights of membership of the Russian Federation in UNHRC is not an option, but a duty," he added.
Moscow Will Continue Talks With Kiev Despite Provocations: Russia
Moscow will continue talks with Kiev despite provocations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, according to Russian media agency TASS.
Vote Against Western Countries' Attempt to Destroy Human Rights Architechture: Russia at UNGA
"We would like to put this draft resolution to vote and call on all present here to really consider your decision and to vote against the attempt by Western countries and their allies to destroy the existing human rights architecture," the Russian representative said at the UN General Assembly.
India Abstains from Voting on Draft Resolution to Suspend Russia From UNHRC
India abstains from voting on the draft resolution to suspend Russia from UNHRC.
"India has abstained on the resolution with regard to the suspension of the Russian Federation from the Human Rights Council adopted in the UN General Assembly today," India's Permanent Representative to UN, TS Tirumurti, said.
"We continue to remain deeply concerned at the worsening situation and reiterate our call for end to all hostilities. When innocent human lives are at stake, diplomacy must prevail as the only viable option," he added.
"Recent reports of civilian killings in Bucha are deeply disturbing. We have unequivocally condemned these killings and support the call for an independent investigation," he further said.
"Impact of the crisis has also been felt beyond the region with increasing food & energy costs, especially for many developing countries. It's in our collective interest to work constructively, both inside UN&outside, towards seeking an early resolution to the conflict," he said.
UNGA Suspends Russia from Human Rights Council
UN General Assembly has suspended Russia from Human Rights Council after killings in Ukraine's Bucha. 93 countries voted in favour of the draft resolution, 24 countries voted against it, 58 countries abstained.
'Must Assume Russians Committing More Attrocities in Ukraine': Blinken
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that the world "must assume" that Russians are committing more atrocities in Ukraine, reported AFP.
'Significant' Russian Troop Losses in Ukraine: Kremlin
The Kremlin spokesperson said on Thursday that there have been "significant" Russian troop losses in Ukraine, reported AFP.
'Will Defend Our Interests': Russia After UNHRC Suspension
The Kremlin spokesperson said on Thursday that Russia would "defend" its "interests" after UN suspended it from the Human Rights Council.
US Ends Normal Trade Ties With Russia
The United Stated ended normal trade ties with Russia over their invasion of Ukraine, reported AFP.
'Illegal': Russia Rejects Suspension From UNHRC
Russia has rejected the suspension from the UN Human Rights Council, calling it "illegal".