The people of Ukraine should realize that the country will not join NATO and must “rely on ourselves and our allies who are helping us” to face a Russian attack, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday.
Speaking to representatives of the UK-led Joint Operations Force, Zelensky said Ukraine had heard about NATO’s “allegedly open doors” for years, but acknowledged that his country would not be able to join. Instead, his nation needs a security guarantee separate from the security of its allies, he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked for a guarantee that Ukraine will never join NATO to end the war. Zelensky has repeatedly called on NATO to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine to reduce airstrikes from Russia, which have devastated Ukraine’s cities since the offensive began on February 24. .
Zelensky also said that European nations could “help themselves by helping us” with more military aid. He said the Ukrainian military is increasingly using weapons and other hardware procured from the West.
The leaders of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia were traveling to Kyiv on Tuesday on an EU mission to show support for Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in a tweet announcing the visit that “Europe must guarantee Ukraine’s independence and ensure that it is ready to help rebuild Ukraine.”
The president said talks between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations are expected to resume via teleconference on Tuesday. According to one of Zelensky’s advisers, talks were halted on Monday for a “technical break”. Little progress has been made in the last three rounds of talks in Belarus, but both sides expressed optimism ahead of this week’s talks.
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The UN refugee agency said more than 3 million Ukrainians have fled the country. Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, tweeted: “Today we have passed another terrifying milestone.” “The war has to stop. Now.”
Deputy Mayor Volodymyr Matsokin said a humanitarian disaster was unfolding in the eastern city of Izium, of 46,000 people. The city lacks basic supplies, and widespread Russian shelling has severely damaged infrastructure, he said.
Mariupol City Council says 2,000 civilian vehicles have left the besieged city through the so-called humanitarian corridor. Another 2,000 cars were waiting to exit the evacuation route.
The British government says it will raise import duties on vodka and other Russian products and ban the export of luxury goods to Russia.
According to the British Defense Ministry, several demonstrations have taken place in the cities of Kherson, Melitopol and Berdyansk over the past several days against Russian occupation by Ukrainians.
Russia sanctions President Biden, top national security officials
The Kremlin has approved President Joe Biden and 13 of his top national security and foreign policy aides, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday. Other approved officials include Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin; Secretary of State Antony Blinken; CIA Director Bill Burns; White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki; National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
When a country imposes sanctions on an officer or company, their assets in the country are confiscated and they will be arrested if they set foot on that country’s soil. The United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions on several top Kremlin military officials, billionaires and members of the Russian legislature over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
It is unlikely that sanctions against the US will have any material impact on Biden, given that none of the officials have reported assets in Russia. Western governments have stepped up efforts to seize the assets of Russian oligarchs and financial institutions in their countries.
— Matthew Brown
Protester interrupts Russian TV with anti-war sign
A news anchor was speaking on Russian state TV when a woman appeared behind the camera holding a sign with “no war” in English and a message warning people not to believe Russian propaganda.
An independent human rights group has identified the woman as Marina Ovsyannikova. The group, OVD-Info, posted on its website that Ovsyannikova, who identified herself as an employee of the station, had been taken into police custody.
Speaking in a video address early Tuesday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky praised Russians “who don’t stop trying to tell the truth, real facts … and personally to the woman who put up a poster against the war.” With Channel One enters the studio.”
Zelensky: Surrendered Russian soldiers will be treated ‘decently’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Russian troops in an online video early Tuesday that they could surrender and would be treated “decently” and urged European countries to provide more weapons to their military.
“On behalf of the Ukrainian people, I give you a chance,” Zelensky said in a video translated into English by his office on Tuesday ahead of his scheduled speech in Canada’s parliament. “Chance to survive. If you surrender to our army, we will treat you as we should be treated. As people, graciously.”
NATO leaders focus on consolidating forces near Russian border
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was traveling to Brussels on Tuesday for a meeting of NATO defense ministers that will focus on strengthening the coalition’s eastern front following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to Pentagon press secretary John Kirby, Austin is scheduled to meet senior civilian and military leaders in Slovakia and Bulgaria.
