Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday (April 5) said that negotiation with Russia is the only option left to end the ongoing war, which has left the country in tatters. But will the talks happen?&nbsp;

During an interview with Ukrainian journalists broadcast on national television, Zelensky said, "All of us, including myself, will perceive even the possibility of negotiations as a challenge."&nbsp;

He added that the "challenge is internal". During the conversation, the Ukrainian President said, "First of all, one's own, human challenge. Then, when you pull yourself together, and you have to do it, I think that we have no other choice."&nbsp;

As he addressed the media outlet, Zelensky spoke about how Russian troops carried out extra-judicial killings in the town of Bucha west of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-mums-write-family-contacts-on-bodies-of-their-babies-and-europe-is-still-discussing-gas-468513">'Ukrainian mums write family contacts on bodies of their babies and Europe is still discussing gas'</a>

<hr />
<blockquote>
All of us will perceive even the possibility of negotiations – I am not even talking about the content of the talks – as a challenge. The challenge is internal, first of all, one's own, human challenge. What shall we do now? Then, when you pull yourself together, and you have to do it, I think that I have no other choice" -&nbsp;Zelensky
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
"The most difficult thing is to talk about what they (Russians) have done, recognize them as an enemy, know that it is a Russian war against Ukraine. It needs to be recognized. We believe it is genocide. We believe they must be held accountable for it. And having such a stance, we must look for a possibility to meet. And when we meet, we must find a solution. And solution cannot mean loss of our territory. I believe we must set such a goal for the talks. And then we will see what happens. There is a chance that the meeting will not happen. It is possible" -&nbsp;Zelensky

"Russia has its own view of Donbas while we have ours. For that reason, I had a simple proposal. I believe we will not be able to reach an agreement on all points at once. It is impossible even if we hold talks. It is impossible" -&nbsp;Zelensky
</blockquote>

<hr />
ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/swastika-shaped-burns-ukrainian-mp-claims-russian-soldiers-raped-and-branded-girls-shows-gory-image-468336">'Swastika-shaped burns': Ukrainian MP claims Russian soldiers raped and branded girls, shows gory image</a>

Mass graves were found in Bucha and some of the dead bodies were lying on the streets. Authorities claimed that women and young girls were raped, tortured and then killed. The bodies of some girls were even branded.&nbsp;

Refuting the claims of brutality, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the reports of civilian killings in Bucha were "fakes" aimed at discrediting Russia.&nbsp;

Moscow has also said it would present "empirical evidence" to a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday (April 5) to provide credible information that its forces were not involved in any killings.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Zelensky said that the events in Bucha were unforgivable but Ukraine and Russia should take the difficult option of pursuing talks.&nbsp;

Important to note that the talks are going via video link, reported the Russian news agency Interfax citing a deputy Russian foreign minister as saying.&nbsp;

So far, there's no official comment on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is interested in holding talks with his Ukrainian counterpart.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Russian invasion: 4.2 million Ukrainians displaced in 40 days

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(With inputs from agencies)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday (April 5) said that negotiation with Russia is the only option left to end the ongoing war, which has left the country in tatters.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday (April 5) said that negotiation with Russia is the only option left to end the ongoing war, which has left the country in tatters. But will the talks happen? During an interview with Ukrainian journalists broadcast on national television, Zelensky said, "All of us, including myself, will perceive even the possibility of negotiations as a challenge." He added that the "challenge is internal". During the conversation, the Ukrainian President said, "First of all, one's own, human challenge. Then, when you pull yourself together, and you have to do it, I think that we have no other choice." As he addressed the media outlet, Zelensky spoke about how Russian troops carried out extra-judicial killings in the town of Bucha west of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. ALSO READ | 'Ukrainian mums write family contacts on bodies of their babies and Europe is still discussing gas' All of us will perceive even the possibility of negotiations – I am not even talking about the content of the talks – as a challenge. The challenge is internal, first of all, one's own, human challenge. What shall we do now? Then, when you pull yourself together, and you have to do it, I think that I have no other choice" - Zelensky "The most difficult thing is to talk about what they (Russians) have done, recognize them as an enemy, know that it is a Russian war against Ukraine. It needs to be recognized. We believe it is genocide. We believe they must be held accountable for it. And having such a stance, we must look for a possibility to meet. And when we meet, we must find a solution. And solution cannot mean loss of our territory. I believe we must set such a goal for the talks. And then we will see what happens. There is a chance that the meeting will not happen. It is possible" - Zelensky "Russia has its own view of Donbas while we have ours. For that reason, I had a simple proposal. I believe we will not be able to reach an agreement on all points at once. It is impossible even if we hold talks. It is impossible" - Zelensky ALSO READ | 'Swastika-shaped burns': Ukrainian MP claims Russian soldiers raped and branded girls, shows gory image Mass graves were found in Bucha and some of the dead bodies were lying on the streets. Authorities claimed that women and young girls were raped, tortured and then killed. The bodies of some girls were even branded. Refuting the claims of brutality, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the reports of civilian killings in Bucha were "fakes" aimed at discrediting Russia. Moscow has also said it would present "empirical evidence" to a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday (April 5) to provide credible information that its forces were not involved in any killings. Meanwhile, Zelensky said that the events in Bucha were unforgivable but Ukraine and Russia should take the difficult option of pursuing talks. Important to note that the talks are going via video link, reported the Russian news agency Interfax citing a deputy Russian foreign minister as saying. So far, there's no official comment on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is interested in holding talks with his Ukrainian counterpart. WATCH | Russian invasion: 4.2 million Ukrainians displaced in 40 days × (With inputs from agencies)

Zelensky says Ukraine had 'no option but to negotiate' with Russia to end war. But will Putin hold talks?

President Vladimir Putin has been at the helm of affairs in Russia uninterruptedly for over two decades since 1999 when he was appointed Russia’s Prime Minister by then president Boris Yeltsin. Within a year he was elected as Russia’s president.

As his influence and control over his country grew and as Russia gradually became a force to reckon with in global affairs under Putin’s leadership, a systematic campaign was launched in the West to ascribe various attributes to Putin.&nbsp;More often than not these attributes are derogatory in nature and range between autocrat, dictator, aggressive narcissist, raging bully, ruthless demolisher of opponents, one who has presided over the systematic dilution of democracy and institutes of governance and so on.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (February 24, 2022) has created a favourable environment for the Putin-haters to accelerate anti-Putin campaign to not only to paint him as a villain who is allegedly a threat to international peace, stability and security, but also to question his mental health and describe him as “mad”. None other than US President Biden has very recently gone to the extent of dubbing Putin as a “butcher” and “war criminal” who does not deserve to be in power.

To quote Amish Tripathi : “There is your truth and there is my truth. As for the universal truth, it does not exist.” So what is Putin’s “truth”?

The book-length collection of interviews with Putin by Russian journalists published under the title “The First Person” in 2000 (soon after he became president) introduced the new president of Russia, describing Putin as a son, schoolboy, university student, young intelligence specialist, spy, democrat, bureaucrat, family man, and politician.

Even though there were no startling revelations, some of the observations are of interest. For instance, Putin was candid in admitting that he didn’t know much about Stalin’s violent purges as he “was a pure and utterly successful product of Soviet patriotic education".

He was critical of the Soviet leaders for the invasions of Hungary and Czechoslovakia during the cold war. He says: "These were major mistakes. And the Russophobia that we see in Eastern Europe today is the fruit of those mistakes."

More than twenty years have elapsed since the first glimpses of Vladimir Putin were made public. It might be useful to quickly go through some of the key moments in the life and times of Putin beginning from childhood to draw some conclusions about his persona.

Putin was born in October 1952 in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg)—a city which was under siege during World War II. There is a broad consensus amongst historians, biographers and experts that Putin’s childhood was traumatic. The psychotherapist and author Joseph Burgo summed up in 2014: “Vladimir was born into this atmosphere of hunger, disability and profound grief.”

Putin recalls an interesting episode from his childhood in “The First Person'—"There were hordes of rats in the front entryway. My friends and I used to chase them around with sticks.” The rat chase appears to have influenced his mindset as evident from his narration.

&nbsp;“Once I spotted a huge rat and pursued it down the hall until I drove it into a corner. It had nowhere to run. Suddenly, it lashed around and threw itself at me. I was surprised and frightened. Now the rat was chasing me. Luckily, I was a little faster and I managed to slam the door shut in its nose. There, on that stair landing, I got a quick and lasting lesson in the meaning of the word cornered.”

Was his military intervention in Georgia in August 2008, Crimea’s annexation in 2014 and now Ukraine’s invasion in 2022 was a result of the feeling of “being cornered” by NATO’s eastward expansion and the West’s attempts to isolate Russia/ Putin by measures such as exclusion from G-8 or to weaken Russia’s economy through unilateral sanctions, and to tarnish his image?

The Americans have now doubled up their efforts to “corner” Putin. Will he step back or accelerate his mission to achieve the declared objectives in Ukraine: Ukraine’s neutrality, control over the eastern

Ukraine and a regime change in Ukraine if possible? The answer is&nbsp;most likely yes. Because he, at the end of the day, is a fighter who learned martial arts and excelled in judo in his childhood to fight against the street bullies and hooligans in his neighbourhood. Putin made an interesting observation in October 2015 to a western journalist: “50 years ago, the streets of Leningrad taught me one thing—If a fight's inevitable, you must strike first."

Putin once described the collapse of the Soviet Union as “the greatest geo-political catastrophe of the century” and that “whoever does not miss the Soviet Union has no heart."&nbsp;This statement of Putin reflects his nostalgia about the global power of which he was a part as an officer of the powerful Soviet intelligence agency, KGB, for several years.&nbsp;But more importantly, he has also gone on record to warn: “Whoever wants it (Soviet Union) back has no brain”.

Putin is thus a realist who understands that it would be an impossible task to reconstruct the disintegrated Soviet empire. Yet, Putin remains fixated with one idea i.e., to restore the status of Russia to a global superpower which is not only listened to, but also respected and perhaps feared, too. As a bottom line, Russia defines the former Soviet space as Russia’s “near abroad”, considers it as a sphere of Russia’s natural influence and is strongly opposed to any encroachments, including NATO’s eastwards expansion.

Putin’s public views on the war with Chechnya also reflect his mindset.&nbsp;He once said: “I was convinced that if we didn't stop the extremists right away, we'd be facing a second Yugoslavia on the entire territory of the Russian Federation--the Yugoslavization of Russia.” In other words, if Putin cannot restore the USSR to its original shape, he would not tolerate further fragmentation of the Russian Federation.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-kyiv-accuses-moscow-of-taking-children-hostage-and-using-them-as-shields-468027">&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine war: Kyiv accuses Moscow of taking children hostage and using them as shields</a>

Russia’s military campaigns in Syria were ostensibly to counter ISIS but it was soon apparent that the true objective was to defend President Assad’s government. So, here you have Putin as a leader who is willing to stick his neck out to protect a friend and ally. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

Even as an acting president in 1999 Putin had expressed his desire for close cooperation with Europe and even did not rule out the possibility of joining NATO. In the wake of 9/11, Putin had offered all possible assistance to the USA in her war on terrorism. It is now only a matter of speculation as to what would have been the state of global political and security situation, if the West had responded to Putin’s early gesture and disbanded NATO in the wake of the collapse of the USSR and consequent dissolution of the rival WARSAW PACT and had incorporated Russia into a new security structure for the Euro-Atlantic as an equal and respected member.

It is also a matter of fact that from the very beginning Putin had begun to assert on issues which in his opinion were not right. He strongly objected to U.S. President George Bush’s decision in 2001 to abandon the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Later in 2002-2003, Putin opposed the US and British plans to use force to oust Saddam Hussein’s government in Iraq. He was always opposed to NATO’s eastwards expansion from the very beginning. Crimea’s annexation in 2015 was Putin’s firm response or perhaps revenge for the change of the pro-Russian regime in Ukraine in 2015 inspired by the West. And he did so by skilfully manipulating the incorporation of strategically important Crimean peninsula of Ukraine into Russian Federation through a seemingly democratic process of Referendum.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-troops-selling-looted-goods-in-belarus-bazaar-alleges-ukraine-468198" hreflang="en">Russian troops selling 'looted' goods in Belarus bazaar, alleges Ukraine</a>

The soft side of Putin was revealed but only once when the world saw him crying in public at the funeral of his mentor Anatoly Sobchak who picked up Putin – then a middle-ranking KGB officer - from obscurity and gave him his first job in politics. Putin since then seems to have hardened at heart at least to the extent that he doesn’t let out his emotions publically.

It is difficult to draw more than a pen picture of Putin’s persona. Nevertheless one can say with some certainty that Putin has failed to earn the desired respect at home and abroad to qualify him as a statesman.

He, for sure, is a strong nationalist who is committed to the restoration of the lost glory of the Russian empire. He has the skill to survive against odds. He has often refused to accept the West’s convenient interpretation of the core principles of the international code of conduct and is willing to fight back whenever pushed to a corner without caring for the costs and consequences. He is a warrior but for the US President to call him a war criminal is a bit stretching it too far besides the fact that the US Presidents have many skeletons in their own cupboards.

Watch |&nbsp;United States: Putin misled on how war progressed

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/united-states-putin-misled-on-how-war-progressed-467047/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer)</div>

President Vladimir Putin has been at the helm of affairs in Russia uninterruptedly for over two decades since 1999 when he was appointed Russia’s Prime Minister by then president Boris Yeltsin.

