In another advisory for nationals stranded in Ukraine, India on Saturday advised them to exercise caution at all times and not move to any border posts to exit the country without prior coordination with its officials. &nbsp;

The fresh advisory was issued by Indian embassy in Ukraine.&nbsp;It particularly advised its nationals staying in the eastern part of Ukraine to continue to remain in their current places of residence and stay indoors or in shelters as much as possible. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-abstains-on-unsc-resolution-says-dialogue-only-answer-to-settle-disputes-456638" hreflang="en">India abstains on UNSC resolution, says dialogue 'only answer' to solve issues</a>

"All Indian Citizens in Ukraine are advised to not move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with the government of India officials at the border posts (helpline numbers established) and the emergency numbers of the embassy of India in Kyiv," the embassy said. &nbsp;

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Advisory to all Indian Nationals/Students in Ukraine 
as on 26 February 2022.<a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MEAIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PIB_India?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PIB_India</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PIBHindi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PIBHindi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DDNewslive?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DDNewslive</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DDNewsHindi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DDNewsHindi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DDNational?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DDNational</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/IndianDiplomacy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndianDiplomacy</a> <a href="https://t.co/yN6PT2Yi8c">pic.twitter.com/yN6PT2Yi8c</a>
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The situation at various border checkpoints is sensitive, it said. The embassy is working continuously with the Indian missions in the neighbouring countries for coordinated evacuation of the citizens, it added. &nbsp;

In the advisory, it further added, "Embassy is finding it increasingly difficult to help the crossing of those Indian nationals who reach border checkpoint without prior intimation." &nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-conflict-us-eu-uk-sanction-russian-president-vladimir-putin-top-officials-456616">Ukraine conflict: US, EU, UK sanction Russian President, top officials</a>

On Friday, India also managed to set up camp offices in Lviv and Chernivtsi towns in western Ukraine with the aim to facilitate the transit of Indians to Romania, Hungary and Poland. &nbsp;&nbsp;

To coordinate the exit of nationals from Ukraine, India also positioned teams of officials at Zahony border post in Hungary, Krakowiec as well as Shehyni-Medyka land border points in Poland, Vysne Nemecke in the Slovak Republic and Suceava transit point in Romania. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;&nbsp;

In another advisory for nationals stranded in Ukraine, India on Saturday advised them to exercise caution at all times and not move to any border posts to exit the country without prior coordination with its officials.

In another advisory for nationals stranded in Ukraine, India on Saturday advised them to exercise caution at all times and not move to any border posts to exit the country without prior coordination with its officials. The fresh advisory was issued by Indian embassy in Ukraine. It particularly advised its nationals staying in the eastern part of Ukraine to continue to remain in their current places of residence and stay indoors or in shelters as much as possible. Also Read: India abstains on UNSC resolution, says dialogue 'only answer' to solve issues "All Indian Citizens in Ukraine are advised to not move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with the government of India officials at the border posts (helpline numbers established) and the emergency numbers of the embassy of India in Kyiv," the embassy said. Advisory to all Indian Nationals/Students in Ukraine as on 26 February 2022.@MEAIndia @PIB_India @PIBHindi @DDNewslive @DDNewsHindi @DDNational @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/yN6PT2Yi8c — India in Ukraine (@IndiainUkraine) February 26, 2022 × The situation at various border checkpoints is sensitive, it said. The embassy is working continuously with the Indian missions in the neighbouring countries for coordinated evacuation of the citizens, it added. In the advisory, it further added, "Embassy is finding it increasingly difficult to help the crossing of those Indian nationals who reach border checkpoint without prior intimation." Also Read | Ukraine conflict: US, EU, UK sanction Russian President, top officials On Friday, India also managed to set up camp offices in Lviv and Chernivtsi towns in western Ukraine with the aim to facilitate the transit of Indians to Romania, Hungary and Poland. To coordinate the exit of nationals from Ukraine, India also positioned teams of officials at Zahony border post in Hungary, Krakowiec as well as Shehyni-Medyka land border points in Poland, Vysne Nemecke in the Slovak Republic and Suceava transit point in Romania. (With inputs from agencies)

India advises nationals stranded in Ukraine to exercise caution, not move without coordination with officials

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has pushed tens of thousands of people out of their homes and fleeing across borders to escape violence. But unlike the refugees who have flooded Europe in crises over the past decade, they are being welcomed.

Countries that have for years resisted taking in refugees from wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan are now opening their doors to Ukrainians as Russian forces carry out a nationwide military assault. Perhaps 100,000 Ukrainians already have left their homes, according to United Nations estimates, and at least half of them have crowded onto trains, jammed highways or walked to get across their country’s borders in what officials warn could become the world’s next refugee crisis.

UN and US officials described their concerted diplomatic push for Ukraine’s neighbors and other European nations to respond to the outpouring of need. President Joe Biden “is certainly prepared” to accept refugees from Ukraine, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said Thursday, but she noted that the majority of them would probably choose to remain in Europe so they could more easily return home once the fighting ended.

