Live updates: China tells US don’t fuel flames in Ukraine | National News

BEIJING — Chinese language Overseas Minister Wang Yi advised U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that China opposes any strikes that “add gasoline to the flames” in Ukraine.

Blinken says the world is watching to see which nations get up for the ideas of freedom and sovereignty.

The 2 spoke by cellphone on Saturday, the Chinese language Overseas Ministry stated.

Wang referred to as for negotiations to resolve the instant disaster, in addition to talks on making a balanced European safety mechanism. Wang says the U.S. and Europe ought to take note of the unfavorable influence of NATO’s eastward growth on Russia’s safety.

The U.S. State Division says Blinken underscored that the world is appearing in unison in response to Russian aggression and guaranteeing that Moscow can pay a excessive worth.

China has damaged with the U.S., Europe and others which have imposed sanctions on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. China says that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations ought to be revered, however that sanctions create new points and disrupt the method of political settlement.

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Joe Biden has referred to as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to debate ongoing efforts to impose financial prices on Russia and to hurry U.S. navy, humanitarian and financial help to Ukraine.

The White Home stated the pair additionally mentioned talks between Russia and Ukraine through the greater than 30-minute name early Sunday in Ukraine, however supplied no extra particulars.

Zelenskyy stated on Twitter the 2 presidents mentioned safety, monetary help for Ukraine and the continuation of sanctions in opposition to Russia.

LVIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked SpaceX chief government Elon Musk for giving Ukraine entry to his firm’s satellite-internet system, referred to as Starlink.

“I’m grateful to him for supporting Ukraine with phrases and deeds” Zelenskyy stated in a tweet. “Subsequent week we are going to obtain one other batch of Starlink programs for destroyed cities.” He joked that they mentioned doable area initiatives, which he would speak about “after the warfare.”

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko on Saturday confirmed off a cargo of the Starlink programs that had arrived within the capital metropolis. He stated Starlink would assist safe the work of important infrastructure and the protection of the town.

A number of giant Ukrainian cities remained with out web or cellphone connection after being shelled by Russian troops.

CHERNIHIV, Ukraine — Russia has dropped highly effective bombs on residential areas of the town of Chernihiv, a regional official stated Saturday.

Vyacheslav Chaus posted a photograph of what he stated was an undetonated FAB-500, a Soviet-designed 500-kilogram (1,100-pound) air-dropped bomb.

“Normally this weapon is used in opposition to military-industrial services and fortified buildings,” stated Chaus, head of the same-named area of Chernihiv. “However in Chernihiv, in opposition to residential areas.”

Town of Chernihiv, positioned north of Kyiv and with a inhabitants of 290,000, has come underneath heavy fireplace from Russian forces. Officers stated 17 individuals within the area had been killed within the shelling.

A video launched Saturday by the Ukrainian authorities confirmed individuals cheering as they watched a Russian navy airplane fall from the sky and crash.

NEW YORK — Mastercard and Visa are suspending their operations in Russia, the businesses stated Saturday,

Mastercard stated playing cards issued by Russian banks will not be supported by its community and any card issued outdoors the nation is not going to work at Russian shops or ATMs within the newest blow to the nation’s monetary system after its invasion of Ukraine.

Mastercard stated it made its determination after discussions with prospects, companions and governments.

Visa stated it’s working with purchasers and companions in Russia to stop all Visa transactions over the approaching days.

The suspensions are a follow-up to extra restricted strikes earlier within the week to dam monetary establishments from the networks that function arteries for the funds system. Russian individuals have already been hit arduous by heavy sanctions and monetary penalties imposed by the U.S. authorities and others.

LVIV, Ukraine — Russian forces have intensified shelling within the port metropolis of Mariupol, together with with the usage of airplanes, the mayor stated Saturday night time.

“Town is in a really, very troublesome state of siege,” Vadym Boychenko advised Ukrainian TV. “Relentless shelling of residential blocks is ongoing, airplanes have been dropping bombs on residential areas.”

