British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has accused Russia of threatening peace and security across Europe.

According to him, "Putin's brutal attack is not only causing untold devastation in Ukraine, but it is also threatening peace and security across Europe."

Ahead of a planned video call on Sunday by Group of Seven leaders with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he also pledged to provide a further 1.3 billion pounds ($1.60 billion) in military support and aid to Kyiv.

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Johnson, who is one of the strongest supporters of Ukraine's efforts to resist Russian forces since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion, has provided Kyiv with anti-tank missiles, air defence systems, and other weapons.

Calling this the highest rate of spending on a conflict since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Johnson said the new pledge almost doubles Britain's previous spending commitments on Ukraine.

The British government will utilise a reserve used for emergencies for the extra spending on Ukraine.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/russias-simulated-nuclear-missile-strikes-il-80-doomsday-plane-477100">Russia's 'simulated' nuclear missile strikes &amp; Il-80 Doomsday plane</a>

The United Kingdom had previously faced criticism from France for accepting relatively few of the more than 5 million Ukrainians who have fled their country.

With Russia marking the 77th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany on May 9, leaders of G7 countries will hold their virtual meeting with Zelensky on Sunday.

(With inputs from agencies)

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has accused Russia of threatening peace and security across Europe. According to him, "Putin's brutal attack is not only causing untold devastation in Ukraine, but it is also threatening peace and security across Europe.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has accused Russia of threatening peace and security across Europe. According to him, "Putin's brutal attack is not only causing untold devastation in Ukraine, but it is also threatening peace and security across Europe." Ahead of a planned video call on Sunday by Group of Seven leaders with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he also pledged to provide a further 1.3 billion pounds ($1.60 billion) in military support and aid to Kyiv. Johnson, who is one of the strongest supporters of Ukraine's efforts to resist Russian forces since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion, has provided Kyiv with anti-tank missiles, air defence systems, and other weapons. Calling this the highest rate of spending on a conflict since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Johnson said the new pledge almost doubles Britain's previous spending commitments on Ukraine. The British government will utilise a reserve used for emergencies for the extra spending on Ukraine. Also see | Russia's 'simulated' nuclear missile strikes & Il-80 Doomsday plane The United Kingdom had previously faced criticism from France for accepting relatively few of the more than 5 million Ukrainians who have fled their country. With Russia marking the 77th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany on May 9, leaders of G7 countries will hold their virtual meeting with Zelensky on Sunday. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world's unending wars. Catch our special series World at War every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION.

UK accuses Russia of threatening peace and security across Europe; pledges aid to Ukraine

Over 300 civilians, including women and children, have been evacuated from the Azovstal steel plant according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukrainian authorities were helped by the teams of the International Red Cross and the Organisation of the United Nations in conducting the first stage of the evacuation mission.

They are preparing for the second stage in which the wounded and medics will be evacuated as Russian forces have been pounding the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol for several weeks.

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Several fighters and civilians have been trapped in deep bunkers inside the Soviet-era steel mill under heavy bombardment from the Russian army.

They have been hiding in the tunnels crisscrossing the site with inadequate basic necessities as the mill has emerged as a symbol of resistance to the Russian effort to capture swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine in the 10-week-old war.

In his address, Zelensky said the Ukrainian fighters in the plant will not surrender and condemned the attack by the Russian forces which had destroyed or damaged nearly 200 cultural heritage sites as part of the conflict.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-accuses-russia-of-threatening-peace-and-security-across-europe-pledges-aid-to-ukraine-477230" hreflang="en">UK accuses Russia of threatening peace and security across Europe</a>

''Every day of this war the Russian army does something that leaves (me) speechless. But every next day it does something else for you to have this feeling anew,'' he added.

Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin assured that Moscow-backed separatists have also evacuated a total of 176 civilians from the plant.

The 69-year-old Kremlin leader has called his attack on Ukraine a "special military operation" to disarm its neighbour and rid it of anti-Russian nationalism fomented by the West.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Over 300 civilians, including women and children, have been evacuated from the Azovstal steel plant according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukrainian authorities were helped by the teams of the International Red Cross and the Organisation of the United Nations in conducting the first stage of the evacuation mission.

Over 300 civilians, including women and children, have been evacuated from the Azovstal steel plant according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukrainian authorities were helped by the teams of the International Red Cross and the Organisation of the United Nations in conducting the first stage of the evacuation mission. They are preparing for the second stage in which the wounded and medics will be evacuated as Russian forces have been pounding the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol for several weeks. Several fighters and civilians have been trapped in deep bunkers inside the Soviet-era steel mill under heavy bombardment from the Russian army. They have been hiding in the tunnels crisscrossing the site with inadequate basic necessities as the mill has emerged as a symbol of resistance to the Russian effort to capture swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine in the 10-week-old war. In his address, Zelensky said the Ukrainian fighters in the plant will not surrender and condemned the attack by the Russian forces which had destroyed or damaged nearly 200 cultural heritage sites as part of the conflict. Also read | UK accuses Russia of threatening peace and security across Europe ''Every day of this war the Russian army does something that leaves (me) speechless. But every next day it does something else for you to have this feeling anew,'' he added. Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin assured that Moscow-backed separatists have also evacuated a total of 176 civilians from the plant. The 69-year-old Kremlin leader has called his attack on Ukraine a "special military operation" to disarm its neighbour and rid it of anti-Russian nationalism fomented by the West. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world's unending wars. Catch our special series World at War every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION.

Over 300 civilians evacuated from Azovstal steel plant, says Ukrainian President Zelensky

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos, and videos.&nbsp;

Russian President Vladimir Putin is going to give a 'doomsday' warning to the West at Moscow's World War II victory parade.

Russia is going to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany on Monday (May 9).

Although fewer Russian tanks and other military hardware will rumble through Moscow’s Red Square on Monday due to Ukraine's invasion, the patriotic fervor associated with the sacred holiday could be as strong as ever.

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The Russian Defence Ministry said there will be a fly-past over St Basil's Cathedral which will showcase the Il-80 "doomsday" command plane along with Tu-160 strategic bombers.

Russia calls World War II the Great Patriotic War in which the Soviet Union lost a staggering 27 million people.

According to Putin, "The attempt to appease the aggressor on the eve of the Great Patriotic War turned out to be a mistake that cost our people dearly."

"We will not make such a mistake a second time, we have no right."

The 69-year-old Kremlin leader has called Ukraine's invasion a ''special military operation'' to de-nazify and demilitarise the country, likening the challenge the Soviet Union faced when Adolf Hitler's Nazis invaded in 1941.

However, Russia has denied altering its operation according to Victory Day with Lavrov saying, “Our military isn’t going to artificially link its action to any date, including Victory Day.”

The denazification claim has been derived by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who is Jewish.

Putin apologised after Lavrov's remarks suggesting Adolf Hitler had Jewish roots drew sharp criticism from Israel.

British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told LBC Radio last week, “He’s (Putin) been rolling the pitch, laying the ground for being able to say, ‘Look, this is now a war against Nazis, and what I need is more people.’”

(With inputs from agencies)

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Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos, and videos.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos, and videos. Russian President Vladimir Putin is going to give a 'doomsday' warning to the West at Moscow's World War II victory parade. Russia is going to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany on Monday (May 9). Although fewer Russian tanks and other military hardware will rumble through Moscow’s Red Square on Monday due to Ukraine's invasion, the patriotic fervor associated with the sacred holiday could be as strong as ever. The Russian Defence Ministry said there will be a fly-past over St Basil's Cathedral which will showcase the Il-80 "doomsday" command plane along with Tu-160 strategic bombers. Russia calls World War II the Great Patriotic War in which the Soviet Union lost a staggering 27 million people. According to Putin, "The attempt to appease the aggressor on the eve of the Great Patriotic War turned out to be a mistake that cost our people dearly." "We will not make such a mistake a second time, we have no right." The 69-year-old Kremlin leader has called Ukraine's invasion a ''special military operation'' to de-nazify and demilitarise the country, likening the challenge the Soviet Union faced when Adolf Hitler's Nazis invaded in 1941. However, Russia has denied altering its operation according to Victory Day with Lavrov saying, “Our military isn’t going to artificially link its action to any date, including Victory Day.” The denazification claim has been derived by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who is Jewish. Putin apologised after Lavrov's remarks suggesting Adolf Hitler had Jewish roots drew sharp criticism from Israel. British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told LBC Radio last week, “He’s (Putin) been rolling the pitch, laying the ground for being able to say, ‘Look, this is now a war against Nazis, and what I need is more people.’” (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION.

Ukraine invasion: Russian President Vladimir Putin to give 'doomsday' warning to West

Russian troops in Ukraine are sabotaging own military vehicles and tanks in order to avoid fighting in war as per wiretaps intercepted by Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), said a report in The Daily Beast. The news outlet said that in one regiment, Russian soldiers were pouring sand in the fuel systems of the tanks to clog them.

The report in The Daily Beast is based on a Facebook video posted by a Ukraine Government handle. This is an audio clip in which two men can be heard conversing in Russian.&nbsp;

“I don't follow stupid orders, I simply refuse,” one fighter can be heard telling a comrade. “The motherf****r sent me to tanks, motherf*cking piece of shit. I f***ed it up and that's it.” The Daily Beast has quoted these soldiers.

Watch | Russia-Ukraine crisis: What happened on February 24 in Kyiv? 
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There are reports of Russian forces in Ukraine being low on morale. Russian President Vladimir Putin's plan has been to capture Kyiv. But Russian invasion of Ukraine which commenced on February 24 has not yielded such a result so far.

Barring Mariupol, Russia has not been able to gain control of a single major Ukrainian city though it has carried out airstrikes and artillery attacks on several cities including Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-new-150mn-weapons-package-us-president-joe-biden-to-send-counter-artillery-radar-others-to-ukraine-476979">In new $150mn weapons package, US President Joe Biden to send counter-artillery radar, others to Ukraine</a>

There has been a steady trickle of western help to Ukraine. On Friday, (May 7) US President Joe Biden signed a USD 150 million weapons package for Ukraine.

This package will help Ukraine fight off Russian invasion by giving it access to additional artillery munitions, radar and other equipment. It is the latest in the series of transfers.&nbsp;

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Russian troops in Ukraine are sabotaging own military vehicles and tanks in order to avoid fighting in war as per wiretaps intercepted by Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), said a report in The Daily Beast.

Russian troops in Ukraine are sabotaging own military vehicles and tanks in order to avoid fighting in war as per wiretaps intercepted by Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), said a report in The Daily Beast. The news outlet said that in one regiment, Russian soldiers were pouring sand in the fuel systems of the tanks to clog them. The report in The Daily Beast is based on a Facebook video posted by a Ukraine Government handle. This is an audio clip in which two men can be heard conversing in Russian. “I don't follow stupid orders, I simply refuse,” one fighter can be heard telling a comrade. “The motherf****r sent me to tanks, motherf*cking piece of shit. I f***ed it up and that's it.” The Daily Beast has quoted these soldiers. Watch | Russia-Ukraine crisis: What happened on February 24 in Kyiv? × There are reports of Russian forces in Ukraine being low on morale. Russian President Vladimir Putin's plan has been to capture Kyiv. But Russian invasion of Ukraine which commenced on February 24 has not yielded such a result so far. Barring Mariupol, Russia has not been able to gain control of a single major Ukrainian city though it has carried out airstrikes and artillery attacks on several cities including Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Also Read | In new $150mn weapons package, US President Joe Biden to send counter-artillery radar, others to Ukraine There has been a steady trickle of western help to Ukraine. On Friday, (May 7) US President Joe Biden signed a USD 150 million weapons package for Ukraine. This package will help Ukraine fight off Russian invasion by giving it access to additional artillery munitions, radar and other equipment. It is the latest in the series of transfers. Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Ukraine: Intercepted conversation reveals Russian soldiers sabotaging own tanks: Report

The White House has said that the United States is confident in addressing Sweden, and Finland's security concerns after they apply for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

Both countries fear they could be vulnerable to attacks by Russia following its invasion of its neighbour Ukraine.

According to White House spokesperson Jen Psaki, "We are confident that we could find ways to address any concerns either country may have about the period of time between a NATO membership application and the formal accession to the alliance."

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Russia has threatened both Sweden and Finland that will face adverse consequences if they choose to become a part of NATO.

But it decides to attack them nonetheless, the two militarily non-aligned countries do not have enough capability to defeat it and are thus leaning towards NATO as its article 5 clearly states that an attack on one member is an attack on all members.

Even if the Nordic neighbours both decide to join NATO, the approval process can take up to a year as all 30 members need to ratify any membership bid.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/to-rebuild-ukraine-win-war-against-russia-zelensky-launches-a-crowdfunding-platform-476590" hreflang="en">To rebuild Ukraine, win war against Russia, Zelensky launches a crowdfunding platform</a>

In an effort to assure both the countries, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told Swedish public television SVT, "We must remember that from the moment Sweden potentially applies, and NATO says that it wants Sweden to join, there is a very strong NATO obligation to guarantee Sweden's security."

"We have several ways of doing that, among other things with a heightened presence of NATO and NATO forces around Sweden and the Baltic Sea," he added.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde both have met officials from the US to obtain "security assurances."

(With inputs from agencies)

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The White House has said that the United States is confident in addressing Sweden, and Finland's security concerns after they apply for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

The White House has said that the United States is confident in addressing Sweden, and Finland's security concerns after they apply for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Both countries fear they could be vulnerable to attacks by Russia following its invasion of its neighbour Ukraine. According to White House spokesperson Jen Psaki, "We are confident that we could find ways to address any concerns either country may have about the period of time between a NATO membership application and the formal accession to the alliance." Russia has threatened both Sweden and Finland that will face adverse consequences if they choose to become a part of NATO. But it decides to attack them nonetheless, the two militarily non-aligned countries do not have enough capability to defeat it and are thus leaning towards NATO as its article 5 clearly states that an attack on one member is an attack on all members. Even if the Nordic neighbours both decide to join NATO, the approval process can take up to a year as all 30 members need to ratify any membership bid. Also read | To rebuild Ukraine, win war against Russia, Zelensky launches a crowdfunding platform In an effort to assure both the countries, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told Swedish public television SVT, "We must remember that from the moment Sweden potentially applies, and NATO says that it wants Sweden to join, there is a very strong NATO obligation to guarantee Sweden's security." "We have several ways of doing that, among other things with a heightened presence of NATO and NATO forces around Sweden and the Baltic Sea," he added. Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde both have met officials from the US to obtain "security assurances." (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION.

US expresses confidence in addressing Sweden, Finland's security concerns over NATO application

Russian President Vladimir Putin apologised for remarks made by his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov concerning Hitler and Jews during a phone discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett earlier this week, according to a statement from Bennett's office.

The two leaders talked over the phone on Thursday, after which an Israeli statement said Putin had apologised.

