France24 says Ukraine is prepared to discuss adopting a neutral status as part of a peace deal with Russia but such a pact would have to be guaranteed by third parties and put to a referendum.
Browsing: Russia-Ukraine crisis
Russia-Ukraine crisis
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, marking a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014 following the Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity.
The invasion triggered Europe’s largest refugee crisis since WW2, with millions leaving the country and millions more displaced.
Russia invades Ukraine 2022
In 2014, at the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war, Russia annexed Crimea and Russian-backed separatists seized part of the south-eastern Donbas region of Ukraine, sparking a regional war there.
In 2022, Russia began a large military build-up along its Ukrainian border – over 190,000 armed troops. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin had continued to deny Russia was planning an invasion until shortly before the invasion.
In a broadcast shortly before the invasion, Putin espoused irredentist views, questioned Ukraine’s right to statehood and falsely claimed the country was being governed by neo-Nazis. Putin also claimed NATO constitutes a threat to Russia’s national security by expanding eastward since the early 2000s, which NATO disputed. Russia demanded NATO cease expansion and bar Ukraine from ever joining. The UK, USA and allies all accused Russia of planning to attack or invade Ukraine, Russian officials and state media continued to deny it up until 23 February 2022.
The invasion began on 24 February – Putin announced it was a “special military operation” to “demilitarise and denazify” Ukraine. Russia then started missiles and airstrikes across Ukraine as well as a large ground invasion from multiple directions.
The invasion has been widely condemned by the international community.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine hasn’t gone entirely to plan as the Russians underestimated the Ukrainian people’s will to fight for their country.
The Guardian says a Ukrainian MP has raised alarm about Russian soldiers raping and sexually assaulting women during its invasion, and said Ukraine would “not be silent” about the crimes.
Maksym Kagal, ISKA kickboxing champion, was killed in the battle for the besieged city Mariupol, his coach reported.
Peace talks in Turkey – Russian and Ukrainian delegations will meet in Turkey on Monday for a new round of face-to-face negotiations
30 days of war in Ukraine enters its second phase a month after the invasion was launched by Moscow on 24 February. The fighting has…
The Independent says Ukraine fears around 300 people were killed in the Mariupol theatre bombing earlier this month.
The Guardian says the UK’s resettlement scheme for those fleeing Ukraine has been called a “disgrace” by a Briton who said few in the country knew about its existence.
BBC News says Ukraine is “not alone” in its fight against Russia’s invasion, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.
TRT World says the United States has plans to accept up to 100,000 people fleeing Ukraine, after a month of Russian attacks touched off Europe’s fastest-moving refugee crisis.
VOA says there will be a Western military response if Russia uses chemical weapons in Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden said Thursday.
65 more Russian people and businesses have had sanctions slapped on them by the UK – as the country continues to attempt to cut off “vital industries fuelling Putin’s war machine,” Liz Truss said.
The Metro says a top Russian diplomat said Moscow retains the right to use nuclear weapons if it is ‘provoked’ by Nato.
The Guardian says the UK will double the number of missiles it sends to Ukraine and urge western allies to step up provisions of lethal aid to the country, as the Russian invasion turns into a prolonged war of attrition.
The Guardian says a group of 54 Ukrainian orphans fleeing the horrors of Vladimir Putin’s war arrived safely at Heathrow airport on Wednesday night.
France24 says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on French companies including carmaker Renault, supermarket group Auchan and DIY retailer Leroy Merlin to leave Russia.
Euronews says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged people in the west to take a stand against the Russian invasion in a speech in English on the month anniversary of the invasion.
Aljazeera says Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said in an interview that Russia would only use nuclear weapons if its very existence were threatened.
The Independent says Vladimir Putin is resorting to extreme tactics because his “back is against the wall”, according to Joe Biden, including using hypersonic missiles in Ukraine.
The Metro says Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher were personally thanked by President Volodymyr Zelensky for their incredible effort in raising $35million (£27m) for Ukraine.
The Metro says a 95-year-old survivor of four Nazi concentration camps has been killed by Russian shelling in Ukraine, according to a Holocaust memorial body.
France24 says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed an offer of direct peace talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin overnight to Tuesday.
The Metro says a shopping centre and several homes were destroyed by Russian shelling in Kyiv, killing at least four people, city authorities said.
The Guardian says Ukraine has defied an ultimatum by the Russian military for its forces to surrender the city of Mariupol.
The Guardian says Joe Biden’s ambassador to the United Nations warned on Sunday there was little immediate hope of a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine.
France24 says Up to 50,000 refugees have been arriving each day in the Polish town of Przemyśl near the border with Ukraine.