Boychenko stated that 1000’s of youngsters, ladies and the aged got here underneath fireplace as they arrived within the morning for a doable evacuation by a secure passage hall. Russia promised to cease the shelling of Mariupol, a port metropolis of 430,000, and Volnovakha, a metropolis within the east, however violated the cease-fire.

Russia has made important advances within the south, clearly in search of to chop off Ukraine’s entry to the ocean. Capturing Mariupol, which has been keeping off the assault for six days, might enable Russia to construct a land hall to Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian Overseas Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday echoed the president’s assertion that Russia has misplaced greater than 10,000 troops.

Kuleba additionally stated in a video message launched by the Ukrainian authorities that the Russians had misplaced dozens of plane and a whole lot of armored autos.

The declare couldn’t be independently verified. The Russian navy doesn’t supply common updates on their casualties. On Wednesday, navy officers revealed a demise toll of 498.

“Russians preserve bearing devastating losses on the bottom, and I can’t perceive how moms, wives and daughters of those Russian troopers bear this ache, seeing how President Putin sends increasingly of their beloved ones to Ukraine,” Kuleba stated.

Kuleba added, “Ukraine is bleeding however Ukraine has not fallen and stands (with) each ft on the bottom.”

NEW YORK — U.N. Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres says the United Nations is dedicated to scaling up its humanitarian operations to assist each those that have stayed in Ukraine and the greater than 1 million who’ve fled.

Guterres relayed the promise to Ukrainian Overseas Minister Dmytro Kuleba in a cellphone name on Saturday, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated.

Dujarric stated the 2 additionally mentioned the circumstances for safely evacuating civilians, together with foreigners, from fight zones.

Ten days into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 1.45 million individuals have fled the battered nation, in keeping with the U.N.-affiliated Group for Migration in Geneva. The U.N. has predicted that the entire variety of refugees might swell to four million, to grow to be the most important such disaster this century.

The U.N. Safety Council will maintain a gathering Monday afternoon on the escalating humanitarian wants which have arisen since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

NEW YORK — A whole bunch of individuals rallied in New York Metropolis’s Occasions Sq. on Saturday to point out solidarity with Ukraine.

Many attendees had been waving Ukrainian flags or draped the flag round their shoulders on the afternoon demonstration.

Others introduced indicators decrying Russian President Vladimir Putin or calling for a no-fly zone to be imposed over Ukraine.

About 140,000 individuals of Ukrainian descent stay in New York, making it the most important Ukrainian inhabitants within the U.S., in keeping with inhabitants knowledge from the federal authorities.

PHOENIX — An Arizona-based ammunition firm is providing to donate 1 million bullets to Ukraine’s navy amid Russia’s invasion of its European neighbor.

CEO Fred Wagenhals of AMMO Inc. on Friday stated it was his response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s attraction for worldwide help.

There was no instant indication whether or not the U.S. authorities will approve the proposed export of the ammunition, which has a retail of about $700,000, Phoenix tv station KSAZ-TV reported.

The corporate is predicated in Scottsdale, a Phoenix suburb.

MARIUPOL, Ukraine — Medical doctors relied on gentle filtering in by home windows and emitted from cellphones to are inclined to wounded Ukrainian troopers Saturday at a hospital within the besieged port metropolis of Mariupol, the place a promised cease-fire collapsed.

Dr. Evgeniy stated the hospital had no energy or warmth. Sufferers had been lined up in beds alongside the corridors, and a few individuals had been curled up on the ground to guard themselves.

“We’ve got some points with provides, not sufficient analgesics,” Dubrov stated. “We’ve labored greater than per week with no break.”

A soldier, Svyatoslav Borodin, stated a blast blurred his imaginative and prescient, and he thought he may need misplaced his legs. One other soldier utilized a tourniquet.

“Scary,” he stated. “Very scary.”

Within the metropolis of Irpin, close to Kyiv, a sea of individuals on foot and in wheelbarrows trudged over the stays of a destroyed bridge to cross a river and evacuate.

