US officials: Russian escalation in Ukraine could lead to humanitarian crisis
The massing of Ukrainians at the Polish border is leading to urgent conversations among officials at the State Department and USAID about the need to quickly increase assistance to European countries accepting refugees, according to two senior Joe Biden administration officials with direct knowledge of the situation.
Washington: Russian invasion of Ukraine has ‘clouded’ economic outlook for US
The chair of the Joe Biden administration’s Council of Economic Advisers warned that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has “clouded” the economic outlook for the United States in the coming year as Americans already feel the pain of rising prices.
WH: US has taken steps to address any impact on oil market that could occur from Russia’s invasion
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated the US has taken steps “to address any impact on the global markets, global oil markets, that we expect could happen, expect at the time could happen, and could continue to happen as a result of President Vladimir Putin’s invasion.”
Japan’s PM: G7 and allies will urge international community to unite against Russia
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the G7 nations will urge the international community to unite against Russia.
“It is important that all members of the international community respond resolutely to Russia’s acts,” Kishida told reporters in a news conference after a call with G7 leaders and allies.
Kishida added the G7 nations — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States — and their partners had also agreed to help Ukrainian refugees following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Disney and Warner Bros. will pause theatrical movie releases in Russia
Disney said it was “pausing” the release of films in Russia, becoming the first Hollywood studio to weigh in publicly on the matter. Warner Bros., which had vowed to press on with the release of “The Batman”, reversed course soon after Disney’s announcement and said it, too, would enact a pause.
National security adviser: WH believes “strategic failure” of Ukraine invasion will dawn on Putin
White House Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics Daleep Singh highlighted a series of sanctions the administration was imposing on Russia, telling MSNBC in an interview the administration expects moves to expel Russian banks from SWIFT and freeze the assets of the Russian Central Bank are “going to change the strategic calculus.”
“Let’s look at the course [that Russian President Vladimir Putin is] on — what Russia is looking at is double digit inflation, 15 to 20%, right now Russia is looking at a very deep recession,” he said.
“Russia is looking at a complete isolation from the global economy, from the global financial system, and from global technology. It’s looking at a fortification of NATO’s eastern flank. It’s looking at Europe diversifying away from Russian energy, and it’s looking at a West that is more energized and unified and determined than any point in the post-Cold War era. At some point the strategic failure, we think, will dawn upon Putin and the de-escalation may have a chance. But until then, we’ll continue to impose costs,” Singh added.
Ukrainian official: Missile strike in Kyiv region destroys dormitory and residential buildings
A missile strike on Vasylkiv, Bila Tserkva and Kalinovka in the Kyiv region destroyed a five-story dormitory and two five-story residential buildings, Ukraine’s Ministry of Interior claimed.
Three state emergency service units are on their way to provide assistance to the dormitory that was hit in Bila Tserkva.
Emergency service units are not en route to the two five-story residential buildings in Vasylkiv and Kalinovka because the shelling is ongoing.
Russia: EU taking sides with Ukraine by supplying weapons to it
The European Union’s decision to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine means that it is fully taking sides with the Kiev regime, which has embarked on a policy of genocide of its own population, the Russian foreign ministry announced.
Pentagon: Putin placing Russian nuclear weapons on high alert is “as unnecessary as it is escalatory”
After Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia’s deterrence forces — including its nuclear weapons — have been placed on high alert, the Pentagon responded by calling the announcement “as unnecessary as it is escalatory.”
The response was issued by Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby during a briefing on Monday.
Kirby went on to note that the Pentagon is “reviewing and analyzing” Putin’s announcement.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is “comfortable with the strategic deterrent posture of the United States, and our ability to defend our homeland and our partners,” Kirby also said.
Pentagon: Russian forces are trying to move closer to Kyiv but are still outside city center
Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby stated the Russian forces are trying to move closer to Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv, but still are outside of the city center.
“But clearly we continue to see Russian forces move on — or try to move closer to so they can move on Kyiv from the ground,” Kirby noted during a briefing at the Pentagon on Monday.
“We still assess that they’re outside the city center, and but, what we know clearly, that they have intentions with respect to Kyiv,” he announced.
Ukrainians are “resisting quite effectively around Kyiv,” Kirby continued, adding, “They’ve made it a tough slog for the Russians to move further south.”
Kirby could not say specifically that a Russian convoy that has been seen on satellite imagery is headed for Kyiv, but he said “it clearly appears to, just anecdotally, as just a piece of their desire to continue to move on the capital.”
US officials warn overwhelming wave of Russian troops expected in Ukraine
US administration officials warned lawmakers in classified briefings that a second wave of Russian troops will likely consolidate the country’s positions within Ukraine and by sheer numbers be able to overcome the Ukrainian resistance, according to two people familiar with the briefings.
