Russia-Ukraine Crisis highlights: Russian forces using phosphorus ammunition in eastern Ukraine, says governor

The first signs of significant progress emerged as Russia and Ukraine held three hours of peace talks in Istanbul, but Russia appeared determined to capture more territory in eastern Ukraine and officials predicted that weeks of further negotiation were needed. Russia’s de-escalation claims were met with scepticism and fears that Russian troops would instead work toward taking another part of Ukraine. Stay tuned for updates.

The ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine, if goes unchecked, could result in devastating consequences for the world as it may encourage big countries to threaten smaller ones, visiting German National Security Adviser Jens Plotner said on Wednesday. (PTI)

Ukraine top security official says Russia trying to increase pressure on Ukraine by deploying troops from north to east.

Russian forces are using phosphorus ammunition and shelling settlements on the front line separating Ukrainian-controlled territory from areas held by Russian-backed forces in the eastern Donetsk region, the local governor said on Wednesday.

Kremlin said on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had agreed in a call that experts from their countries would discuss how payment for Russian gas exports could be made in roubles, the TASS news agency reported.

President Joe Biden will speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday to discuss US support in his country's battle against the Russian invasion, the White House said. (AFP)

Russia shells areas in Ukraine where it vowed to scale back

Russian forces pounded areas around Ukraine's capital and another city overnight, regional leaders said Wednesday, just hours after Moscow pledged to scale back military operations in those places. The shelling further tempered optimism about any progress in talks aimed at ending the punishing war.

(AP)

Russia amasses troops in Chornobyl Exclusion Zone

According to Ukraine’s Armed Forces, despite Russian claims of a decrease in hostilities in Kyiv and Chernihiv oblasts, Russia continues its military buildup in Kyiv Oblast and shelling Chernihiv.

(The Kyiv Independent)

Kremlin says no breakthrough in Ukraine talks

The Kremlin says there was no breakthrough in the latest round of talks with Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday it was a “positive factor” that Ukraine submitted its written proposals, but added that “we can't say there has been something promising or any breakthroughs”.

(AP)

UK issues 25,500 visas to Ukrainian refugees as millions flee from war

The British government said on Wednesday it had issued 25,500 visas to Ukrainians under schemes set up to bring in refugees afterRussiainvaded Ukraine last month.

Data from the Home Office showed that 22,800 visas had been given under the Ukraine family scheme that allows applicants to join family members in the UK, while 2,700 were offered under the sponsorship scheme which permits refugees with a named sponsor to enter.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will pay an official visit to India from March 31 to April 1: MEA

Nearly 4.02 million people have fled Ukraine, says UN refugee agency

Poland's prime minister says government will take steps to cut Russian oil imports by the end of 2022, reports AP

Russia will keep some forces near Kyiv to prevent Ukraine from transferring forces East: Ukraine advisor

Ukraine Presidential advisor says, "Russia transferring forces from north of Ukraine to eastern Ukraine to encircle our troops"

Ukraine's Chernihiv 'shelled all night' despite Russian vows: Governor

Russian forces hit industrial facilities in western Ukraine, regional governor says

Russian forces hit industrial facilities in three strikes on the Khmelnitskyi region of westernUkraineovernight, regional governor Serhiy Hamaliy said on Wednesday.

He gave no details of the targets but said fires had been "localised" and checks were being made to determine whether there were any casualties.

The head of the Chernihiv regional state administration said that there has been no decrease in the military activity of the Russian occupiers so far

(NEXTA)

Fighting continues outside Kyiv but Ukrainian capital not shelled overnight

Shelling could be heard outside Kyiv overnight but the Ukrainian capital itself was not shelled by Russian forces, deputy mayor Mykola Povoroznyk said on Wednesday.

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Putin tells Macron 'nationalists' in Mariupol must lay down arms: Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday Ukrainian "nationalists" in the embattled city of Mariupol must lay down their arms as he discussed the conflict with French leader Emmanuel Macron, the Kremlin said.