The Thursday statement said, "The Prime Minister accepted President Putin's apology for Lavrov's remarks and thanked him for clarifying the President's attitude towards the Jewish people and the memory of the Holocaust."&nbsp;

However, there was no mention of an apology in the Russian statement following the call.&nbsp;

Instead, they emphasised the importance of commemorating the Nazi defeat in World War II, which Russia commemorates on Monday, according to the statement.

After Lavrov attempted to justify Moscow's stated goal of "de-Nazifying" Ukraine — a baseless portrayal of the country, which is led by a Jewish president — by claiming Adolf Hitler had "Jewish blood" and that "the most ardent anti-Semites are usually Jews," a bitter war of words erupted between the two countries.

Following that, Israel's foreign ministry summoned Russia's envoy for discussions.&nbsp;

Bennett termed the claims "false," while Yair Lapid, Israel's foreign minister, called them "unforgivable and obscene."

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Russian President Vladimir Putin apologised for remarks made by his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov concerning Hitler and Jews during a phone discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett earlier this week, according to a statement from Bennett's office.

Russian President Vladimir Putin apologised for remarks made by his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov concerning Hitler and Jews during a phone discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett earlier this week, according to a statement from Bennett's office. The two leaders talked over the phone on Thursday, after which an Israeli statement said Putin had apologised. The Thursday statement said, "The Prime Minister accepted President Putin's apology for Lavrov's remarks and thanked him for clarifying the President's attitude towards the Jewish people and the memory of the Holocaust." However, there was no mention of an apology in the Russian statement following the call. Instead, they emphasised the importance of commemorating the Nazi defeat in World War II, which Russia commemorates on Monday, according to the statement. After Lavrov attempted to justify Moscow's stated goal of "de-Nazifying" Ukraine — a baseless portrayal of the country, which is led by a Jewish president — by claiming Adolf Hitler had "Jewish blood" and that "the most ardent anti-Semites are usually Jews," a bitter war of words erupted between the two countries. Following that, Israel's foreign ministry summoned Russia's envoy for discussions. Bennett termed the claims "false," while Yair Lapid, Israel's foreign minister, called them "unforgivable and obscene." WATCH WION LIVE HERE Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION.

Russian President apologises for Lavrov’s Hitler remarks, Israel’s PM says

A senior official of the United States has said that Russia is planning to annex the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine.

Earlier, Lunhansk's governor Serhiy Haidai had said that Russian forces were constantly shelling all the Ukrainian-controlled cities in the region.

The US ambassador to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Michael Carpenter said that "According to the most recent reports, we believe that Russia will try to annex the 'Donetsk People's Republic' and 'Lugansk People's Republic' to Russia."

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During a press conference in Washington, he told reporters, "The reports state that Russia plans to engineer referenda upon joining sometime in mid-May."

Kherson, where Moscow has recently solidified its control and imposed use of its ruble currency, is another region of great interest for Moscow is also on its hit list as per the US.

"We think the reports are highly credible. Unfortunately, we have been more right than wrong in exposing what we believe may be coming next, and so that is part of what we're trying to do here."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/donetsk-and-lugansk-ukraines-breakaway-republics-455307">Also see |&nbsp;Donetsk and Lugansk: Ukraine's breakaway republics</a>

The Crimea peninsula in Ukraine was annexed by Russia when Kyiv's Moscow-friendly president was driven from office by mass protests in February 2014.

Highlighting the need to act with a sense of urgency, Carpenter said "Such sham referenda, fabricated votes, will not be considered legitimate, nor will any attempts to annex additional Ukrainian territory."

Ukraine's deputy agriculture minister Taras Vysotsky said “Today, there are confirmed facts that several hundred thousand tons of grain in total were taken out of the Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions.”&nbsp;

Tensions have heightened in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the independence of Moscow-backed rebel regions.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A senior official of the United States has said that Russia is planning to annex the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine. Earlier, Lunhansk's governor Serhiy Haidai had said that Russian forces were constantly shelling all the Ukrainian-controlled cities in the region.

A senior official of the United States has said that Russia is planning to annex the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine. Earlier, Lunhansk's governor Serhiy Haidai had said that Russian forces were constantly shelling all the Ukrainian-controlled cities in the region. The US ambassador to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Michael Carpenter said that "According to the most recent reports, we believe that Russia will try to annex the 'Donetsk People's Republic' and 'Lugansk People's Republic' to Russia." During a press conference in Washington, he told reporters, "The reports state that Russia plans to engineer referenda upon joining sometime in mid-May." Kherson, where Moscow has recently solidified its control and imposed use of its ruble currency, is another region of great interest for Moscow is also on its hit list as per the US. "We think the reports are highly credible. Unfortunately, we have been more right than wrong in exposing what we believe may be coming next, and so that is part of what we're trying to do here." Also see | Donetsk and Lugansk: Ukraine's breakaway republics The Crimea peninsula in Ukraine was annexed by Russia when Kyiv's Moscow-friendly president was driven from office by mass protests in February 2014. Highlighting the need to act with a sense of urgency, Carpenter said "Such sham referenda, fabricated votes, will not be considered legitimate, nor will any attempts to annex additional Ukrainian territory." Ukraine's deputy agriculture minister Taras Vysotsky said “Today, there are confirmed facts that several hundred thousand tons of grain in total were taken out of the Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions.” Tensions have heightened in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the independence of Moscow-backed rebel regions. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

'Sense of urgency': US says Russia is planning to annex Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk regions

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.&nbsp;

Israel on Monday slammed the comments made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that hinted that Nazi leader Adolf Hitler had Jewish roots.

The Russian ambassador to Israel has been summoned by Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid for "a tough talk".

Lapid told the YNet news website, "It is an unforgivable, scandalous statement, a terrible historical mistake, and we expect an apology."

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Foreign Minister Lavrov’s remarks are both an unforgivable and outrageous statement as well as a terrible historical error. Jews did not murder themselves in the Holocaust. The lowest level of racism against Jews is to accuse Jews themselves of antisemitism.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has called its attack on Ukraine a ''special military operation'' to ''demilitarise'' and ''denazify'' its neighbour as Kyiv's President Volodymyr Zelensky.&nbsp;

Calling Lavrov's remarks "an insult and a severe blow to the victims of the real Nazism," Dani Dayan, chairman of Yad Vashem, Israel's memorial to the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust, said he was spreading "an antisemitic conspiracy theory with no basis in fact".

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Lavrov told an Italian interpreter "When they say 'What sort of nazification is this if we are Jews', well I think that Hitler also had Jewish origins, so it means nothing."

"For a long time now we've been hearing the wise Jewish people say that the biggest anti-Semites are the Jews themselves," he added.

Foreign relations experts believe that the remarks can trigger a steep decline in the ties between the two countries at a time when Israel has sought to stake out a neutral position between Russia and Ukraine.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russias-foreign-minister-says-may-9-not-a-relevant-date-for-ukraine-operations-475612" hreflang="en">Russia's foreign minister says May 9 not a relevant date for Ukraine operations</a>

As Russia continues to attack Ukraine, nazism has featured prominently in its war aims with Putin trying to portray the battle as a struggle with Nazis in Ukraine.

Condemning Lavrov's remarks, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted “By trying to rewrite history, Moscow is simply looking for arguments to justify the mass murders of Ukrainians.”

The Soviet Union, which helped in defeating Nazi Germany, lost approximately 27 million people during World War II. It later became a linchpin of Russia's identity, with Moscow trying to portray itself as a savior against evil forces.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Israel on Monday slammed the comments made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that hinted that Nazi leader Adolf Hitler had Jewish roots. The Russian ambassador to Israel has been summoned by Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid for "a tough talk". Lapid told the YNet news website, "It is an unforgivable, scandalous statement, a terrible historical mistake, and we expect an apology." Foreign Minister Lavrov’s remarks are both an unforgivable and outrageous statement as well as a terrible historical error. Jews did not murder themselves in the Holocaust. The lowest level of racism against Jews is to accuse Jews themselves of antisemitism. — יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid🟠 (@yairlapid) May 2, 2022 × Russian President Vladimir Putin has called its attack on Ukraine a ''special military operation'' to ''demilitarise'' and ''denazify'' its neighbour as Kyiv's President Volodymyr Zelensky. Calling Lavrov's remarks "an insult and a severe blow to the victims of the real Nazism," Dani Dayan, chairman of Yad Vashem, Israel's memorial to the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust, said he was spreading "an antisemitic conspiracy theory with no basis in fact". Lavrov told an Italian interpreter "When they say 'What sort of nazification is this if we are Jews', well I think that Hitler also had Jewish origins, so it means nothing." "For a long time now we've been hearing the wise Jewish people say that the biggest anti-Semites are the Jews themselves," he added. Foreign relations experts believe that the remarks can trigger a steep decline in the ties between the two countries at a time when Israel has sought to stake out a neutral position between Russia and Ukraine. Also read | Russia's foreign minister says May 9 not a relevant date for Ukraine operations As Russia continues to attack Ukraine, nazism has featured prominently in its war aims with Putin trying to portray the battle as a struggle with Nazis in Ukraine. Condemning Lavrov's remarks, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted “By trying to rewrite history, Moscow is simply looking for arguments to justify the mass murders of Ukrainians.” The Soviet Union, which helped in defeating Nazi Germany, lost approximately 27 million people during World War II. It later became a linchpin of Russia's identity, with Moscow trying to portray itself as a savior against evil forces. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

Israel slams Russian foreign minister Lavrov's remark that Hitler had Jewish roots

The prices of Japan's beloved 'soba' noodles have been increased for the first time in 10 years due to Ukraine's invasion.

Ukraine, also known as the “breadbasket of the world,” is unable to export its products to Europe, Africa, and Asia that relies on the vast, fertile farmlands of the Black Sea region.

'Soba' or buckwheat noodles are seen as one of the most quintessential Japanese foods as they are inexpensive and are believed to bring in good luck.

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The world's largest producer of buckwheat is Russia and the procurement of the imports from the country have been hampered due to instability and shipping disruptions.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has resulted in a surge in prices of food commodities like grains and vegetable oils reached their highest levels ever last month leading to an increase in global inflation.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-real-wasabi-is-considered-green-gold-in-japans-sushi-restaurants-350547">Also read |&nbsp;Why real wasabi is considered ‘green gold’ in Japan’s sushi restaurants</a>

Ryu Ishihara, who sells soba noodles in Japan, told news agency Reuters, "The (buckwheat) suppliers did all they could but this time the situation is so bad there's no way to avoid raising prices. There are items I'll have to raise by 10 to 15 percent."&nbsp;

Soba, which is healthy due to its low-calorie count and nutritious vitamin and mineral content, is famous as a cheap meal served cold or hot.

Available with add-ons like tempura and sets with rice, its price currently ranges from 290 yen (2.30 USD) up to 500 yen (3.90 USD).

According to the Japan Soba Association, Japan produced only 42 per cent of its buckwheat needs in 2020 despite its iconic status.

The country's Agriculture Ministry said that although it had been filling the gap with imports from Russia it won't be able to continue the practice after Japan imposed sanctions on Russia.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The prices of Japan's beloved 'soba' noodles have been increased for the first time in 10 years due to Ukraine's invasion. Ukraine, also known as the “breadbasket of the world,” is unable to export its products to Europe, Africa, and Asia that relies on the vast, fertile farmlands of the Black Sea region.

The prices of Japan's beloved 'soba' noodles have been increased for the first time in 10 years due to Ukraine's invasion. Ukraine, also known as the “breadbasket of the world,” is unable to export its products to Europe, Africa, and Asia that relies on the vast, fertile farmlands of the Black Sea region. 'Soba' or buckwheat noodles are seen as one of the most quintessential Japanese foods as they are inexpensive and are believed to bring in good luck. The world's largest producer of buckwheat is Russia and the procurement of the imports from the country have been hampered due to instability and shipping disruptions. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has resulted in a surge in prices of food commodities like grains and vegetable oils reached their highest levels ever last month leading to an increase in global inflation. Also read | Why real wasabi is considered ‘green gold’ in Japan’s sushi restaurants Ryu Ishihara, who sells soba noodles in Japan, told news agency Reuters, "The (buckwheat) suppliers did all they could but this time the situation is so bad there's no way to avoid raising prices. There are items I'll have to raise by 10 to 15 percent." Soba, which is healthy due to its low-calorie count and nutritious vitamin and mineral content, is famous as a cheap meal served cold or hot. Available with add-ons like tempura and sets with rice, its price currently ranges from 290 yen (2.30 USD) up to 500 yen (3.90 USD). According to the Japan Soba Association, Japan produced only 42 per cent of its buckwheat needs in 2020 despite its iconic status. The country's Agriculture Ministry said that although it had been filling the gap with imports from Russia it won't be able to continue the practice after Japan imposed sanctions on Russia. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

Prices of Japan's beloved 'soba' noodles rise for the first time in 10 years due to Ukraine's invasion

Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday (May 1) asked China to provide security guarantees against Russia.

In a lengthy interview, he told Xinhua news agency that "Ukraine is currently studying the possibility of acquiring security guarantees from permanent members of the UN Security Council, including China, and other major powers."&nbsp;

"We propose that China becomes one of the guarantors of Ukraine's security, this is a sign of our respect and trust in the People's Republic of China," Kuleba was quoted as saying by Chinese state media.

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China is the only country in the world that has not condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine despite facing pressure from the West.

Instead, it has repeatedly blamed the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) for provoking Russia to attack Ukraine.

Accusing Russia of compromising Beijing's signature Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, Kuleba said "We also believe that this war is not in China's interests."&nbsp;

Defending Kyiv's stance against Russian troops, he added "The situation is not escalating because of Ukraine, we are exercising our right to defend ourselves."&nbsp;

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/serbia-shows-off-new-chinese-missiles-in-display-of-military-power-amid-concerns-in-balkans-475242">'Display of military power': Serbia shows off new Chinese missiles amid concerns in Balkans</a>

Kuleba said that Russian President Vladimir Putin's recklessness will adversely impact China's economy as the West might restrict its access to the US and European markets for helping Moscow.

In reference to a similar United Nations security resolution on non-nuclear states, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman last month suggested that such "security assurances have clear limitations on the content and are triggered under specific conditions."

The ties between China and Russia have warmed since Chinese President Xi Jinping took power in 2013 with trade between the two countries rising to $146.9 billion last year.

However, defence experts that their interests can conflict despite sharing resentment of Washington as Putin is uneasy about the growing Chinese economic presence in Central Asia and Russia’s Far East.

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Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday (May 1) asked China to provide security guarantees against Russia. In a lengthy interview, he told Xinhua news agency that "Ukraine is currently studying the possibility of acquiring security guarantees from permanent members of the UN Security Council, including China, and other major powers.

Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday (May 1) asked China to provide security guarantees against Russia. In a lengthy interview, he told Xinhua news agency that "Ukraine is currently studying the possibility of acquiring security guarantees from permanent members of the UN Security Council, including China, and other major powers." "We propose that China becomes one of the guarantors of Ukraine's security, this is a sign of our respect and trust in the People's Republic of China," Kuleba was quoted as saying by Chinese state media. China is the only country in the world that has not condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine despite facing pressure from the West. Instead, it has repeatedly blamed the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) for provoking Russia to attack Ukraine. Accusing Russia of compromising Beijing's signature Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, Kuleba said "We also believe that this war is not in China's interests." Defending Kyiv's stance against Russian troops, he added "The situation is not escalating because of Ukraine, we are exercising our right to defend ourselves." Also see | 'Display of military power': Serbia shows off new Chinese missiles amid concerns in Balkans Kuleba said that Russian President Vladimir Putin's recklessness will adversely impact China's economy as the West might restrict its access to the US and European markets for helping Moscow. In reference to a similar United Nations security resolution on non-nuclear states, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman last month suggested that such "security assurances have clear limitations on the content and are triggered under specific conditions." The ties between China and Russia have warmed since Chinese President Xi Jinping took power in 2013 with trade between the two countries rising to $146.9 billion last year. However, defence experts that their interests can conflict despite sharing resentment of Washington as Putin is uneasy about the growing Chinese economic presence in Central Asia and Russia’s Far East. Watch WION's live TV:

'Sign of respect': Kuleba asks China to provide security guarantees for Ukraine

China on Friday (April 29) accused the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) of messing up in Europe and stirring conflicts.

Earlier, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss had warned that's China failure to play by global rules would cut short its rise as a superpower and said the West should ensure that Taiwan can defend itself.

During a speech at Mansion House in London, she said, "Countries must play by the rules and that includes China."

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After her speech, spokesman for China’s ministry of foreign affairs, Wang Wenbin said that NATO has “wantonly waged wars and dropped bombs in sovereign states, killing and displacing innocent civilians.”

“NATO, a military organisation in the North Atlantic, has in recent years come to the Asia-Pacific region to throw its weight around and stir up conflicts,” Wang said.

“Nato has messed up Europe. Is it now trying to mess up the Asia-Pacific and even the world?”

The United Kingdom, dwarfed economically and militarily by China, is the world's sixth-largest economy.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-is-redrawing-blocs-energy-map-to-overcome-its-reliance-on-russia-474904">EU is redrawing bloc's energy map to overcome its reliance on Russia</a>

Adding that China's further rise was not inevitable, Truss said "They will not continue to rise if they do not play by the rules. China needs trade with the G7. We (the Group of Seven) represent around half of the global economy. And we have choices," she said.

"We have shown with Russia the kind of choices that we're prepared to make when international rules are violated."

Defending China's stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Wenbin said “We have always made independent judgments based on the merits of the case.”

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has also asked China to persuade Russia to help end the war in Ukraine.

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"We need to pre-empt threats in the Indo-Pacific, working with allies like Japan and Australia to ensure that the Pacific is protected," Truss said.

"We must ensure that democracies like Taiwan are able to defend themselves," she added.

The West has expressed concerns that China can take advantage of the Ukraine crisis to invade Taiwan, which it claims is a part of the country.

(With inputs from agencies)

China on Friday (April 29) accused the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) of messing up in Europe and stirring conflicts. Earlier, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss had warned that's China failure to play by global rules would cut short its rise as a superpower and said the West should ensure that Taiwan can defend itself.

China on Friday (April 29) accused the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) of messing up in Europe and stirring conflicts. Earlier, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss had warned that's China failure to play by global rules would cut short its rise as a superpower and said the West should ensure that Taiwan can defend itself. During a speech at Mansion House in London, she said, "Countries must play by the rules and that includes China." After her speech, spokesman for China’s ministry of foreign affairs, Wang Wenbin said that NATO has “wantonly waged wars and dropped bombs in sovereign states, killing and displacing innocent civilians.” “NATO, a military organisation in the North Atlantic, has in recent years come to the Asia-Pacific region to throw its weight around and stir up conflicts,” Wang said. “Nato has messed up Europe. Is it now trying to mess up the Asia-Pacific and even the world?” The United Kingdom, dwarfed economically and militarily by China, is the world's sixth-largest economy. Also read | EU is redrawing bloc's energy map to overcome its reliance on Russia Adding that China's further rise was not inevitable, Truss said "They will not continue to rise if they do not play by the rules. China needs trade with the G7. We (the Group of Seven) represent around half of the global economy. And we have choices," she said. "We have shown with Russia the kind of choices that we're prepared to make when international rules are violated." Defending China's stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Wenbin said “We have always made independent judgments based on the merits of the case.” US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has also asked China to persuade Russia to help end the war in Ukraine. WATCH WION LIVE HERE "We need to pre-empt threats in the Indo-Pacific, working with allies like Japan and Australia to ensure that the Pacific is protected," Truss said. "We must ensure that democracies like Taiwan are able to defend themselves," she added. The West has expressed concerns that China can take advantage of the Ukraine crisis to invade Taiwan, which it claims is a part of the country. (With inputs from agencies)

China accuses NATO of messing up Europe, stirring conflicts

A new pipeline, installed in northern Greece, will reduce the European Union's heavy reliance on Russia for natural gas.

The pipeline, near Komotini town, is due to start commercial operation in June and was built during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier, the mountainous Greek-Bulgaria border was remote but now the pipeline will ensure that large volumes of gas will flow between the two countries in both directions to generate electricity, fuel industry, and heat homes.

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Energy expert and research fellow at the Brussels-based think tank Bruegel, Simone Tagliapietra told Reuters news agency that “It’s a new world and it’s clear that Russia doesn’t want to be part of an international order as we think of it.”

“The strategy, particularly by Germany, over the last 50 years was always one of engaging with Russia on energy. ... But given what we are seeing in Ukraine and given Russia’s view of international relations, it’s not the kind of country with which we would like to do business,” he added.

Antonis Mitzalis, executive director of the Greek contractor AVAX that oversaw the project, said the pipeline, which is worth $250 million, will carry 3 billion cubic metres of gas per year.

Russian gas giant Gazprom had refused to provide services to Poland and Bulgaria after they refused the pay Moscow in roubles.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-vows-coordinated-response-russias-gas-stoppage-474265">Also read |&nbsp;European Union vows 'coordinated response' against Russia's gas stoppage</a>

The West has imposed restrictions and sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine without any provocation.

Highlighting the new pipeline's supply chain issues, Mitzalis said, “We had a sequence in mind but the fact that some materials did not arrive made us rework that sequence, sometimes with a cost effect,”

After Russia's decision to stop providing oil to two European countries, EU chief Ursula Von Der Leyen had vowed a ''coordinated and planned'' response.

She had called Russia's move ''unjustified'' and slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin for ''blackmailing'' the bloc.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told his Bulgarian counterpart, Kiril Petkov, “Bulgaria and Greece will continue to work together for energy security and diversification — of strategic importance for both countries and the region.”&nbsp;

“We both are confident for the successful completion of the IGB on time,” Mitsotakis added referring the new pipeline which is officially called the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria.

According to data from Eurostat, the EU statistics agency, Bulgaria imported thirty times less gas from Russia in comparison to Germany in 2020.

(With inputs from agencies)

A new pipeline, installed in northern Greece, will reduce the European Union's heavy reliance on Russia for natural gas. The pipeline, near Komotini town, is due to start commercial operation in June and was built during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A new pipeline, installed in northern Greece, will reduce the European Union's heavy reliance on Russia for natural gas. The pipeline, near Komotini town, is due to start commercial operation in June and was built during the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier, the mountainous Greek-Bulgaria border was remote but now the pipeline will ensure that large volumes of gas will flow between the two countries in both directions to generate electricity, fuel industry, and heat homes. Energy expert and research fellow at the Brussels-based think tank Bruegel, Simone Tagliapietra told Reuters news agency that “It’s a new world and it’s clear that Russia doesn’t want to be part of an international order as we think of it.” “The strategy, particularly by Germany, over the last 50 years was always one of engaging with Russia on energy. ... But given what we are seeing in Ukraine and given Russia’s view of international relations, it’s not the kind of country with which we would like to do business,” he added. Antonis Mitzalis, executive director of the Greek contractor AVAX that oversaw the project, said the pipeline, which is worth $250 million, will carry 3 billion cubic metres of gas per year. Russian gas giant Gazprom had refused to provide services to Poland and Bulgaria after they refused the pay Moscow in roubles. Also read | European Union vows 'coordinated response' against Russia's gas stoppage The West has imposed restrictions and sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine without any provocation. Highlighting the new pipeline's supply chain issues, Mitzalis said, “We had a sequence in mind but the fact that some materials did not arrive made us rework that sequence, sometimes with a cost effect,” After Russia's decision to stop providing oil to two European countries, EU chief Ursula Von Der Leyen had vowed a ''coordinated and planned'' response. She had called Russia's move ''unjustified'' and slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin for ''blackmailing'' the bloc. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told his Bulgarian counterpart, Kiril Petkov, “Bulgaria and Greece will continue to work together for energy security and diversification — of strategic importance for both countries and the region.” “We both are confident for the successful completion of the IGB on time,” Mitsotakis added referring the new pipeline which is officially called the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria. According to data from Eurostat, the EU statistics agency, Bulgaria imported thirty times less gas from Russia in comparison to Germany in 2020. (With inputs from agencies)

European Union is redrawing bloc's energy map to overcome its reliance on Russia

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, on Wednesday (April 27) vowed that the bloc will give Russia a ''coordinated response'' after it blocked gas supply to its members Poland and Bulgaria.

Calling Russian gas giant Gazprom's announcement "unjustified and unacceptable", Leyen said it was ''yet another attempt by Russia to use gas as an instrument of blackmail.''

However, Gazprom said it made the decision after Poland and Bulgaria failed to make their payments for gas in roubles.

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According to Von der Leyen, “Member States have put in place contingency plans for just such a scenario and we worked with them in coordination and solidarity.”

“We are mapping out our coordinated EU response. We will also continue working with international partners to secure alternative flows,” she told the news agency Reuters.

Officials of the EU are holding emergency talks after Russia's abrupt decision to turn off supplies to the nations of the bloc.

Defence experts have called the move Russia's toughest response yet to the sanctions imposed on Moscow due its invasion of Ukraine.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-accuses-russia-of-trying-to-destabilise-separatist-region-in-moldova-474159" hreflang="en">Ukraine accuses Russia of trying to destabilise separatist region in Moldova</a>

“Alternative supplies are available, and Bulgaria hopes that alternative routes and supplies will also be secured at EU level,” said Energy Minister Alexander Nikolov.

“As long as I am Minister, Bulgaria will not negotiate under pressure, Bulgaria is not for sale and does not succumb to any trade counterpart,” Nikolov added.

Meanwhile, the executive director of the Paris-based International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol tweeted that Russia's decision is a “weaponisation of energy supplies”.

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Russia is Europe's largest supplier of natural gas and petroleum oils but the bloc has been trying to boycott it after Moscow's ''special military operation'' in Ukraine.

The bloc is trying to find an alternative for it as currently it gas storage is only 32 per cent but it wants to fill it 80 per cent by November.

(With inputs from agencies)

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, on Wednesday (April 27) vowed that the bloc will give Russia a ''coordinated response'' after it blocked gas supply to its members Poland and Bulgaria.

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, on Wednesday (April 27) vowed that the bloc will give Russia a ''coordinated response'' after it blocked gas supply to its members Poland and Bulgaria. Calling Russian gas giant Gazprom's announcement "unjustified and unacceptable", Leyen said it was ''yet another attempt by Russia to use gas as an instrument of blackmail.'' However, Gazprom said it made the decision after Poland and Bulgaria failed to make their payments for gas in roubles. According to Von der Leyen, “Member States have put in place contingency plans for just such a scenario and we worked with them in coordination and solidarity.” “We are mapping out our coordinated EU response. We will also continue working with international partners to secure alternative flows,” she told the news agency Reuters. Officials of the EU are holding emergency talks after Russia's abrupt decision to turn off supplies to the nations of the bloc. Defence experts have called the move Russia's toughest response yet to the sanctions imposed on Moscow due its invasion of Ukraine. Also read | Ukraine accuses Russia of trying to destabilise separatist region in Moldova “Alternative supplies are available, and Bulgaria hopes that alternative routes and supplies will also be secured at EU level,” said Energy Minister Alexander Nikolov. “As long as I am Minister, Bulgaria will not negotiate under pressure, Bulgaria is not for sale and does not succumb to any trade counterpart,” Nikolov added. Meanwhile, the executive director of the Paris-based International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol tweeted that Russia's decision is a “weaponisation of energy supplies”. Watch WION's live TV here: Russia is Europe's largest supplier of natural gas and petroleum oils but the bloc has been trying to boycott it after Moscow's ''special military operation'' in Ukraine. The bloc is trying to find an alternative for it as currently it gas storage is only 32 per cent but it wants to fill it 80 per cent by November. (With inputs from agencies)

European Union vows 'coordinated response' against Russia's gas stoppage

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos, and videos.&nbsp;

Striking crucial infrastructure, Russia on Monday (April 25) attacked the railway and fuel facilities in eastern Ukraine.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had used a Ukrainian train to visit President Volodymyr Zelensky.&nbsp;

According to Blinken, “The strategy that we’ve put in place, massive support for Ukraine, massive pressure against Russia, solidarity with more than 30 countries engaged in these efforts,&nbsp;is having real results.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Saw the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people firsthand during my visit to Kyiv with <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a> Austin. During our meeting with President <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZelenskyyUA</a>, we reaffirmed our unwavering support for Ukraine as it withstands Russian aggression.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecBlinken/status/1518519031384453120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Russian forces have attempted to break through Ukraine's defences by continuing their attack on towns including Rubizhne, Popasna, Sievierodonetsk, Maryinka, and Avdiivka.

The Ukrainian army believes that they are attempting to advance from the town of Izyum towards Barvinkove and Sloviansk.

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The United Kingdom had previously praised the significant breakthrough made by the Ukrainian forces against Russia.

The country's defence's ministry said in a statement, ''Russia from 14:00 Moscow time (1100 GMT) on April 25, 2022, will unilaterally stop any hostilities, withdraw units to a safe distance and ensure the withdrawal of" civilians.''

However, after a few hours Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vershchuk said, "Unfortunately, there are no agreements on humanitarian corridors from Azovstal today."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-terms-of-russias-war-aims-moscow-has-already-failed-says-blinken-473640">In terms of Russia's war aims, Moscow has already failed, says Blinken</a>

He added: "It is important to understand that the humanitarian corridor is opened by agreement of both parties. The corridor announced unilaterally does not provide security, and therefore, in fact, is not a humanitarian corridor."&nbsp;

Britain's defence ministry said Ukrainian troops were holed up in a steel plant located in Mariupol after unabated attacks by the Russian troops.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has entered the third month after Moscow attacked Kyiv on February 24.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has slammed the United States for trying to “split Russian society and to destroy Russia from within.”