The NATO meeting comes after Russia’s cruise-missile attack on the Yvoryev military training base in western Ukraine on Sunday. At least 35 people were killed in the attack and not far from the border with NATO ally Poland. President Joe Biden and other senior officials have vowed to respond to any Russian attacks that spread into NATO territory.
, Tom Vanden Brook
Damage estimated in Ukraine rising by $500 billion
Initial losses from Russia’s military actions in Ukraine are already estimated at $500 billion – and the damage is getting worse every day, Finance Minister Serhi Marchenko said on Tuesday. Marchenko said supply chains are broken, with some businesses destroyed and others unable to work because his workers have fled. He said the real price of the war would not be determined until it was over. The International Monetary Fund, which approved $1.4 billion in emergency financing for Ukraine, said this week that the country’s economic output could shrink by as much as 35% if the war continues.
Marchenko said some of the Russian assets accumulated in the US and Europe could be used to help rebuild his country.
Fox News journalist Benjamin Hall injured in Kyiv
Fox News journalist Benjamin Hall was injured Monday while reporting on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the network said. Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott said in a statement that the network had “the minimum level of detail right now” but that Hall was hospitalized. Hall, a father of three children, is reporting from Kyiv, Scott said.
“We’ll update everyone as we know more,” Scott said. “Please keep Ben and his family in your prayers.”
American photojournalist Brent Renaud was killed and another journalist was injured in the Kyiv suburb of Irpin on Sunday.
China defends its position on Ukraine
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday that China’s stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is “fair and constructive”, while the US has been “immoral and irresponsible” by spreading misinformation.
Lijan accused the US of spreading misinformation over reports that Beijing agreed to a Russian request for military supplies. Lijan also said that the US played a major role in the development of the crisis, in the context of the expansion of NATO.
Lizan spoke at a press briefing a day after one of China’s top diplomats, Yang Jiechi, met with US national security adviser Jake Sullivan. Yang called on the international community to support peace talks and said that “China has always stood for respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.”
State Department spokesman Ned Price declined to confirm whether US officials believe Beijing has expressed its support for Moscow’s attack on Ukraine, but said the US is watching very closely. whether China or any other country is providing assistance of any kind, including material, economic or financial assistance.
Biden may travel to Europe in coming weeks, reports say
According to multiple media reports, the White House is considering a visit by President Joe Biden to Europe in the coming weeks in support of Ukraine and allies. As reports from NBC News, Politico and Reuters, Biden is expected to consider staying in Brussels, home to NATO and the European Union. In addition, there is talk of Biden traveling to Poland after his stay in Brussels, Reuters said.
Any possible visit follows the visit of Vice President Kamala Harris to Poland and Romania last week. The purpose of his visit was to show unity among NATO allies in the midst of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Biden has traveled abroad twice during his administration, both times in Europe. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki would not confirm the president’s possible travel plans or preview the visit on Monday.
“No final decision has been taken regarding the yatra,” Saki said. “So I don’t have anything to preview about what it would look like if you went on a trip.”
— Rebecca Morin
Poland on edge as Russian air strikes near border
Krakow, Poland — Following a deadly Russian missile attack in Ukraine just 15 miles from the Polish border on Sunday, some Poles are increasingly concerned — saving money, checking to see that their passports are up to date. or not and planning to escape when the war is over. their country.
Local artist Aga Gaj said, “I told my husband, ‘If only one bomb touches Polish ground, I’ll pack myself, pack my grandmother, pack my mother and we’re going abroad. “
Poles are terrified after a Russian airstrike that killed 35 and injured at least 100 at a military base where Americans trained Ukrainian forces before the war. The United States and NATO regularly send trainers to the base, known as the International Peace and Security Center. A few weeks before the start of the war, members of the Florida National Guard trained there. Read more here.
–Caitlin Farrell, USA Today Network
Contribution: The Associated Press