Assisted by Ukrainian troopers, they lugged pets, infants, purses and flimsy baggage filled with minimal possessions. A number of the weak and aged had been carried alongside the trail in blankets and carts.

SIRET, Romania — Romanian President Klaus Iohannis visited a refugee camp in Siret on Saturday and declared that no Ukrainian can be denied entry to his nation.

He pledged meals, clothes, transportation and assist with private paperwork.

“It’s a state of affairs that no Ukrainian and no Romanian needed, however we’re very decided to take care of it right here in Romania, accurately,” Iohannis stated.

KYIV, Ukraine — The subsequent spherical of talks between Ukraine and Russia will likely be held on Monday, Ukrainian official Davyd Arakhamia stated Saturday.

Arakhamia is head of the parliamentary faction of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Servant of the Individuals celebration and a member of Ukraine’s delegation on the talks.

Monday’s would be the third spherical of talks as the 2 sides attempt to negotiate a cease-fire and secure passage corridors for civilians.

LVIV, Ukraine — Russian forces have now seized two Ukrainian nuclear energy crops and are advancing towards a 3rd, Ukraine’s president stated throughout a name with U.S. senators Saturday.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated the third plant at present underneath risk is the Yuzhnoukrainsk nuclear energy plant, positioned 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Mykolaiv, one among a number of cities the Russians had been making an attempt to maintain encircled Saturday.

One of many crops underneath the Russians’ management is the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant within the southeastern metropolis of Enerhodar, the most important nuclear energy plant in Europe. The opposite is Chernobyl, which isn’t energetic however continues to be staffed and maintained. Earlier Russian shelling sparked a fireplace on the Zaporizhzhia plant that was extinguished with no launch of radiation.

Technical security programs are intact and radiation ranges are nonetheless regular on the Zaporizhzhia plant, in keeping with the nation’s nuclear regulator, the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company stated Saturday.

Ukraine has 4 nuclear crops with a complete of 15 reactors.

WASHINGTON — Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged U.S. lawmakers to sanction Russia’s oil and gasoline sector and droop bank card entry, and backed an thought to ban Russian oil imports to the U.S. that’s been gaining help in Congress.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, stated Zelenskyy emphasised throughout a non-public name Saturday with the U.S. lawmakers that the vitality sector must be sanctioned.

“Something that might harm the Russian financial system will assist the Ukrainian individuals and should make this warfare harder” for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Graham stated in a video.

Through the name, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia requested Zelenskyy in regards to the thought of banning Russian oil to the U.S., in keeping with two individuals granted anonymity to debate the non-public name.

Zelenskyy indicated he was 100% on board with banning Russian oil to the U.S. and advised the senators it could be very useful, the individuals stated.

Zelensky additionally requested them to droop entry to Visa and Mastercard bank cards in Russia, in keeping with one other particular person granted anonymity to debate the decision.

Related Press writers Lisa Mascaro, Michael Balsamo and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report.

JERUSALEM — Israel’s prime minister met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for a number of hours in Moscow on Saturday.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s workplace confirmed the assembly on the Kremlin, which got here simply days after Bennett spoke over the cellphone with each Russian and Ukrainian leaders.

Bennett’s workplace stated he departed early Saturday morning for Moscow, accompanied by Russian-speaking Cupboard minister Zeev Elkin, who was born in Ukraine. Each males are observant Jews and wouldn’t usually journey on the Sabbath.

Israel is likely one of the few international locations that has good working relations with each side. The nation has delivered humanitarian help to Ukraine, but in addition maintains ties with Moscow to be sure that Israeli and Russian warplanes don’t come into battle in neighboring Syria.

The assembly ended after about three hours, in keeping with an Israeli official who spoke on situation of anonymity. The official stated the assembly was coordinated with the U.S., Germany and France and that Bennett “is in ongoing dialogue with Ukraine.”