“We want to see Ukraine remain a sovereign country, a democratic country able to protect its sovereign territory, we want to see Russia weakened to the point where it can’t do things like invading Ukraine,” said Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos, and videos. Striking crucial infrastructure, Russia on Monday (April 25) attacked the railway and fuel facilities in eastern Ukraine. Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had used a Ukrainian train to visit President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to Blinken, “The strategy that we’ve put in place, massive support for Ukraine, massive pressure against Russia, solidarity with more than 30 countries engaged in these efforts, is having real results.” Saw the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people firsthand during my visit to Kyiv with @SecDef Austin. During our meeting with President @ZelenskyyUA, we reaffirmed our unwavering support for Ukraine as it withstands Russian aggression. — Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) April 25, 2022 × Russian forces have attempted to break through Ukraine's defences by continuing their attack on towns including Rubizhne, Popasna, Sievierodonetsk, Maryinka, and Avdiivka. The Ukrainian army believes that they are attempting to advance from the town of Izyum towards Barvinkove and Sloviansk. The United Kingdom had previously praised the significant breakthrough made by the Ukrainian forces against Russia. The country's defence's ministry said in a statement, ''Russia from 14:00 Moscow time (1100 GMT) on April 25, 2022, will unilaterally stop any hostilities, withdraw units to a safe distance and ensure the withdrawal of" civilians.'' However, after a few hours Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vershchuk said, "Unfortunately, there are no agreements on humanitarian corridors from Azovstal today." Also read | In terms of Russia's war aims, Moscow has already failed, says Blinken He added: "It is important to understand that the humanitarian corridor is opened by agreement of both parties. The corridor announced unilaterally does not provide security, and therefore, in fact, is not a humanitarian corridor." Britain's defence ministry said Ukrainian troops were holed up in a steel plant located in Mariupol after unabated attacks by the Russian troops. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has entered the third month after Moscow attacked Kyiv on February 24. Russian President Vladimir Putin has slammed the United States for trying to “split Russian society and to destroy Russia from within.” “We want to see Ukraine remain a sovereign country, a democratic country able to protect its sovereign territory, we want to see Russia weakened to the point where it can’t do things like invading Ukraine,” said Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia unleashes string of attacks against Ukraine's rail, fuel facilities

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos, and videos.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday (April 23) said that Russia has designs to capture other countries.

In a video address, he said, ''Russia's invasion of Ukraine was intended only as a beginning.''

"All the nations that, like us, believe in the victory of life over death must fight with us. They must help us, because we are the first in line. And who will come next?"

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It comes after a Russian general warned that Moscow will not stop its ''special military operation'' till it gains complete control over southern Ukraine.

According to Major General Rustam Minnekaev, "One of the tasks of the Russian army is to establish full control over the Donbas and southern Ukraine."&nbsp;

Minnekaev is the deputy commander of Russia's central military district. He believes that control over Souther Ukraine will give Russia access to Transnistria.

Transnistria is a Russian-occupied part of Moldova in the west and control over it could cut off Ukraine's entire coastline.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/can-fly-16000-miles-in-one-hour-how-deadly-is-russias-nuke-capable-satan-2-sarmat-missile-472592">Strike any target on earth at 16,000 miles/hour? How deadly is Russia's nuke-capable 'Satan 2' Sarmat missile?</a>

Earlier, President of the European Council Charles Michel appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin for humanitarian access to Mariupol.

Michel tweeted, "Strongly urged for immediate humanitarian access and safe passage from Mariupol and other besieged cities all the more on the occasion of Orthodox Easter."

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Discussed with <a href="https://twitter.com/antonioguterres?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@antonioguterres</a> situation in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukraine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ukraine</a> 
 
Debriefed on my visit to 🇺🇦 and call today with President Putin. 
 
Full support for his efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine and push for immediate humanitarian access &amp; safe passage for all those trapped in besieged cities.
— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) <a href="https://twitter.com/eucopresident/status/1517554001138565122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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In response, Putin said, "All servicemen of the Ukrainian armed forces, militants of the national battalions, and foreign mercenaries who laid down their arms are guaranteed life."&nbsp;

"But the Kyiv regime is not allowing for this opportunity to be used," he added.

Governor of Ukraine's eastern region Donetsk, Pavlo Kyrylenko told AFP, "The enemy's offensive operation in the south hinges on Mariupol. The enemy is trying to focus all its efforts on it."

Both Zelensky and Putin will meet United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres next week.

“He hopes to talk about what can be done to bring peace to Ukraine urgently,” said UN spokesperson Eri Kaneko.

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos, and videos. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday (April 23) said that Russia has designs to capture other countries. In a video address, he said, ''Russia's invasion of Ukraine was intended only as a beginning.'' "All the nations that, like us, believe in the victory of life over death must fight with us. They must help us, because we are the first in line. And who will come next?" It comes after a Russian general warned that Moscow will not stop its ''special military operation'' till it gains complete control over southern Ukraine. According to Major General Rustam Minnekaev, "One of the tasks of the Russian army is to establish full control over the Donbas and southern Ukraine." Minnekaev is the deputy commander of Russia's central military district. He believes that control over Souther Ukraine will give Russia access to Transnistria. Transnistria is a Russian-occupied part of Moldova in the west and control over it could cut off Ukraine's entire coastline. Also see | Strike any target on earth at 16,000 miles/hour? How deadly is Russia's nuke-capable 'Satan 2' Sarmat missile? Earlier, President of the European Council Charles Michel appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin for humanitarian access to Mariupol. Michel tweeted, "Strongly urged for immediate humanitarian access and safe passage from Mariupol and other besieged cities all the more on the occasion of Orthodox Easter." Discussed with @antonioguterres situation in #Ukraine Debriefed on my visit to 🇺🇦 and call today with President Putin. Full support for his efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine and push for immediate humanitarian access & safe passage for all those trapped in besieged cities. — Charles Michel (@eucopresident) April 22, 2022 × In response, Putin said, "All servicemen of the Ukrainian armed forces, militants of the national battalions, and foreign mercenaries who laid down their arms are guaranteed life." "But the Kyiv regime is not allowing for this opportunity to be used," he added. Governor of Ukraine's eastern region Donetsk, Pavlo Kyrylenko told AFP, "The enemy's offensive operation in the south hinges on Mariupol. The enemy is trying to focus all its efforts on it." Both Zelensky and Putin will meet United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres next week. “He hopes to talk about what can be done to bring peace to Ukraine urgently,” said UN spokesperson Eri Kaneko. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia has designs to capture other countries after Ukraine, says Zelensky

On the evening of Dec. 9, 2005, 17 days after Gerhard Schröder left office as chancellor of Germany, he got a call on his cellphone. It was his friend President Vladimir Putin of Russia.

Gerhard Schroeder: The former chancellor who became Putin’s man in Germany

Bundesbank on Friday (April 22) warned that the European Union's ban on Russian gas imports will cost Germany almost $1.95 billion.

Germany's most powerful bank said that the Russian gas embargo will plummet the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 5 per cent.

This will lead to a rise in energy prices, increase inflation and trigger one of the deepest recessions in decades.

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Bundesbank said that it is not possible for industrial consumers to replace Russian gas with an alternative for three-quarters of the year.

Christian Lindner, Germany's finance minister, has said that the country is moving ''as fast as possible.''

''We are willing to stop all energy imports from Russia, it's just a matter of time,'' he said.

''In the end, we don't want to have any further business with Putin,'' he told BBC.

''We have to be patient,'' he added after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticised Germany's energy payments to Russia by calling them ''blood money.''

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-satellite-images-show-200-new-graves-in-ukraines-mariupol-472830" hreflang="en">Russia-Ukraine war: 200 new graves found in Mariupol, claims mayor as satellite pictures emerge</a>

Germany's Social Democratic Party slammed Chancellor Olaf Scholz for being too lenient with Russia.

It accused him of dragging his feet on deliveries of heavy weapons to Ukraine and asked to take tougher action against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In response, Scholz said in an interview with German weekly Spiegel, "distorted and slanderous depiction" annoys him adding that the potential to send arms to Ukraine from the stocks of the Bundeswehr had been "largely exhausted."

According to him, the centre-left Social Democrats were "bound into the Western and transatlantic alliance".

"What is still available will absolutely still be delivered." He was referring to artillery munitions and anti-tank weapons.

Meanwhile,&nbsp;Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said, "There are no taboos for us with regard to armoured vehicles and other weaponry that Ukraine needs."

(With inputs from agencies)

Bundesbank on Friday (April 22) warned that the European Union's ban on Russian gas imports will cost Germany almost $1.95 billion. Germany's most powerful bank said that the Russian gas embargo will plummet the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 5 per cent.

Bundesbank on Friday (April 22) warned that the European Union's ban on Russian gas imports will cost Germany almost $1.95 billion. Germany's most powerful bank said that the Russian gas embargo will plummet the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 5 per cent. This will lead to a rise in energy prices, increase inflation and trigger one of the deepest recessions in decades. Bundesbank said that it is not possible for industrial consumers to replace Russian gas with an alternative for three-quarters of the year. Christian Lindner, Germany's finance minister, has said that the country is moving ''as fast as possible.'' ''We are willing to stop all energy imports from Russia, it's just a matter of time,'' he said. ''In the end, we don't want to have any further business with Putin,'' he told BBC. ''We have to be patient,'' he added after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticised Germany's energy payments to Russia by calling them ''blood money.'' Also read | Russia-Ukraine war: 200 new graves found in Mariupol, claims mayor as satellite pictures emerge Germany's Social Democratic Party slammed Chancellor Olaf Scholz for being too lenient with Russia. It accused him of dragging his feet on deliveries of heavy weapons to Ukraine and asked to take tougher action against Russian President Vladimir Putin. In response, Scholz said in an interview with German weekly Spiegel, "distorted and slanderous depiction" annoys him adding that the potential to send arms to Ukraine from the stocks of the Bundeswehr had been "largely exhausted." According to him, the centre-left Social Democrats were "bound into the Western and transatlantic alliance". "What is still available will absolutely still be delivered." He was referring to artillery munitions and anti-tank weapons. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said, "There are no taboos for us with regard to armoured vehicles and other weaponry that Ukraine needs." (With inputs from agencies)

Russian gas embargo will cost Germany almost $190 billion, says Bundesbank

Russia’s central bank chief warned Monday that the consequences of Western sanctions were only beginning to be felt, and Moscow’s mayor warned that 200,000 jobs were at risk in the Russian capital alone, stark acknowledgments that undermined President Vladimir Putin’s contention that sanctions had failed to destabilize the Russian economy.

The diverging assessments showed how the effect of the West’s sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and their ability to weaken Putin’s grip on power — remains uncertain nearly two months into the war.

Although experts say Russia faces an economic time bomb as its inventory of imported goods and parts runs low, Putin is using the fact that the Russian economy has not yet collapsed to bolster his contention that sanctions will not deter him.

Western sanctions, Putin said Monday in a televised videoconference with senior officials, were meant to “rapidly undermine the financial and economic situation in our country, provoke panic in the markets, the collapse of the banking system and a large-scale shortage of goods in stores.

“But we can already confidently say that this policy toward Russia has failed. The strategy of an economic blitzkrieg has failed.”

Putin was, in part, addressing a domestic audience, seeking to reassure Russians who have had to endure worries about cash shortages, a battered stock market and the shuttering of popular Western retailers such as Ikea.

Putin said he was prepared to increase government spending to stimulate the economy, an indication that continued revenues from energy exports are giving the Kremlin the flexibility to soften the blow of sanctions.

Aggressive capital controls imposed by the central bank have helped the ruble recover from its crash in the days after the invasion. And there are few reports of major layoffs or of extensive food shortages in grocery stores.

But contrary to Putin’s optimism, two senior officials cautioned Monday that the real economic pain was yet to come. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced a $40 million program to help people laid off by foreign companies find temporary employment and new jobs; according to his office’s estimates, he said, “around 200,000 people are at risk of losing their jobs” in the city of 13 million.

And in an appearance at the lower house of parliament, Elvia Nabiullina, chair of the Russian Central Bank, gave a more far-reaching, negative assessment. She told lawmakers that although the sanctions’ effect had largely been on the financial markets at first, they “will now begin to increasingly affect the real sectors of the economy.”

For example, she said, “practically every product” manufactured in Russia relies on imported components. Factories, for now, may still have them in stock. But because of new Western export restrictions, Russian companies will be forced to shift their supply chains or start making their own components.

“At the moment, perhaps this problem is not yet so strongly felt, because there are still reserves in the economy, but we see that sanctions are being tightened almost every day,” she said. “But the period during which the economy can live on reserves is finite.”

Nabiullina, an internationally respected central banker who reportedly tried to resign in the days after the war, said about half of the central bank’s $600 billion foreign currency and gold reserves remained frozen because of sanctions. Those reserves that the bank still controlled, she said, were mainly gold and yuan — of little use in trying to stabilize the ruble — forcing the bank to resort to capital controls such as limiting how much foreign currency can be taken out of the country.

In his televised videoconference later in the day with Nabiullina and several other officials, Putin acknowledged that the Russian economy did face some problems, including inflation. He said he had already directed the pensions and salaries of state employees — part of Putin’s political base — to be adjusted for inflation and indicated he supported greater government spending to stimulate the economy.

“The budget should actively support the economy, saturate the economy with financial resources and maintain its liquidity,” Putin said. “There are opportunities for this. Of course, we need to act carefully.”

Russia’s central bank chief warned Monday that the consequences of Western sanctions were only beginning to be felt, and Moscow’s mayor warned that 200,000 jobs were at risk in the Russian capital alone, stark acknowledgments that undermined President Vladimir Putin’s contention that sanctions had failed to destabilize the Russian economy.