“Heartfelt thanks to the governments and people of countries keeping their borders open and welcoming refugees,” said Filippo Grandi, head of the UN refugee agency. He warned that “many more” Ukrainians were moving toward the borders.

That means thousands will end up in countries led by nationalist governments that in past crises have been reluctant to welcome refugees or even blocked them.

In Poland, government officials assisted by American soldiers and diplomats have set up processing centers for Ukrainians. “Anyone fleeing from bombs, from Russian rifles, can count on the support of the Polish state,” Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski told reporters Thursday. His government is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a border wall, a project it began after refugees and migrants from the Middle East tried to reach the country last year but ended up marooned in neighboring Belarus.

The military in Hungary is allowing in Ukrainians through sections of the border that had been closed. Hungary’s hard-line prime minister, Viktor Orban, has previously called refugees a threat to his country, and his government has been accused of caging and starving them.

Farther west, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said that “of course we will take in refugees if necessary” in light of the crisis in Ukraine. As recently as last fall, when he was serving as interior minister, Nehammer sought to block some Afghans seeking refuge after the Taliban overthrew the government in Kabul.

“It’s different in Ukraine than in countries like Afghanistan,” he was quoted as saying during an interview on a national TV program. “We’re talking about neighborhood help.”

Nehammer also said the number of Ukrainians seeking help was expected to be relatively small. At least 1.3 million people — mostly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan — applied for asylum in Europe in 2015 during what was widely regarded as the worst refugee crisis since World War II, stretching national budgets and creating a backlash of political nativism in countries across the continent.

Some estimates project that at least 1 million refugees will flee Ukraine because of the Russian invasion. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Thursday that the fighting could uproot as many as 5 million people, “putting pressure on Ukraine’s neighbors.”

Diplomats and experts said European states willing to take in Ukrainians might be trying, in part, to highlight Russian aggressions against civilians by offering a humanitarian response.

“If you think of causing the refugee crisis as one of Putin’s tools to destabilise the West, then a calm, efficient, orderly response is a really good rebuke to that,” said Serena Parekh, a professor at Northeastern University in Boston and director of its politics, philosophy and economics program.

“On the other hand,” said Parekh, who has written extensively about refugees, “it’s hard not to see that Ukrainians are white, mostly Christian and Europeans. And so in a sense, the xenophobia that’s really arisen in the last 10 years, particularly after 2015, is not at play in this crisis in the way that it has been for refugees coming from the Middle East and from Africa.”

The Biden administration is also facing calls to take in Ukrainian refugees, much in the way it gave residency or humanitarian parole to more than 75,000 Afghans when the Taliban seized power in August.

It is unlikely — at the moment, at least — that the United States would offer a humanitarian parole program for Ukrainians that goes above what is currently allowed for the total number of refugee admissions for the current fiscal year. That number is capped at 125,000 this year — including 10,000 refugees from Europe and Central Asia. The guidelines set aside another 10,000 slots for refugees from any part of the world as regional emergencies warrant.

Psaki did not comment when asked by a reporter whether the administration would offer temporary residency protections, a program known as TPS, to Ukrainian students, workers and others who are in the United States to ensure they are not deported when their legal visas expire.

“The war in Ukraine is exactly the type of crisis TPS was created for — to allow people to live and work in the United States when they are unable to return home safely,” Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, said Thursday night.

Psaki said the United States had sent an estimated $52 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine over the past year to help people, mostly in the eastern Donbas region, where the current war began as a slow-burn conflict between Ukraine’s military and Russian-backed separatists in 2014. Nearly 1.5 million people had been forced from their homes by the fighting even before the invasion this past week.

Additionally, the US Agency for International Development sent a team of disaster experts to Poland in the past week to assess demand for aid to the region — including water, food, shelter, medicine and other supplies — and to coordinate its delivery. Hours after the invasion began, the United Nations announced it would divert $20 million in emergency funds for humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians, mostly to the Donbas region.

A European diplomat who is closely watching the refugee flow from Ukraine said neighboring nations might also feel the pull of history in welcoming people in danger as a direct result of Russia’s aggressions. A Soviet crackdown on a Hungarian uprising in 1956, for example, resulted in 200,000 refugees, most of whom fled to Austria before they were settled in dozens of countries across Europe. Between 80,000 and 100,000 people — and perhaps even more than that — left what was then Czechoslovakia to escape a Soviet invasion in 1968 that was launched to silence pro-democracy Prague Spring protests.

In both cases, the United States sent aid to help European countries settle refugees and, in the Hungarian crisis, “in a matter of months, there were no more refugees; they had been found a permanent home,” Parekh said.

That was largely the result of the United States working with European states to resettle the Hungarians, she said, calling the effort “an exception, historically.”