President Vladimir Putin has been at the helm of affairs in Russia uninterruptedly for over two decades since 1999 when he was appointed Russia’s Prime Minister by then president Boris Yeltsin. Within a year he was elected as Russia’s president. As his influence and control over his country grew and as Russia gradually became a force to reckon with in global affairs under Putin’s leadership, a systematic campaign was launched in the West to ascribe various attributes to Putin. More often than not these attributes are derogatory in nature and range between autocrat, dictator, aggressive narcissist, raging bully, ruthless demolisher of opponents, one who has presided over the systematic dilution of democracy and institutes of governance and so on. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (February 24, 2022) has created a favourable environment for the Putin-haters to accelerate anti-Putin campaign to not only to paint him as a villain who is allegedly a threat to international peace, stability and security, but also to question his mental health and describe him as “mad”. None other than US President Biden has very recently gone to the extent of dubbing Putin as a “butcher” and “war criminal” who does not deserve to be in power. To quote Amish Tripathi : “There is your truth and there is my truth. As for the universal truth, it does not exist.” So what is Putin’s “truth”? The book-length collection of interviews with Putin by Russian journalists published under the title “The First Person” in 2000 (soon after he became president) introduced the new president of Russia, describing Putin as a son, schoolboy, university student, young intelligence specialist, spy, democrat, bureaucrat, family man, and politician. Even though there were no startling revelations, some of the observations are of interest. For instance, Putin was candid in admitting that he didn’t know much about Stalin’s violent purges as he “was a pure and utterly successful product of Soviet patriotic education". He was critical of the Soviet leaders for the invasions of Hungary and Czechoslovakia during the cold war. He says: "These were major mistakes. And the Russophobia that we see in Eastern Europe today is the fruit of those mistakes." More than twenty years have elapsed since the first glimpses of Vladimir Putin were made public. It might be useful to quickly go through some of the key moments in the life and times of Putin beginning from childhood to draw some conclusions about his persona. Putin was born in October 1952 in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg)—a city which was under siege during World War II. There is a broad consensus amongst historians, biographers and experts that Putin’s childhood was traumatic. The psychotherapist and author Joseph Burgo summed up in 2014: “Vladimir was born into this atmosphere of hunger, disability and profound grief.” Putin recalls an interesting episode from his childhood in “The First Person'—"There were hordes of rats in the front entryway. My friends and I used to chase them around with sticks.” The rat chase appears to have influenced his mindset as evident from his narration. “Once I spotted a huge rat and pursued it down the hall until I drove it into a corner. It had nowhere to run. Suddenly, it lashed around and threw itself at me. I was surprised and frightened. Now the rat was chasing me. Luckily, I was a little faster and I managed to slam the door shut in its nose. There, on that stair landing, I got a quick and lasting lesson in the meaning of the word cornered.” Was his military intervention in Georgia in August 2008, Crimea’s annexation in 2014 and now Ukraine’s invasion in 2022 was a result of the feeling of “being cornered” by NATO’s eastward expansion and the West’s attempts to isolate Russia/ Putin by measures such as exclusion from G-8 or to weaken Russia’s economy through unilateral sanctions, and to tarnish his image? The Americans have now doubled up their efforts to “corner” Putin. Will he step back or accelerate his mission to achieve the declared objectives in Ukraine: Ukraine’s neutrality, control over the eastern Ukraine and a regime change in Ukraine if possible? The answer is most likely yes. Because he, at the end of the day, is a fighter who learned martial arts and excelled in judo in his childhood to fight against the street bullies and hooligans in his neighbourhood. Putin made an interesting observation in October 2015 to a western journalist: “50 years ago, the streets of Leningrad taught me one thing—If a fight's inevitable, you must strike first." Putin once described the collapse of the Soviet Union as “the greatest geo-political catastrophe of the century” and that “whoever does not miss the Soviet Union has no heart." This statement of Putin reflects his nostalgia about the global power of which he was a part as an officer of the powerful Soviet intelligence agency, KGB, for several years. But more importantly, he has also gone on record to warn: “Whoever wants it (Soviet Union) back has no brain”. Putin is thus a realist who understands that it would be an impossible task to reconstruct the disintegrated Soviet empire. Yet, Putin remains fixated with one idea i.e., to restore the status of Russia to a global superpower which is not only listened to, but also respected and perhaps feared, too. As a bottom line, Russia defines the former Soviet space as Russia’s “near abroad”, considers it as a sphere of Russia’s natural influence and is strongly opposed to any encroachments, including NATO’s eastwards expansion. Putin’s public views on the war with Chechnya also reflect his mindset. He once said: “I was convinced that if we didn't stop the extremists right away, we'd be facing a second Yugoslavia on the entire territory of the Russian Federation--the Yugoslavization of Russia.” In other words, if Putin cannot restore the USSR to its original shape, he would not tolerate further fragmentation of the Russian Federation. Also read | Russia-Ukraine war: Kyiv accuses Moscow of taking children hostage and using them as shields Russia’s military campaigns in Syria were ostensibly to counter ISIS but it was soon apparent that the true objective was to defend President Assad’s government. So, here you have Putin as a leader who is willing to stick his neck out to protect a friend and ally. A friend in need is a friend indeed. Even as an acting president in 1999 Putin had expressed his desire for close cooperation with Europe and even did not rule out the possibility of joining NATO. In the wake of 9/11, Putin had offered all possible assistance to the USA in her war on terrorism. It is now only a matter of speculation as to what would have been the state of global political and security situation, if the West had responded to Putin’s early gesture and disbanded NATO in the wake of the collapse of the USSR and consequent dissolution of the rival WARSAW PACT and had incorporated Russia into a new security structure for the Euro-Atlantic as an equal and respected member. It is also a matter of fact that from the very beginning Putin had begun to assert on issues which in his opinion were not right. He strongly objected to U.S. President George Bush’s decision in 2001 to abandon the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Later in 2002-2003, Putin opposed the US and British plans to use force to oust Saddam Hussein’s government in Iraq. He was always opposed to NATO’s eastwards expansion from the very beginning. Crimea’s annexation in 2015 was Putin’s firm response or perhaps revenge for the change of the pro-Russian regime in Ukraine in 2015 inspired by the West. And he did so by skilfully manipulating the incorporation of strategically important Crimean peninsula of Ukraine into Russian Federation through a seemingly democratic process of Referendum. Also read | Russian troops selling 'looted' goods in Belarus bazaar, alleges Ukraine The soft side of Putin was revealed but only once when the world saw him crying in public at the funeral of his mentor Anatoly Sobchak who picked up Putin – then a middle-ranking KGB officer - from obscurity and gave him his first job in politics. Putin since then seems to have hardened at heart at least to the extent that he doesn’t let out his emotions publically. It is difficult to draw more than a pen picture of Putin’s persona. Nevertheless one can say with some certainty that Putin has failed to earn the desired respect at home and abroad to qualify him as a statesman. He, for sure, is a strong nationalist who is committed to the restoration of the lost glory of the Russian empire. He has the skill to survive against odds. He has often refused to accept the West’s convenient interpretation of the core principles of the international code of conduct and is willing to fight back whenever pushed to a corner without caring for the costs and consequences. He is a warrior but for the US President to call him a war criminal is a bit stretching it too far besides the fact that the US Presidents have many skeletons in their own cupboards. Watch | United States: Putin misled on how war progressed (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer)

Vladimir Putin: A statesman, warrior or war criminal?

In a first, Pope Francis on Saturday implicitly criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for invading Ukraine and launching a “savage” war.

"From the east of Europe, from the land of the sunrise, the dark shadows of war have now spread. We had thought that invasions of other countries, savage street fighting and atomic threats were grim memories of a distant past," he said.

''However, the icy winds of war, which bring only death, destruction and hatred in their wake, have swept down powerfully upon the lives of many people and affected us all," Francis said.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-conflict-rages-on-as-moscow-reports-air-raids-on-russian-soil-467585/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Once again, some potentate, sadly caught up in anachronistic claims of nationalist interests, is provoking and fomenting conflicts, whereas ordinary people sense the need to build a future that, will either be shared, or not be at all," he said, without mentioning Putin by name.

Blasting Russia’s ''infantile'' war, Pope said the clash of interests and ideologies had "re-emerged powerfully in the seductions of autocracy, new forms of imperialism (and) widespread aggressiveness."

When he was asked by a reporter whether a visit to Kyiv was still possible. The 85-year-old replied, "Yes, it's on the table."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraines-economy-could-contract-40-in-2022-due-to-russian-invasion-467655">Ukraine's economy could contract 40% in 2022 due to Russian invasion</a>

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko had written a letter to the pope on March 8 saying Francis' presence in the capital "is key for saving lives and paving the path to peace in our city, country and beyond."

"We appeal to you, as a spiritual leader, to show your compassion, to stand with the Ukrainian people by jointly spreading the call for peace," wrote Klitschko.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/aerorozvidka-how-ukraines-elite-it-force-halted-russias-long-mechanised-brigade-eyeing-kyiv-467687" hreflang="en">Aerorozvidka: How Ukraine's elite IT force halted Russia's long mechanised brigade eyeing Kyiv</a>

The Vatican tends to not call out aggressors in hopes of keeping open options for dialogue. It had offered itself as a potential mediator but to date has been largely left on the diplomatic sidelines.

This was the pope's most pointed and personalised denunciation yet of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

"May you always cultivate legality and transparency, which will enable the eradication of corruption and criminality," the pope said.

Moscow denies targeting civilians in the action it launched on February 24, which it dubs a "special military operation." It claims that this operations is not designed to occupy territory but to demilitarise and "denazify" its neighbour. 
(With inputs from agencies)

In a first, Pope Francis on Saturday implicitly criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for invading Ukraine and launching a “savage” war. "From the east of Europe, from the land of the sunrise, the dark shadows of war have now spread.

In a first, Pope Francis on Saturday implicitly criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for invading Ukraine and launching a “savage” war. "From the east of Europe, from the land of the sunrise, the dark shadows of war have now spread. We had thought that invasions of other countries, savage street fighting and atomic threats were grim memories of a distant past," he said. ''However, the icy winds of war, which bring only death, destruction and hatred in their wake, have swept down powerfully upon the lives of many people and affected us all," Francis said. "Once again, some potentate, sadly caught up in anachronistic claims of nationalist interests, is provoking and fomenting conflicts, whereas ordinary people sense the need to build a future that, will either be shared, or not be at all," he said, without mentioning Putin by name. Blasting Russia’s ''infantile'' war, Pope said the clash of interests and ideologies had "re-emerged powerfully in the seductions of autocracy, new forms of imperialism (and) widespread aggressiveness." When he was asked by a reporter whether a visit to Kyiv was still possible. The 85-year-old replied, "Yes, it's on the table." Also read | Ukraine's economy could contract 40% in 2022 due to Russian invasion Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko had written a letter to the pope on March 8 saying Francis' presence in the capital "is key for saving lives and paving the path to peace in our city, country and beyond." "We appeal to you, as a spiritual leader, to show your compassion, to stand with the Ukrainian people by jointly spreading the call for peace," wrote Klitschko. Also see | Aerorozvidka: How Ukraine's elite IT force halted Russia's long mechanised brigade eyeing Kyiv The Vatican tends to not call out aggressors in hopes of keeping open options for dialogue. It had offered itself as a potential mediator but to date has been largely left on the diplomatic sidelines. This was the pope's most pointed and personalised denunciation yet of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. "May you always cultivate legality and transparency, which will enable the eradication of corruption and criminality," the pope said. Moscow denies targeting civilians in the action it launched on February 24, which it dubs a "special military operation." It claims that this operations is not designed to occupy territory but to demilitarise and "denazify" its neighbour. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine invasion: Pope Francis implicitly criticises Putin for 'savage' war

This Sunday, Hungary's nearly 8 million voters will elect 199 members of the country's national assembly. Now, Victor Orban's ambitions hang in the balance as his close relationship with Vladimir Putin comes under the spotlight.

Victor Orban's dream of two decades in power hangs in balance

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (March 31) that foreign buyers must pay for Russian gas in Russian currency roubles from April 1. He said that contracts would be halted if these payments were not made.

"In order to purchase Russian natural gas, they must open rouble accounts in Russian banks. It is from these accounts that payments will be made for gas delivered starting from tomorrow," Putin said in televised remarks.

"If such payments are not made, we will consider this a default on the part of buyers, with all the ensuing consequences. Nobody sells us anything for free, and we are not going to do charity either - that is, existing contracts will be stopped."

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-trying-to-reinforce-offensive-in-donbas-maintains-pressure-on-kyiv-nato-467184">Russia trying to reinforce offensive in Donbas; maintains pressure on Kyiv: NATO</a>

Europe is dependent on Russia for third of its natural gas supply. This gives Russia leverage to hit back against the Western sanctions imposed on Russia in the wake of Ukraine invasion.

His decision to enforce rouble payments has boosted the Russian currency, which fell to historic lows after Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on the Feb. 24 but has since recovered.

Western companies and governments have rejected the move as a breach of existing contracts, which are set in euros or dollars. France's economy minister said France and Germany were preparing for a possible scenario that Russian gas flows could be halted - something that would plunge Europe into a full-blown energy crisis.

An order signed by Putin set out a mechanism for buyers to transfer foreign currency to a special account at a Russian bank, which would then send roubles back to the foreign buyer to make payment for the gas.

He said the switch was meant to strengthen Russia's sovereignty, and it would stick to its obligations on all contracts.