Russia’s central bank chief warned Monday that the consequences of Western sanctions were only beginning to be felt, and Moscow’s mayor warned that 200,000 jobs were at risk in the Russian capital alone, stark acknowledgments that undermined President Vladimir Putin’s contention that sanctions had failed to destabilize the Russian economy. The diverging assessments showed how the effect of the West’s sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and their ability to weaken Putin’s grip on power — remains uncertain nearly two months into the war. Although experts say Russia faces an economic time bomb as its inventory of imported goods and parts runs low, Putin is using the fact that the Russian economy has not yet collapsed to bolster his contention that sanctions will not deter him. Western sanctions, Putin said Monday in a televised videoconference with senior officials, were meant to “rapidly undermine the financial and economic situation in our country, provoke panic in the markets, the collapse of the banking system and a large-scale shortage of goods in stores. “But we can already confidently say that this policy toward Russia has failed. The strategy of an economic blitzkrieg has failed.” Putin was, in part, addressing a domestic audience, seeking to reassure Russians who have had to endure worries about cash shortages, a battered stock market and the shuttering of popular Western retailers such as Ikea. Putin said he was prepared to increase government spending to stimulate the economy, an indication that continued revenues from energy exports are giving the Kremlin the flexibility to soften the blow of sanctions. Aggressive capital controls imposed by the central bank have helped the ruble recover from its crash in the days after the invasion. And there are few reports of major layoffs or of extensive food shortages in grocery stores. But contrary to Putin’s optimism, two senior officials cautioned Monday that the real economic pain was yet to come. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced a $40 million program to help people laid off by foreign companies find temporary employment and new jobs; according to his office’s estimates, he said, “around 200,000 people are at risk of losing their jobs” in the city of 13 million. And in an appearance at the lower house of parliament, Elvia Nabiullina, chair of the Russian Central Bank, gave a more far-reaching, negative assessment. She told lawmakers that although the sanctions’ effect had largely been on the financial markets at first, they “will now begin to increasingly affect the real sectors of the economy.” For example, she said, “practically every product” manufactured in Russia relies on imported components. Factories, for now, may still have them in stock. But because of new Western export restrictions, Russian companies will be forced to shift their supply chains or start making their own components. “At the moment, perhaps this problem is not yet so strongly felt, because there are still reserves in the economy, but we see that sanctions are being tightened almost every day,” she said. “But the period during which the economy can live on reserves is finite.” Nabiullina, an internationally respected central banker who reportedly tried to resign in the days after the war, said about half of the central bank’s $600 billion foreign currency and gold reserves remained frozen because of sanctions. Those reserves that the bank still controlled, she said, were mainly gold and yuan — of little use in trying to stabilize the ruble — forcing the bank to resort to capital controls such as limiting how much foreign currency can be taken out of the country. In his televised videoconference later in the day with Nabiullina and several other officials, Putin acknowledged that the Russian economy did face some problems, including inflation. He said he had already directed the pensions and salaries of state employees — part of Putin’s political base — to be adjusted for inflation and indicated he supported greater government spending to stimulate the economy. “The budget should actively support the economy, saturate the economy with financial resources and maintain its liquidity,” Putin said. “There are opportunities for this. Of course, we need to act carefully.”

Bleak assessments of the Russian economy clash with Putin’s rosy claims

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos, and videos.&nbsp;

Maria Zakharova, the director of the information and press department of Russia's foreign affairs ministry, on Saturday, told broadcaster RT that ''Germany closely coordinated its work on biological security with its US allies.''

She added that according to confirmed reports, the US established a network of at least 30 biological laboratories in Ukraine.

It comes after Western countries accused Russia of spreading wild conspiracy theories without any solid evidence.

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💬 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Zakharova?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Zakharova</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/RT_com?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RT_com</a>: According to confirmed reports, 🇩🇪 Germany closely coordinated its work on biological security with its US allies, who established a network of at least ☣️ 30 biological laboratories in Ukraine. 
 
🔗 <a href="https://t.co/Gn4jHOm2yA">https://t.co/Gn4jHOm2yA</a> <a href="https://t.co/X8Z6bLo1Z6">pic.twitter.com/X8Z6bLo1Z6</a>
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) <a href="https://twitter.com/mfa_russia/status/1515271074652504069?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2022</a></blockquote>
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A similar claim was made by Vassily Nebenzia, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations who said that America is using its weapons research in Ukraine to conduct biological warfare.

"Experiments were being conducted to study this spread of dangerous diseases using active parasites such as lice and fleas," he said.

In response, British ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward had said, "Let me put it diplomatically: they are utter nonsense. There is not a shred of credible evidence that Ukraine has a biological weapons programme."

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The United States had said that Russian President Vladimir Putin's government was spreading the unproven claim as a prelude to potentially launching its own biological or chemical assault.

"Russia has a track record of falsely accusing other countries of the very violations that Russia itself is perpetrating," said the United States' envoy to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

"This is work that has been done proudly, clearly, and out in the open. This work has everything to do with protecting the health of people. It has absolutely nothing to do with biological weapons," she added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-russian-state-tv-says-moscow-has-entered-world-war-3-against-nato-471291" hreflang="en">Watch | Russian state TV says Moscow has entered World War 3 against NATO</a>

Previously, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had said, "The Americans carried out this work in complete secrecy. Just like how they work in other former Soviet states, creating their military-biological labs right along Russia's borders."

According to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, "The stuff which you are hearing about chemical weapons is straight out of the Russian playbook."

"They start saying that there are chemical weapons that are being stored by their opponents or by the Americans, so that when they themselves deploy chemical weapons, as I fear they may, they have a fake story ready to go," Johnson said.

"You have seen it in Syria, you saw it even in the UK. It is a cynical, barbaric government I'm afraid."

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos, and videos. Maria Zakharova, the director of the information and press department of Russia's foreign affairs ministry, on Saturday, told broadcaster RT that ''Germany closely coordinated its work on biological security with its US allies.'' She added that according to confirmed reports, the US established a network of at least 30 biological laboratories in Ukraine. It comes after Western countries accused Russia of spreading wild conspiracy theories without any solid evidence. 💬 #Zakharova to @RT_com: According to confirmed reports, 🇩🇪 Germany closely coordinated its work on biological security with its US allies, who established a network of at least ☣️ 30 biological laboratories in Ukraine. 🔗 https://t.co/Gn4jHOm2yA pic.twitter.com/X8Z6bLo1Z6 — MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) April 16, 2022 × A similar claim was made by Vassily Nebenzia, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations who said that America is using its weapons research in Ukraine to conduct biological warfare. "Experiments were being conducted to study this spread of dangerous diseases using active parasites such as lice and fleas," he said. In response, British ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward had said, "Let me put it diplomatically: they are utter nonsense. There is not a shred of credible evidence that Ukraine has a biological weapons programme." The United States had said that Russian President Vladimir Putin's government was spreading the unproven claim as a prelude to potentially launching its own biological or chemical assault. "Russia has a track record of falsely accusing other countries of the very violations that Russia itself is perpetrating," said the United States' envoy to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield. "This is work that has been done proudly, clearly, and out in the open. This work has everything to do with protecting the health of people. It has absolutely nothing to do with biological weapons," she added. Also read | Watch | Russian state TV says Moscow has entered World War 3 against NATO Previously, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had said, "The Americans carried out this work in complete secrecy. Just like how they work in other former Soviet states, creating their military-biological labs right along Russia's borders." According to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, "The stuff which you are hearing about chemical weapons is straight out of the Russian playbook." "They start saying that there are chemical weapons that are being stored by their opponents or by the Americans, so that when they themselves deploy chemical weapons, as I fear they may, they have a fake story ready to go," Johnson said. "You have seen it in Syria, you saw it even in the UK. It is a cynical, barbaric government I'm afraid." (With inputs from agencies)

Russia says Germany closely coordinated its work on biological security with its US allies

Syrian fighters who fought against the Islamic State have allegedly signed up to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine.

These include soldiers, former rebels, and experienced fighters from the 5th Division and the Quds Brigade that fought in Syria. Among them is members of the division of Brigadier General Suheil al-Hassan called the ''Tiger Force'' in Syria.

He was praised by Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Syria in 2017. Al-Hassan had played a crucial role in defeating militants in the country's civil war.

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According to Ahmad Hamada, a Syrian army defector, “Russia is preparing for a greater battle.”

A Ukrainian diplomat told the news agency Reuters, "We are asking the Turkish side to monitor what they are bringing from Syria to Russia."

Almost 40,000 people from Syria have registered for combat training in Russia as per the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/city-still-has-not-fallen-mariupol-may-be-a-red-line-in-talks-says-ukraine-471755" hreflang="en">'City still has not fallen': Mariupol may be a red line in talks, says Ukraine</a>

Its head Rami Abdurrahman said, “The Russians are looking for experienced fighters. They don’t want anyone who was not trained by the Russians.”

Kremlin had said that it has also received approximately 16,000 applications from the Middle East.

Alexander Dvarnikov, Putin's newly appointed general overseeing Ukraine, had also commanded Russia's military in Syria.

US-based think thank Institute for the Study of War stated in its latest report, “Any change in the posture of Russian forces or pro-regime militias creates security gaps that anti-regime actors including Turkey, ISIS, al-Qaida, and Syrian opposition groups can exploit.”

(With inputs from agencies)

Syrian fighters who fought against the Islamic State have allegedly signed up to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine. These include soldiers, former rebels, and experienced fighters from the 5th Division and the Quds Brigade that fought in Syria.

Syrian fighters who fought against the Islamic State have allegedly signed up to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine. These include soldiers, former rebels, and experienced fighters from the 5th Division and the Quds Brigade that fought in Syria. Among them is members of the division of Brigadier General Suheil al-Hassan called the ''Tiger Force'' in Syria. He was praised by Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Syria in 2017. Al-Hassan had played a crucial role in defeating militants in the country's civil war. According to Ahmad Hamada, a Syrian army defector, “Russia is preparing for a greater battle.” A Ukrainian diplomat told the news agency Reuters, "We are asking the Turkish side to monitor what they are bringing from Syria to Russia." Almost 40,000 people from Syria have registered for combat training in Russia as per the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Also read | 'City still has not fallen': Mariupol may be a red line in talks, says Ukraine Its head Rami Abdurrahman said, “The Russians are looking for experienced fighters. They don’t want anyone who was not trained by the Russians.” Kremlin had said that it has also received approximately 16,000 applications from the Middle East. Alexander Dvarnikov, Putin's newly appointed general overseeing Ukraine, had also commanded Russia's military in Syria. US-based think thank Institute for the Study of War stated in its latest report, “Any change in the posture of Russian forces or pro-regime militias creates security gaps that anti-regime actors including Turkey, ISIS, al-Qaida, and Syrian opposition groups can exploit.” (With inputs from agencies)

Syrian fighters who fought against Islamic State sign up to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine: Report

Manchester City star Oleksandr Zinchenko has once again spoken about the horrific scenes in his country Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing military invasion. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has left millions displaced and thousands dead as Ukrainians around the globe continue to watch in horror.

Zinchenko, who has been quite vocal in Russia's criticism amid Vladimir Putin's military aggression, opened up on the misery of fellow Ukrainians back home.&nbsp;The Manchester City defender lashed out at those denying the reality of the situation in his country and revealed horrifying details of the Russian military's brutality in Ukraine.

In an interview with the Guardian, Zinchenko said Russians have raped Ukrainian women, killed children and the dead bodies of many continue to lie on the streets in the country amid the ongoing invasion. The Man City star also claimed that Russians haven't even spared dogs in Ukraine and ate them during the war.

“It’s a nightmare. A shock to the whole world, the things they have done there. Terrible, scary things. They killed our civilians. They killed our children. They raped our women and girls. They killed our dogs and even ate them. I cannot even begin to describe how I feel about them," Zinchenko told the Guardian.

“I hate them so much, for everything they have done to the Ukrainian people and Ukraine. I hate the people in Russia who are trying to convince others that this is propaganda. It’s embarrassing. How can they say this?

"People send me the real pictures, the real facts. The bodies of our dead civilians were lying on the ground for two weeks. They have to take responsibility for this," he added.

Zinchenko slams ex-teammates at Russian club FC UFA

Zinchenko, who had signed from Manchester City in 2016, was playing for Russian Premier League club FC Ufa before heading to the English Premier League. He had spent two seasons with FC Ufa where he played alongside a number of Russian players. Lashing out at his ex-teammates from Russia, the left-back slammed them for not standing up against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Stating that remaining silent means they are supporting what's happening in Ukraine, Zinchenko expressed his angst at his former teammates for not using their influence in stopping the war. Zinchenko said footballers in Russia could have done a lot had they decided to come together and speak up against the violence being inflicted in Ukraine.

“I have friends over there, a small circle, but now it has reduced almost to nothing. I’m so disappointed. The guys I know called me as soon as the invasion happened, texted me: ‘I’m so sorry Alex, but we can’t do anything.’ Of course you can. If you stay silent it means you support what is happening in Ukraine right now, and I can’t see why they would," said Zinchenko.

"Maybe they are scared because we see pictures on social media of Russians being taken to prison if they protest. But look at footballers in particular or anyone with a massive audience.

"Can you believe that, if all of them posted something on Instagram at the same time saying: ‘Guys, we are against the war, we need to stop it,’ they would all be arrested? Of course they would not. It’s such a shame that they say nothing," he added.

Manchester City star Oleksandr Zinchenko has once again spoken about the horrific scenes in his country Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing military invasion. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has left millions displaced and thousands dead as Ukrainians around the globe continue to watch in horror.

Manchester City star Oleksandr Zinchenko has once again spoken about the horrific scenes in his country Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing military invasion. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has left millions displaced and thousands dead as Ukrainians around the globe continue to watch in horror. Zinchenko, who has been quite vocal in Russia's criticism amid Vladimir Putin's military aggression, opened up on the misery of fellow Ukrainians back home. The Manchester City defender lashed out at those denying the reality of the situation in his country and revealed horrifying details of the Russian military's brutality in Ukraine. In an interview with the Guardian, Zinchenko said Russians have raped Ukrainian women, killed children and the dead bodies of many continue to lie on the streets in the country amid the ongoing invasion. The Man City star also claimed that Russians haven't even spared dogs in Ukraine and ate them during the war. “It’s a nightmare. A shock to the whole world, the things they have done there. Terrible, scary things. They killed our civilians. They killed our children. They raped our women and girls. They killed our dogs and even ate them. I cannot even begin to describe how I feel about them," Zinchenko told the Guardian. “I hate them so much, for everything they have done to the Ukrainian people and Ukraine. I hate the people in Russia who are trying to convince others that this is propaganda. It’s embarrassing. How can they say this? "People send me the real pictures, the real facts. The bodies of our dead civilians were lying on the ground for two weeks. They have to take responsibility for this," he added. Zinchenko slams ex-teammates at Russian club FC UFA Zinchenko, who had signed from Manchester City in 2016, was playing for Russian Premier League club FC Ufa before heading to the English Premier League. He had spent two seasons with FC Ufa where he played alongside a number of Russian players. Lashing out at his ex-teammates from Russia, the left-back slammed them for not standing up against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Stating that remaining silent means they are supporting what's happening in Ukraine, Zinchenko expressed his angst at his former teammates for not using their influence in stopping the war. Zinchenko said footballers in Russia could have done a lot had they decided to come together and speak up against the violence being inflicted in Ukraine. “I have friends over there, a small circle, but now it has reduced almost to nothing. I’m so disappointed. The guys I know called me as soon as the invasion happened, texted me: ‘I’m so sorry Alex, but we can’t do anything.’ Of course you can. If you stay silent it means you support what is happening in Ukraine right now, and I can’t see why they would," said Zinchenko. "Maybe they are scared because we see pictures on social media of Russians being taken to prison if they protest. But look at footballers in particular or anyone with a massive audience. "Can you believe that, if all of them posted something on Instagram at the same time saying: ‘Guys, we are against the war, we need to stop it,’ they would all be arrested? Of course they would not. It’s such a shame that they say nothing," he added.