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China hosts Russia, US officials for talks on Afghanistan

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday in the eastern Chinese province of Anhui, where China was set to host two days of meetings on Afghanistan, state broadcaster CGTN reported.

The report gave no other details on their meeting.

Russian FM Lavrov arrives in China to take part in Afghanistan's neighbouring countries' meet

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in China on Wednesday to take part in the third meeting of the foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighbouring countries being organised by Beijing, amid the Ukraine crisis.

Lavrov arrived in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province, for the third meeting of foreign ministers on Afghanistan, Russia’s official news agency Tass reported on Wednesday.

While the purpose of Lavrov’s visit to China is to take part in the meeting on Afghanistan, significance is attached to his visit as Beijing, a close ally of Moscow has backed Russia’s war on Ukraine even though it walked a fine-line calling for peaceful resolution while highlighting Russia’s security concerns relating to NATO expansion.

(PTI)

Joe Biden's point person on Russian sanctions to visit India on March 30 to discuss 'consequences' of 'unjustified war' against Ukraine: White House

India calls for 'purposeful engagement' by Russia, Ukraine in ongoing talks, hope understanding could be reached soon: Amb Tirumurti

According to the UN, 3.9 million Ukrainians are refugees and another 6.5 million are internally displaced because of the Russian invasion.

(NEXTA)

Trump asks Putin to help dish dirt on Hunter Biden

Donald Trump has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin, who launched an invasion of Ukraine last month, to reveal any compromising information he might have on US President Joe Biden's son, Hunter.The former Republican president returned to accusations he had repeated many times during his unsuccessful campaign against Biden in the 2020 presidential election.

Ukraine isn't naive, Zelenskyy says after Russia pledges to scale down attack on Kyiv

Ukrainereacted with scepticism toRussia's promise in negotiations toscaledownmilitary operations aroundKyivand another city as some Western countries expected Moscow to intensify its offensive in other parts of the country.

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Russia vows to scale back near the capital

Russia announced Tuesday it will significantly scale back military operations near Ukraine's capital and a northern city, as the outlines of a possible deal to end the grinding war came into view at the latest round of talks.Ukraine's delegation at the conference, held in Istanbul, laid out a framework under which the country would declare itself neutral and its security would be guaranteed by an array of other nations.

US advises that Moscow may 'detain' Americans in Russia: State Dept

The US State Department issued a travel advisory on Tuesday warning that Moscow "may single out and detain US citizens inRussia" and repeating earlier warnings for Americans not to travel to the country.

The warning was "due to the unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces" as well as the potential for harassment of US citizens by Russian authorities, the travel advisory said, repeating calls for Americans travelling or living inRussiato leave "immediately."

12 dead, 33 injured in airstrike in Ukraine's Mykolaiv

At least 12 people were killed and 33 wounded on Tuesday when a Russian missile hit a regional government building in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv, emergency officials said.

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Biden is sceptical Russia is scaling back operations in Kyiv

President Joe Biden on Tuesday said he wasn't yet convinced that Russia's announcement that it would scale back military operations near the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv will lead to a fundamental shift in the war.

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With Ukraine farmers on frontlines, UN food chief warns of 'devastation'

The UNfood chief warned on Tuesday that the war in Ukraine was threatening to devastate the World Food Programme's efforts to feed some 125 million people globally because Ukraine had gone "from the breadbasket of the world to breadlines."

"It's not just decimating dynamically Ukraine and the region, but it will have global context impact beyond anything we've seen since World War Two," WFP Executive Director David Beasley told the 15-member United Nations Security Council.

Ukrainian President says signals from peace talks 'positive'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he saw positive signals from the peace talks between Ukraine andRussia.

Russia pledge to deescalate in Ukraine leaves West cold

Russiapledged to scale down fighting around Kyiv and a second major city following peace talks on Tuesday that Ukraine's leader said showed "positive" signs, but Western allies made clear their doubts over Moscow's intentions.

Details filtering from the talks in Istanbul raised hopes after more than a month of war that has left thousands dead and millions displaced.