“That part was disheartening,” one lawmaker told CNN.
The officials also said Russia was likely to lay siege to Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, and predicted ugly scenes of urban warfare, one of the people familiar with the matter added.
WH: Biden remains committed to keeping US troops out of Ukraine conflict
As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to call for a no fly zone in Ukraine, the White House said President Joe Biden remains firm in his commitment to keep US troops out of the conflict.
The UN will ask donors for nearly $2 billion for Ukraine’s refugees
The United Nations will announce an appeal on Tuesday for nearly $2 billion in donations for Ukrainians who have been forced from their homes, including refugees in neighboring Poland and Moldova who are living close to the border in hopes they can soon return, a senior official said Monday.
Officials were bracing for the flood of people left homeless by Russia’s invasion to become the world’s latest refugee crisis, with the potential of as many as 4 million people fleeing Ukraine, stated Kelly T. Clements, the U.N.’s deputy high commissioner for refugees.
NHL suspends all business relations in Russia
The National Hockey League (NHL) announced Monday that it is suspending its business relations in Russia, effective immediately.
Top US general meets virtually with NATO military leaders
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley took part in a virtual meeting of NATO’s Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a readout from Joint Staff spokesperson Col. Dave Butler said.
Australia to send missiles to Ukraine as part of $50 million support package
Australia will send missiles as part of a $50 million package of lethal and non-lethal aid to help Ukraine repel Russian forces, according to Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Morrison told a news conference Tuesday that anti-armor missiles are proving extraordinarily effective for Ukrainian forces.
Zelensky calls for closure “of the sky” for Russian missiles, aircraft and helicopters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for the “complete closure of the sky for Russian missiles, aircraft and helicopters.”
“Evil, armed with missiles, bombs, and artillery, must be stopped immediately, destroyed economically. To show that humanity is able to defend itself, it is necessary to consider a complete closure of the sky for Russian missiles, aircraft, helicopters,” he said in a message posted to his Facebook page.
“A state that commits crimes against civilians cannot be a member of the UN Security Council. For such a state the entrance to all ports, canals, airports in the world must be closed. Such a state should not receive hundreds of billions for energy exports. To buy Russian goods now is to pay for killing people,” Zelensky added.
Johnson urges world leaders to keep up the pressure on Putin
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged G7 and other world leaders to continue to provide Ukraine with defensive weapons and to keep up the pressure on Putin’s regime.
Following a call with world leaders Monday, a Downing St. spokesperson said the leaders all agreed that Ukraine’s “valiant resistance” to Russian troops is “truly inspirational.”
Johnson also “underlined the need for an international response to the emerging humanitarian crisis, including through supporting Ukraine’s neighbours to deal with large numbers of Ukrainians escaping violence in the country,” according to the statement.
The prime minister stressed the need to keep hitting Russia with trade restrictions and sanctions including SWIFT, a messaging service that connects financial institutions around the world.
The leaders agreed to “pursue every avenue to ensure that Putin fails in his ambitions,” the statement added.
Russia claims to have hit 1,146 military installations in Ukraine
The Russian military claimed that its armed forces have hit 1,146 Ukrainian military installations since the beginning of the “special operation,” Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, the spokesperson for Russian Ministry of Defense, said in a statement.
Shell joins BP in divesting from Russia
Shell will end all joint ventures with Russian majority state-owned oil company Gazprom in response to the invasion of Ukraine, the oil company announced.
The announcement comes a day after another major oil company, BP, announced its own divestment from its 20 percent stake in Russian oil company Rosneft.
TikTok blocks Russia-backed outlets in European Union
TikTok has blocked Russian-backed outlets, such as RT and Sputnik, in the European Union, a spokesperson for the social media company tells CNN.
The action follows a similar moves by Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.
Ukrainian FM says US offering more support to resist Russia
The United States is offering more support to help Ukraine resist Russia, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
Early Tuesday morning local time, a tweet from the foreign minister’s verified account referenced a conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Kuleba tweeted, “In our call, Blinken affirmed that the US support for Ukraine remains unfaltering. I underscored that Ukraine craves for peace, but as long as we are under Russia’s assault we need more sanctions and weapons. Secretary assured me of both. We coordinated further steps.”
World Rugby sanctions Russia and Belarus
Russia and Belarus have been suspended from all international rugby and cross-border club activities until further notice, the sport’s governing body said.
Satellite images: Russian military convoy near Kyiv is more than 40 miles long
New satellite images from Maxar Technologies show the Russian military convoy that has reached the outskirts of Kyiv is even longer than it previously measured.
Maxar announced late Monday the convoy is more than 40 miles long. Earlier Monday, Maxar said the convoy took up roughly 17 miles of roadway.