'They raped our women, killed children': Man City's Zinchenko calls Russia's invasion of Ukraine a 'nightmare'

A Russian artist called Alexandra Skochilenko has been accused of spreading ''fake news'' after she replaced grocery price tags with anti-war slogans.

Amnesty International says she faces up to 10 years in prison for protesting against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

She had provided information regarding the Mariupol art school bombing in Perekryostok supermarket on March 31 which is being deemed as "political hatred for Russia."

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/zelensky-we-will-end-negotiations-if-our-troops-are-harmed-471580/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Skochilenko also condemned ''Russian forces' special operation'' saying "I don't support the war in Ukraine. I came out on the street today to say so loudly." She wrote this in a post on her Instagram account.

According to investigators she has been accused of "putting fragments of paper in place of price tags, containing knowingly false information about the use of the Russian armed forces."&nbsp;

A massive fine of 10,000 rubles ($121) has been imposed on the independent artist and musician for participating in an anti-war protest that condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-sets-sunday-deadline-for-ukraine-troops-to-surrender-in-mariupol-471528" hreflang="en">Russia sets Sunday deadline for Ukraine troops to surrender in Mariupol</a>

Skochilenko belongs to a small town in the northwestern city of Saint Petersburg. A local court has called her a ''flight risk'' as she does not have an officially registered address.

She allegedly made the hand gesture of a peace sign and smiled inside the cage for defendants in the courtroom.

Skochilenko has frequently shared images saying "violence is never the way out" on her social media accounts.

She designed a series of postcards and painted images of peace symbols along with the Ukrainian flag.

Several Russian activists have raised concerns regarding her health online as she suffers from celiac disease. It is an immune reaction to the consumption of wheat, rye, and barley.

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We need your help ❤️ This is our friend Sasha Skochilenko. She is facing 10 years in prison. Her crime? Replacing supermarket price labels with anti-war appeals and information on Russian attacks on civilians in Ukraine. <a href="https://t.co/0DfGVgLM8f">pic.twitter.com/0DfGVgLM8f</a>
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This is Sasha Skochilenko. She’s facing 10 yrs in prison for replacing supermarket price labels with information on Russian attacks on civilians in Mariupol, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukraine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ukraine</a>, accused of spreading ‘false information’. Sasha doesn’t deny leaving the tags, but insists it’s all true <a href="https://t.co/8gc5FhOzBd">pic.twitter.com/8gc5FhOzBd</a>
— Sarah Rainsford (@sarahrainsford) <a href="https://twitter.com/sarahrainsford/status/1514547016877101065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Our friend and ex-colleague Sasha Skochilenko is facing from 5 to 10 years in prison because of the new law prohibiting "fake news about Russian military". Now she is under arrest until the end of spring which is life-threatening given her medical condition (celiac disease). 1/4 <a href="https://t.co/JS2g81pJ9n">pic.twitter.com/JS2g81pJ9n</a>
— Victoria Vziatysheva (@victoria_vzt) <a href="https://twitter.com/victoria_vzt/status/1514521052273168387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
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In a similar incident, a 59-year-old doctor called Andrei Makedonov and Tatiana Popova were detained in Russia.

While Makedonov had participated in a protest, Popova had hung "no to war" slogans on toys in a supermarket.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A Russian artist called Alexandra Skochilenko has been accused of spreading ''fake news'' after she replaced grocery price tags with anti-war slogans. Amnesty International says she faces up to 10 years in prison for protesting against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

A Russian artist called Alexandra Skochilenko has been accused of spreading ''fake news'' after she replaced grocery price tags with anti-war slogans. Amnesty International says she faces up to 10 years in prison for protesting against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. She had provided information regarding the Mariupol art school bombing in Perekryostok supermarket on March 31 which is being deemed as "political hatred for Russia." Skochilenko also condemned ''Russian forces' special operation'' saying "I don't support the war in Ukraine. I came out on the street today to say so loudly." She wrote this in a post on her Instagram account. According to investigators she has been accused of "putting fragments of paper in place of price tags, containing knowingly false information about the use of the Russian armed forces." A massive fine of 10,000 rubles ($121) has been imposed on the independent artist and musician for participating in an anti-war protest that condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin. Also read | Russia sets Sunday deadline for Ukraine troops to surrender in Mariupol Skochilenko belongs to a small town in the northwestern city of Saint Petersburg. A local court has called her a ''flight risk'' as she does not have an officially registered address. She allegedly made the hand gesture of a peace sign and smiled inside the cage for defendants in the courtroom. Skochilenko has frequently shared images saying "violence is never the way out" on her social media accounts. She designed a series of postcards and painted images of peace symbols along with the Ukrainian flag. Several Russian activists have raised concerns regarding her health online as she suffers from celiac disease. It is an immune reaction to the consumption of wheat, rye, and barley. We need your help ❤️ This is our friend Sasha Skochilenko. She is facing 10 years in prison. Her crime? Replacing supermarket price labels with anti-war appeals and information on Russian attacks on civilians in Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/0DfGVgLM8f — Soviet Visuals (@sovietvisuals) April 15, 2022 × This is Sasha Skochilenko. She’s facing 10 yrs in prison for replacing supermarket price labels with information on Russian attacks on civilians in Mariupol, #Ukraine, accused of spreading ‘false information’. Sasha doesn’t deny leaving the tags, but insists it’s all true pic.twitter.com/8gc5FhOzBd — Sarah Rainsford (@sarahrainsford) April 14, 2022 × Our friend and ex-colleague Sasha Skochilenko is facing from 5 to 10 years in prison because of the new law prohibiting "fake news about Russian military". Now she is under arrest until the end of spring which is life-threatening given her medical condition (celiac disease). 1/4 pic.twitter.com/JS2g81pJ9n — Victoria Vziatysheva (@victoria_vzt) April 14, 2022 × In a similar incident, a 59-year-old doctor called Andrei Makedonov and Tatiana Popova were detained in Russia. While Makedonov had participated in a protest, Popova had hung "no to war" slogans on toys in a supermarket. (With inputs from agencies)

Russian artist accused of spreading 'fake news' after replacing grocery price tags with anti-war slogans

Russia on Saturday (April 16) announced a ban on the entry of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson along with some other top British officials.

These include UK Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, former Prime Minister Theresa May, and the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon.&nbsp;

It comes after London had levied economic sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

In order to punish top Russian officials, and allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin the UK had also frozen their assets along with imposing a travel ban on them.

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Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement, "This step was taken as a response to London's unbridled information and political campaign aimed at isolating Russia internationally, creating conditions for restricting our country and strangling the domestic economy."

"The British leadership is deliberately aggravating the situation surrounding Ukraine, pumping the Kyiv regime with lethal weapons and coordinating similar efforts on the behalf of NATO," it added.

Meanwhile, The Times reported that British special forces are training local troops in Kyiv to counter Russian attacks.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-targets-military-factory-in-ukrainian-capital-kyiv-471372" hreflang="en">Russia targets military factory in Ukrainian capital Kyiv</a>

They are instructing the Ukrainian troops on how to use British-supplied anti-tank missiles called Next generation Light Anti-tank Weapons (NLAWs).

They have undergone military training in the last two weeks as per Captain Yuriy Myronenko. His battalion is stationed in Obolon on the outskirts of Kyiv.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the mere imposition of sanctions on Russia is not enough.

“In general, the democratic world must accept that Russia’s money for energy resources is in fact money for the destruction of democracy,” he said.

“The sooner the democratic world recognises that the oil embargo against Russia and the complete blockade of its banking sector are necessary steps towards peace, the sooner the war will end,” he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia on Saturday (April 16) announced a ban on the entry of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson along with some other top British officials. These include UK Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, former Prime Minister Theresa May, and the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon.

Russia on Saturday (April 16) announced a ban on the entry of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson along with some other top British officials. These include UK Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, former Prime Minister Theresa May, and the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon. It comes after London had levied economic sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine on February 24. In order to punish top Russian officials, and allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin the UK had also frozen their assets along with imposing a travel ban on them. Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement, "This step was taken as a response to London's unbridled information and political campaign aimed at isolating Russia internationally, creating conditions for restricting our country and strangling the domestic economy." "The British leadership is deliberately aggravating the situation surrounding Ukraine, pumping the Kyiv regime with lethal weapons and coordinating similar efforts on the behalf of NATO," it added. Meanwhile, The Times reported that British special forces are training local troops in Kyiv to counter Russian attacks. Also read | Russia targets military factory in Ukrainian capital Kyiv They are instructing the Ukrainian troops on how to use British-supplied anti-tank missiles called Next generation Light Anti-tank Weapons (NLAWs). They have undergone military training in the last two weeks as per Captain Yuriy Myronenko. His battalion is stationed in Obolon on the outskirts of Kyiv. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the mere imposition of sanctions on Russia is not enough. “In general, the democratic world must accept that Russia’s money for energy resources is in fact money for the destruction of democracy,” he said. “The sooner the democratic world recognises that the oil embargo against Russia and the complete blockade of its banking sector are necessary steps towards peace, the sooner the war will end,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia announces ban on entry of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos, and videos.&nbsp;

Russian state television on Friday (April 15) said that Moscow has entered World War Three against the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The bold statement was made in regards to Russia's invasion of Ukraine which President Vladimir Putin calls a ''special operation.''

Addressing the viewers of Rossiya 1, presenter Olga Skabeyeva said ''Many people are asking could it not be done more quickly?''

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And here we have it - in a rant seemingly aimed at explaining to viewers why the "special operation in Ukraine" is taking so long, Russian state TV presenter Olga Skabeyeva says her country is fighting World War Three against Nato 
 
I've added subtitles <a href="https://t.co/MQW0UfiQso">pic.twitter.com/MQW0UfiQso</a>
— Francis Scarr (@francska1) <a href="https://twitter.com/francska1/status/1514612770594906117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
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''Everyone would like a conclusive victory. Everyone would like all the objectives set to be implemented.''

''Otherwise, on the whole, it is impossible to accept the special operation which we started,'' she said as per an English translation by 'The Independent'.

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''One can safely say call what it has escalated into World War Three. That's absolutely for sure.''

''Right now, we're definitely against NATO's infrastructure, if not the alliance itself. We need to recognise that,'' she added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/moskva-russian-navys-black-sea-fleet-flagship-has-sunk-defence-ministry-471089" hreflang="en">Moskva, Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet flagship, has sunk: Defence ministry</a>

Her comments came after Ukraine's missile strike destroyed the Soviet-era flagship of Russia's Black Sea fleet.

Earlier, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said ''NATO is a defensive Alliance that is there to defend and to fortify and NATO will not be a threat to anyone that is not attacking NATO.''

''We would not be concerned that the expansion of a defensive alliance would do anything other than promoting stability on the European continent," he added.

Russia has warned NATO that if Sweden and Finland join the group it will further bolster its security.

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos, and videos. Russian state television on Friday (April 15) said that Moscow has entered World War Three against the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The bold statement was made in regards to Russia's invasion of Ukraine which President Vladimir Putin calls a ''special operation.'' Addressing the viewers of Rossiya 1, presenter Olga Skabeyeva said ''Many people are asking could it not be done more quickly?'' And here we have it - in a rant seemingly aimed at explaining to viewers why the "special operation in Ukraine" is taking so long, Russian state TV presenter Olga Skabeyeva says her country is fighting World War Three against Nato I've added subtitles pic.twitter.com/MQW0UfiQso — Francis Scarr (@francska1) April 14, 2022 × ''Everyone would like a conclusive victory. Everyone would like all the objectives set to be implemented.'' ''Otherwise, on the whole, it is impossible to accept the special operation which we started,'' she said as per an English translation by 'The Independent'. ''One can safely say call what it has escalated into World War Three. That's absolutely for sure.'' ''Right now, we're definitely against NATO's infrastructure, if not the alliance itself. We need to recognise that,'' she added. Also read | Moskva, Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet flagship, has sunk: Defence ministry Her comments came after Ukraine's missile strike destroyed the Soviet-era flagship of Russia's Black Sea fleet. Earlier, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said ''NATO is a defensive Alliance that is there to defend and to fortify and NATO will not be a threat to anyone that is not attacking NATO.'' ''We would not be concerned that the expansion of a defensive alliance would do anything other than promoting stability on the European continent," he added. Russia has warned NATO that if Sweden and Finland join the group it will further bolster its security. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch | Russian state TV says Moscow has entered World War 3 against NATO

US Senator Lindsey Graham has said that China should pay a greater price for backing Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"We are going to start making China pay a greater price for what they are doing all over the world. The support for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin must come with a price," he said during a meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.

Graham is the head of a US delegation that is visiting Taiwan after increased fears that China will use the Ukraine crisis as an excuse to attack Taiwan.

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Honored to be in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Taiwan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Taiwan</a> where freedom reigns. 
 
The courageous people of Taiwan 🇹🇼 are great allies of the United States 🇺🇸 and a beacon of freedom in a troubled region. <a href="https://t.co/MjzLmJ2jJW">https://t.co/MjzLmJ2jJW</a>
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) <a href="https://twitter.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/1514607132015882247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
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China claims that Taiwan is a part of it under its ''one China''policy. But the democratic island has shown resistance.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned countries not to recognise the independence of Taiwan and said that Beijing can seize by force if it is disobeyed.

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Under the 'Taiwan Relations Act', the United States is bound to ''provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive nature'' and ''resist any resort to force or any other forms of coercion that would jeopardise the security of Taiwan.''

"To abandon Taiwan would be to abandon democracy and freedom... it would reward the worst in humanity," Graham said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-effect-now-taiwan-releases-handbook-on-civil-defence-amid-china-threat-470434">Also read |&nbsp;Ukraine effect? Now, Taiwan releases handbook on civil defence amid China threat</a>

"Those who wish Taiwan ill must understand that the global community will look at that and say we cannot allow Taiwan to be negatively impacted because the world's interests are involved."&nbsp;

"We have a strong military not to take other people's properties but to protect our freedom and the freedom of the world," he added.

Meanwhile, China conducted military drills around Taiwan saying "This operation is in response to the recent frequent release of wrong signals by the United States on the Taiwan issue."

"The US bad actions and tricks are completely futile and very dangerous. Those who play with fire will burn themselves," it added. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

US Senator Lindsey Graham has said that China should pay a greater price for backing Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "We are going to start making China pay a greater price for what they are doing all over the world.