Putin also said Western nations will try to find new grounds to sanction Russia, adding that his country must aim to retain jobs and to create new ones. The Russian president also said that the United States was profiting from the global turbulence, adding that of U.S. military complex companies were on the rise.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (March 31) that foreign buyers must pay for Russian gas in Russian currency roubles from April 1. He said that contracts would be halted if these payments were not made.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (March 31) that foreign buyers must pay for Russian gas in Russian currency roubles from April 1. He said that contracts would be halted if these payments were not made. "In order to purchase Russian natural gas, they must open rouble accounts in Russian banks. It is from these accounts that payments will be made for gas delivered starting from tomorrow," Putin said in televised remarks. "If such payments are not made, we will consider this a default on the part of buyers, with all the ensuing consequences. Nobody sells us anything for free, and we are not going to do charity either - that is, existing contracts will be stopped." Also Read | Russia trying to reinforce offensive in Donbas; maintains pressure on Kyiv: NATO Europe is dependent on Russia for third of its natural gas supply. This gives Russia leverage to hit back against the Western sanctions imposed on Russia in the wake of Ukraine invasion. His decision to enforce rouble payments has boosted the Russian currency, which fell to historic lows after Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on the Feb. 24 but has since recovered. Western companies and governments have rejected the move as a breach of existing contracts, which are set in euros or dollars. France's economy minister said France and Germany were preparing for a possible scenario that Russian gas flows could be halted - something that would plunge Europe into a full-blown energy crisis. An order signed by Putin set out a mechanism for buyers to transfer foreign currency to a special account at a Russian bank, which would then send roubles back to the foreign buyer to make payment for the gas. He said the switch was meant to strengthen Russia's sovereignty, and it would stick to its obligations on all contracts. Putin also said Western nations will try to find new grounds to sanction Russia, adding that his country must aim to retain jobs and to create new ones. The Russian president also said that the United States was profiting from the global turbulence, adding that of U.S. military complex companies were on the rise. (With inputs from agencies)

Pay in roubles for Russian gas April 1 onwards, Putin tells foreign buyers

Taiwan's defence ministry has set up a working group to study the&nbsp;tactics&nbsp;of the&nbsp;war&nbsp;in&nbsp;Ukraine, including how the country has been able to hold out against Russia, and has been&nbsp;discussing&nbsp;this with the United States, its minister said on Thursday.

Taiwan, claimed by China as its own territory, has raised its alert level since the Russian invasion,&nbsp;wary of Beijing possibly making a similar move on the island, though it has reported no signs this is about to happen.

The possible impact of the&nbsp;war&nbsp;on China's military thinking on&nbsp;Taiwan, and how China could attack the island, has been widely debated in official circles in Taipei.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-forces-leaving-chernobyl-nuclear-site-have-been-infected-with-radiation-sickness-reports-467130">Russian forces leaving Chernobyl nuclear site hit by radiation sickness: Reports</a>

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of parliament, Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said they had had "contact" with foreign countries to talk about how the&nbsp;war&nbsp;was being fought, and had set up their own working group to study it.

Topics&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;is following include Russia's poor military performance and&nbsp;Ukraine's resistance, he said.

"It is not only discussed in exchange meetings between the United States and&nbsp;Taiwan, but also discussed with other countries that have regular contacts with&nbsp;Taiwan," Chiu added, without giving details.

Taiwan's team on&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;includes academics from the National Defence University, he said.

"However, we will not make remarks rashly, but through internal discussions which are important, to get results that are helpful for building armaments and preparing for&nbsp;war."

While&nbsp;Taiwanese officials have seen many parallels in the&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;war&nbsp;and their own situation, including having their own giant neighbour with territorial ambitions, they have also pointed to major differences.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eyeing-russia-ukraine-conflict-taiwan-mulls-extending-compulsory-military-service-464968">Eyeing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Taiwan mulls extending compulsory military service</a>

Taiwan&nbsp;has talked, for example, of the "natural barrier" of the&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;Strait which would make China putting troops on the ground much more difficult than Russia just crossing over its land border with&nbsp;Ukraine.

Taiwan&nbsp;also has a large and well-equipped air force, and is developing its own formidable missile strike capability.

China has been stepping up its military pressure against&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;over the past two years or so.

Taiwan&nbsp;rejects China's sovereignty claims, and says only the island's people can decide their future.

Watch |&nbsp;Ukraine war reverberates in Taiwan: Matsu islanders fear Chinese action

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Taiwan's defence ministry has set up a working group to study the tactics of the war in Ukraine, including how the country has been able to hold out against Russia, and has been discussing this with the United States, its minister said on Thursday.

Taiwan's defence ministry has set up a working group to study the tactics of the war in Ukraine, including how the country has been able to hold out against Russia, and has been discussing this with the United States, its minister said on Thursday. Taiwan, claimed by China as its own territory, has raised its alert level since the Russian invasion, wary of Beijing possibly making a similar move on the island, though it has reported no signs this is about to happen. The possible impact of the war on China's military thinking on Taiwan, and how China could attack the island, has been widely debated in official circles in Taipei. Also read | Russian forces leaving Chernobyl nuclear site hit by radiation sickness: Reports Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of parliament, Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said they had had "contact" with foreign countries to talk about how the war was being fought, and had set up their own working group to study it. Topics Taiwan is following include Russia's poor military performance and Ukraine's resistance, he said. "It is not only discussed in exchange meetings between the United States and Taiwan, but also discussed with other countries that have regular contacts with Taiwan," Chiu added, without giving details. Taiwan's team on Ukraine includes academics from the National Defence University, he said. "However, we will not make remarks rashly, but through internal discussions which are important, to get results that are helpful for building armaments and preparing for war." While Taiwanese officials have seen many parallels in the Ukraine war and their own situation, including having their own giant neighbour with territorial ambitions, they have also pointed to major differences. Also read | Eyeing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Taiwan mulls extending compulsory military service Taiwan has talked, for example, of the "natural barrier" of the Taiwan Strait which would make China putting troops on the ground much more difficult than Russia just crossing over its land border with Ukraine. Taiwan also has a large and well-equipped air force, and is developing its own formidable missile strike capability. China has been stepping up its military pressure against Taiwan over the past two years or so. Taiwan rejects China's sovereignty claims, and says only the island's people can decide their future. Watch | Ukraine war reverberates in Taiwan: Matsu islanders fear Chinese action

Taiwan studying Ukraine war tactics, discussing with US, says defence minister

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russian troops are regrouping in preparation for a renewed assault this time in the East as he dismissed Moscow's promises to scale back attacks on Kyiv.

Ukraine says Russia renewing focus on Donbas region

Ukraine's top negotiator said enough progress had been made at talks Tuesday in Turkey to resolve the conflict with Russia to enable a meeting between the presidents of the two countries.

"The results of today's meeting are sufficient for a meeting at the leaders' level," Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia said, raising the possibility of a meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin that Russia had shot down as recently as Monday as being "counterproductive".

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-and-russia-what-are-the-latest-updates-467024">&nbsp;Ukraine and Russia: What are the latest updates?</a>

A Russian negotiator welcomed "meaningful" progress with Ukrainian representatives at peace talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul, over a month after Russia invaded its neighbour.

The discussions are focussing on the humanitarian situation in war-scarred Ukrainian regions as well as Russia's demand that Ukraine become a neutral state, among other issues.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-says-ukraine-preparing-for-new-russian-offensive-in-the-east-dismisses-russian-claims-of-scaleback-467037">&nbsp;Zelensky says Ukraine preparing for new Russian offensive in the east, dismisses Russian claims of scaleback</a>

Meanwhile, Ukraine called for an international agreement under which other countries would guarantee its security.

Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia told reporters the guarantee should resemble NATO's Article 5 which commits alliance members to defend each other.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas Global Headlines: Putin-Zelensky talks possible, Sri Lanka financial crisis &amp; more

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Ukraine's top negotiator said enough progress had been made at talks Tuesday in Turkey to resolve the conflict with Russia to enable a meeting between the presidents of the two countries.

Ukraine's top negotiator said enough progress had been made at talks Tuesday in Turkey to resolve the conflict with Russia to enable a meeting between the presidents of the two countries. "The results of today's meeting are sufficient for a meeting at the leaders' level," Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia said, raising the possibility of a meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin that Russia had shot down as recently as Monday as being "counterproductive". Also read | Ukraine and Russia: What are the latest updates? A Russian negotiator welcomed "meaningful" progress with Ukrainian representatives at peace talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul, over a month after Russia invaded its neighbour. The discussions are focussing on the humanitarian situation in war-scarred Ukrainian regions as well as Russia's demand that Ukraine become a neutral state, among other issues. Also read | Zelensky says Ukraine preparing for new Russian offensive in the east, dismisses Russian claims of scaleback Meanwhile, Ukraine called for an international agreement under which other countries would guarantee its security. Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia told reporters the guarantee should resemble NATO's Article 5 which commits alliance members to defend each other. Watch | Gravitas Global Headlines: Putin-Zelensky talks possible, Sri Lanka financial crisis & more

Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky meeting possible after Istanbul talks, says Ukraine

A radio jockey from Kazakhstan was fired for suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin could invade the Central Asian country during a heated Facebook debate with a user who criticised the Ukraine war.

“We will call in Uncle Vova if you talk too much,” Europa Plus Kazakhstan radio station host Lyubov Panova said in her Facebook comments while supporting Russia and Putin.

The admirers of Vladimir affectionately call him “Vova”.

However, the comments drew wide condemnation, following which netizens demanded that the radio host be penalised.

Following a huge uproar, Europa Plus Kazakhstan terminated her contract on Monday, reported the Reuters.

Deputy Prosecutor General Bulat Dembayev issued a statement warning social media users against making comments that call for Kazakhs to join the Russia-Ukraine conflict or incite ethnic hatred.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russias-top-independent-newspaper-co-founded-gorbachev-ceases-operations-after-warnings-466444" hreflang="en">Russia’s top independent newspaper, co-founded by Gorbachev, ceases operations after warnings</a>

“Moreover, some social network users, including Kazakh citizens … publish separatist slogans that refer to the territorial integrity of our country,” he said, warning that such actions constitute a crime.

Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic, shares the world's second-longest land border with Russia and has close economic and political ties with Moscow, being a member of Russian-led trade and military blocs.

So far, Kazakhstan has avoided taking sides on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, although President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said this month that all countries must strictly adhere to the norms and principles of the UN Charter.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/retaliatory-visa-measures-russia-set-to-restrict-entry-of-nationals-from-unfriendly-countries-466435" hreflang="en">Russia set to restrict entry of nationals from 'unfriendly' countries</a>

In fact, the deputy foreign minister told a German newspaper that companies leaving Russia due to the war in Ukraine were welcome to move production to Kazakhstan, saying Kazakhstan would not want to be on the wrong side of a new "iron curtain".

The foreign ministry last month signalled its neutrality in the Ukraine conflict and said it is not considering recognition of two Russia-backed separatist entities in eastern Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies)

A radio jockey from Kazakhstan was fired for suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin could invade the Central Asian country during a heated Facebook debate with a user who criticised the Ukraine war.

A radio jockey from Kazakhstan was fired for suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin could invade the Central Asian country during a heated Facebook debate with a user who criticised the Ukraine war. “We will call in Uncle Vova if you talk too much,” Europa Plus Kazakhstan radio station host Lyubov Panova said in her Facebook comments while supporting Russia and Putin. The admirers of Vladimir affectionately call him “Vova”. However, the comments drew wide condemnation, following which netizens demanded that the radio host be penalised. Following a huge uproar, Europa Plus Kazakhstan terminated her contract on Monday, reported the Reuters. Deputy Prosecutor General Bulat Dembayev issued a statement warning social media users against making comments that call for Kazakhs to join the Russia-Ukraine conflict or incite ethnic hatred. Also read | Russia’s top independent newspaper, co-founded by Gorbachev, ceases operations after warnings “Moreover, some social network users, including Kazakh citizens … publish separatist slogans that refer to the territorial integrity of our country,” he said, warning that such actions constitute a crime. Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic, shares the world's second-longest land border with Russia and has close economic and political ties with Moscow, being a member of Russian-led trade and military blocs. So far, Kazakhstan has avoided taking sides on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, although President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said this month that all countries must strictly adhere to the norms and principles of the UN Charter. Also read | Russia set to restrict entry of nationals from 'unfriendly' countries In fact, the deputy foreign minister told a German newspaper that companies leaving Russia due to the war in Ukraine were welcome to move production to Kazakhstan, saying Kazakhstan would not want to be on the wrong side of a new "iron curtain". The foreign ministry last month signalled its neutrality in the Ukraine conflict and said it is not considering recognition of two Russia-backed separatist entities in eastern Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies)

Kazakh radio host calls on ‘Uncle’ Putin to invade country, fired

Russian&nbsp;Foreign&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Sergei&nbsp;Lavrov&nbsp;said&nbsp;on&nbsp;Monday&nbsp;that a&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;between&nbsp;President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy should happen once the two sides are closer to agreeing on key issues.