Maxar told CNN earlier Monday the large military convoy consisted of armored vehicles, tanks, towed artillery and other logistical vehicles.
Maxar attributed the updated convoy length to additional satellite imagery they collected and analyzed. Maxar added data and imagery taken Monday shows the convoy stretches from the Antonov airbase — about 17 miles from Kyiv’s city center — to just north of Pribyrsk, Ukraine.
EU slaps 26 additional Russians with sanctions
The European Union has imposed sanctions on 26 more Russians, including oligarchs, senior officials and an energy insurance company, bringing the total of people targeted to 680.
EU headquarters announced those listed include “oligarchs and businessmen active in the oil, banking and finance sectors,” government officials, top military brass and “propagandists who contributed to spread anti-Ukrainian propaganda and promote a positive attitude towards the invasion of Ukraine.”
US expels 12 Russian UN staff for non-diplomat activities
The United States has ordered twelve members of Russia’s mission to the United Nations to leave America for engaging in non-diplomatic activities.
“Those diplomats that have been asked to leave the United States were engaged in activities that were not in accordance with their responsibilities and obligations as diplomats,” Deputy US Ambassador Richard Mills told the UN Security Council, without elaborating further.
Envoy to UN says Ukraine welcomes an ICC investigation into Russia’s invasion
Ukraine welcomes the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to open an investigation into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, said Sergiy Kyslytsya, the country’s ambassador to the UN.
“We welcome the statement issued today by the ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, on the situation in Ukraine — his statement about his decision to proceed with opening an investigation,” Kyslytsya told the UN Security Council.
“Given the expansion of the conflict in recent days, it is [the ICC prosecutor’s] intention that this investigation will also encompass any new alleged crimes, falling within the jurisdiction of his office, that are committed by any party to the conflict on any part of the territory of Ukraine,” he added.
Kyslytsya stated the ICC prosecutor “will also be asking for the support of all state parties and the international community as a whole as his office sets about its investigation” and will be calling for additional budgetary contributions to support the investigation.
Zelensky accuses Russia of war crimes in bombardment of Kharkiv
In a late night address Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that in five days, 56 missile strikes and 113 cruise missiles were launched in Ukraine by Russian forces.
He added, “Today, Russian forces brutally fired on Kharkiv from jet artillery. It was clearly a war crime.”
“Kharkiv is a peaceful city, there are peaceful residential areas, no military facilities. Dozens of eyewitness accounts prove that this is not a single false volley, but deliberate destruction of people: the Russians knew where they were shooting,” he noted.
“There will definitely be an international tribunal for this crime — it’s a violation of all conventions. No one in the world will forgive you for killing peaceful Ukrainian people,” he stated.
Finland, Norway to send Ukraine weapons
The Finnish government has decided to provide the Ukrainian authorities with military assistance, including assault rifles, anti-tank weapons, and combat ration packages, the Finnish defense ministry announced.
Norway also decided to provide Ukraine with additional military support, in particular, M72 light anti-tank weapons, the Norwegian government announced.
WH: Banning Russian flights is not off the table
The White House said barring Russian flights over the United States is not off the table but there had not been a decision made on the matter.
“No option is off the table,” White House spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters.
She noted there are a lot of US airlines that fly over Russia to get to Asia and other parts of the world, adding, “We factor in a range of factors.”
ICC to proceed with investigation into alleged war crimes
The office of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has announced it will seek court approval to open an investigation into alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
“The next step is to proceed with the process of seeking and obtaining authorisation from the Pre-Trial Chamber of the Court to open an investigation,” Prosecutor Karim Khan said in a statement.
Ukraine makes offer to Russian soldiers who lay down weapons
Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov has appealed to Russian soldiers, saying they will receive full amnesty and monetary compensation if they lay down their weapons.
“Those of you who do not want to become a murderer and die can save yourselves,” he added.
Moscow warns against supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine
Russia’s foreign ministry has said those supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine will bear responsibility should they be used during Russia’s military campaign there.
The ministry added that the steps the European Union has taken against Russia will not be left without a harsh response.
EU agrees to finance arms delivery to Ukraine
The European Union agreed for the first time to jointly finance weapons deliveries to a third country to help Ukraine fend off the Russian invasion, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said.
A number of European countries including Norway, Italy and Finland have announced they will provide arms to Ukraine.
UN holds emergency session on Ukraine
Ukraine’s ambassador has told a rare emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly that if his country is crushed, international peace and democracy are in peril.
“Have no illusions. If Ukraine does not survive, we cannot be surprised if democracy fails next,” Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya stated.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted “the guns are talking now, but the path of dialogue must always remain open.”