“It was a similar thing — people fleeing our Russian enemy — that motivated us,” she said.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has pushed tens of thousands of people out of their homes and fleeing across borders to escape violence. But unlike the refugees who have flooded Europe in crises over the past decade, they are being welcomed.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has pushed tens of thousands of people out of their homes and fleeing across borders to escape violence. But unlike the refugees who have flooded Europe in crises over the past decade, they are being welcomed. Countries that have for years resisted taking in refugees from wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan are now opening their doors to Ukrainians as Russian forces carry out a nationwide military assault. Perhaps 100,000 Ukrainians already have left their homes, according to United Nations estimates, and at least half of them have crowded onto trains, jammed highways or walked to get across their country’s borders in what officials warn could become the world’s next refugee crisis. UN and US officials described their concerted diplomatic push for Ukraine’s neighbors and other European nations to respond to the outpouring of need. President Joe Biden “is certainly prepared” to accept refugees from Ukraine, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said Thursday, but she noted that the majority of them would probably choose to remain in Europe so they could more easily return home once the fighting ended. “Heartfelt thanks to the governments and people of countries keeping their borders open and welcoming refugees,” said Filippo Grandi, head of the UN refugee agency. He warned that “many more” Ukrainians were moving toward the borders. That means thousands will end up in countries led by nationalist governments that in past crises have been reluctant to welcome refugees or even blocked them. In Poland, government officials assisted by American soldiers and diplomats have set up processing centers for Ukrainians. “Anyone fleeing from bombs, from Russian rifles, can count on the support of the Polish state,” Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski told reporters Thursday. His government is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a border wall, a project it began after refugees and migrants from the Middle East tried to reach the country last year but ended up marooned in neighboring Belarus. The military in Hungary is allowing in Ukrainians through sections of the border that had been closed. Hungary’s hard-line prime minister, Viktor Orban, has previously called refugees a threat to his country, and his government has been accused of caging and starving them. Farther west, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said that “of course we will take in refugees if necessary” in light of the crisis in Ukraine. As recently as last fall, when he was serving as interior minister, Nehammer sought to block some Afghans seeking refuge after the Taliban overthrew the government in Kabul. “It’s different in Ukraine than in countries like Afghanistan,” he was quoted as saying during an interview on a national TV program. “We’re talking about neighborhood help.” Nehammer also said the number of Ukrainians seeking help was expected to be relatively small. At least 1.3 million people — mostly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan — applied for asylum in Europe in 2015 during what was widely regarded as the worst refugee crisis since World War II, stretching national budgets and creating a backlash of political nativism in countries across the continent. Some estimates project that at least 1 million refugees will flee Ukraine because of the Russian invasion. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Thursday that the fighting could uproot as many as 5 million people, “putting pressure on Ukraine’s neighbors.” Diplomats and experts said European states willing to take in Ukrainians might be trying, in part, to highlight Russian aggressions against civilians by offering a humanitarian response. “If you think of causing the refugee crisis as one of Putin’s tools to destabilise the West, then a calm, efficient, orderly response is a really good rebuke to that,” said Serena Parekh, a professor at Northeastern University in Boston and director of its politics, philosophy and economics program. “On the other hand,” said Parekh, who has written extensively about refugees, “it’s hard not to see that Ukrainians are white, mostly Christian and Europeans. And so in a sense, the xenophobia that’s really arisen in the last 10 years, particularly after 2015, is not at play in this crisis in the way that it has been for refugees coming from the Middle East and from Africa.” The Biden administration is also facing calls to take in Ukrainian refugees, much in the way it gave residency or humanitarian parole to more than 75,000 Afghans when the Taliban seized power in August. It is unlikely — at the moment, at least — that the United States would offer a humanitarian parole program for Ukrainians that goes above what is currently allowed for the total number of refugee admissions for the current fiscal year. That number is capped at 125,000 this year — including 10,000 refugees from Europe and Central Asia. The guidelines set aside another 10,000 slots for refugees from any part of the world as regional emergencies warrant. Psaki did not comment when asked by a reporter whether the administration would offer temporary residency protections, a program known as TPS, to Ukrainian students, workers and others who are in the United States to ensure they are not deported when their legal visas expire. “The war in Ukraine is exactly the type of crisis TPS was created for — to allow people to live and work in the United States when they are unable to return home safely,” Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, said Thursday night. Psaki said the United States had sent an estimated $52 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine over the past year to help people, mostly in the eastern Donbas region, where the current war began as a slow-burn conflict between Ukraine’s military and Russian-backed separatists in 2014. Nearly 1.5 million people had been forced from their homes by the fighting even before the invasion this past week. Additionally, the US Agency for International Development sent a team of disaster experts to Poland in the past week to assess demand for aid to the region — including water, food, shelter, medicine and other supplies — and to coordinate its delivery. Hours after the invasion began, the United Nations announced it would divert $20 million in emergency funds for humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians, mostly to the Donbas region. A European diplomat who is closely watching the refugee flow from Ukraine said neighboring nations might also feel the pull of history in welcoming people in danger as a direct result of Russia’s aggressions. A Soviet crackdown on a Hungarian uprising in 1956, for example, resulted in 200,000 refugees, most of whom fled to Austria before they were settled in dozens of countries across Europe. Between 80,000 and 100,000 people — and perhaps even more than that — left what was then Czechoslovakia to escape a Soviet invasion in 1968 that was launched to silence pro-democracy Prague Spring protests. In both cases, the United States sent aid to help European countries settle refugees and, in the Hungarian crisis, “in a matter of months, there were no more refugees; they had been found a permanent home,” Parekh said. That was largely the result of the United States working with European states to resettle the Hungarians, she said, calling the effort “an exception, historically.” “It was a similar thing — people fleeing our Russian enemy — that motivated us,” she said.

