Ukraine War: Russia's G20 Membership on Thin Ice, Say Western Countries
Catch all the live updates on the Russian war on Ukraine here.
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The United States (US) and other Western countries are assessing whether Russia should remain within the Group of Twenty (G20) major economies following its invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported on Wednesday, 23 March.
A day after "two superbombs" were dropped by Russian forces in the besieged city of Mariupol, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed on Wednesday that over 1,00,000 people were trapped in the city.
Local Mariupol authorities had said after the blasts, "It is clear that the occupiers are not interested in the city of Mariupol, they want to raze it to the ground, to reduce it to ashes," news agency AFP reported.
Further, Zelenskyy told the Italian parliament on Tuesday that his country would be able to survive the war.
Moscow and Kyiv exchanged the first prisoners of war on Tuesday, the human rights commissioner in Russia has said
The Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly on the Russia-Ukraine conflict will resume on Wednesday, 23 March
Zelenskyy called on Pope Francis to mediate the ongoing conflict to help alleviate human suffering
Two "super powerful bombs" hit the port city of Mariupol on Tuesday amid ongoing rescue efforts
US President Joe Biden on Monday called India "somewhat shaky" on the Western sanctions punishing Russia
Biden has said that there are clear signs that Russia is considering using biological weapons against Ukraine
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‘Russia Will Employ Violent & Coercive Measures To Suppress Ukrainians’: UK
The British Ministry of Defence said in the early hours of Wednesday that civilians in Russian-occupied cities in Ukraine are protesting against Russian control, indicating that Moscow’s efforts to control residents through propaganda “have so far failed”.
The ministry warned that “Russia will probably respond to these failures by employing increasingly violent and coercive measures in an attempt to suppress the Ukrainian population."
German Parliament Pays Tribute to Holocaust Survivor Who Was Killed in Kharkiv
Germany’s parliament paid tribute to Boris Romanchenko, a Ukrainian man who had survived Nazi concentration camps during World War II but was killed last week during an attack in the city of Kharkiv.
Legislators held a moment of silence in memory of 96-year-old Romanchenko and other victims of the war.
Speaking on his death, Finance Minister Christian Lindner said that Romanchenko “survived four concentration camps and was now killed in the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine...His fate shows both the criminal character of Russian policy and why Germany is showing solidarity with Ukraine, why we must show solidarity”.
'100K People Trapped in Mariupol': Prez Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russian forces of attacking Mariupol during ongoing rescue efforts.
He informed on Wednesday, “As of today, there are about 1,00,000 people in the city in inhuman conditions, completely blockaded, without food, without water, without medicines, subject to constant shelling, constant bombardment."
Russia Attacks Oil Refinery Owned by Russian Oil Company
A Russian aircraft fired upon an oil refinery in Lysychasnk, Luhansk Oblast, which is owned by Russian oil company Rosneft.
According to Luhasnk Oblast Governor Serhiy Haidai, firefighters are fighting a blaze at the site.
'Will Use Nuclear Weapons if Country’s Existence Is Threatened': Russia
Russia has said that it will use nuclear weapons only if the country's existence is threatened.
Kremlin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said that there’s no other reason Russia could use nuclear weapons, Russian media RIA Novosti reported.
‘Russian Looted & Destroyed New Lab at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant’: Ukraine
Ukraine has accused Russian forces of “looting and destroying” a new laboratory at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant which functions to improve management of radioactive waste, among other uses.
The state agency responsible for the Chernobyl exclusion zone said the laboratory contained “highly active samples and samples of radionuclides that are now in the hands of the enemy, which we hope will harm itself and not the civilised world," Al Jazeera reported.
Greek Foreign Minister To Deliver Humanitarian Aid in Mariupol Himself
With severe bombardement taking place in Mariupol, Nikos Dendias, the Greek foreign minister, has announced that he will make a trip to the besieged city to deliver humanitarian aid himself.
The minister said he sent a note to the “Ukrainian side asking for the facilitation of the delivery of humanitarian aid in Mariupol and another note verbale to the Russian side asking not to obstruct it”.
US Condemns Russia's Refusal to Rule Out Nuclear Weapons During Conflict
The United States has condemned Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov’s refusal to rule out the use of nuclear weapons during the conflict in Ukraine.
Peskov told CNN that such arms could be used if Russia faced an “existential threat”.
The country has the world’s largest stockpile of nuclear warheads.
Russia's G20 Membership on Thin Ice, Say Western Nations
The United States and other western nations are assessing whether Russia should remain within the Group of Twenty (G20) major economies following its invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
"There have been discussions about whether it’s appropriate for Russia to be part of the G20. If Russia remains a member, it will become a less useful organisation," a senior G7 source said.
Ukraine Accuses Russian Troops of Detaining Humanitarian Workers
Ukrainian leaders accused Russia of seizing 15 rescue workers and drivers from a humanitarian convoy trying to get desperately-needed food and other supplies into the port city of Mariupol, AP reported.