US Senator Lindsey Graham has said that China should pay a greater price for backing Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "We are going to start making China pay a greater price for what they are doing all over the world. The support for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin must come with a price," he said during a meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen. Graham is the head of a US delegation that is visiting Taiwan after increased fears that China will use the Ukraine crisis as an excuse to attack Taiwan. Honored to be in #Taiwan where freedom reigns. The courageous people of Taiwan 🇹🇼 are great allies of the United States 🇺🇸 and a beacon of freedom in a troubled region. https://t.co/MjzLmJ2jJW — Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 14, 2022 × China claims that Taiwan is a part of it under its ''one China''policy. But the democratic island has shown resistance. Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned countries not to recognise the independence of Taiwan and said that Beijing can seize by force if it is disobeyed. Under the 'Taiwan Relations Act', the United States is bound to ''provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive nature'' and ''resist any resort to force or any other forms of coercion that would jeopardise the security of Taiwan.'' "To abandon Taiwan would be to abandon democracy and freedom... it would reward the worst in humanity," Graham said. Also read | Ukraine effect? Now, Taiwan releases handbook on civil defence amid China threat "Those who wish Taiwan ill must understand that the global community will look at that and say we cannot allow Taiwan to be negatively impacted because the world's interests are involved." "We have a strong military not to take other people's properties but to protect our freedom and the freedom of the world," he added. Meanwhile, China conducted military drills around Taiwan saying "This operation is in response to the recent frequent release of wrong signals by the United States on the Taiwan issue." "The US bad actions and tricks are completely futile and very dangerous. Those who play with fire will burn themselves," it added. (With inputs from agencies)

US Senator Lindsey Graham says China should pay greater price for backing Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Russia's Ukraine invasion has sparked concerns in Finland. The Nordic country is preparing for a possible conflict with Russia. Its citizens are learning how to use a gun. the government is stockpiling essentials. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Finland prepares for a potential war with Russia

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer held "direct, open and tough" talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin near Moscow. This marks Putin's first meeting with a European Union leader since the Ukraine invasion started.

Austrian leader Karl Nehammer held 'open and tough' talks with Putin

Chancellor Olaf Scholz surprised the world, and his own country, when he responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with a 100 billion euro ($108 billion) plan to arm Germany, send weapons to Ukraine and end his nation’s deep dependence on Russian energy.

It was Germany’s biggest foreign policy shift since the Cold War, what Scholz called a “Zeitenwende” — an epochal change — that won applause for his leadership at home and abroad.

But six weeks later, the applause has largely ceased. Even as images of atrocities emerge from Ukraine since the invasion by President Vladimir Putin of Russia, Scholz has ruled out an immediate oil and gas embargo, saying it would be too costly. He is dragging his feet on sending 100 armored vehicles to Ukraine, saying that Germany must not “rush ahead.” There are new debates in the ruling coalition about just how to go forward with the massive task Scholz has laid out, let alone how fast.

Already doubts are building as to the German government’s commitment to its own radical plans. “Zeitenwende is real, but the country is the same,” said Thomas Bagger, a senior German diplomat who will be the next ambassador to Poland. “Not everyone likes it.”

The changes Scholz announced go far deeper than his commitment to spend 2% of gross domestic product on the military — some 70 billion euros ($76 billion) a year, compared with France’s 41 billion euros ($44 billion).

They go to the heart of Germany’s postwar identity as a peaceful exporting nation — and to the heart of a business model that has enriched Germany and made it Europe’s largest and most powerful economy.

Now Germans are being asked “to rethink everything — our approach to doing business, to energy policy, to defense and to Russia,” said Claudia Major, a defense expert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. “We need a mindset change. We need to recognize that this is about us — that power politics are back and Germany must play a role.”

But she added, “Once again Germany is not leading. It is being dragged.”

Truly reorienting Germans for a new world where security has its real costs — not only in terms potentially of lost lives, but also in lost trade, higher energy prices, slimmer profits and lower economic growth — will be a wrenching endeavor that will take time, even a generation, and more than an afternoon’s policy pronouncement.

That realization is dawning, for Germans and their frustrated European partners.

“I don’t understand how anyone in Germany can sleep at night after seeing horrors like this without doing anything about it,” said Andriy Melnyk, Ukraine’s outspoken ambassador in Berlin, referring to the atrocities in Ukraine. “What does it take for Germany to act?”

Even Annalena Baerbock, the self-assured Green foreign minister, expressed concerns that Zeitenwende may be more temporary than fundamental. She said she worried that the consensus was fragile, that Germans who favor close ties to Russia were silent now but had not changed their views.

“You can feel this,” she said. “They know they have to do it right now with regard to sanctions, energy independence and weapons deliveries, also with regard to how we treat Russia. But actually, they don’t like it.”

Since Scholz put forth his Zeitenwende before a special session of the parliament Feb. 27, multiple cracks in Germany’s commitment to change have already begun to appear.

German celebrities made headlines with an appeal to the government against rearmament and the “180-degree change in German foreign policy” that has so far been signed by 45,000 people. Green lawmakers have lobbied to spend only part of the 100 billion euro ($108 billion) special fund on the military, citing other needs like “human security” and climate change. Labor unions and industry bosses are warning of catastrophic damage to the economy and an immediate recession if Russian gas stops flowing.

As the CEO of German chemicals giant BASF, Michael Heinz, put it last week: “Cheap Russian energy has been the basis of our industry’s competitiveness.”

It has in fact been the basis of the German economy. Now that German businesses are facing the possibility of being asked to do without it, resistance is quietly mounting. Government ministers say they are being asked discreetly by business leaders when things will “go back to normal” — that is, when they can return to business as usual.

Ever since the fall of the Berlin Wall and German reunification, business as usual has largely meant “change through trade” — the conviction that economic interdependency would alter authoritarian governments like Russia and China for the better and help keep the peace. Prosperity and democracy, the thinking went, go hand in hand.

The link to Russia is particularly complicated by a long and complex history of hot and cold war, including guilt over the millions of Russians killed by the Nazis. This reinforced the belief that the security architecture of Europe had to include Russia and take account of Russian interests.

It was a model that paid off nicely for Germany, too.

“We export to China and import cheap gas from Russia; that’s been the recipe for the German export success,” said Ralph Bollmann, a biographer of Angela Merkel, a former German chancellor who is now seen as having protected Germans from a rivalrous world but not preparing them for it.

Few in Germany, including its intelligence services, predicted that Putin would invade a sovereign European country. But the war has set off a cycle of soul-searching, even among prominent politicians like Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a former foreign minister and now federal president.

A senior member of Scholz’s Social Democratic Party, he was a prominent supporter of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, now halted, that bypassed Ukraine and that the United States opposed.

“We were clinging to the idea of building bridges to Russia that our partners warned us about,” Steinmeier said, after Melnyk, the Ukrainian ambassador, accused him of enabling Putin. “We failed to build a common Europe,” Steinmeier said. “We failed to incorporate Russia in our security architecture.” He added: “I was wrong.”

In the immediate aftermath of Scholz’s Zeitenwende speech, the details of which he had shared with only a handful of people, the resolve to act decisively seemed palpable.

The three diverse parties in his coalition swung behind it, and partisan divisions with the conservative opposition were briefly forgotten, too. Public opinion mirrored the shift, rewarding the new chancellor with better popularity ratings.

But in a short time, the breadth of the change Scholz announced seems to have intimidated even his own three-party coalition. “The government has made some courageous decisions, but it can seem afraid of its own courage,” said Jana Puglierin, director of the Berlin office of the European Council on Foreign Relations.

There is skepticism that the political establishment is ready to break fundamentally from Moscow, or that German voters will happily pay so much more for energy and food for the foreseeable future.

“German pacifism runs very deep,” said John Kornblum, a former U.S. ambassador to Germany who has lived in the country on and off since the 1960s. “German illusions may have shattered, but not its traumas about Russia and the war.”

That “neurotic relationship with Russia may be on pause for the moment, but it will return in full force as soon as the shooting stops,” he said.

Nils Schmid, foreign policy spokesperson in parliament for the Social Democrats, said that Germany’s soft stance toward Russia “reflects German society, and what will remain is this idea that Russia is there and part of Europe, and we will have to deal with that.”

The war has produced “dashed hopes” of a peaceful united Europe, shared by his generation of 1989, he said. But he noted that with this war, “there can be no return to business as usual. No one really wants to go back to the old times of engagement with Russia.”

Still, he said, “We shouldn’t overdo it. The balance will shift to more deterrence and less dialogue. But we must keep some dialogue.”

Puglierin has little patience for such arguments. “People need to let these old ideas go and adapt to reality as it is, and not as they want it to be,” she said. “Russia has shown that it does not want a stable relationship on this existing security order, which is now an empty shell.”

A prominent conservative lawmaker, Norbert Röttgen, argued that Germany must make a complete and immediate break with Russia. “War has come back to Europe, one that will affect the political and security order of the continent,” he said.

Germany must also draw on the lessons of its dependency on Russia for its future relationship with the more powerful authoritarian realm of China, on which key sectors of Germany’s export-driven model rely, Röttgen said.

“The real Zeitenwende,” Puglierin said, “will come when we remake our model for a future of competition with both Russia and China and realize that every dependency can be used against us.” 
&nbsp;

Chancellor Olaf Scholz surprised the world, and his own country, when he responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with a 100 billion euro ($108 billion) plan to arm Germany, send weapons to Ukraine and end his nation’s deep dependence on Russian energy.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz surprised the world, and his own country, when he responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with a 100 billion euro ($108 billion) plan to arm Germany, send weapons to Ukraine and end his nation’s deep dependence on Russian energy. It was Germany’s biggest foreign policy shift since the Cold War, what Scholz called a “Zeitenwende” — an epochal change — that won applause for his leadership at home and abroad. But six weeks later, the applause has largely ceased. Even as images of atrocities emerge from Ukraine since the invasion by President Vladimir Putin of Russia, Scholz has ruled out an immediate oil and gas embargo, saying it would be too costly. He is dragging his feet on sending 100 armored vehicles to Ukraine, saying that Germany must not “rush ahead.” There are new debates in the ruling coalition about just how to go forward with the massive task Scholz has laid out, let alone how fast. Already doubts are building as to the German government’s commitment to its own radical plans. “Zeitenwende is real, but the country is the same,” said Thomas Bagger, a senior German diplomat who will be the next ambassador to Poland. “Not everyone likes it.” The changes Scholz announced go far deeper than his commitment to spend 2% of gross domestic product on the military — some 70 billion euros ($76 billion) a year, compared with France’s 41 billion euros ($44 billion). They go to the heart of Germany’s postwar identity as a peaceful exporting nation — and to the heart of a business model that has enriched Germany and made it Europe’s largest and most powerful economy. Now Germans are being asked “to rethink everything — our approach to doing business, to energy policy, to defense and to Russia,” said Claudia Major, a defense expert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. “We need a mindset change. We need to recognize that this is about us — that power politics are back and Germany must play a role.” But she added, “Once again Germany is not leading. It is being dragged.” Truly reorienting Germans for a new world where security has its real costs — not only in terms potentially of lost lives, but also in lost trade, higher energy prices, slimmer profits and lower economic growth — will be a wrenching endeavor that will take time, even a generation, and more than an afternoon’s policy pronouncement. That realization is dawning, for Germans and their frustrated European partners. “I don’t understand how anyone in Germany can sleep at night after seeing horrors like this without doing anything about it,” said Andriy Melnyk, Ukraine’s outspoken ambassador in Berlin, referring to the atrocities in Ukraine. “What does it take for Germany to act?” Even Annalena Baerbock, the self-assured Green foreign minister, expressed concerns that Zeitenwende may be more temporary than fundamental. She said she worried that the consensus was fragile, that Germans who favor close ties to Russia were silent now but had not changed their views. “You can feel this,” she said. “They know they have to do it right now with regard to sanctions, energy independence and weapons deliveries, also with regard to how we treat Russia. But actually, they don’t like it.” Since Scholz put forth his Zeitenwende before a special session of the parliament Feb. 27, multiple cracks in Germany’s commitment to change have already begun to appear. German celebrities made headlines with an appeal to the government against rearmament and the “180-degree change in German foreign policy” that has so far been signed by 45,000 people. Green lawmakers have lobbied to spend only part of the 100 billion euro ($108 billion) special fund on the military, citing other needs like “human security” and climate change. Labor unions and industry bosses are warning of catastrophic damage to the economy and an immediate recession if Russian gas stops flowing. As the CEO of German chemicals giant BASF, Michael Heinz, put it last week: “Cheap Russian energy has been the basis of our industry’s competitiveness.” It has in fact been the basis of the German economy. Now that German businesses are facing the possibility of being asked to do without it, resistance is quietly mounting. Government ministers say they are being asked discreetly by business leaders when things will “go back to normal” — that is, when they can return to business as usual. Ever since the fall of the Berlin Wall and German reunification, business as usual has largely meant “change through trade” — the conviction that economic interdependency would alter authoritarian governments like Russia and China for the better and help keep the peace. Prosperity and democracy, the thinking went, go hand in hand. The link to Russia is particularly complicated by a long and complex history of hot and cold war, including guilt over the millions of Russians killed by the Nazis. This reinforced the belief that the security architecture of Europe had to include Russia and take account of Russian interests. It was a model that paid off nicely for Germany, too. “We export to China and import cheap gas from Russia; that’s been the recipe for the German export success,” said Ralph Bollmann, a biographer of Angela Merkel, a former German chancellor who is now seen as having protected Germans from a rivalrous world but not preparing them for it. Few in Germany, including its intelligence services, predicted that Putin would invade a sovereign European country. But the war has set off a cycle of soul-searching, even among prominent politicians like Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a former foreign minister and now federal president. A senior member of Scholz’s Social Democratic Party, he was a prominent supporter of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, now halted, that bypassed Ukraine and that the United States opposed. “We were clinging to the idea of building bridges to Russia that our partners warned us about,” Steinmeier said, after Melnyk, the Ukrainian ambassador, accused him of enabling Putin. “We failed to build a common Europe,” Steinmeier said. “We failed to incorporate Russia in our security architecture.” He added: “I was wrong.” In the immediate aftermath of Scholz’s Zeitenwende speech, the details of which he had shared with only a handful of people, the resolve to act decisively seemed palpable. The three diverse parties in his coalition swung behind it, and partisan divisions with the conservative opposition were briefly forgotten, too. Public opinion mirrored the shift, rewarding the new chancellor with better popularity ratings. But in a short time, the breadth of the change Scholz announced seems to have intimidated even his own three-party coalition. “The government has made some courageous decisions, but it can seem afraid of its own courage,” said Jana Puglierin, director of the Berlin office of the European Council on Foreign Relations. There is skepticism that the political establishment is ready to break fundamentally from Moscow, or that German voters will happily pay so much more for energy and food for the foreseeable future. “German pacifism runs very deep,” said John Kornblum, a former U.S. ambassador to Germany who has lived in the country on and off since the 1960s. “German illusions may have shattered, but not its traumas about Russia and the war.” That “neurotic relationship with Russia may be on pause for the moment, but it will return in full force as soon as the shooting stops,” he said. Nils Schmid, foreign policy spokesperson in parliament for the Social Democrats, said that Germany’s soft stance toward Russia “reflects German society, and what will remain is this idea that Russia is there and part of Europe, and we will have to deal with that.” The war has produced “dashed hopes” of a peaceful united Europe, shared by his generation of 1989, he said. But he noted that with this war, “there can be no return to business as usual. No one really wants to go back to the old times of engagement with Russia.” Still, he said, “We shouldn’t overdo it. The balance will shift to more deterrence and less dialogue. But we must keep some dialogue.” Puglierin has little patience for such arguments. “People need to let these old ideas go and adapt to reality as it is, and not as they want it to be,” she said. “Russia has shown that it does not want a stable relationship on this existing security order, which is now an empty shell.” A prominent conservative lawmaker, Norbert Röttgen, argued that Germany must make a complete and immediate break with Russia. “War has come back to Europe, one that will affect the political and security order of the continent,” he said. Germany must also draw on the lessons of its dependency on Russia for its future relationship with the more powerful authoritarian realm of China, on which key sectors of Germany’s export-driven model rely, Röttgen said. “The real Zeitenwende,” Puglierin said, “will come when we remake our model for a future of competition with both Russia and China and realize that every dependency can be used against us.”