Speaking to Serbian media outlets,&nbsp;Lavrov&nbsp;added that any&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;between&nbsp;Putin and Zelenskiy to exchange views on the conflict right now would be counter-productive.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-seizes-premium-swiss-watches-amid-sanctions-report-466418">Russia seizes premium Swiss watches amid sanctions: Report</a>

Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it called a special operation to degrade its southern neighbour's military capabilities and root out people it called dangerous nationalists.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-sinopec-suspends-talks-with-russian-companies-amid-sanctions-row-466372">China's Sinopec suspends talks with Russian companies amid sanctions row</a>

Ukrainian forces have mounted stiff resistance and the West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia in an effort to force it to withdraw its forces.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas Plus: The story of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy should happen once the two sides are closer to agreeing on key issues.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy should happen once the two sides are closer to agreeing on key issues. Speaking to Serbian media outlets, Lavrov added that any meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy to exchange views on the conflict right now would be counter-productive. Also read | Russia seizes premium Swiss watches amid sanctions: Report Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it called a special operation to degrade its southern neighbour's military capabilities and root out people it called dangerous nationalists. Also read | China's Sinopec suspends talks with Russian companies amid sanctions row Ukrainian forces have mounted stiff resistance and the West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia in an effort to force it to withdraw its forces. Watch | Gravitas Plus: The story of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky

Putin, Zelenskiy meeting needed once sides closer on key issues: Russian Foreign Minister

Ever since the Russian invasion of Ukraine started last month, there have been concerns raised over whether the conflict could spill over the Ukrainian border.&nbsp;

Given the impact that the Ukraine invasion has had on the security environment in the region, Estonia —which shares a border with Russia —has called for NATO to build up a permanent force in the region that is capable of stopping the Russian offensive

In an exclusive conversation, when WION asked Eva-Maria Liimets, the Foreign Minister of Estonia, if she is worried that Vladimir Putin will not stop at Ukraine, the minister said, “We truly hope that this unprovoked and unjustified war started by Russia will end as soon as possible. So that we will not see any more civilian casualties and also that Ukraine could restore its territorial integrity. Here in Estonia, we don't see that there is a direct military threat to any of the NATO countries."

The minister added, "But as we have seen, Russia has a very aggressive approach towards its neighbours, towards democratic countries in the neighbourhood. We, of course, are a bit worried that we need to have a stronger defence posture so we don't give any reasoning for any miscalculations."

There are around 320,000 ethnic Russians in Estonia. When asked about the sentiment prevailing within that community over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Estonian foreign minister said, “This community is well integrated and of course, there are different views among these people. But the majority of them support Estonian views on this issue.”

Talking about China, the minister said it is "very important that China and other countries would really help us to end this war and also pressure Russia to end this war."

Western nations have warned that Russia could be preparing to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine. When asked about her views on this, Eva-Maria Liimets said, "It is really difficult to predict how this war in Ukraine continues. But I personally and truly hope that Russia stops the violation of international law, the UN Charter, and also other agreements related to peace and security. I truly hope that the international community comes together and helps to avoid another massacre where chemical weapons are used.”

The minister also sent out a solidarity message to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky through WION.

The minister said, “We continue to support your country politically, also towards your aspiration towards EU (membership). We continue to support your country economically. We continue to support your people. We truly hope the war ends, that your country can restore its territorial integrity within the internationally recognised borders."

"I would ask the Russian president to end this unjustified and unprovoked war,” she added.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;'China needs to put pressure on Russia to end war,' says Estonian foreign minister Eva-Maria Liimets

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Ever since the Russian invasion of Ukraine started last month, there have been concerns raised over whether the conflict could spill over the Ukrainian border. Given the impact that the Ukraine invasion has had on the security environment in the region, Estonia —which shares a border with Russia —has called for NATO to build up a permanent force in the region that is capable of stopping the Russian offensive In an exclusive conversation, when WION asked Eva-Maria Liimets, the Foreign Minister of Estonia, if she is worried that Vladimir Putin will not stop at Ukraine, the minister said, “We truly hope that this unprovoked and unjustified war started by Russia will end as soon as possible.

Ever since the Russian invasion of Ukraine started last month, there have been concerns raised over whether the conflict could spill over the Ukrainian border. Given the impact that the Ukraine invasion has had on the security environment in the region, Estonia —which shares a border with Russia —has called for NATO to build up a permanent force in the region that is capable of stopping the Russian offensive In an exclusive conversation, when WION asked Eva-Maria Liimets, the Foreign Minister of Estonia, if she is worried that Vladimir Putin will not stop at Ukraine, the minister said, “We truly hope that this unprovoked and unjustified war started by Russia will end as soon as possible. So that we will not see any more civilian casualties and also that Ukraine could restore its territorial integrity. Here in Estonia, we don't see that there is a direct military threat to any of the NATO countries." The minister added, "But as we have seen, Russia has a very aggressive approach towards its neighbours, towards democratic countries in the neighbourhood. We, of course, are a bit worried that we need to have a stronger defence posture so we don't give any reasoning for any miscalculations." There are around 320,000 ethnic Russians in Estonia. When asked about the sentiment prevailing within that community over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Estonian foreign minister said, “This community is well integrated and of course, there are different views among these people. But the majority of them support Estonian views on this issue.” Talking about China, the minister said it is "very important that China and other countries would really help us to end this war and also pressure Russia to end this war." Western nations have warned that Russia could be preparing to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine. When asked about her views on this, Eva-Maria Liimets said, "It is really difficult to predict how this war in Ukraine continues. But I personally and truly hope that Russia stops the violation of international law, the UN Charter, and also other agreements related to peace and security. I truly hope that the international community comes together and helps to avoid another massacre where chemical weapons are used.” The minister also sent out a solidarity message to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky through WION. The minister said, “We continue to support your country politically, also towards your aspiration towards EU (membership). We continue to support your country economically. We continue to support your people. We truly hope the war ends, that your country can restore its territorial integrity within the internationally recognised borders." "I would ask the Russian president to end this unjustified and unprovoked war,” she added. Watch | 'China needs to put pressure on Russia to end war,' says Estonian foreign minister Eva-Maria Liimets

Estonian foreign minister to WION: China, other countries must pressure Russia to end Ukraine war

The head of Ukraine's Luhansk separatist region said on Sunday that it could hold a referendum on becoming part of Russia.

"I think that in the near future a referendum will be held on the territory of the republic, during which the people will... express their opinion on joining the Russian Federation," Leonid Pasechnik said as per Russian news agencies.

Russia has supported the separatist rebels in Luhansk and the neighboring Donetsk regions since an insurgency erupted there in 2014 shortly after Moscow’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.

Moscow recognised there&nbsp;independence on February 21 and then cited their call for military assistance to launch the invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

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In talks with Ukraine, Moscow has urged it to acknowledge Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea and the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Pasechnik’s statement could herald a shift in the Russian position.

Ukraine said such a referendum in occupied Ukrainian territory would have no legal basis and would face a strong response from the international community, deepening Russia's global isolation.

"All fake referendums in the temporarily occupied territories are null and void and will have no legal validity," Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said in a statement.

"Instead, Russia will facе an even stronger response from the international community, further deepening its global isolation."

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-could-russian-president-vladimir-putin-be-prosecuted-for-war-crimes-in-ukraine-465719">How could Russian President Vladimir Putin be prosecuted for war crimes in Ukraine?</a>

Russian President Putin says what he casts as a "special military operation" was needed to defend Russia against the United States which he said was arming Ukraine and developing it into an "anti-Russia" with the aim of admitting it into the NATO military alliance.

Russian troops have also been besieging Mariupol as taking the strategic port city would give Moscow an unbroken control stretching from the Donbas to the Crimea peninsula, which it annexed in 2014.

Russia also says the operation was needed to defend Russian-speaking populations against persecution from Ukraine's government which it says is a puppet controlled by Washington.

Ukraine says such claims are simply a pretext for occupation and that Moscow does not understand that Ukraine is a sovereign country.

After Russian forces in 2014 took control of Crimea, first annexed by Russia in 1783, a referendum on joining Russia was held. Voters chose overwhelmingly to join Russia. Ukraine said the referendum was illegal and that Crimea is part of Ukraine.

The West imposed sanctions on Russia over the 2014 annexation of Crimea. Moscow says the majority of the people of Crimea wanted to join Russia. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The head of Ukraine's Luhansk separatist region said on Sunday that it could hold a referendum on becoming part of Russia. "I think that in the near future a referendum will be held on the territory of the republic, during which the people will.

The head of Ukraine's Luhansk separatist region said on Sunday that it could hold a referendum on becoming part of Russia. "I think that in the near future a referendum will be held on the territory of the republic, during which the people will... express their opinion on joining the Russian Federation," Leonid Pasechnik said as per Russian news agencies. Russia has supported the separatist rebels in Luhansk and the neighboring Donetsk regions since an insurgency erupted there in 2014 shortly after Moscow’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula. Moscow recognised there independence on February 21 and then cited their call for military assistance to launch the invasion of Ukraine on February 24. In talks with Ukraine, Moscow has urged it to acknowledge Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea and the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Pasechnik’s statement could herald a shift in the Russian position. Ukraine said such a referendum in occupied Ukrainian territory would have no legal basis and would face a strong response from the international community, deepening Russia's global isolation. "All fake referendums in the temporarily occupied territories are null and void and will have no legal validity," Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said in a statement. "Instead, Russia will facе an even stronger response from the international community, further deepening its global isolation." Also see | How could Russian President Vladimir Putin be prosecuted for war crimes in Ukraine? Russian President Putin says what he casts as a "special military operation" was needed to defend Russia against the United States which he said was arming Ukraine and developing it into an "anti-Russia" with the aim of admitting it into the NATO military alliance. Russian troops have also been besieging Mariupol as taking the strategic port city would give Moscow an unbroken control stretching from the Donbas to the Crimea peninsula, which it annexed in 2014. Russia also says the operation was needed to defend Russian-speaking populations against persecution from Ukraine's government which it says is a puppet controlled by Washington. Ukraine says such claims are simply a pretext for occupation and that Moscow does not understand that Ukraine is a sovereign country. After Russian forces in 2014 took control of Crimea, first annexed by Russia in 1783, a referendum on joining Russia was held. Voters chose overwhelmingly to join Russia. Ukraine said the referendum was illegal and that Crimea is part of Ukraine. The West imposed sanctions on Russia over the 2014 annexation of Crimea. Moscow says the majority of the people of Crimea wanted to join Russia. (With inputs from agencies)

Head of Ukraine's Luhansk separatist region says it may vote to join Russia

Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska said on Sunday that US&nbsp;President Joe Biden's speech in Warsaw indicated that some sort of "hellish ideological mobilisation" was underway that may usher in a much longer conflict in Ukraine.

Deripaska said he had thought the conflict in Ukraine was "mad" and that it could be stopped three weeks ago through talks.

"But now some sort of hellish ideological mobilisation is underway from all sides," Deripaska said. "That's it: these people are preparing to fight for a few years more."

It comes after US President Joe Biden branded Putin a "butcher" who "cannot remain in power".&nbsp;

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The Kremlin had reacted in fury over Biden's comments which it said narrows the window for bilateral relations, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine now into a second month.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused the West of cowardice as his country fights to stave off Russia’s invading troops, making an exasperated plea for fighter jets and tanks to sustain a defense as the war ground into a battle of attrition.

He lashed out Sunday at the West’s “ping-pong about who and how should hand over jets” and other weapons while Russian missile attacks kill and trap civilians.

“I’ve talked to the defenders of Mariupol today. I’m in constant contact with them. Their determination, heroism and firmness are astonishing,” Zelensky said in a video address, referring to the besieged southern city that has suffered some of the war’s greatest deprivations and horrors.&nbsp;

“If only those who have been thinking for 31 days on how to hand over dozens of jets and tanks had 1 per cent&nbsp;of their courage.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/leading-energy-analyst-says-russian-gas-sales-to-china-will-not-make-up-for-loss-of-european-markets-465956">Russian gas sales to China 'will not make up for loss of European markets'</a>

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, meanwhile, announced an additional $100 million in aid to help Ukraine police and border guards purchase armoured vehicles, equipment and medical supplies.

On the frontlines, Russia's far-bigger military continued to combat determined Ukrainian defenders who are using Western-supplied weapons, from near the capital Kyiv to Kharkiv, the eastern Donbas region and the devastated southern port city of Mariupol.

Moscow claims its focus is on wresting from Ukraine the entire eastern Donbas region, which has been partially controlled by Russia-backed separatists since 2014.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska said on Sunday that US President Joe Biden's speech in Warsaw indicated that some sort of "hellish ideological mobilisation" was underway that may usher in a much longer conflict in Ukraine.

Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska said on Sunday that US President Joe Biden's speech in Warsaw indicated that some sort of "hellish ideological mobilisation" was underway that may usher in a much longer conflict in Ukraine. Deripaska said he had thought the conflict in Ukraine was "mad" and that it could be stopped three weeks ago through talks. "But now some sort of hellish ideological mobilisation is underway from all sides," Deripaska said. "That's it: these people are preparing to fight for a few years more." It comes after US President Joe Biden branded Putin a "butcher" who "cannot remain in power". The Kremlin had reacted in fury over Biden's comments which it said narrows the window for bilateral relations, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine now into a second month. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused the West of cowardice as his country fights to stave off Russia’s invading troops, making an exasperated plea for fighter jets and tanks to sustain a defense as the war ground into a battle of attrition. He lashed out Sunday at the West’s “ping-pong about who and how should hand over jets” and other weapons while Russian missile attacks kill and trap civilians. “I’ve talked to the defenders of Mariupol today. I’m in constant contact with them. Their determination, heroism and firmness are astonishing,” Zelensky said in a video address, referring to the besieged southern city that has suffered some of the war’s greatest deprivations and horrors. “If only those who have been thinking for 31 days on how to hand over dozens of jets and tanks had 1 per cent of their courage.” Also read | Russian gas sales to China 'will not make up for loss of European markets' US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, meanwhile, announced an additional $100 million in aid to help Ukraine police and border guards purchase armoured vehicles, equipment and medical supplies. On the frontlines, Russia's far-bigger military continued to combat determined Ukrainian defenders who are using Western-supplied weapons, from near the capital Kyiv to Kharkiv, the eastern Donbas region and the devastated southern port city of Mariupol. Moscow claims its focus is on wresting from Ukraine the entire eastern Donbas region, which has been partially controlled by Russia-backed separatists since 2014. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine invasion: Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska says 'hellish mobilisation' is underway

A leading energy analyst has said that Russian gas sales to China ''will not make up for the loss of European markets.''