The Red Cross had confirmed that a humanitarian aid convoy trying to reach the city had not been able to enter.
US Prez Heads to Europe With Sanctions Against Russian Parliament
United States President Joe Biden departed for Brussels on Wednesday for talks with European leaders about Russia's invasion, carrying with him plans for more sanctions on Moscow, including on members of the Russian Parliament, sources told Reuters.
'Putin to Attend G20 Summit'
Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to attend a G20 summit being hosted by Indonesia later this year, Russia's ambassador in Jakarta said on Wednesday, as per a report by Reuters.
This comes after reports of western nations discussing whether Russia should at all be a part of the G20.
UN to Take Up 3 Resolutions on Ukraine
The United Nations on Wednesday will take up three resolutions on the worsening humanitarian situation in Ukraine, AP reported.
The General Assembly is scheduled to start considering two rival resolutions - one supported by Ukraine and Western nations that assert that Russia is responsible for the escalating humanitarian crisis, and the other sponsored by South Africa that does not mention Russia.
The Security Council will vote on the third resolution, which is sponsored by Russia and widely criticised for not referring to the country's invasion of Ukraine.
Russia's Combat Power Has Declined Considerably: US
Russia’s combat power in Ukraine has declined below 90 percent of its pre-invasion levels for the first time since its offensive began, a senior United States official said on Tuesday, suggesting that the country had faced heavy losses of weaponry and growing casualties.
121 Children Killed During the War
The war in Ukraine has killed 121 children so far, the office of the country's prosecutor general said on Wednesday through the Telegram app. It also added that the number of wounded children stood at 167, Reuters reported.
China to Support Putin's Participation in G20
China said on Wednesday that it "supports" Russian President Vladimir Putin's participation in the next G20 summit, AFP reported.
Kharkiv Oblast Shelled 32 Times on Tuesday Night
Eight civilians were injured after Kharkiv Oblast was shelled 32 times overnight, The Kyiv Independent reported governor Oleh Synyehubov as saying.
The Kharkiv Oblast is one among 24 oblasts or administrative divisions in Ukraine.
Poland Identifies 45 Russian Diplomats as Suspected Spies
Poland has identified 45 Russian intelligence officers using diplomatic status as a cover to stay in the country, officials said on Wednesday, as per a report by AP.
Poland’s internal security agency said it had asked the foreign ministry to urgently expel the Russians, who were described as a danger to the country's security.
“Due to Russia’s policy towards the Republic of Poland and its allies, as well as taking into account Russian aggression against Ukraine, the head of the agency requests the expulsion of the indicated persons from the territory of the Republic of Poland,” Stanislaw Zaryn, the state security spokesman, said.
'9 Humanitarian Corridors To Be Set Up on Wednesday'
An agreement has been reached to try to evacuate civilians trapped in the Ukrainian towns and cities through nine "humanitarian corridors" on Wednesday, Ukraine's deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk said, as per a report by Reuters.
However, she said that no agreement had been reached with Russia to establish a safe corridor from Mariupol, but added that people wishing to leave the port city would find transport in nearby Berdyansk.
More Than 15,000 Russian Troops Killed So Far
Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a tweet on Wednesday that 15,600 Russian troops had been killed so far during the war in Ukraine.
It also added that 517 tanks, 124 helicopters, and 101 aircraft belonging to Russia had been destroyed by the Ukrainian army.
EU Allows Member States To Provide Subsidies to Companies Affected by War
European Union (EU) member states can offer limited subsidies and cheap loans to companies affected by the war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, the bloc's competition authority said on Wednesday.
Senior Russian Official Steps Down in Protest, Leaves Country
A senior Russian official, climate envoy Anatoly Chubais, resigned from his post and left the country to mark his protest against President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine.
NATO to Agree on Additional Support for Ukraine
NATO allies are set to agree on providing 'additional support' to Ukraine against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, as well as increase military forces in east Ukraine, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has reportedly said.
NATO, which has enhanced its presence at the eastern border of the alliance, is also reportedly seeking to deploy four new combat units in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia.
“I expect leaders will agree to strengthen NATO’s posture in all domains, with major increases in the eastern part of the alliance. On land, in the air and at sea," Stoltenberg was quoted as saying.
China Helped Russia's War Effort by Spreading 'Blatant Lies': NATO
Accusing China of providing political support to Russia over their invasion of Ukraine, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday warned Beijing against materially aiding Moscow in their war effort.
"China has provided Russia with political support, including by spreading blatant lies and misinformation, and allies are concerned that China could provide material support for the Russian invasion," Stoltenberg said, AFP reported.
Russians, Belarusians Barred From World Swimming Championships
Russians and Belarusians athletes have been barred from world swimming championships, as per AFP.
7,000- 15,000 Russian Killed in Combat in Ukraine: NATO
As per NATO, 7,000 to 15,000 Russians have been killed in a month of fighting in Ukraine, AP reported.