Russia-Ukraine war live: Zelenskiy calls for further sanctions and more weapons after latest strikes | Ukraine
Key events
Stefano Sannino, Secretary General of the European Union’s European External Action Service, has defended German and US military equipment supplies to Ukraine and criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for waging war on NATO and the West.
The Associated Press reports that Sannino, speaking at a press conference in Tokyo as part of his Asia-Pacific tour, said that Putin “has moved from the concept of a special operation to the concept of war against NATO and the West.”
He said German and American tank stocks were meant to help Ukrainians defend themselves in a war, not turn them into attackers.
“I think this latest development in terms of arms transfers is just an evolution of the situation and how Russia started to take the war to another stage,” Sannino said. He added that Russia was carrying out “indiscriminate attacks” on civilians and cities, not on military targets.
The EU does not take the war to another stage, but “just gives an opportunity to save lives and allows Ukrainians to defend themselves against these barbaric attacks,” Sannino said.
Hungary to veto EU nuclear sanctions against Russia
Hungary will veto any European Union sanctions against Russia that affect nuclear power, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told state radio on Friday.
Ukraine has called on the EU-27 to include Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy company Rosatom in sanctions, but Hungary, which has a Russian-built nuclear power plant that it plans to expand with Rosatom, has blocked it.
Reuters reports that Orban repeated in an interview that sanctions on nuclear power “should obviously be vetoed.”
“We will not allow the implementation of the plan to include nuclear energy in the sanctions,” the Hungarian prime minister said. “It’s out of the question.”
State television company of Ukraine “Suspilne” reports that the night passed in Sums area without shelling.
British Ministry of Defense published its latest intelligence briefing on how it sees the situation in Ukraine. In it, he casts doubt on recent Russian claims about military achievements in Zaporozhye and Donetskletter:
Over the past six days, Russian online observers have claimed that Russian troops have advanced significantly, breaking through the defenses of Ukraine in two directions: in the Zaporozhye region near Orikov and 100 km to the east, in the Donetsk region, near Vuhledar.
Russian units probably carried out local test attacks in the area of Orikov and Vugledar, but it is unlikely that Russia actually made any significant progress.
There is a real possibility that Russian military sources are deliberately spreading disinformation in an attempt to give the impression that the Russian operation is ongoing.
The claim is presented on social media without posting any supporting evidence.
Oleksandr Musiyenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Military and Strategic Studies, says Russia is sending additional reinforcements to block Ukraine’s advance.
“They basically send infantry and artillery into battle, consisting mainly of conscripts. But they don’t have the level of artillery and tank support that they had on February 24,” Musienko said in an interview with Ukrainian television.
“They have fewer resources. They count on the numerical superiority of their troops.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday reaffirmed Australia’s support for Ukraine and criticized supporters of a Russian invasion after a video surfaced of Novak Djokovic’s father posing at the Australian Open with fans holding Russian flags, Reuters reported.
Police have questioned four fans seen wearing “unacceptable flags and symbols” after Wednesday’s quarter-final match between Russia’s Andrey Rublev and favorite Djokovic, Tennis Australia organizers said.
“I will emphasize that Australia supports the people of Ukraine. This is Australia’s position and Australia unconditionally supports the rule of international law,” Albanese told a press conference after a reporter asked if Djokovic’s father, Srdjan, should be deported after he was seen posing for pictures with fans holding Russian flags. .
“We do not want any support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which is having a devastating effect on the people of Ukraine.”
Albanese did not directly answer the question of whether Srdjan Djokovic should be deported.
Reuters was unable to get a comment from Djokovic’s father.
An adviser to President Zelensky issued a warning to fellow Ukrainian officials that appears to be related to the ongoing drive to root out corruption.
More than a dozen Ukrainian officials were fired this week after a series of scandals and allegations of bribery. Political analysts say Zelenskiy needs to show Western partners and war-weary Ukrainians that he is serious about punishing bad governance.