Tatiana Mitrova, a research fellow at the Centre on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University said that, ''China’s real value is as a source of necessary goods after the West imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow following the attack on its neighbour.''

''Russia is exporting about 170 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas to the European markets every year and the prices for the two buyers are dramatically different.''

“They are definitely not able to offset the whole exports which are now going to the West.”

“You remember this ‘oil for products’ programme in Iran? It’s rather moving in this direction, not about trading, but just about providing the inflow of the most necessary goods and products,” Mitrova said on the sidelines of the Doha Forum in Qatar.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-us-warns-against-conflict-on-nato-soil-amid-the-ongoing-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-465890/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Washington has raised concerns about Beijing helping Moscow in the midst of the bloody but stalled invasion.

"We have not seen... the provision of military equipment by China to Russia. But of course, this is something we are monitoring closely," US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said.

Since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the bloody assault on Ukraine, Western capitals have frozen Moscow out of the global financial system, tipping its currency into freefall and pushing the country to the verge of default.

But China, a longtime Russian ally, has refused to follow suit, throwing Moscow a potential economic lifeline to match the diplomatic cover it has provided by refusing to condemn the invasion.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-could-russian-president-vladimir-putin-be-prosecuted-for-war-crimes-in-ukraine-465719">How could Russian President Vladimir Putin be prosecuted for war crimes in Ukraine?</a>

China is the only friend that might help Russia blunt the impact of economic sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, but President Xi Jinping’s government is giving no sign it might be willing to risk its own access to US and European markets by doing too much.

Even if Beijing wanted to, its ability to support President Vladimir Putin by importing more Russian gas and other goods is limited.

Relations with Moscow have warmed since Xi took power in 2012, motivated by shared resentment of Washington, but their interests can conflict. Putin is uneasy about the growing Chinese economic presence in Central Asia and Russia’s Far East.

“China-Russia relations are at the highest level in history, but the two countries are not an alliance,” said Li Xin, an international relations expert at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law.

In response to the invasion, Washington, Britain, the 27-nation European Union and other Western allies have announced or promised sanctions against Russian banks, officials, business leaders and companies, as well as export controls aimed at starving Russia’s industries and military of high-tech products.

Xi’s government might support Putin within those limits,&nbsp;and Chinese companies might use the situation to pursue better deals — but will balk at openly violating sanctions and being targeted for penalties, experts said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-oligarchs-welcome-in-turkey-says-foreign-minister-mevlut-cavusoglu-465935" hreflang="en">Russian oligarchs welcome in Turkey, says Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu</a>

“China doesn’t want to get so involved that it ends up suffering as a result of its support for Russia,” said Mark Williams, chief Asia economist for Capital Economics.

Chinese trade with Russia rose to $146.9 billion last year, but that is less than one-tenth of China’s total $1.6 trillion in trade with the United States and EU.

“It all hinges on whether they’re willing to risk their access to Western markets to help Russia, and I don’t think they are,” said Williams. “It’s just not that big a market.”

China, the world’s second-largest economy, is the only major government not to have condemned the invasion.

“The degree of Chinese support Russia receives is likely to prove a crucial factor in how well it can weather the long-term consequences,” wrote Kevin Rudd, a former Australian prime minister and president of the Asia Society, on the Asia Society website.

&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A leading energy analyst has said that Russian gas sales to China ''will not make up for the loss of European markets.'' Tatiana Mitrova, a research fellow at the Centre on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University said that, ''China’s real value is as a source of necessary goods after the West imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow following the attack on its neighbour.

A leading energy analyst has said that Russian gas sales to China ''will not make up for the loss of European markets.'' Tatiana Mitrova, a research fellow at the Centre on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University said that, ''China’s real value is as a source of necessary goods after the West imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow following the attack on its neighbour.'' ''Russia is exporting about 170 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas to the European markets every year and the prices for the two buyers are dramatically different.'' “They are definitely not able to offset the whole exports which are now going to the West.” “You remember this ‘oil for products’ programme in Iran? It’s rather moving in this direction, not about trading, but just about providing the inflow of the most necessary goods and products,” Mitrova said on the sidelines of the Doha Forum in Qatar. Washington has raised concerns about Beijing helping Moscow in the midst of the bloody but stalled invasion. "We have not seen... the provision of military equipment by China to Russia. But of course, this is something we are monitoring closely," US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said. Since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the bloody assault on Ukraine, Western capitals have frozen Moscow out of the global financial system, tipping its currency into freefall and pushing the country to the verge of default. But China, a longtime Russian ally, has refused to follow suit, throwing Moscow a potential economic lifeline to match the diplomatic cover it has provided by refusing to condemn the invasion. Also see | How could Russian President Vladimir Putin be prosecuted for war crimes in Ukraine? China is the only friend that might help Russia blunt the impact of economic sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, but President Xi Jinping’s government is giving no sign it might be willing to risk its own access to US and European markets by doing too much. Even if Beijing wanted to, its ability to support President Vladimir Putin by importing more Russian gas and other goods is limited. Relations with Moscow have warmed since Xi took power in 2012, motivated by shared resentment of Washington, but their interests can conflict. Putin is uneasy about the growing Chinese economic presence in Central Asia and Russia’s Far East. “China-Russia relations are at the highest level in history, but the two countries are not an alliance,” said Li Xin, an international relations expert at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law. In response to the invasion, Washington, Britain, the 27-nation European Union and other Western allies have announced or promised sanctions against Russian banks, officials, business leaders and companies, as well as export controls aimed at starving Russia’s industries and military of high-tech products. Xi’s government might support Putin within those limits, and Chinese companies might use the situation to pursue better deals — but will balk at openly violating sanctions and being targeted for penalties, experts said. Also read | Russian oligarchs welcome in Turkey, says Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu “China doesn’t want to get so involved that it ends up suffering as a result of its support for Russia,” said Mark Williams, chief Asia economist for Capital Economics. Chinese trade with Russia rose to $146.9 billion last year, but that is less than one-tenth of China’s total $1.6 trillion in trade with the United States and EU. “It all hinges on whether they’re willing to risk their access to Western markets to help Russia, and I don’t think they are,” said Williams. “It’s just not that big a market.” China, the world’s second-largest economy, is the only major government not to have condemned the invasion. “The degree of Chinese support Russia receives is likely to prove a crucial factor in how well it can weather the long-term consequences,” wrote Kevin Rudd, a former Australian prime minister and president of the Asia Society, on the Asia Society website. (With inputs from agencies)

Leading energy analyst says Russian gas sales to China 'will not make up for loss of European markets'

Is Russian President Vladimir Putin at risk of a coup? Reports claim Putin's inner circle & top military officials are disgruntled with his war strategy. How secure is Putin's fortress? Palki Sharma decodes.

Gravitas: Is Putin at risk of a coup?

Russia's defence minister reappeared on television images broadcast Saturday, after his two-week absence from view prompted questions from journalists.

In the video, uploaded on social media, Shoigu said he had discussed issues related to the military budget and defence orders with the finance ministry.

"We continue ahead-of-schedule delivery of weaponry and equipment by means of credits. The priorities are long-range high-precision weapons, aircraft equipment and maintenance of engagement readiness of strategic nuclear forces," said Shoigu, who is overseeing what Russia calls its special military operation in Ukraine.

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The meeting was attended by a number of top Russian army officials including the chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, who also had not been seen in public recently.

Shoigu appeared on screen in a video clip of a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and his Security Council on Thursday, but was not shown speaking.

Prior to that, he had not been seen in public since March 11, fuelling speculation about his whereabouts. Some Russian media reports have speculated that Shoigu could have health problems.

On Saturday, the defence ministry denied reports that Shoigu had suffered a heart attack and was in hospital.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-could-russian-president-vladimir-putin-be-prosecuted-for-war-crimes-in-ukraine-465719" hreflang="en">How could Russian President Vladimir Putin be prosecuted for war crimes in Ukraine?</a>

Writing on messaging app Telegram, the ministry said that reports saying that Shoigu was recovering at Moscow's Burdenko military hospital were "obviously fake".

In early March, Russia imposed prison terms of up to 15 years for publishing "fake" news about the army.

Security and defence analyst, Michael Clarke, said the recent silence from Shoigu and Gerasimov is significant.

He said: "Their silence indicates that this operation has not gone to plan, otherwise they would have given daily updates at the most senior level.

"The speculation is that they are in disgrace and the loyalty of the armed forces at senior levels may be in doubt."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-reveals-military-death-toll-amid-heavy-fighting-in-kherson-465622" hreflang="en">Russia reveals military death toll amid heavy fighting in Kherson</a>

Earlier this week, the Kremlin referred to a conversation between the minister and Putin on the occasion of a report on developments of the "special military operation" at a meeting of the Russian security council, brushing aside speculation about Shoigu's prolonged absence.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov sought to quell rumours, telling journalists: "The defence minister has a lot to take care of at the moment. There is a special military operation going on.

"This is not the moment for media activity," he added.

Defence minister since 2012, he has sometimes been tipped as a potential successor to Putin in the Kremlin. He and Putin have been pictured in Siberia taking holidays together, fishing and picking mushrooms.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Russia's defence minister reappeared on television images broadcast Saturday, after his two-week absence from view prompted questions from journalists. In the video, uploaded on social media, Shoigu said he had discussed issues related to the military budget and defence orders with the finance ministry.

Russia's defence minister reappeared on television images broadcast Saturday, after his two-week absence from view prompted questions from journalists. In the video, uploaded on social media, Shoigu said he had discussed issues related to the military budget and defence orders with the finance ministry. "We continue ahead-of-schedule delivery of weaponry and equipment by means of credits. The priorities are long-range high-precision weapons, aircraft equipment and maintenance of engagement readiness of strategic nuclear forces," said Shoigu, who is overseeing what Russia calls its special military operation in Ukraine. The meeting was attended by a number of top Russian army officials including the chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, who also had not been seen in public recently. Shoigu appeared on screen in a video clip of a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and his Security Council on Thursday, but was not shown speaking. Prior to that, he had not been seen in public since March 11, fuelling speculation about his whereabouts. Some Russian media reports have speculated that Shoigu could have health problems. On Saturday, the defence ministry denied reports that Shoigu had suffered a heart attack and was in hospital. Also see | How could Russian President Vladimir Putin be prosecuted for war crimes in Ukraine? Writing on messaging app Telegram, the ministry said that reports saying that Shoigu was recovering at Moscow's Burdenko military hospital were "obviously fake". In early March, Russia imposed prison terms of up to 15 years for publishing "fake" news about the army. Security and defence analyst, Michael Clarke, said the recent silence from Shoigu and Gerasimov is significant. He said: "Their silence indicates that this operation has not gone to plan, otherwise they would have given daily updates at the most senior level. "The speculation is that they are in disgrace and the loyalty of the armed forces at senior levels may be in doubt." Also read | Russia reveals military death toll amid heavy fighting in Kherson Earlier this week, the Kremlin referred to a conversation between the minister and Putin on the occasion of a report on developments of the "special military operation" at a meeting of the Russian security council, brushing aside speculation about Shoigu's prolonged absence. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov sought to quell rumours, telling journalists: "The defence minister has a lot to take care of at the moment. There is a special military operation going on. "This is not the moment for media activity," he added. Defence minister since 2012, he has sometimes been tipped as a potential successor to Putin in the Kremlin. He and Putin have been pictured in Siberia taking holidays together, fishing and picking mushrooms. (With inputs from agencies)

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu reappears amid speculation over whereabouts

How could Russian President Vladimir Putin be prosecuted for war crimes in Ukraine?

Battered with sanctions for initiating war against Ukraine, Russia is now mulling to accept Bitcoins as a payment for oil and gas exports.

In a news conference on Thursday, Russian lawmaker Pavel Zavalny reportedly said that it is willing to be flexible with payments when it comes to “friendly” countries such as China or Turkey.

Zavalny, who is also the chair of Russia’s Duma committee on energy, said that the national fiat currency of the buyer, as well as Bitcoin, were being considered as alternative ways to pay for Russia’s energy exports.

"We have been proposing to China for a long time to switch to settlements in national currencies for rubles and&nbsp;yuan," Zavalny said, according to the translation. \

"With Turkey, it will be lira and rubles." "You can also trade bitcoins," he added.

The price of the cryptocurrency reportedly spiked when the news reports of Zavalny’s remarks first came up yesterday.

The remarks come a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow will accept only rubles as payments for gas exports from “unfriendly nations”.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-us-sign-mega-lng-deal-in-an-attempt-to-curb-reliance-on-sanctions-hit-russia-465514" hreflang="en">EU, US sign mega LNG deal to curb reliance on sanctions-hit Russia</a>

The list of countries includes the United States, European Union member states, Britain, Japan, Canada, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and Ukraine.