For Ukraine’s refugees, Europe opens doors that were shut to others

I stand by my motherland: Celebrities from Ukraine respond to Russian invasion

It is day 3 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and scores of civilians have lost their lives in the conflict. Armies of both countries have been involved in intense fights since Russian troops entered Ukraine.

Fighting continues in Kyiv as day 3 of the Russian invasion claims many civilian lives in Ukraine

As the crisis in Ukraine intensifies, UN Refugee Agency said nearly 4 million people from Ukraine could flee abroad. This comes as Russian troops entered Ukraine.

Ukraine: 4 million people could flee abroad, says UN amid Russia invasions

Three Brazilian footballers who play for Ukrainian Premier Liga club SK Dnipro-1 have fled the war-torn nation and crossed the border into Romania, they said on social media on Saturday.

Gabriel Busanello, Bill and Felipe Pires all posted messages informing family and fans that they were safe.

"We did it, after two days of lots of terror and tension we managed to get out...and we're on our way home," Bill said on Instagram in a video recorded on the Romanian side of the border. "We managed it, now we're fine."

The 22-year-old left-winger who joined the club from Flamengo only last month said they had taken a bus to the border with Romania and crossed on foot.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-three-goals-in-first-half-hour-seals-easy-win-for-tottenham-hotspur-over-leeds-456871">Premier League: Three goals in first half-hour seals easy win for Tottenham Hotspur over Leeds</a>

The players are just three of several Brazilians who posted videos on social media earlier this week appealing for help to escape Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion.&nbsp;

The Brazilian government had asked 500 or so Brazilians in Ukraine to stay in contact with the embassy.

"Now we have to help our people still in Ukraine," Felipe Pires wrote. "They really need our help and support."

Three Brazilian footballers who play for Ukrainian Premier Liga club SK Dnipro-1 have fled the war-torn nation and crossed the border into Romania, they said on social media on Saturday.

Three Brazilian footballers who play for Ukrainian Premier Liga club SK Dnipro-1 have fled the war-torn nation and crossed the border into Romania, they said on social media on Saturday. Gabriel Busanello, Bill and Felipe Pires all posted messages informing family and fans that they were safe. "We did it, after two days of lots of terror and tension we managed to get out...and we're on our way home," Bill said on Instagram in a video recorded on the Romanian side of the border. "We managed it, now we're fine." The 22-year-old left-winger who joined the club from Flamengo only last month said they had taken a bus to the border with Romania and crossed on foot. ALSO READ: Premier League: Three goals in first half-hour seals easy win for Tottenham Hotspur over Leeds The players are just three of several Brazilians who posted videos on social media earlier this week appealing for help to escape Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion. The Brazilian government had asked 500 or so Brazilians in Ukraine to stay in contact with the embassy. "Now we have to help our people still in Ukraine," Felipe Pires wrote. "They really need our help and support."

Three Brazilian players flee Ukraine amid war tensions

Desperate Ukrainians flee Russian invasion as troops enter the country. Ukrainians were seen on highways, train and bus stations attempting to leave the country.

Highways, trains, bus stations: How Ukrainians are fleeing Russian invasion

As the Russia-Ukraine crisis intensifies, NATO has deployed Rapid Response Force.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict: NATO deploys rapid response force

As the Russia-Ukraine conflict intensifies, NATO leaders convene for a virtual summit. US President Joe Biden said he is deploying additional troops in Germany but won’t deploy any troops to fight Russia in Ukraine.

Russia-Ukraine crisis: U.S. deploys troops in Germany; NATO leaders convene for virtual summit

WION's Sidhant Sibal spoke to Poland's envoy on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Poland will help in evacuating Indians stranded in Ukraine.

Poland envoy speaks to WION: Poland will help in evacuating Indians stranded in Ukraine

West is trying to ramp up pressure on Russia. Moscow uses veto power to reject the UNSC resolution created to condemn the Russian invasion in Ukraine.

At UNSC, Russia rejects resolution. What China, India, UAE said | Russia-Ukraine crisis

As the Russia-Ukraine crisis intensifies, NATO has deployed Rapid Response Force. France has France warned world on war.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict: France warns world on war as NATO deploys rapid response force

As the tensions mount globally over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India's PM Narendra Modi speaks to Ukrainian President Zelinsky over the conflict.

Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, India's PM Modi speaks to President Zelinsky

Ukraine President Zelinsky urges Indian PM Modi for political support at UNSC amid Russian invasion

February 23 was just another day in Ukraine, what changed lives forever was the following morning. People were woken up to air raid sirens and fire raining from the skies. The bombardment continues on day 3 of Russia's inavsion of Ukraine. And now, what remains is a country of soldiers.

Ukraine is now a nation of soldiers

As the Ukraine-Russia crisis intensifies, more countries close airspace to Russia. After the UK, now Czech Republic, Poland and Bulgaria have closed airspace to Russia.

