Russian invasion day 23: Putin accuses Ukraine of 'war crimes' during call with Macron

"Attention was drawn to the numerous war crimes committed daily by the Ukrainian security forces," the Kremlin said of the call between Putin and Emmanuel Macron.

Russian President Vladimir Putin accuses Ukraine of "war crimes" during phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron.

"According to initial information, there are no dead. But there is information about one person gravely wounded," the city council said on Telegram in the first casualty tally since the strike on Wednesday.

One badly wounded, no one dead in Mariupol theatre strike, say city officials.

We have not had unity like this for a long time, says Putin at a concert 

Amid the war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed a gathering at a concert marking the eighth anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a speech during a concert in Moscow. The banner reads "For Russia".

Russian President Vladimir Putin waves during a concert marking the eighth anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow 

Relations between the two countries should "move forward along the right track" as part of efforts for "world peace and tranquility", state broadcaster CCTV reported President Xi as saying.

The state TV said President Xi told President Biden that China and the US should "shoulder international responsibilities" for peace.

"State-to-state relations cannot go to the stage of military hostilities," China's state-run television CCTV quoted the Chinese president as saying.

"Peace and security are the most valued treasures of the international community," President Xi reportedly told US President Biden.
 

US President Biden spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday over the Ukraine war.

According to China's state-run television, President Xi told Biden that the conflict is 'in no one's interest'.

"More than 130 people have been saved. But hundreds of Mariupol residents are still beneath the rubble," Ukraine President Zelensky said on Friday in a video message.

According to the office for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, 780 civilians have been killed in Ukraine, including 58 children even as the UN said over 3.27 million refugees have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on February 24.

The UN said nearly two million refugees had poured into neighbouring Poland.

As Russia continues to fight in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin hailed his troops declaring that they are "fighting shoulder to shoulder" as he praised the Russian soldiers in the "special military operation".

"We will implement all the plans which have been drafted," he said.

Watch: 'Firefighters in Kyiv working in volatile conditions'

‘Security assessment underway, Finland can join NATO by spring', Finnish envoy to India tells WION

WION spoke to Ritva Koukku-Ronde, Finland's Ambassador to India. According to the diplomat, Finland is looking at the security situation in Europe and discussing to prepare a White Paper assessing its security situation which will be followed by a parliamentary discussion.

She added that the country was having this discussion in a relatively short duration and also working closely with Sweden and NATO countries.

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Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to deliver an online speech to Japan's parliament next week as the country continues to battle against Russia nearly four weeks after Putin announced an invasion against the neigbouring country.

Ukraine's deputy chief of staff Oleksandr Hruzevich said that Kyiv city has been prepared for center of resistance.

"The enemy has stopped around 17km, they can't attack other than using missiles and rockets," he said on the situation in Ukraine's capital.

"We can assure that the enemy can't enter further inside," he said.

Hruzevich said at least 35 sabotage groups have been "eliminated".

Watch: Fire rages in western Kyiv

Reports claim the Russian diplomats have been expelled over suspected espionage. 

Bulgaria had expelled two Russian diplomats earlier this month over spying charges.

Reports say Baltic countries have expelled ten Russian diplomats.

China said it is "deeply concerned" about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

"Human life is precious, and civilian casualties, regardless of the circumstances, are always sad and regrettable," China's foreign ministry spokesperson said. 

The Chinese foreign ministry spokesman's comments come as Russian missiles struck near Lviv's airport in the far west early on Friday as Moscow expanded a countrywide aerial bombardment campaign.
 

The Russian defence ministry said its forces along with separatists are fighting a battle against Ukraine's Army in Mariupol's city centre.

Mariupol has been bombarded relentless by Russian forces amid reports of shortage of food and water in the city.

Watch: Zelensky visits victims of Russian attacks in Kyiv

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov hit out against America saying that US wants a unipolar world and wants to turn world into an "American village".

After the Biden administration announced arms transfer to Ukraine, the Russian foreign minister said "any cargo that contains weapons for Ukraine will become legitimate targets for Russia.".

Reflecting on the UN General Assembly vote on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Lavrov said that those who voted against it were "blackmailed and did so only under huge pressure."

Watch: Ukraine wants Turkey to offer security guarantees

Putin accuses Ukraine of stalling talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday accused Ukrainian authorities of stalling talks, but added that Moscow was ready to search for solutions as he spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

"It was noted that the Kyiv regime is trying in every possible way to stall negotiations, putting forward more and more unrealistic proposals," the Kremlin said after the phone call. 

"Nevertheless, the Russian side is ready to continue to search for solutions in line with its well-known principled approaches."

More than two million Ukraine refugees in Poland

Poland's border guards said Friday that more than two million refugees had crossed into the EU member from neighbouring Ukraine since the February 24 Russian invasion. 

"At 9 am the number of refugees from Ukraine exceeded two million. It is mainly women with children," the guards said on Twitter. 