Echoing Putin’s remarks, Zavalny said, “If they want to buy, let them pay either in hard currency, and this is gold for us, or pay as it is convenient for us, this is the national currency.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-says-will-accept-only-rubles-for-gas-sales-to-unfriendly-nations-464927">Putin says will accept only rubles for gas sales to ‘unfriendly nations’</a>

Energy is the single most important source of income for Russia. In 2021, the oil and gas trade brought in $119 billion in revenue for the country, according to&nbsp;Reuters.

Russia has been looking for an alternative payment system mechanism ever since it was&nbsp;blocked from using the international&nbsp;SWIFT payment system.

Earlier this week, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde highlighted that the Russian private sector is&nbsp;using crypto to bypass Western sanctions.

Watch |&nbsp;Ukraine-Russia conflict: Putin says Russia to only take gas payments in rubles

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ukraine-russia-conflict-putin-says-russia-to-only-take-gas-payments-in-roubles-465041/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

(With inputs from agencies)

Battered with sanctions for initiating war against Ukraine, Russia is now mulling to accept Bitcoins as a payment for oil and gas exports. In a news conference on Thursday, Russian lawmaker Pavel Zavalny reportedly said that it is willing to be flexible with payments when it comes to “friendly” countries such as China or Turkey.

Battered with sanctions for initiating war against Ukraine, Russia is now mulling to accept Bitcoins as a payment for oil and gas exports. In a news conference on Thursday, Russian lawmaker Pavel Zavalny reportedly said that it is willing to be flexible with payments when it comes to “friendly” countries such as China or Turkey. Zavalny, who is also the chair of Russia’s Duma committee on energy, said that the national fiat currency of the buyer, as well as Bitcoin, were being considered as alternative ways to pay for Russia’s energy exports. "We have been proposing to China for a long time to switch to settlements in national currencies for rubles and yuan," Zavalny said, according to the translation. \ "With Turkey, it will be lira and rubles." "You can also trade bitcoins," he added. The price of the cryptocurrency reportedly spiked when the news reports of Zavalny’s remarks first came up yesterday. The remarks come a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow will accept only rubles as payments for gas exports from “unfriendly nations”. Also read | EU, US sign mega LNG deal to curb reliance on sanctions-hit Russia The list of countries includes the United States, European Union member states, Britain, Japan, Canada, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and Ukraine. Echoing Putin’s remarks, Zavalny said, “If they want to buy, let them pay either in hard currency, and this is gold for us, or pay as it is convenient for us, this is the national currency.” Also read | Putin says will accept only rubles for gas sales to ‘unfriendly nations’ Energy is the single most important source of income for Russia. In 2021, the oil and gas trade brought in $119 billion in revenue for the country, according to Reuters. Russia has been looking for an alternative payment system mechanism ever since it was blocked from using the international SWIFT payment system. Earlier this week, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde highlighted that the Russian private sector is using crypto to bypass Western sanctions. Watch | Ukraine-Russia conflict: Putin says Russia to only take gas payments in rubles (With inputs from agencies)

Russian lawmaker says considering Bitcoin payments for oil exports from ‘friendly’ nations

Can Russian President Vladimir Putin be overthrown in a coup? American lawmaker Lindsey Graham has called on Russian citizens to "stand up and take Putin out". Is a coup against Putin even possible? Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: A coup against Vladimir Putin?

President Vladimir Putin on Friday said the West was trying to cancel Russian culture, including the works of great composers such as Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Dmitry Shostakovich, and Sergei Rachmaninov.

"Today they are trying to cancel a thousand-year-old country," Putin said during a televised meeting with Russian winners of culture-related prizes.

"I am talking about the progressive discrimination against everything connected with Russia, about this trend that is unfolding in a number of Western states, with the full connivance and sometimes with the encouragement of Western elites," Putin added.&nbsp;

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"The proverbial 'cancel culture' has become a cancellation of culture," Putin said, adding that works by Russian composers were being excluded from concerts and books by Russian authors "banned".

"The last time such a mass campaign to destroy unwanted literature was carried out was by the Nazis in Germany almost 90 years ago... books were burned right on the squares," Putin said.

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A number of events involving Russian cultural figures who have voiced support for the war have been cancelled, including some involving Valery Gergiev, General director of the St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theatre, who spoke to Putin during Friday's meeting.

Gergiev has been dismissed as chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic and lost the chance to conduct at Milan's La Scala after he failed to condemn Russia's invasion.

"Not so long ago children's author J.K Rowling was cancelled because she, a writer of books that have sold millions of copies around the world, didn't please fans of so-called gender freedoms," Putin said.

Since Putin sent Russian troops into Ukraine on February 24, the West has piled sanctions on Moscow that have seen Russia increasingly isolated, politically and financially, and extending to spheres such as sports and culture.

Putin has tried to justify attacks on Ukraine saying that his operation aims to “denazify” Ukraine, a country with a Jewish president who lost relatives in the Holocaust and who heads a Western-backed, democratically elected government.

The Holocaust, World War II and Nazism have been important tools for Putin in his bid to legitimize Russia’s moves in Ukraine, but historians see their use as disinformation and a cynical ploy to further the Russian leader’s aims.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/one-month-of-russia-ukraine-conflict-here-are-the-top-10-developments-465411" hreflang="en">One month of Russia-Ukraine conflict: Here are the top 10 developments</a>

World War II, in which the Soviet Union lost an estimated 27 million people, is a linchpin of Russia’s national identity. In today’s Russia, officials bristle at any questioning of the USSR’s role.

Some historians say this has been coupled with an attempt by Russia at retooling certain historical truths from the war. They say Russia has tried to magnify the Soviet role in defeating the Nazis while playing down any collaboration by Soviet citizens in the persecution of Jews.

On Ukraine, Russia has tried to link the country to Nazism, particularly those who have led it since a pro-Russian leadership was toppled in 2014.

“In terms of all of the sort of constituent parts of Nazism, none of that is in play in Ukraine. Territorial ambitions. State-sponsored terrorism. Rampant antisemitism. Bigotry. A dictatorship. None of those are in play. So this is just total fiction,” said Jonathan Dekel-Chen, a history professor at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University.

What’s more, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is Jewish and has said that three of his grandfather’s brothers were killed by German occupiers while his grandfather survived the war. That hasn’t stopped Russian officials from comparing Zelensky to Jews who were forced to collaborate with the Nazis during the Holocaust.

(With inputs from agencies)

President Vladimir Putin on Friday said the West was trying to cancel Russian culture, including the works of great composers such as Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Dmitry Shostakovich, and Sergei Rachmaninov.

President Vladimir Putin on Friday said the West was trying to cancel Russian culture, including the works of great composers such as Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Dmitry Shostakovich, and Sergei Rachmaninov. "Today they are trying to cancel a thousand-year-old country," Putin said during a televised meeting with Russian winners of culture-related prizes. "I am talking about the progressive discrimination against everything connected with Russia, about this trend that is unfolding in a number of Western states, with the full connivance and sometimes with the encouragement of Western elites," Putin added. "The proverbial 'cancel culture' has become a cancellation of culture," Putin said, adding that works by Russian composers were being excluded from concerts and books by Russian authors "banned". "The last time such a mass campaign to destroy unwanted literature was carried out was by the Nazis in Germany almost 90 years ago... books were burned right on the squares," Putin said. Also read | Biden warns NATO retaliation if Russia uses chemical weapons in Ukraine A number of events involving Russian cultural figures who have voiced support for the war have been cancelled, including some involving Valery Gergiev, General director of the St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theatre, who spoke to Putin during Friday's meeting. Gergiev has been dismissed as chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic and lost the chance to conduct at Milan's La Scala after he failed to condemn Russia's invasion. "Not so long ago children's author J.K Rowling was cancelled because she, a writer of books that have sold millions of copies around the world, didn't please fans of so-called gender freedoms," Putin said. Since Putin sent Russian troops into Ukraine on February 24, the West has piled sanctions on Moscow that have seen Russia increasingly isolated, politically and financially, and extending to spheres such as sports and culture. Putin has tried to justify attacks on Ukraine saying that his operation aims to “denazify” Ukraine, a country with a Jewish president who lost relatives in the Holocaust and who heads a Western-backed, democratically elected government. The Holocaust, World War II and Nazism have been important tools for Putin in his bid to legitimize Russia’s moves in Ukraine, but historians see their use as disinformation and a cynical ploy to further the Russian leader’s aims. Also read | One month of Russia-Ukraine conflict: Here are the top 10 developments World War II, in which the Soviet Union lost an estimated 27 million people, is a linchpin of Russia’s national identity. In today’s Russia, officials bristle at any questioning of the USSR’s role. Some historians say this has been coupled with an attempt by Russia at retooling certain historical truths from the war. They say Russia has tried to magnify the Soviet role in defeating the Nazis while playing down any collaboration by Soviet citizens in the persecution of Jews. On Ukraine, Russia has tried to link the country to Nazism, particularly those who have led it since a pro-Russian leadership was toppled in 2014. “In terms of all of the sort of constituent parts of Nazism, none of that is in play in Ukraine. Territorial ambitions. State-sponsored terrorism. Rampant antisemitism. Bigotry. A dictatorship. None of those are in play. So this is just total fiction,” said Jonathan Dekel-Chen, a history professor at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University. What’s more, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is Jewish and has said that three of his grandfather’s brothers were killed by German occupiers while his grandfather survived the war. That hasn’t stopped Russian officials from comparing Zelensky to Jews who were forced to collaborate with the Nazis during the Holocaust. (With inputs from agencies)

Vladimir Putin accuses West of trying to cancel Russian culture

It has been one month since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale attack on Ukraine on 24 February 2022.

Since that many key events have taken place. Here's a wrap up of the most significant developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

1. The confirmed civilian death toll in Ukraine now exceeds 1,000, according to the UN

At least 1,035 people have been killed and 1,650 have been wounded in one month of fighting in Ukraine, according to the United Nations human rights office.

The statement states that ninety children were among the dead, adding that the true numbers were believed to be much higher because of delays in reporting from the heavily fought areas like Mariupol, a besieged city in southern Ukraine.

<img alt="Civilian casualities" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9b4c3dd5-82d0-4321-8f3a-6021bdf89283" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/stories%20%284%29_1.jpg" />

2. Troop casualties

Regarding troop casualties, Ukraine reports that 15,800 Russian soldiers have perished.

Western estimates put the number of dead, wounded, missing, or otherwise out of action Russian soldiers at up to 40,000.

President Zelensky announced last week that 1,300 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed. Kyiv has not provided an update since.

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3. Europe's worst refugee crisis since World War 2

Nearly 3.7 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia's invasion a month ago, according to the UN.

There are now estimates that over 10 million people -- over a quarter of the population in the areas under government control before the invasion on February 24 -- have fled their homes. Nearly 6.5 million of them are internally displaced.

Children make up almost half of all those who have been displaced. UNICEF stated that 4.3 million children -- more than half the country's estimated 7.5 million children -- have been forced to abandon their homes.

Over 1.8 million of these children are refugees, while another 2.5 million are displaced within their war-torn country, it said.

<img alt="Refugee" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dcc57861-2171-428d-beb5-1a6a9b679dc1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/stories%20%285%29_1.jpg" />

4. Brussels triple summit

An unprecedented triple summit in Brussels brought together the leaders of NATO, the G7, and European nations to address the continent's worst conflict since the Balkan wars of the 1990s.

The summit saw Western leaders pile on military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine and denounce Moscow's invasion of its neighbour as "barbaric".

In addition to the new NATO combat units, the United States and the United Kingdom increased aid and expanded sanctions against new targets, including the stepdaughter of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainians-need-to-achieve-peace-halt-russian-bombardment-says-president-volodymyr-zelensky-465301" hreflang="en">Ukrainians 'need to achieve peace', halt Russian bombardment, says President Volodymyr Zelensky</a>

"The single most important thing is for us to stay unified and the world continue to focus on what a brute this guy is and all the innocent people's lives that are being lost and ruined," Biden told reporters in Brussels, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Putin has already crossed the red line into barbarism," added British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

<img alt="Brussels summit" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ae37d30c-f3ed-4695-ab5c-54d5e7fe0230" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/stories%20%283%29_0.jpg" />

5. NATO strengthens its defenses&nbsp;

In response to Russia's war on Ukraine, NATO is beefing up chemical and nuclear defenses for its forces in eastern Europe, said alliance head Jens Stoltenberg.

"Our top military commander General Wolters has activated NATO's chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence elements, and allies are deploying additional chemical and biological and nuclear defences to reinforce our existing and new battle groups."

<img alt="Jens " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7b312e12-5c32-4082-8411-0a6b18a432c5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/stories%20%287%29_2.jpg" />

6. Ukraine pleads for unlimited aid&nbsp;

As its war entered its second month, Ukraine pressed for unlimited military aid from NATO in order for its troops to turn from defending territory to pushing Russian forces out, warning that Moscow could use chemical weapons.

According to Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia has been launching phosphorus bombs on Ukraine and shelling civilian areas at will, thus "the threat of full-scale use by Russia of chemical weapons on the territory of Ukraine is real."

"A month of heroic resistance. A month of the darkest suffering," he told the leaders.