Countries shut their airspace amid Russian invasion of Ukraine

Residents in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv rush to bunkers, underground metro stations amid reports of explosions in the city.

Kyiv residents rush to bunkers amid reports of explosions. What Ukraine President said

How well do we understand Vladimir Putin? Why is he invading Ukraine? Why isn't he afraid of the consequences? Nothing answers these questions better than stories that have shaped Putin's life. Palki Sharma Upadhyay takes you inside Putin's mind.

Gravitas Plus | Ukraine War: Understanding Russian President Vladimir Putin

Day 3 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine: Russian forces surround the Ukrainian capital Kyiv

Thousands of Indians are stuck in Ukraine and among them are students too who are running low on supplies. India plans to repatriate its nationals stuck in Ukraine. The video looks at the plight of Indian students stuck in Ukraine.

Indian students stuck in Ukraine: How India plans to get its nationals repatriated?

Satellite images show a large deployment of forces deployed in southern Belarus. About 150 transport helicopters were seen in southern Belarus. The images were released by Maxar Technologies.

Satellite images show deployment of forces in southern Belarus | Russia-Ukraine conflict

Day 3 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine: Reports of a large number of civilian casualties emerge

Finally, the West has intensified efforts to halt Russian attack on Ukraine. The US government and European countries have imposed sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Although the unprecedented move of sanctions against a head of state is quite rare, it seems to be the need of the hour. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In a statement late on Friday, the Treasury Department while announcing the sanctions, said, "President Putin and Minister Lavrov are directly responsible for Russia’s unprovoked and unlawful further invasion of Ukraine, a democratic sovereign state." &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/swift-has-the-power-to-put-russia-on-back-foot-but-what-is-it-actually-456396" hreflang="en">‘SWIFT’ has the power to put Russia on back foot. But what is it actually?</a>

It said that sanctions against a head of state were "exceedingly rare". The move puts Putin on a small list, which includes the leaders of Syria, North Korea and Belarus. &nbsp;&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden decided to target Putin, Lavrov and other officials after a conversation over phone with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier on Friday, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Earlier on Friday, EU states and UK also agreed to freeze any European assets of Putin and Lavrov. &nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explainer-why-is-chernobyl-nuclear-power-plant-important-456329" hreflang="en">Explainer: Why is Chernobyl nuclear power plant important?</a>

The US government has also sanctioned two other senior Russian officials, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, for attack on Ukraine, the Treasury Department said. &nbsp;

On Twitter, Psaki said that the Treasury Department would also impose sanctions on the Russian Direct Investment Fund. She described it as a "state owned financial entity that functions as a sovereign wealth fund, which is supposed to attract capital into the Russian economy in high-growth sectors." &nbsp;

The action against the Russian Direct Investment Fund would come in the next few days, a Treasury spokesperson said. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Finally, the West has intensified efforts to halt Russian attack on Ukraine. The US government and European countries have imposed sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday.

Finally, the West has intensified efforts to halt Russian attack on Ukraine. The US government and European countries have imposed sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday. Although the unprecedented move of sanctions against a head of state is quite rare, it seems to be the need of the hour. In a statement late on Friday, the Treasury Department while announcing the sanctions, said, "President Putin and Minister Lavrov are directly responsible for Russia’s unprovoked and unlawful further invasion of Ukraine, a democratic sovereign state." Also Read: ‘SWIFT’ has the power to put Russia on back foot. But what is it actually? It said that sanctions against a head of state were "exceedingly rare". The move puts Putin on a small list, which includes the leaders of Syria, North Korea and Belarus. US President Joe Biden decided to target Putin, Lavrov and other officials after a conversation over phone with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier on Friday, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters. Earlier on Friday, EU states and UK also agreed to freeze any European assets of Putin and Lavrov. Also Read | Explainer: Why is Chernobyl nuclear power plant important? The US government has also sanctioned two other senior Russian officials, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, for attack on Ukraine, the Treasury Department said. On Twitter, Psaki said that the Treasury Department would also impose sanctions on the Russian Direct Investment Fund. She described it as a "state owned financial entity that functions as a sovereign wealth fund, which is supposed to attract capital into the Russian economy in high-growth sectors." The action against the Russian Direct Investment Fund would come in the next few days, a Treasury spokesperson said. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine conflict: US, EU, UK sanction Russian President Vladimir Putin, top officials

Russia's recognition on 21st February of Ukraine’s self-declared independent regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in Donbas region of the Eastern Ukraine, deployment of forces under the guise of Peacekeeping Forces for the “protection” of the civilians, followed by full-scale military invasion in Ukraine on 24th February has drawn curtains on Act 1 of the drama.

The lead actors include President Putin of the Russian Federation on the one hand and President Biden of the USA and his NATO allies on the other, while the script revolves around&nbsp;President Zelensky of Ukraine.