Ukraine war pushes Germans to change. They are wavering.

Oxfam on Tuesday warned that inflation due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine can push a quarter of a billion people into extreme poverty.

The charitable organisation executive director Gabriela Bucher said, “Without immediate radical action, we could be witnessing the most profound collapse of humanity into extreme poverty and suffering in memory.”&nbsp;

“We reject any notion that governments do not have the money or means to lift all people out of poverty and hunger and ensure their health and welfare. We only see the absence of economic imagination and political will to actually do so.”&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-poised-to-take-mariupol-where-is-military-aid-pledged-by-us-nato-470418/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"There are some very, very big hurdles, but there are many things that can be done very quickly," she added.

Suggesting the cancellation of debt repayment, Oxfam said that over 65 million people are at risk due to Ukraine's invasion.

The charity organisation said additional taxes should be levied on companies benefitting from the war in Ukraine.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sadists-rapists-russian-forces-using-rape-as-punishing-tactic-in-ukraine-un-womens-body-voices-concern-470378" hreflang="en">'Sadists, rapists': Russian forces using rape as punishing tactic in Ukraine, UN women's body voices concern</a>

Calling it a "shrinking window of opportunity" to build a fair world, Oxfam said, "We stand to witness the greatest rise in inequality since the invasion began."

Oxfam asked the G20 to protect the poorest from inflation by providing them subsidies and cutting taxes on goods and services.

It also asked the inter-governmental forum, comprising of 19 countries and the European Union to earmark $100 billion of an existing austerity fund for poor countries to draw on.

Earlier, the World Bank had predicted that 198 million people can be pushed into extreme poverty this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

(With inputs from agencies)

Oxfam on Tuesday warned that inflation due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine can push a quarter of a billion people into extreme poverty. The charitable organisation executive director Gabriela Bucher said, “Without immediate radical action, we could be witnessing the most profound collapse of humanity into extreme poverty and suffering in memory.

Oxfam on Tuesday warned that inflation due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine can push a quarter of a billion people into extreme poverty. The charitable organisation executive director Gabriela Bucher said, “Without immediate radical action, we could be witnessing the most profound collapse of humanity into extreme poverty and suffering in memory.” “We reject any notion that governments do not have the money or means to lift all people out of poverty and hunger and ensure their health and welfare. We only see the absence of economic imagination and political will to actually do so.” "There are some very, very big hurdles, but there are many things that can be done very quickly," she added. Suggesting the cancellation of debt repayment, Oxfam said that over 65 million people are at risk due to Ukraine's invasion. The charity organisation said additional taxes should be levied on companies benefitting from the war in Ukraine. Also read | 'Sadists, rapists': Russian forces using rape as punishing tactic in Ukraine, UN women's body voices concern Calling it a "shrinking window of opportunity" to build a fair world, Oxfam said, "We stand to witness the greatest rise in inequality since the invasion began." Oxfam asked the G20 to protect the poorest from inflation by providing them subsidies and cutting taxes on goods and services. It also asked the inter-governmental forum, comprising of 19 countries and the European Union to earmark $100 billion of an existing austerity fund for poor countries to draw on. Earlier, the World Bank had predicted that 198 million people can be pushed into extreme poverty this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. (With inputs from agencies)

Oxfam warns Russia's invasion of Ukraine can push quarter of a billion people into extreme poverty

As Russian forces step up attacks on critical infrastructure in eastern Ukraine and wage a cataclysmic campaign to gain total control over the southern port city of Mariupol, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine said Monday that Moscow is deploying tens of thousands of soldiers for a renewed assault.

“Russia is preparing another offensive, hoping to break our national resistance after all,” Zelenskyy said. “The occupiers concentrated tens of thousands of soldiers and a huge amount of equipment to try to strike again.”

Ukrainian and Western officials have warned for days that Russian forces, having failed to seize Kyiv and topple the Ukrainian government, were regrouping. Moscow has said its aim is now to seize areas it does not already control in the Donbas, an area in the eastern part of the country, and to solidify its hold on the southern coastal region from Kherson to Mariupol.

Days of aerial attacks against airports, railways and other infrastructure in central and eastern Ukraine critical to the Ukrainian military’s logistical operations have been setting the stage for Russia’s campaign in the Donbas region.

“In my view, this great offensive has already begun,” Vadym Denisenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian interior minister, said on national television Monday.

Since Friday, Russian forces have fired a missile at a train station, killing more than 50 people in the eastern city of Kramatorsk; struck an airport in the central city of Dnipro; and launched more than 60 attacks in and around the eastern city of Kharkiv.

The aerial attacks appear to be having more success than ground forces in gaining territory. Ukraine’s military claimed to have repulsed several assaults by Russian troops moving south from the strategic city of Izyum — currently under Russian control and a key anchor point geographically for any eastern offensive — that resulted in the destruction of Russian tanks, vehicles and artillery equipment. As Russia regroups, it is likely to keep shelling Ukrainian positions and infrastructure to tie up Ukrainian resources.

Ukrainian officials noted that this new offensive is a continuation of an already brutal campaign to pummel the Ukrainian public into submission. Fighting has been raging across eastern Ukraine since the start of the war, decimating towns and cities and forcing millions to flee.

Russia might attempt to surround Ukraine’s forces and defeat some of their best soldiers in the Donbas before engaging in major combat operations to secure the region, according to U.S. defense officials, military analysts and Ukrainian officials.

Whatever the Russian strategy, the Ukrainians have proved their willingness to stand their ground even in the face of overwhelming force.

In Mariupol, outmanned Ukrainian fighters have held out and kept fighting despite being surrounded for weeks under heavy bombardment.

Securing Mariupol could free up Russian forces — both to combat Ukrainian forces seeking to take back territory in Kherson and to assist its forces in the Donbas.

The Russians have now essentially trapped the remaining Ukrainian defense forces in two locations in Mariupol — the main port in the southwest of the city and the Azovstal steel plant in the east, according to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank.

Ukraine’s military said Russian forces, backed by artillery and air support, were attempting to storm their remaining strongholds while Britain’s Ministry of Defense warned Monday that Russia may employ phosphorus gas munitions in Mariupol as fighting intensifies.

White phosphorus munitions are used by militaries around the world to create smoke screens and mark targets. But when used as a weapon, they can indiscriminately rain fire from the sky.

“White phosphorus can burn people to the bone, smolder inside the body, and reignite when bandages are removed,” according to Human Rights Watch.

As Russian forces step up attacks on critical infrastructure in eastern Ukraine and wage a cataclysmic campaign to gain total control over the southern port city of Mariupol, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine said Monday that Moscow is deploying tens of thousands of soldiers for a renewed assault.

As Russian forces step up attacks on critical infrastructure in eastern Ukraine and wage a cataclysmic campaign to gain total control over the southern port city of Mariupol, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine said Monday that Moscow is deploying tens of thousands of soldiers for a renewed assault. “Russia is preparing another offensive, hoping to break our national resistance after all,” Zelenskyy said. “The occupiers concentrated tens of thousands of soldiers and a huge amount of equipment to try to strike again.” Ukrainian and Western officials have warned for days that Russian forces, having failed to seize Kyiv and topple the Ukrainian government, were regrouping. Moscow has said its aim is now to seize areas it does not already control in the Donbas, an area in the eastern part of the country, and to solidify its hold on the southern coastal region from Kherson to Mariupol. Days of aerial attacks against airports, railways and other infrastructure in central and eastern Ukraine critical to the Ukrainian military’s logistical operations have been setting the stage for Russia’s campaign in the Donbas region. “In my view, this great offensive has already begun,” Vadym Denisenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian interior minister, said on national television Monday. Since Friday, Russian forces have fired a missile at a train station, killing more than 50 people in the eastern city of Kramatorsk; struck an airport in the central city of Dnipro; and launched more than 60 attacks in and around the eastern city of Kharkiv. The aerial attacks appear to be having more success than ground forces in gaining territory. Ukraine’s military claimed to have repulsed several assaults by Russian troops moving south from the strategic city of Izyum — currently under Russian control and a key anchor point geographically for any eastern offensive — that resulted in the destruction of Russian tanks, vehicles and artillery equipment. As Russia regroups, it is likely to keep shelling Ukrainian positions and infrastructure to tie up Ukrainian resources. Ukrainian officials noted that this new offensive is a continuation of an already brutal campaign to pummel the Ukrainian public into submission. Fighting has been raging across eastern Ukraine since the start of the war, decimating towns and cities and forcing millions to flee. Russia might attempt to surround Ukraine’s forces and defeat some of their best soldiers in the Donbas before engaging in major combat operations to secure the region, according to U.S. defense officials, military analysts and Ukrainian officials. Whatever the Russian strategy, the Ukrainians have proved their willingness to stand their ground even in the face of overwhelming force. In Mariupol, outmanned Ukrainian fighters have held out and kept fighting despite being surrounded for weeks under heavy bombardment. Securing Mariupol could free up Russian forces — both to combat Ukrainian forces seeking to take back territory in Kherson and to assist its forces in the Donbas. The Russians have now essentially trapped the remaining Ukrainian defense forces in two locations in Mariupol — the main port in the southwest of the city and the Azovstal steel plant in the east, according to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank. Ukraine’s military said Russian forces, backed by artillery and air support, were attempting to storm their remaining strongholds while Britain’s Ministry of Defense warned Monday that Russia may employ phosphorus gas munitions in Mariupol as fighting intensifies. White phosphorus munitions are used by militaries around the world to create smoke screens and mark targets. But when used as a weapon, they can indiscriminately rain fire from the sky. “White phosphorus can burn people to the bone, smolder inside the body, and reignite when bandages are removed,” according to Human Rights Watch.

Russian forces are setting the stage for a new offensive in Ukraine’s east

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer on Monday became the first European leader to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

"I mentioned the serious war crimes in Bucha and other locations and stressed that all those responsible have to be brought to justice," said&nbsp;Nehammer.

He&nbsp;"told President Putin very clearly that the sanctions will remain and be intensified as long as people keep dying in Ukraine".

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-threatens-legal-action-if-forced-into-sovereign-debt-default-470118/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Highlighting the "urgent" need for humanitarian corridors,&nbsp;Nehammer said they are essential&nbsp;"to bring water and food into besieged towns and (to) remove women, children and the injured".

"I will now inform our European partners about the conversation and discuss further steps," he added.

Before the meeting, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg had said, "It makes a difference to be face to face and tell him what the reality is: that this president has de facto lost the war morally."

"It should be in his own interest that someone tells him the truth. I think it is important and we owe it to ourselves if we want to save human lives."

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/satellite-images-show-civilian-deaths-in-ukraines-bucha-street-468514">Satellite images show civilian deaths in Ukraine's Bucha street</a>

Kyiv is preparing for a huge Russian offensive in the country's east. Zelensky said Russian troops are now turning their focus to the Donbas region in the east.

"They can use even more missiles against us... But we are preparing for their actions. We will answer," Zelensky said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/putin-appoints-new-general-to-lead-ukraine-war-is-kremlin-changing-its-strategy-470188" hreflang="en">Watch | Putin appoints new General to lead Ukraine war. Is Kremlin changing its strategy?</a>

Lugansk governor Sergiy Gaiday said, "The battle for Donbas will last several days, but during these days our cities may be completely destroyed."

"There is no surviving critical or any other infrastructure in our area," he said in a Telegram message. &nbsp;

"Therefore, every shelling of the housing stock is a deliberate terrorist attack." &nbsp;&nbsp;

According to the latest satellite pictures, a large Russian military column can be seen moving toward Kharkiv.

The pictures show Russian military convoy consisting of armoured vehicles and trucks along with artillery and support equipment moving south through the Ukrainian town of Velykyi Burluk. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer on Monday became the first European leader to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. "I mentioned the serious war crimes in Bucha and other locations and stressed that all those responsible have to be brought to justice," said Nehammer.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer on Monday became the first European leader to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. "I mentioned the serious war crimes in Bucha and other locations and stressed that all those responsible have to be brought to justice," said Nehammer. He "told President Putin very clearly that the sanctions will remain and be intensified as long as people keep dying in Ukraine". Highlighting the "urgent" need for humanitarian corridors, Nehammer said they are essential "to bring water and food into besieged towns and (to) remove women, children and the injured". "I will now inform our European partners about the conversation and discuss further steps," he added. Before the meeting, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg had said, "It makes a difference to be face to face and tell him what the reality is: that this president has de facto lost the war morally." "It should be in his own interest that someone tells him the truth. I think it is important and we owe it to ourselves if we want to save human lives." Also see | Satellite images show civilian deaths in Ukraine's Bucha street Kyiv is preparing for a huge Russian offensive in the country's east. Zelensky said Russian troops are now turning their focus to the Donbas region in the east. "They can use even more missiles against us... But we are preparing for their actions. We will answer," Zelensky said. Watch | Putin appoints new General to lead Ukraine war. Is Kremlin changing its strategy? Lugansk governor Sergiy Gaiday said, "The battle for Donbas will last several days, but during these days our cities may be completely destroyed." "There is no surviving critical or any other infrastructure in our area," he said in a Telegram message. "Therefore, every shelling of the housing stock is a deliberate terrorist attack." According to the latest satellite pictures, a large Russian military column can be seen moving toward Kharkiv. The pictures show Russian military convoy consisting of armoured vehicles and trucks along with artillery and support equipment moving south through the Ukrainian town of Velykyi Burluk. (With inputs from agencies)

Austrian Chancellor Nehammer becomes first European leader to meet Russian President Putin in Moscow

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