"To save people and our cities, Ukraine needs military assistance without restrictions," Zelensky said. "In the same way that Russia is using its full arsenal without restrictions against us." &nbsp;

<img alt="Zelensky" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fd491894-40c3-4f32-8374-076dfe140f89" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/stories%20%286%29_0.jpg" />

7. UN General Assembly approves Ukraine aid resolution, criticises Russia

As many as three-quarters of the UN General Assembly has&nbsp;called for aid access and civilian protection in Ukraine, criticising Russia for creating a "dire" humanitarian crisis.

This is the second time the 193-member General Assembly has isolated Russia over what Moscow calls a "special military operation" intended to destroy Ukraine's military infrastructure.

Ukraine and its allies drafted the resolution, which received 140 votes in support and five votes against - Russia, Syria, North Korea, Eritrea and Belarus - while 38 countries, including China, abstained.

8. China rejects Russian claims of "prior knowledge" of attacks against Ukraine

China's ministry of defence has stated that it is false to state that China knew in advance about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and that such claims are false.

It was made in response to allegations in foreign media that China ignored warnings from the US that Russia would attack Ukraine.

China strongly disagrees with and rejects these accusations, which it says were made to "shirk responsibility and smear China", the Chinese defence ministry said in a statement.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: 1 month of Ukraine invasion: More bluster from NATO 
&nbsp;

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9. US sets red lines for China helping Russia dodge sanctions

Attempting to deter China from assisting sanctions-hit Russia, the Biden administration has issued warnings to Beijing not to take advantage of business opportunities created by sanctions, assist Moscow in evading export controls, or process its banned financial transactions.

Although China has expressed deep concern about the war in Ukraine, it is yet to condemn Russian action.

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10. ICC prosecutor calls for international support in Ukraine war-crimes probe

In an appeal to a coalition of countries to support the investigation of war crimes in Ukraine, the International Criminal Court chief prosecutor said "things can get worse" unless the international community takes action.

ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan spoke at a meeting of a British-led coalition in The Hague, where 38 countries have offered the court financial, military and legal assistance.

A formal inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine was opened by Khan on Feb. 28, just days after Russia invaded its smaller neighbour.

Ukraine and Russia aren't members of the ICC, but Kyiv has authorised the court to investigate on its territory and a team of investigators is gathering evidence there.

(With inputs from agencies)

It has been one month since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale attack on Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Since that many key events have taken place.

It has been one month since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale attack on Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Since that many key events have taken place. Here's a wrap up of the most significant developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 1. The confirmed civilian death toll in Ukraine now exceeds 1,000, according to the UN At least 1,035 people have been killed and 1,650 have been wounded in one month of fighting in Ukraine, according to the United Nations human rights office. The statement states that ninety children were among the dead, adding that the true numbers were believed to be much higher because of delays in reporting from the heavily fought areas like Mariupol, a besieged city in southern Ukraine. 2. Troop casualties Regarding troop casualties, Ukraine reports that 15,800 Russian soldiers have perished. Western estimates put the number of dead, wounded, missing, or otherwise out of action Russian soldiers at up to 40,000. President Zelensky announced last week that 1,300 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed. Kyiv has not provided an update since. Also read | Biden warns NATO retaliation if Russia uses chemical weapons in Ukraine 3. Europe's worst refugee crisis since World War 2 Nearly 3.7 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia's invasion a month ago, according to the UN. There are now estimates that over 10 million people -- over a quarter of the population in the areas under government control before the invasion on February 24 -- have fled their homes. Nearly 6.5 million of them are internally displaced. Children make up almost half of all those who have been displaced. UNICEF stated that 4.3 million children -- more than half the country's estimated 7.5 million children -- have been forced to abandon their homes. Over 1.8 million of these children are refugees, while another 2.5 million are displaced within their war-torn country, it said. 4. Brussels triple summit An unprecedented triple summit in Brussels brought together the leaders of NATO, the G7, and European nations to address the continent's worst conflict since the Balkan wars of the 1990s. The summit saw Western leaders pile on military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine and denounce Moscow's invasion of its neighbour as "barbaric". In addition to the new NATO combat units, the United States and the United Kingdom increased aid and expanded sanctions against new targets, including the stepdaughter of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Also read | Ukrainians 'need to achieve peace', halt Russian bombardment, says President Volodymyr Zelensky "The single most important thing is for us to stay unified and the world continue to focus on what a brute this guy is and all the innocent people's lives that are being lost and ruined," Biden told reporters in Brussels, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Putin has already crossed the red line into barbarism," added British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. 5. NATO strengthens its defenses In response to Russia's war on Ukraine, NATO is beefing up chemical and nuclear defenses for its forces in eastern Europe, said alliance head Jens Stoltenberg. "Our top military commander General Wolters has activated NATO's chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence elements, and allies are deploying additional chemical and biological and nuclear defences to reinforce our existing and new battle groups." 6. Ukraine pleads for unlimited aid As its war entered its second month, Ukraine pressed for unlimited military aid from NATO in order for its troops to turn from defending territory to pushing Russian forces out, warning that Moscow could use chemical weapons. According to Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia has been launching phosphorus bombs on Ukraine and shelling civilian areas at will, thus "the threat of full-scale use by Russia of chemical weapons on the territory of Ukraine is real." "A month of heroic resistance. A month of the darkest suffering," he told the leaders. "To save people and our cities, Ukraine needs military assistance without restrictions," Zelensky said. "In the same way that Russia is using its full arsenal without restrictions against us." 7. UN General Assembly approves Ukraine aid resolution, criticises Russia As many as three-quarters of the UN General Assembly has called for aid access and civilian protection in Ukraine, criticising Russia for creating a "dire" humanitarian crisis. This is the second time the 193-member General Assembly has isolated Russia over what Moscow calls a "special military operation" intended to destroy Ukraine's military infrastructure. Ukraine and its allies drafted the resolution, which received 140 votes in support and five votes against - Russia, Syria, North Korea, Eritrea and Belarus - while 38 countries, including China, abstained. 8. China rejects Russian claims of "prior knowledge" of attacks against Ukraine China's ministry of defence has stated that it is false to state that China knew in advance about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and that such claims are false. It was made in response to allegations in foreign media that China ignored warnings from the US that Russia would attack Ukraine. China strongly disagrees with and rejects these accusations, which it says were made to "shirk responsibility and smear China", the Chinese defence ministry said in a statement. Watch | Gravitas: 1 month of Ukraine invasion: More bluster from NATO 9. US sets red lines for China helping Russia dodge sanctions Attempting to deter China from assisting sanctions-hit Russia, the Biden administration has issued warnings to Beijing not to take advantage of business opportunities created by sanctions, assist Moscow in evading export controls, or process its banned financial transactions. Although China has expressed deep concern about the war in Ukraine, it is yet to condemn Russian action. 10. ICC prosecutor calls for international support in Ukraine war-crimes probe In an appeal to a coalition of countries to support the investigation of war crimes in Ukraine, the International Criminal Court chief prosecutor said "things can get worse" unless the international community takes action. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan spoke at a meeting of a British-led coalition in The Hague, where 38 countries have offered the court financial, military and legal assistance. A formal inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine was opened by Khan on Feb. 28, just days after Russia invaded its smaller neighbour. Ukraine and Russia aren't members of the ICC, but Kyiv has authorised the court to investigate on its territory and a team of investigators is gathering evidence there. (With inputs from agencies)

One month of Russia-Ukraine conflict: Here are the top 10 developments

Russian reformer Anatoly Chubais has left his post as Russian President Vladimir Putin's envoy for stable development, over Moscow's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Russian reformer Anatoly Chubais resigns job as Putin's envoy over Ukraine conflict

Vladimir Putin's spokesperson said that Russia would launch a nuclear strike only if its existence were threatened. Western media says a 'paranoid' Putin could escalate the conflict to force a deal. Palki Sharma decodes the mood in Moscow.

Gravitas: Will Putin launch a nuclear strike?

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is approaching the one month mark. What does Vladimir Putin want from Ukraine? Reports claim the Russian President shared his demands with Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Ukraine invasion: What does Putin want from Ukraine?

It's been almost a month since Russia started its invasion of Ukraine after President Vladimir Putin ordered so-called special "military operations" in the neighbouring country to "demilitarise" it.

It's been almost a month since Russia started its invasion of Ukraine after President Vladimir Putin ordered so-called special "military operations" in the neighbouring country to "demilitarise" it. But little did he know about the resistance of Ukraine, which defied all expectations and tried to block Russian forces. Nearly a month after the Russian invasion, its forces have continued heavy bombings and shelling that have caused massive damage to the cities. One of those cities is Mariupol. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said almost 100,000 people are trapped by Russian bombardment and facing starvation in the ruins of Mariupol. According to Human Rights Watch, tens of thousands of residents have already fled the besieged southern port city, leaving it to be the "freezing hellscape riddled with dead bodies and destroyed buildings". ALSO READ | Amid Ukraine invasion, Russia intensifies crackdown on media For Ukrainians besieged in Mariupol and other cities, Russian talk of peace rings hollow as they come under indiscriminate shelling that Western countries say amounts to a war crime. "Failing in their war against the Ukrainian people, the enemy is executing the total destruction of critical infrastructure," Ukraine's armed forces command said on Facebook. Satellite images of Mariupol released by private company Maxar showed a charred landscape, with several buildings ablaze and smoke billowing from the city. United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said, "Even if Mariupol falls, Ukraine cannot be conquered city by city, street by street, house by house. This war is unwinnable. Sooner or later, it will have to move from the battlefield to the peace table. That is inevitable." ALSO READ | US sending secretly acquired Soviet defence equipment to Ukraine: Report What makes Mariupol strategically important for Putin? Land bridge: Mariupol is a pivotal target in Putin's war - providing a land bridge between Russian forces in Crimea to the southwest and Russian-controlled territory to the north and east. As per a BBC report, General Sir Richard Barrons, who is a former commander of UK Joint Forces Command, said that capturing Mariupol is vital to Russia's war effort. Barrons said, "When the Russians feel they have successfully concluded that battle, they will have completed a land bridge from Russia to Crimea and they will see this as a major strategic success." Economy: Mariupol is an important port on the Sea of Azov, part of the Black Sea. BBC report stated that it is the biggest port in the Azov Sea region, which is home to major iron and steelworks. If Russia occupies it, it will cause massive harm to Ukraine's economy as it is a key export hub for Ukraine's steel, coal and corn. The port exports to customers in the Middle East and other parts of the world. WATCH | Explained: Why Mariupol is important for Russia? × (With inputs from agencies)

Mariupol: What makes this port city strategically important to Russia?

In a major blow to the Western countries, President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia will only accept rubles for gas deliveries from “unfriendly” countries.

Despite sanctions announced on the Russian gas, several European nations have been importing from Moscow via Ukraine.

Russian energy giant Gazprom on Monday said that the requests stood at 104.7 million cubic meters for March 21, reports Reuters.

The latest announcement by Putin to switch to domestic currency for gas sales is expected to hit Europe hard as according to Gazprom, 58 per cent of its sales of natural gas to Europe and other countries as of January 27 were settled in euros.

"I have decided to implement a set of measures to transfer payment for our gas supplies to unfriendly countries into Russian rubles," Putin said during a televised government meeting, ordering the changes to be implemented within a week.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/belarus-could-join-russias-war-against-ukraine-in-next-few-days-report-464904">Belarus could join Russia’s war against Ukraine ‘in next few days’: Report</a>

"The changes will only affect the currency of payment, which will be changed to Russian roubles," he said.

Putin said the government and central bank had one week to come up with a solution on how to move these operations to the Russian currency and that Gazprom would be ordered to make the corresponding changes to gas contracts.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-spies-in-poland-country-expels-45-russian-diplomats-for-espionage-464868">Russian spies in Poland?: Country expels 45 Russian diplomats for espionage</a>

Russia came up with a list of "unfriendly" countries in the wake of sanctions announced by the West.

The list of countries includes the United States, European Union member states, Britain, Japan, Canada, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and Ukraine.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a major blow to the Western countries, President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia will only accept rubles for gas deliveries from “unfriendly” countries. Despite sanctions announced on the Russian gas, several European nations have been importing from Moscow via Ukraine.

In a major blow to the Western countries, President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia will only accept rubles for gas deliveries from “unfriendly” countries. Despite sanctions announced on the Russian gas, several European nations have been importing from Moscow via Ukraine. Russian energy giant Gazprom on Monday said that the requests stood at 104.7 million cubic meters for March 21, reports Reuters. The latest announcement by Putin to switch to domestic currency for gas sales is expected to hit Europe hard as according to Gazprom, 58 per cent of its sales of natural gas to Europe and other countries as of January 27 were settled in euros. "I have decided to implement a set of measures to transfer payment for our gas supplies to unfriendly countries into Russian rubles," Putin said during a televised government meeting, ordering the changes to be implemented within a week. Also read | Belarus could join Russia’s war against Ukraine ‘in next few days’: Report "The changes will only affect the currency of payment, which will be changed to Russian roubles," he said. Putin said the government and central bank had one week to come up with a solution on how to move these operations to the Russian currency and that Gazprom would be ordered to make the corresponding changes to gas contracts. Also read | Russian spies in Poland?: Country expels 45 Russian diplomats for espionage Russia came up with a list of "unfriendly" countries in the wake of sanctions announced by the West. The list of countries includes the United States, European Union member states, Britain, Japan, Canada, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies)

Putin says will accept only rubles for gas sales to ‘unfriendly nations’

WION's Anas Mallick brings you exclusive ground report of refugees trying to enter Poland from Ukraine during his travel from Lviv to Medyka.

