Here are the latest updates on the war in Ukraine:
Ukraine is calling on the West for more weapons in anticipation of an expected battle for control of the east. Residents in the Donbass area were called to evacuate immediately Mariupol mayor says tens of thousands still need to be evacuated from besieged city The WHO says it is drawing up contingency plans for a possible chemical attack in Ukraine The head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees warns that the world is heading for the displacement of 100 million people as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has forced people to flee at an alarming rate.
11:24 a.m. ET
The US is moving to stifle exports to 3 Russian airlines
The Biden government moved on Thursday to stifle U.S. exports to three Russian airlines as part of what officials described as unprecedented enforcement action. The Commerce Department said the move would prevent airlines – Russia’s national carrier Aeroflot, Utair and Azur Air – from receiving items from the United States, including accessories to service their aircraft. “These restrictions are important because it is obviously difficult to keep flying if you can not service your planes,” Matthew Axelrod, assistant secretary of commerce for export enforcement, told reporters. The result, he said, is that airlines subject to sanctions “and their fleet of aircraft, over time, will largely be unable to continue flying, either internationally or domestically, as they now have is cut off from international support and American components and related services needed to maintain and support their fleet. “ Actions, known as temporary refusal orders, allow the Department of Commerce to grant exemptions when the safety of a flight would be compromised. Orders are extended for 180 days, although they can be renewed. – The Associated Press 10:08 a.m. ET
Ukraine demands full energy ban from Russia, prepares for attack in east and south
Ukrainian refugees walk after crossing the Ukrainian-Polish border, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Medyka, Poland, April 7, 2022. LEONHARD FOEGER / Reuters Ukraine on Thursday stepped up calls for economic sanctions that are crippling enough to force Moscow to end the war, as officials rushed to evacuate civilians from cities and towns in the east ahead of an expected major Russian offensive there. Democrats must stop buying Russian oil and cut off Russian banks from the international financial system, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, adding that financial concerns should not exceed the punishment for civilian deaths that Ukraine and many of the West’s its allies have condemned it as war crimes. “Once and for all, we can teach Russia and any other possible attackers that those who choose war always lose,” Zelensky told the Greek parliament. “Those who blackmail Europe with an economic and energy crisis always lose.” Washington, which last month banned Russian oil imports, took further steps Wednesday to isolate Moscow, imposing sanctions on two major creditors and President Vladimir Putin’s two adult daughters, and banning US investment in Russia. Washington has also demanded its removal from the Group of 20 major economies. -Reuters 9:11 a.m. ET
G7 warns Russia that sanctions will increase until troops withdraw from Ukraine
The Group of Seven world powers warns Russia that it will continue to tighten sanctions until its troops leave Ukraine and that those responsible for alleged war crimes will be prosecuted. The G7 foreign ministers pledged on Thursday to “maintain and increase pressure on Russia by imposing coordinated additional restrictive measures to effectively prevent Russia’s ability to continue its aggression against Ukraine.” Western nations have already imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia, including President Vladimir Putin, his family and associates, but are reluctant to hit the country’s energy sector. The G7 ministers, meeting on the sidelines of NATO talks in Brussels, say they are “taking further steps to speed up plans to reduce our dependence on Russian energy and will work together to that end.” In the wake of this week’s allegations of war crimes in the city of Bucha, the ministers insist that “those responsible for these heinous acts and atrocities, including attacks targeting civilians and destroying political infrastructure, will be held accountable and prosecuted.” They also reiterated warnings about the use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, saying “any use of such weapons by Russia would be unacceptable and would have serious consequences.” – The Associated Press 8:30 a.m. ET
Ukraine is pushing the EU for a full energy embargo on Russia
Ukraine on Thursday reiterated its call for the EU to impose a full oil and gas embargo on Russia and called for speeding up arms deliveries, as the bloc promised a fifth round of sanctions against Moscow by Friday. Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba addressed the 30 members of NATO plus the European Union, Finland, Sweden, Japan, New Zealand and Australia at a meeting of his counterparts convened to maintain broad support for sanctions and arms supplies. in response to the Russian invasion. “We will continue to insist on a full embargo on oil and gas,” Kuleba said. Anger over the killing of civilians in the Ukrainian city of Bukha near Kyiv seems to have mobilized Western support. Russia denies any wrongdoing there and says the evidence was fabricated. EU lawmakers overwhelmingly voted in favor of a non-binding resolution Thursday on a “direct full embargo” on Russian energy imports. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said a fifth package of EU sanctions, including a coal ban, would be agreed on Thursday or Friday. But the bloc’s high level of dependence on Russian oil and especially gas makes a broader energy embargo – which would cut off a major source of revenue for the Moscow war – unlikely at this time. -Reuters 8:02 a.m. ET
Russia says Ukraine has presented an “unacceptable” draft peace agreement
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a press conference following talks with representatives of the Arab League countries in Moscow, Russia, on April 4, 2022. POOL / Reuters Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that Kyiv had presented a draft peace agreement in Moscow containing “unacceptable” elements, but that Russia would continue talks and push for its own demands. The Kremlin has said that peace talks between Moscow and Kiev are not progressing as fast as it would like, and has accused the West of trying to derail the talks by focusing on war crimes allegations, which Moscow denies. Lavrov said on Thursday that Ukraine presented a draft peace agreement to Russia on Wednesday, but that it had deviated from proposals previously agreed by both sides. “This failure to agree once again underscores Kiev’s real intentions, its position to withdraw or even undermine the talks by removing the agreements reached,” Lavrov said, adding that Kiev’s proposals were “unacceptable.” . There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. Kyiv has said talks are needed, but is unwilling to relinquish its sovereignty and territorial integrity. -Reuters 7:40 a.m. ET
Russia will “definitely respond” to US sanctions against Putin’s daughters
Katerina Tikhonova, daughter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, appears on screen as she attends a meeting of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 4, 2021. EVGENIA NOVOZHENINA / Reuters Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peshkov says Russia intends to respond to US sanctions against President Vladimir Putin’s daughters as it sees fit. “Russia will certainly respond and do as it sees fit,” Peshkov said on Thursday. The United States announced on Wednesday that it was imposing sanctions on Putin’s two adult daughters as part of a new package of sanctions on the country’s political and economic systems in retaliation for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Peshkov told a news conference that the sanctions “add a whole lot of frantic restrictions” and that the restrictions “target family members” speaks for itself. “This is something that is difficult to understand and explain. “But, unfortunately, we have to deal with such opponents,” Peshkov said. – The Associated Press 6:45 a.m. ET
The WHO says it is making contingency plans for possible “chemical attacks” in Ukraine
The European head of the World Health Organization said on Thursday that the body was preparing for possible “chemical attacks” in Ukraine. “Given the uncertainty of the current situation, there are no assurances that the war will not escalate,” said Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, in a statement to reporters in Lviv, Ukraine. “The WHO is examining all the scenarios and making contingencies for different situations that could affect the people of Ukraine, from continuing to deal with massive losses to chemical attacks,” he said, without elaborating. Western officials have repeatedly expressed fears that Russia could use chemical and biological weapons in Ukraine, with risks of secondary effects beyond the country. Russia’s defense ministry has accused Kyiv of plotting to launch a chemical weapons attack on its people, accusing Moscow of using chemical weapons in the February 24 invasion of Ukraine. -Reuters 6:39 a.m. ET
Germany has satellite imagery of Russian involvement in Buha’s assassinations –
The German government has indications that Russia was involved in the killing of civilians in the Ukrainian city of Bukha by satellite …