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The USA and allies have imposed stringed sanctions on Russia, deployed forces on the territories of NATO Member countries in the neighbourhood, assured continued political, diplomatic, economic and military assistance to Ukraine but have made it clear that there is no plan to send NATO forces to Ukraine to fight Russia together with /on behalf of Ukraine.&nbsp;

It remains under suspense as to how the drama will unfold in subsequent acts.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-the-ghost-of-kyiv-the-ace-pilot-giving-hope-to-ukrainians-456795">Who is the ‘Ghost of Kyiv’? The ace pilot giving hope to Ukrainians</a>

The drama can be said to have begun in December last year when Russia sought a set of legally binding assurances including a halt on NATO's further eastwards expansion nearer to Russia's borders. Russia demanded in particular that two of Russia's next-door neighbours namely Ukraine and Georgia be declined NATO membership.

The rather impossible demands came in the backdrop of a massive military build-up by Russia along its borders with Ukraine and prolonged military exercise in Belarus, and also the ongoing clashes in eastern Ukraine between the separatist forces (supported by Russia) &nbsp;and the Ukrainian military. 
&nbsp; 
The origins of the current phase of the standoff between the West and Russia can be traced to the period immediately after the disintegration of the USSR in 1991 when the West adopted a policy of ideological conquest of the former Soviet Union and its satellite countries in East Europe through financial and technical assistance.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nato-announces-historic-deployment-of-forces-to-bolster-eastern-europe-after-ukraine-invasion-456810">NATO announces 'historic' deployment of forces to bolster Eastern Europe after Ukraine invasion</a>

Gradually, NATO began to increase its footprints in the post-Soviet space. Beginning from 1999 the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland (1999), Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia (2004), Albania and Croatia (2009), Montenegro (2017) and North Macedonia (2020) have been taken into the fold of NATO.

Russia calls this expansion a breach of promises and assurances by NATO given to Russia in the wake of the disintegration of the USSR. However, being relatively weak, Russia could do nothing to halt this process. The situation changed with the advent of President Putin as Russia’s leader from 2000 onwards.&nbsp;

So when NATO announced in April 2008 that Georgia and Ukraine will be members of NATO (though no specific dates were indicated) Russia acted swiftly; it recognised the self-declared independence of two breakaway regions of Georgia namely Abkhazia and South Ossetia, intervened militarily and has since consolidated its positions in those regions. &nbsp;

In 2014, when the pro-Russia government in Ukraine was replaced by a pro-Western regime in Ukraine, Russia reacted again and this time successfully manipulated Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula’s incorporation into Russian Federation, often described as Crimea’s annexation..

Reverting to the current phase of crisis, it appears in hindsight that Russia from the very beginning had made up its mind at least to trifurcate Ukraine and take Eastern Ukraine under its influence and control.

Russia now appears to be going much further with the objective of subjugating entire Ukraine and even installing a puppet or at least a more pliable/ neutral regime in Ukraine.

President Putin is reported to have encouraged the Ukraine Armed Forces to take full control of the country suggesting that it would be easier to deal with them rather than the civilian leadership.

At this point of time, there is a fairly good clarity about the intentions of Russia and also the positions taken by the USA and its allies so far. At the same time there are many imponderables: Will Ukraine be able to resist Russia and compel it to withdraw? &nbsp;Looks difficult. Are we then heading for a scenario of the fall of Kiev or urban insurgency? What else the USA and NATO allies can or will do besides current efforts to isolate Russia diplomatically and weaken it economically by imposing sanctions.

Will there be an attempt to invoke Chapter VII of the UN Charter to send international armed forces (read NATO) into Ukraine?&nbsp;

The economic sanctions have so far not deterred Russia. And in the given case the sanctions can also act as a double-edged sword causing an adverse impact on the energy security of Europe. Biden has already cautioned the American public in this regard though he has also assured to minimise the impact on the US population.&nbsp;

The Ukrainian crisis is a test for India’s diplomacy. It must be noted that India is not in alliance with USA or Russia, and to that extent India is not obliged to take sides with either of them.

At the same time, India has strong partnerships with both the USA and Russia, besides good relations with Europe and also Ukraine. Prima-facie, India has so far taken a balanced position. Some observers have described it as a neutral stance reminiscent of the period of non-alignment.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Note must be taken of the key element in India’s statements in which India has called for the resolution of the issue in a manner that would address the “legitimate security interests” of all concerned.

It requires a careful reading between the lines to determine whose “legitimate security interests” are under real threat. Is the tilt not slightly in favour of Russia whose security concerns arising out of NATO’s eastwards expansion appear genuine?.

Whether it entitles Russia to use force to address its concerns is a matter of entirely different and difficult debate as it involves issues such as sovereignty, territorial integrity on the one hand and the concept of indivisible security on the other.

The evacuation of estimated 20,000 Indian nationals mostly students stranded in Ukraine is India’s top priority at the moment. India’s track record in the evacuation of Indian national from conflict regions is commendable. In the given case, the situation is complicated by the fact that the Indian nationals are spread in various parts of Ukraine some of which are in conflict zones, and it is not possible to send flights to Ukraine as its airspace is closed.

Alternate arrangements for evacuation through land routes to neighbouring countries such as Romania, Hungary etc. en-route to India through Chartered flights sponsored by the Indian Government are underway albeit with partial success so far. One hopes that all &nbsp;Indian nationals are able to return home safely. It is pointless to debate now as to whether or not it would have been desirable to begin the process a few weeks earlier.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The views of the experts do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views.)