IEA urges 'emergency measures' to cut oil demand amid supply fears

The International Energy Agency on Friday urged governments to implement immediate measures to cut global oil consumption within months following supply fears stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The 10 proposals put forward in a report, including increasing working from home and reducing speed limits, could cut oil consumption among advanced economies "by 2.7 million barrels a day within the next four months", the IEA said.

UK revokes Russian channel RT's licence after probe into Ukraine coverage

Britain's media regulator said on Friday it has revoked Russian-backed television channel RT's licence to broadcast in the UK with immediate effect after a probe into the impartiality of its coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The regulator, Ofcom, said in a statement it was not satisfied that RT could be a responsible broadcaster.

"Freedom of expression is something we guard fiercely in this country, and the bar for action on broadcasters is rightly set very high. Following an independent regulatory process, we have today found that RT is not fit and proper to hold a licence in the UK," Ofcom Chief Executive Dame Melanie Dawes said.

RT is currently off air in Britain due to sanctions brought on by the European Union since Moscow's invasion late last month.

RT responded by saying the regulator had shown itself to be nothing more than a tool of the British government.

Russian missiles hit area near airport in Ukraine's Lviv

Several missiles have hit an aircraft repair plant in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Friday morning, destroying its building, city mayor Andriy Sadovy said.

The plant had been stopped and there were no casualties from the strike, he said.

Separately, Ukraine's military said the plant was struck by cruise missiles launched from the direction of the Black Sea.

The type of the missile was likely Kh-555, the military said, which are launched from heavy strategic bombers. Similar missiles struck the Yavoriv military base in western Ukraine on Sunday.

Fighting in Mariupol city centre

The Russian defence ministry said that Russian troops and their separatist allies were fighting Friday in the centre of Mariupol, a strategic port city in the southeast of Ukraine.

"In Mariupol, units of the Donetsk People's Republic, with the support of the Russian armed forces, are squeezing the encirclement and fighting against nationalists in the city centre," the ministry said in Moscow.

Backed by Russian troops, separatists from Lugansk have "liberated more than 90 percent of the republic's territory," the ministry added, referring to the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic, whose independence Moscow recognised on February 21.

• As war rages in Ukraine, US missile shield in Poland both worries and reassures
• Australia sanctions Russian Finance Ministry, more billionaires
• Kyiv homes destroyed amid Russian attacks

• Russian forces strike Lviv airport area in west Ukraine: Mayor
• Search for Ukraine theatre bombing survivors as war crime claims mount
• EU seeks energy price-busting strategy amid Ukraine crisis

• Stocks step back, oil bounces as peace talks stall
• US soldiers alive, despite Russia ''fake news'' report, US military says
• No UN vote on Russia's derided resolution
• UN says hundreds of civilians killed in Ukraine, urges investigation

Also Read: As Russia's advance halts in Ukraine, US warns China over backing Putin

The United States has voiced its concern on Thursday as China may help Russia with military equipment.  

This comes as the advance of Russian troops seems to have been halted at several locations in Ukraine.  

Also Read: Russian President Vladimir Putin issues warning to 'traitors'

As Russia faces intense pressure in battlefield, President Vladimir Putin has issued a warning to "traitors" on Wednesday.  

The leader said that the West may try to use them as a fifth column to destroy Russia.  

Hundreds of bulletproof vests, destined for war-torn Ukraine, were stolen in New York, police and the organisation said Thursday (March 17). The vests were donated by officers. Click Here to read full report

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday (March 17) said that Russia is not making enough efforts in peace talks with Ukraine to end the conflict. 

Blinken also said that he believes Moscow is guilty of committing war crimes as recent attacks in Ukrainian cities targetted civilians. Click Here to read full report

• Ukraine wants security guarantees from Turkey as part of any Russia peace deal 
• Zelensky visits hospital patients in Kyiv region
• NATO chief, German FM criticise Russian military tactics
• Ireland has 'stepped up' in confronting 'pure thug' Putin: Biden
• Slovakia offers to give Ukraine an air defence system
• Russians target Priti Patel and Ben Wallace with fake video calls

• Russia denies targeting children in Ukraine 
• Blinken: 'I don't see signs right now that Putin is prepared to stop' 
• Kremlin says any Biden's comments about Putin are unacceptable and unforgivable
• Ukrainian army holds position in the North of the Kyiv region
• Massive fire rages in Kyiv after Russian bombardment 
• Odessa transforms into a fortress in case of Russian attack
   

• Blinken: Biden will warn Xi of retaliation if Beijing provides military aid to Russia
• Smoke plumes on the Kyiv skyline
• Future of Belarus 'depends on fate of Ukraine' says Tikhanovskaya from exile in Geneva

• Biden to tell Xi of 'deep concern' about 'alignment with Russia': W.House 
• "We see that the views of the Germans are changing": Ukraine's Zelensky 
• Blinken: Russian attacks on civilians a 'war crime'
• Fire after shelling at Kyiv depot kills at least one
• Damage to Mariupol theatre after Russian airstrike
• Russia making no meaningful efforts in Ukraine peace talks, says Blinken