WION special report: Travelling from Lviv to Medyka

As the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to escalate, a number of cases show how Moscow has intensified its crackdown on media and dissenters in the country.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed into law harsh new legislation to nab those who are being charged with spreading "fake news" about the military.&nbsp;

Putin has already banned Facebook and Instagram after labelling them as "extremist" and media reports have suggested that, to silence dissent, the Russian authorities have blocked or shut down independent media in the country. &nbsp;

The Russian leader last week promised that he will purge Russia of the "scum and traitors" who are opposing the special "military operation" in Ukraine.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-sending-secretly-acquired-soviet-defence-equipment-to-ukraine-report-464796">US sending secretly acquired Soviet defence equipment to Ukraine: Report</a>

As per a report by Bloomberg published on Tuesday (March 22), Russian lawmakers have expanded legislation that punishes people with fines or imprisonment for publishing "fake news" about the military’s operations to cover all state agencies.&nbsp;

The move has been deemed as a major escalation of the crackdown on media coverage in Russia of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.&nbsp;

The report added that the State Duma lower house of parliament backed amendments criminalising the public dissemination of "knowingly false information about the activities of government bodies abroad in pursuing Russia's national interests".&nbsp;

A person charged with the offence can be slapped with a penalty ranging from fines of between 700,000 rubles ($6,800) and 5 million rubles to imprisonment of up to 15 years if the actions led to "grave consequences".&nbsp;

The Kremlin said on Wednesday (March 23) that it was vital to apply a new law.&nbsp;Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the specific case of journalist Alexander Nevzorov, whom investigators late on Tuesday accused of deliberately spreading knowingly false information about the actions of the&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;military in Ukraine.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-oligarch-moved-wealth-before-sanctions-in-27-swiss-accounts-of-sister-464854">Russian oligarch moved wealth before sanctions in 27 Swiss accounts of sister</a>

Telegram gains popularity 

Meanwhile, Telegram has overtaken WhatsApp to become Russia's most popular messaging tool, the mobile operator Megafon said on Monday (March 21).&nbsp;

WhatsApp owner Meta Platforms Inc is embroiled in a Russian court case, with prosecutors seeking to label it an "extremist organisation", and authorities have actively promoted Telegram as they have banned other foreign platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Russia's military operation in Ukraine has added fuel to a simmering dispute between foreign digital platforms and Moscow.&nbsp;

Megafon, one of Russia's four main telecoms operators, said its analysis of mobile internet traffic showed that Telegram's share had jumped to 63% in the first two weeks of March from 48% in the first two weeks of February.&nbsp;

WhatsApp's share dropped to 32% from 48%, Megafon said. The average Telegram user consumed 101 MB of data a day, compared to 26 MB for WhatsApp.&nbsp;

Founded by Russian Pavel Durov, Telegram has long been a popular news platform in Russia, with almost all major media, government entities and public figures operating content channels.

WATCH |&nbsp;Russian court finds Alexei Navalny guilty of large scale frauds

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(With inputs from agencies)

As the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to escalate, a number of cases show how Moscow has intensified its crackdown on media and dissenters in the country. Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed into law harsh new legislation to nab those who are being charged with spreading "fake news" about the military.

As the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to escalate, a number of cases show how Moscow has intensified its crackdown on media and dissenters in the country. Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed into law harsh new legislation to nab those who are being charged with spreading "fake news" about the military. Putin has already banned Facebook and Instagram after labelling them as "extremist" and media reports have suggested that, to silence dissent, the Russian authorities have blocked or shut down independent media in the country. The Russian leader last week promised that he will purge Russia of the "scum and traitors" who are opposing the special "military operation" in Ukraine. ALSO READ | US sending secretly acquired Soviet defence equipment to Ukraine: Report As per a report by Bloomberg published on Tuesday (March 22), Russian lawmakers have expanded legislation that punishes people with fines or imprisonment for publishing "fake news" about the military’s operations to cover all state agencies. The move has been deemed as a major escalation of the crackdown on media coverage in Russia of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The report added that the State Duma lower house of parliament backed amendments criminalising the public dissemination of "knowingly false information about the activities of government bodies abroad in pursuing Russia's national interests". A person charged with the offence can be slapped with a penalty ranging from fines of between 700,000 rubles ($6,800) and 5 million rubles to imprisonment of up to 15 years if the actions led to "grave consequences". The Kremlin said on Wednesday (March 23) that it was vital to apply a new law. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the specific case of journalist Alexander Nevzorov, whom investigators late on Tuesday accused of deliberately spreading knowingly false information about the actions of the Russian military in Ukraine. ALSO READ | Russian oligarch moved wealth before sanctions in 27 Swiss accounts of sister Telegram gains popularity Meanwhile, Telegram has overtaken WhatsApp to become Russia's most popular messaging tool, the mobile operator Megafon said on Monday (March 21). WhatsApp owner Meta Platforms Inc is embroiled in a Russian court case, with prosecutors seeking to label it an "extremist organisation", and authorities have actively promoted Telegram as they have banned other foreign platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Russia's military operation in Ukraine has added fuel to a simmering dispute between foreign digital platforms and Moscow. Megafon, one of Russia's four main telecoms operators, said its analysis of mobile internet traffic showed that Telegram's share had jumped to 63% in the first two weeks of March from 48% in the first two weeks of February. WhatsApp's share dropped to 32% from 48%, Megafon said. The average Telegram user consumed 101 MB of data a day, compared to 26 MB for WhatsApp. Founded by Russian Pavel Durov, Telegram has long been a popular news platform in Russia, with almost all major media, government entities and public figures operating content channels. WATCH | Russian court finds Alexei Navalny guilty of large scale frauds × (With inputs from agencies)

Imprisonment of up to 15 years? Amid Ukraine invasion, Russia intensifies crackdown on media

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.

Russia’s ally Belarus could soon join Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine, CNN reports citing officials from US and NATO.

The news outlet, quoting sources from the Belarus opposition, claimed that thousands of Belarusian forces are prepared to be deployed and can land Ukraine any time in the “next few days”.

“(Russian President Vladimir) Putin needs support. Anything would help,” a NATO military official told CNN.

Another NATO intelligence official alleged that the Belarusian government “is preparing the environment to justify a Belarusian offensive against Ukraine."

This latest development comes a month after Belarus changed its constitution last month to allow the country to host both Russian forces and nuclear weapons permanently.

As the Russian-Ukraine war entered the 28th day, the UK intelligence report said that Russian troops have been facing stiff resistance due to which it has been unable to capture the capital Kyiv.

“Russian forces advancing on the city from the northeast have stalled. Forces advancing from the direction of Hostomel to the northwest have been repulsed by fierce Ukrainian resistance.” the ministry of defence said in a statement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-putins-girlfriend-and-why-is-she-trending-amidst-russia-ukraine-war-464880">Who is Putin’s girlfriend? And why is she trending amidst Russia-Ukraine war?</a>

Oleksandr Markushyn, mayor of the Kyiv suburb of Irpin, said the Ukrainian armed forces, territorial defence and police "have 80 per cent of our city under control."

Meanwhile, Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych on Wednesday said that he expected the active phase of the Russian invasion to be over by the end of April as the Russian advance had already stalled in many areas, Reuters reported.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-spies-in-poland-country-expels-45-russian-diplomats-for-espionage-464868">Russian spies in Poland?: Country expels 45 Russian diplomats for espionage</a>

Speaking on local television, Arestovych said Russia had already lost 40 per cent of its attacking forces, and also played down the prospect of Russia waging nuclear war.

Reuters, however, said it could not independently verify his statements.

Watch |&nbsp;Russia reiterates 'nuclear threat', will use weapons if required

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(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.

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. Russia’s ally Belarus could soon join Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine, CNN reports citing officials from US and NATO. The news outlet, quoting sources from the Belarus opposition, claimed that thousands of Belarusian forces are prepared to be deployed and can land Ukraine any time in the “next few days”. “(Russian President Vladimir) Putin needs support. Anything would help,” a NATO military official told CNN. Another NATO intelligence official alleged that the Belarusian government “is preparing the environment to justify a Belarusian offensive against Ukraine." This latest development comes a month after Belarus changed its constitution last month to allow the country to host both Russian forces and nuclear weapons permanently. As the Russian-Ukraine war entered the 28th day, the UK intelligence report said that Russian troops have been facing stiff resistance due to which it has been unable to capture the capital Kyiv. “Russian forces advancing on the city from the northeast have stalled. Forces advancing from the direction of Hostomel to the northwest have been repulsed by fierce Ukrainian resistance.” the ministry of defence said in a statement. Also read | Who is Putin’s girlfriend? And why is she trending amidst Russia-Ukraine war? Oleksandr Markushyn, mayor of the Kyiv suburb of Irpin, said the Ukrainian armed forces, territorial defence and police "have 80 per cent of our city under control." Meanwhile, Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych on Wednesday said that he expected the active phase of the Russian invasion to be over by the end of April as the Russian advance had already stalled in many areas, Reuters reported. Also read | Russian spies in Poland?: Country expels 45 Russian diplomats for espionage Speaking on local television, Arestovych said Russia had already lost 40 per cent of its attacking forces, and also played down the prospect of Russia waging nuclear war. Reuters, however, said it could not independently verify his statements. Watch | Russia reiterates 'nuclear threat', will use weapons if required (With inputs from agencies)

Belarus could join Russia’s war against Ukraine ‘in next few days’: Report

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.

Amidst the Russian-Ukraine war that is set complete a month, calls are growing for Russian President Vladamir Putin’s rumoured girlfriend to be expelled from her luxurious house in Switzerland.

The opponents of Putin&nbsp;have launched a petition on change.org urging the Swiss to extradite 38-year-old Alina Kabaeva, a former athlete, claiming that she is hiding with their secret children in a luxury villa, reports Mirror.

The petition in German, French and English, is said to have attracted almost 55,000 signatures and has mostly citizens from Ukraine, Russia, and its ally Belarus.

Comparing Kabaeva to Hilter’s wife, the petition says, “It's time you reunite Eva Braun with her Führer.”

“Despite the current war, Switzerland continues to host an accomplice of Putin's regime,” it adds, as it lists Kabaeva’s many crimes.

It added that it was time for the neutral country “to take action” and send her home to Putin, 69.

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It is being claimed that the Olympic gold medallist was sent to a private chalet in Switzerland earlier this month amidst the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

However, a separate report suggests that Kabaeva is rather housed at a hi-tech underground bunker in the Altai Mountains of Siberia.

She has released only one statement linked to the war where she slammed the refusal to allow the Russian team to compete at the Beijing Paralympics.

Who is Kabaeva?

Kabaeva, an Olympic gold medallist, is known as Russia’s “most flexible woman”. There are claims that Putin and she got married in a secret ceremony after he divorced his first wife Lyudmila in 2013.

However, the Kremlin has always dismissed all the reports as rumours.

The former gymnast enjoys quite a few privileges in Russia. She spent six years as a member of parliament in Putin’s United Russia Party.

In September 2014, she quit the party to take charge of Russia’s National Media Group, which had a stake in Channel One, one of the state-controlled television channels, along with other newspapers. She headed the media holding for more than even years, where she earned an annual salary of £8 million, reports the British tabloid&nbsp;Daily Mail.

(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. Amidst the Russian-Ukraine war that is set complete a month, calls are growing for Russian President Vladamir Putin’s rumoured girlfriend to be expelled from her luxurious house in Switzerland. The opponents of Putin have launched a petition on change.org urging the Swiss to extradite 38-year-old Alina Kabaeva, a former athlete, claiming that she is hiding with their secret children in a luxury villa, reports Mirror. The petition in German, French and English, is said to have attracted almost 55,000 signatures and has mostly citizens from Ukraine, Russia, and its ally Belarus. Comparing Kabaeva to Hilter’s wife, the petition says, “It's time you reunite Eva Braun with her Führer.” “Despite the current war, Switzerland continues to host an accomplice of Putin's regime,” it adds, as it lists Kabaeva’s many crimes. It added that it was time for the neutral country “to take action” and send her home to Putin, 69. View this post on Instagram A post shared by АЛИНА КАБАЕВА |ФАН-СООБЩЕСТВО| (@alinakabaeva.official) × It is being claimed that the Olympic gold medallist was sent to a private chalet in Switzerland earlier this month amidst the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, a separate report suggests that Kabaeva is rather housed at a hi-tech underground bunker in the Altai Mountains of Siberia. She has released only one statement linked to the war where she slammed the refusal to allow the Russian team to compete at the Beijing Paralympics. Who is Kabaeva? Kabaeva, an Olympic gold medallist, is known as Russia’s “most flexible woman”. There are claims that Putin and she got married in a secret ceremony after he divorced his first wife Lyudmila in 2013. However, the Kremlin has always dismissed all the reports as rumours. The former gymnast enjoys quite a few privileges in Russia. She spent six years as a member of parliament in Putin’s United Russia Party. In September 2014, she quit the party to take charge of Russia’s National Media Group, which had a stake in Channel One, one of the state-controlled television channels, along with other newspapers. She headed the media holding for more than even years, where she earned an annual salary of £8 million, reports the British tabloid Daily Mail. (With inputs from agencies)

Who is Putin’s girlfriend? And why is she trending amidst Russia-Ukraine war?

The team of jailed Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny has published details about a superyacht that they suspect belongs to President Vladimir Putin.

Navalny's team links $700 million superyacht to Putin

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