Russia's recognition on 21st February of Ukraine’s self-declared independent regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in Donbas region of the Eastern Ukraine, deployment of forces under the guise of Peacekeeping Forces for the “protection” of the civilians, followed by full-scale military invasion in Ukraine on 24th February has drawn curtains on Act 1 of the drama.

Russia's recognition on 21st February of Ukraine’s self-declared independent regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in Donbas region of the Eastern Ukraine, deployment of forces under the guise of Peacekeeping Forces for the “protection” of the civilians, followed by full-scale military invasion in Ukraine on 24th February has drawn curtains on Act 1 of the drama. The lead actors include President Putin of the Russian Federation on the one hand and President Biden of the USA and his NATO allies on the other, while the script revolves around President Zelensky of Ukraine. × The USA and allies have imposed stringed sanctions on Russia, deployed forces on the territories of NATO Member countries in the neighbourhood, assured continued political, diplomatic, economic and military assistance to Ukraine but have made it clear that there is no plan to send NATO forces to Ukraine to fight Russia together with /on behalf of Ukraine. It remains under suspense as to how the drama will unfold in subsequent acts. Also Read | Who is the ‘Ghost of Kyiv’? The ace pilot giving hope to Ukrainians The drama can be said to have begun in December last year when Russia sought a set of legally binding assurances including a halt on NATO's further eastwards expansion nearer to Russia's borders. Russia demanded in particular that two of Russia's next-door neighbours namely Ukraine and Georgia be declined NATO membership. The rather impossible demands came in the backdrop of a massive military build-up by Russia along its borders with Ukraine and prolonged military exercise in Belarus, and also the ongoing clashes in eastern Ukraine between the separatist forces (supported by Russia) and the Ukrainian military. The origins of the current phase of the standoff between the West and Russia can be traced to the period immediately after the disintegration of the USSR in 1991 when the West adopted a policy of ideological conquest of the former Soviet Union and its satellite countries in East Europe through financial and technical assistance. Also Read | NATO announces 'historic' deployment of forces to bolster Eastern Europe after Ukraine invasion Gradually, NATO began to increase its footprints in the post-Soviet space. Beginning from 1999 the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland (1999), Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia (2004), Albania and Croatia (2009), Montenegro (2017) and North Macedonia (2020) have been taken into the fold of NATO. Russia calls this expansion a breach of promises and assurances by NATO given to Russia in the wake of the disintegration of the USSR. However, being relatively weak, Russia could do nothing to halt this process. The situation changed with the advent of President Putin as Russia’s leader from 2000 onwards. So when NATO announced in April 2008 that Georgia and Ukraine will be members of NATO (though no specific dates were indicated) Russia acted swiftly; it recognised the self-declared independence of two breakaway regions of Georgia namely Abkhazia and South Ossetia, intervened militarily and has since consolidated its positions in those regions. In 2014, when the pro-Russia government in Ukraine was replaced by a pro-Western regime in Ukraine, Russia reacted again and this time successfully manipulated Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula’s incorporation into Russian Federation, often described as Crimea’s annexation.. Reverting to the current phase of crisis, it appears in hindsight that Russia from the very beginning had made up its mind at least to trifurcate Ukraine and take Eastern Ukraine under its influence and control. Russia now appears to be going much further with the objective of subjugating entire Ukraine and even installing a puppet or at least a more pliable/ neutral regime in Ukraine. President Putin is reported to have encouraged the Ukraine Armed Forces to take full control of the country suggesting that it would be easier to deal with them rather than the civilian leadership. At this point of time, there is a fairly good clarity about the intentions of Russia and also the positions taken by the USA and its allies so far. At the same time there are many imponderables: Will Ukraine be able to resist Russia and compel it to withdraw? Looks difficult. Are we then heading for a scenario of the fall of Kiev or urban insurgency? What else the USA and NATO allies can or will do besides current efforts to isolate Russia diplomatically and weaken it economically by imposing sanctions. Will there be an attempt to invoke Chapter VII of the UN Charter to send international armed forces (read NATO) into Ukraine? The economic sanctions have so far not deterred Russia. And in the given case the sanctions can also act as a double-edged sword causing an adverse impact on the energy security of Europe. Biden has already cautioned the American public in this regard though he has also assured to minimise the impact on the US population. The Ukrainian crisis is a test for India’s diplomacy. It must be noted that India is not in alliance with USA or Russia, and to that extent India is not obliged to take sides with either of them. At the same time, India has strong partnerships with both the USA and Russia, besides good relations with Europe and also Ukraine. Prima-facie, India has so far taken a balanced position. Some observers have described it as a neutral stance reminiscent of the period of non-alignment. Note must be taken of the key element in India’s statements in which India has called for the resolution of the issue in a manner that would address the “legitimate security interests” of all concerned. It requires a careful reading between the lines to determine whose “legitimate security interests” are under real threat. Is the tilt not slightly in favour of Russia whose security concerns arising out of NATO’s eastwards expansion appear genuine?. Whether it entitles Russia to use force to address its concerns is a matter of entirely different and difficult debate as it involves issues such as sovereignty, territorial integrity on the one hand and the concept of indivisible security on the other. The evacuation of estimated 20,000 Indian nationals mostly students stranded in Ukraine is India’s top priority at the moment. India’s track record in the evacuation of Indian national from conflict regions is commendable. In the given case, the situation is complicated by the fact that the Indian nationals are spread in various parts of Ukraine some of which are in conflict zones, and it is not possible to send flights to Ukraine as its airspace is closed. Alternate arrangements for evacuation through land routes to neighbouring countries such as Romania, Hungary etc. en-route to India through Chartered flights sponsored by the Indian Government are underway albeit with partial success so far. One hopes that all Indian nationals are able to return home safely. It is pointless to debate now as to whether or not it would have been desirable to begin the process a few weeks earlier. (Disclaimer: The views of the experts do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views.)

