War in Ukraine: Latest developments

Here are the latest developments in the war in Ukraine:

– 100,000 trapped in Mariupol –

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says almost 100,000 people are still trapped in the ruins of Mariupol, after more than 7,000 escaped on Tuesday.

Human Rights Watch describes the southern port city as a “freezing hellscape riddled with dead bodies and destroyed buildings”.

– More sanctions as Biden heads for Europe –

As US President Joe Biden heads to Europe, warning of a “real threat” Russia may use chemical weapons, a top US official says new sanctions are coming against Russian “political figures” and wealthy elites close to President Vladimir Putin.

“We, the United States, will announce a package of sanctions designations tomorrow that relate both to political figures, (and) oligarchs… as well as entities,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has told reporters aboard Air Force One as Biden heads to Brussels for NATO and EU summits on Ukraine.

– NATO responds –

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg tells an emergency Brussels summit allies will sign off on sending four “battle groups” to eastern members Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.

He also signals cybersecurity assistance as well as equipment “to help Ukraine protect against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats”.

– Russia slams cyber accusations –

Russia hits out at “absurd” US accusations calling on companies to better protect themselves from possible Russian cyberattacks.

“These accusations against us are absurd,” says a Russian deputy foreign minister, Oleg Syromolotov, accusing Washington of indulging in “dangerous gratuitous accusations” in a “new outburst of Russophobia against the backdrop of the situation in Ukraine”.

– Ukrainian forces gain momentum: US –

Ukrainian forces have managed to reclaim some ground against invading Russian forces in some areas in recent days, according to the Pentagon.

The Ukrainians are “in places and at times going on an offensive”, particularly in the south of the country, US Defense Department spokesman John Kirby tells CNN.

– More German arms aid –

Germany says it is sending 2,000 additional anti-tank weapons to Ukraine to help it repel the Russian invasion, a parliamentary source told AFP, confirming media reports.

The Ukrainian forces have already received 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger-type surface-to-air missile launchers from the Bundeswehr, the German army.

– US hindering talks: Russia –

Russia accuses the US of seeking to hinder Moscow’s talks with Ukraine to try turn the tide of the war in Ukraine’s favour.

“The talks are tough, the Ukrainian side constantly changes its position. It’s hard to avoid the impression that our American colleagues are holding their hand,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov tells students in Moscow.

– ‘Putin’s offensive stuck’: Scholz –

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says “Putin’s offensive is stuck” and urges Moscow to “immediately” stop the fighting, saying it is not only destroying Ukraine but “Russia’s future”.

The Pentagon says it believes as much as 10 percent of Russian forces committed to Ukraine may have been knocked out in just four weeks of fighting and that Russian forces “have struggled with logistics and sustainment”.

– Russia waves nuclear option –

Russia would use nuclear weapons in the context of the Ukraine conflict if it were facing an “existential threat”, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says in a CNN interview.

– Belarus expels Ukrainian diplomats –

Russia’s ally Belarus says it is to expel most Ukrainian diplomats, accusing Kyiv of “interference” in its domestic affairs, leaving just five people from a 20-strong team at its embassy in Minsk.

– Poland expels Russian diplomats –

Poland says it has expelled 45 Russian diplomats for espionage, an allegation dismissed as baseless by Russia’s ambassador to Poland.

– Aid for war-hit European firms –

The EU gives member states the nod to offer limited subsidies and cheap loans to companies impacted by the war in Ukraine or sanctions imposed on Russia.

– Zelensky raps UN –

In his latest video addresses to foreign lawmakers Zelensky criticises the United Nations, saying it has failed to ensure global security.

“Neither the United Nations nor the UN Security Council have functioned,” he tells Japan’s parliament.

– Over 3.6 million flee –

More than 3.6 million Ukrainians have now fled the country following Russia’s invasion, the United Nations says. More than 10 million have been displaced from their homes.

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