“Everyone must understand the level of their responsibility to the country and people during the war. Whoever forgets about this reacts quickly,” said Andriy Yermak, head of Zelensky’s office.
“This will happen to anyone who allows themselves to forget (their duties), regardless of names and positions,” Yermak wrote on Twitter.
Among the most high-profile cases was that of a deputy defense minister who resigned after a report, which he denied, that his ministry was paying inflated prices for food to the troops.
A presidential adviser who was called in by local media for driving luxury cars has also quit, as has a senior prosecutor who, according to Ukrainian media reports, went on holiday to Marbella, Spain, violating martial law.
Explosions are heard near the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant during the strikes on Thursday, according to the UN nuclear agency.
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), who visited Ukraine last week, said IAEA monitors reported massive explosions near the Russian-occupied Zaporozhye nuclear power plant in Ukraine on Thursday and renewed calls for a security zone around the plant.
But Renat Karchaa, an adviser to the head of Rosenergoatom, the company that operates Russian nuclear power plants, called the comments unfounded and called them a “provocation.”
In the past, Russia has responded to Ukrainian advances with massive airstrikes that have left millions of people without electricity, heat or water.
On Thursday, he appeared to be following that pattern. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Russian attacks are targeting power plants.
“Today I held an emergency meeting on the energy situation – about the emerging outages and repairs after the terrorist strikes. Repair teams are working at these facilities,” Zelensky said on Thursday.
The Kremlin has said it sees the promised delivery of Western tanks as evidence of the growing “direct involvement” of the United States and Europe in the 11-month war, which both deny.
Zelenskiy calls for further sanctions and more weapons after latest strikes
In his late-night address in the wake of Thursday’s deadly missile strikes, Zelenskiy called for further sanctions on Russia and on allies to supply Ukraine with more weapons.
Ukrainian civilians fled for cover on Thursday as Russia bombarded the country with rockets and drones, killing at least 11 people, a day after Kyiv received a pledge to provide tanks on the battlefield to fight Moscow’s incursion from Western countries. .
Zelenskiy said:
This Russian aggression can and should be stopped only by adequate weapons. A terrorist state will not understand anything else. Weapons on the battlefield. A weapon that defends our sky.
New sanctions against Russia, i.e. political and economic weapons. And legal weapons – we need to work even harder to create a tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Welcome and summary
Hello and welcome to the Guardian live on the war in Ukraine. My name is Helen Sullivan and I will update you with the latest news as it becomes available.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for further sanctions against Russia and more weapons for Ukraine after Russian strikes on Thursday killed 11 people and injured 11.
We will soon get more information from Zelensky’s latest address. In the meantime, here are other key recent developments:
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Ukrainian civilians fled for cover Thursday as Russia fired rockets and drones into the country, killing at least 11 people.the day after Kyiv received promises to supply battle tanks to fight Moscow’s incursion from Western countries.
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Ukrainian skeletonist Vladislav Geraskevich on Thursday criticized the International Olympic Committee. for considering the possibility of returning Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions.
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The Ministry of Finance of Russia proposed to cancel liquidity restrictions for spending on “anti-crisis” investments from the National Welfare Fund (NWF). referring to the need to support key sectors in difficult geopolitical conditions.
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The UK hopes that the Challenger 2 tanks it supplies to Ukraine will arrive in the country at the end of March. defense minister Alex Mel said Thursday.
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Russian authorities designated independent news outlet Meduza as an “undesirable organization” on Thursday. effectively banning the site from working in Russia and banning any Russian from collaborating with Meduza or its journalists.
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Foreign exchange reserves of the Central Bank of Ukraine at the end of January will amount to about 30 billion dollars. This was announced to journalists on Thursday by Deputy Governor Yuri Gelety, Reuters reports.
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The arrest of a high-ranking Ukrainian intelligence agent accused of spying for Russia has highlighted the urgent need to clean up a key country. security service, This was announced by the former deputy head of the department.