How far will the Ukraine crisis go?

India has asked its citizens in Ukraine to remain calm. Indian foreign ministry asked its national not to move to any borders without prior intimation. This comes after India’s external affairs minister S Jaishankar spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict: 1st batch of Indians leave from Poland

Polish footballer Robert Lewandowski on Saturday backed the Polish FA's decision to not play their 2022 FIFA World Cup play-off with Russia in Moscow on March 24.

The winners of Poland vs Russia are due to play Sweden or Czech Republic for a place in the finals.

Cezary Kulesz, the president of the Polish football federation said on Twitter: "No more words, it's time to act. Due to the escalation of the aggression of the Russian Federation towards Ukraine, the Polish national team does not intend to play the play-off match against Russia."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/poland-will-not-play-world-cup-qualifying-match-against-russia-says-polish-fa-head-cezary-kulesza-456742">Poland will not play World Cup qualifying match against Russia, says Polish FA head Cezary Kulesza</a>

To which Poland men's football team captain replied: "It is the right decision! I can't imagine playing a match with the Russian National Team in a situation when armed aggression in Ukraine continues. Russian footballers and fans are not responsible for this, but we can't pretend that nothing is happening."

On Friday, the Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) urged all International Sports Federations to relocate or cancel their sports events currently planned in Russia or Belarus.

IOC said that they should take the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian and Belarussian governments into account and give the safety and security of the athletes an absolute priority.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ukraines-ruslan-malinovskyi-does-no-war-celebration-after-scoring-for-atalanta-in-europa-league-watch-456484">Ukraine's Ruslan Malinovskyi does 'no war' celebration after scoring for Atalanta in Europa League - WATCH</a>

The IOC itself has no events planned in Russia or Belarus.UEFA has already shifted the men's Champions League final venue from Russia to France and Formula 1 cancelled the Russian Grand Prix amid the Ukraine crisis.

Polish footballer Robert Lewandowski on Saturday backed the Polish FA's decision to not play their 2022 FIFA World Cup play-off with Russia in Moscow on March 24.

Polish footballer Robert Lewandowski on Saturday backed the Polish FA's decision to not play their 2022 FIFA World Cup play-off with Russia in Moscow on March 24. The winners of Poland vs Russia are due to play Sweden or Czech Republic for a place in the finals. Cezary Kulesz, the president of the Polish football federation said on Twitter: "No more words, it's time to act. Due to the escalation of the aggression of the Russian Federation towards Ukraine, the Polish national team does not intend to play the play-off match against Russia." ALSO READ: Poland will not play World Cup qualifying match against Russia, says Polish FA head Cezary Kulesza To which Poland men's football team captain replied: "It is the right decision! I can't imagine playing a match with the Russian National Team in a situation when armed aggression in Ukraine continues. Russian footballers and fans are not responsible for this, but we can't pretend that nothing is happening." On Friday, the Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) urged all International Sports Federations to relocate or cancel their sports events currently planned in Russia or Belarus. IOC said that they should take the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian and Belarussian governments into account and give the safety and security of the athletes an absolute priority. ALSO READ: Ukraine's Ruslan Malinovskyi does 'no war' celebration after scoring for Atalanta in Europa League - WATCH The IOC itself has no events planned in Russia or Belarus.UEFA has already shifted the men's Champions League final venue from Russia to France and Formula 1 cancelled the Russian Grand Prix amid the Ukraine crisis.

'Right decision': Robert Lewandowski on Poland's decision to not play World Cup qualifier with Russia

Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Russian forces close in on Kyiv as shelling & airstrikes spike

The sanction imposed by the West has not stopped Russia from halting the invasion of Ukraine. Reportedly, no sanctions have been imposed on Russia’s energy sector.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Why sanctions on Russia created no deterrence?

West is trying to ramp up pressure on Russia. Moscow uses veto power to reject the UNSC resolution created to condemn the Russian invasion in Ukraine. India however, abstained on the resolution.

India abstains on UNSC resolution against Russia, calls for cessation of violence in Ukraine

Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Reports of a large number of casualties amid Russian invasion

Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, protests against Russia and Putin raged across the globe. The world raised concerns on consequences.

Ukrainians protest across the world against the Russian invasion

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