The meeting has been the assembly’s first emergency session in decades.
FIFA, UEFA suspend all Russian football teams
Russian national football teams and club teams have been suspended from competition until further notice by global football governing body FIFA and European football governing body UEFA.
“Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine,” the joint statement said on Monday.
“Both (FIFA and UEFA) Presidents hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly so that football can again be a vector for unity and peace amongst people,” it added.
Explosions heard near Kyiv
Several large detonations were heard around 6:40 p.m. local time Monday to the east of the Kyiv’s city center.
They were the largest explosions heard Monday. They were followed by sirens going off across the city.
US official: Russian forces could take “more aggressive approach” towards Kyiv
It is possible that the Russians could take a “more aggressive approach” in their attempts to take the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv, because they are frustrated that their progress has slowed and they’ve faced resistance from Ukrainians there, a senior US defense official told reporters.
“We still believe that Kyiv is an objective for them. It’s impossible to speculate as to how they may or may not change their plans going forward,” the official added.
Russian forces are “causing civilian harm and they are striking civilian targets,” the official said, but it is unclear “whether it’s intentional and directed”.
US security assistance to Ukraine has continued to arrive, including within the last day, the official noted.
The Russian advance on the Ukrainian capital city Kyiv “remains slowed”, but Russian forces moved five kilometers (about three miles) closer to the city center since yesterday, the official stated.
Erdogan indicates Turkey will curb passage of Russian warships
Turkey will use its powers over two key waterways to limit the passage of Russian warships to and from the Black Sea, president Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated as he made his strongest show of support for Ukraine since the launch of Russia’s invasion.
The Turkish leader, who has in recent years forged close relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, used a televised address to suggest that Turkey would use the powers granted it under the 1936 Montreux Convention to prevent some naval vessels from transiting the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits.
“We have the authority and we have decided to use it in a way that will prevent the crisis from escalating,” he said.
The Turkish president, who heads a NATO member state but had alienated western allies in recent years by buying an air defence system from Moscow, stated that Ankara saw both Russia and Ukraine as “friendly” countries. But he noted that Turkey viewed the Russian invasion of Ukraine as “unacceptable.”
In his clearest support yet for the Ukrainian government, he added, “We appreciate the struggle of the Ukrainian leadership and the Ukrainian people.”
Russian delegation head: Points of contact for common positions found at Russia-Ukraine talks
Russian and Ukrainian negotiators have found some points of contact from which common positions can be built on, Vladimir Medinsky, special assistant to President Vladimir Putin and head of the Russian delegation, has told reporters.
“Talks with the Ukrainian side which lasted about 5 hours have just wrapped up. We discussed in detail all the items on the agenda and found some common points on which we predict common positions can be found,” the official said.
“The next meeting will take place in the coming days on the Polish-Belarusian border. There is a corresponding agreement on this,” Medinsky stated, adding, “Until then, each delegation – the leadership of each delegations will consult on each of the negotiating positions with the leadership of their respective country.”
Mikhail Podolyak, advisor to the head of Ukrainian President’s Office, confirmed that a second round of talks was discussed.
“The two sides identified a number of priority topics on which certain decisions have been outlined. In order for them to have an opportunity to be implemented…the parties are leaving for consultations in their respective capitals. The possibility of a second round of negotiations in the near future during which these topics will receive concrete, practical development was discussed,” Podolyak noted.
Putin signs decree on special economic measures against US, allies
According to the decree, Russian residents are banned from transferring foreign currency to their accounts or deposits in foreign banks.
Truss unveils new sanctions on Russia
The UK Foreign Secretary set out two new pieces of sanctions legislation in the House of Commons:
The first introduces a sweeping set of new powers against Russia’s financial sector, including powers to prevent Russian banks from clearing payments in sterling.
More than 50 per cent of Russian trade is denominated in dollars and sterling, Truss says -meaning it will “damage Russia’s ability to trade with the world”.
As soon as it comes into force, it will be applied to Russia’s largest bank.
The second involves a full asset freeze on three further Russian banks – VEB, Sovcombank and Otkritie.
A full asset freeze will be brought in on all Russian banks within days, as Britain looks to coordinate with its allies. More than three million businesses will be isolated from accessing UK markets, while exports to Russia will be banned across a range of sectors.
UK will lead efforts to block Russia from Interpol
Britain will seek to suspend Russia from international policing body Interpol, the UK Home Secretary Priti Patel told parliament.
Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Belarus end
Negotiations between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine in the Gomel Region of Belarus have ended.
Russian and Ukrainian talks have ended in Belarus and the two parties have returned to their capitals for consultations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s adviser, Mikhaylo Podolyak, told reporters after the talks.