Related Press author Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

CAIRO — Egypt says it has transferred to Europe about four,000 Ukrainian vacationers who had been stranded within the Center Japanese nation after Russia invaded their nation.

The vacationers had been delivered to international locations neighboring Ukraine on free flights operated by state-run airliners, and extra flights are scheduled within the coming days, authorities spokesman Nader Saad stated Saturday. He didn’t elaborate.

Following Russia’s invasion and the closure of Ukrainian airspace, the Egyptian authorities has allowed Ukrainian vacationers to increase their keep without cost in motels and resorts, Saad stated.

Ukraine’s embassy in Cairo has stated there have been about 20,000 Ukrainian vacationers in Egypt, a touristic hub for vacationers from japanese Europe and Russia.

WASHINGTON — A Russian airliner has acquired an exception to the U.S. airspace ban with a view to return Russian diplomats expelled from the usto Russia.

The Ilyushin Il-62 is flying from St. Petersburg to Washington Dulles Worldwide Airport outdoors the U.S. Capitol. A U.S. authorities official confirmed it had been granted a waiver from the airspace restriction put in place in retaliation for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with a view to retrieve the Russian diplomats.

The U.S. expelled 12 Russians at its mission to the United Nations accusing them of being intelligence operatives.

Related Press author Zeke Miller in Wilmington, Delaware, contributed to this report.

LONDON — Ukraine’s overseas minister on Saturday criticized Shell for persevering with to purchase Russian oil, lashing out on the vitality big for persevering with to do enterprise with Vladimir Putin’s regime after the corporate introduced it was exiting investments in Russia.

Dmytro Kuleba stated he had been advised Shell “discreetly” purchased the oil on Friday. He appealed to the general public to stress the corporate and different worldwide companies to halt such purchases in gentle of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Earlier this week, Shell stated it was “shocked by the lack of life in Ukraine” and would finish its joint ventures with Gazprom, the huge oil and gasoline firm that’s managed by the Russian authorities.

Shell on Saturday stated it has already stopped “most actions involving Russian oil,” though it continues to purchase some merchandise from Russia to produce the wants of its refineries and chemical crops. These purchases are obligatory to make sure gasoline provides for patrons, Shell stated.

WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a “determined plea” to U.S. senators on Saturday to ship extra planes to assist the nation battle the Russian invasion.

Zelenskyy made the request on a name joined by greater than 300 individuals, together with senators, some Home lawmakers and aides.

Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, stated in a press release that Zelenskyy made a “determined plea for Japanese European international locations to supply Russian-made planes to Ukraine.”

“I’ll do all I can to assist the administration to facilitate their switch,” Schumer stated.

Schumer advised Zelenskyy the U.S. lawmakers are impressed by him and by the power and braveness of the Ukrainian individuals, in keeping with one other particular person on the decision who was granted anonymity to debate it.

The U.S. Congress is also engaged on a $10 billion bundle of navy and humanitarian aide, and Schumer advised Zelenskyy that lawmakers hope to ship it shortly to Ukraine, the particular person stated.

Zelenskyy advised senators he wants planes and drones greater than different safety instruments, in keeping with a senior Senate aide granted anonymity to debate the non-public assembly.

Related Press reporter Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Division has up to date an earlier journey advisory and is now recommending that U.S. residents depart Russia instantly.

The discover gives this steering: “In the event you want to depart Russia, you must make preparations by yourself as quickly as doable. In the event you plan to remain in Russia, perceive the U.S. Embassy has extreme limitations on its means to help U.S. residents, and circumstances, together with transportation choices, might change immediately.”

The division already has suggested Individuals to not journey to Russia. That warning cites “the unprovoked and unjustified assault by Russian navy forces in Ukraine” and “the potential for harassment in opposition to U.S. residents by Russian authorities safety officers,” amongst different issues.

TIRANA, Albania — Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama stated he spoke by cellphone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday to precise his nation’s help.

Albania has joined the European Union in imposing hard-hitting sanctions in opposition to Russia’s high officers and establishments.

The nation can be amassing and sending help to the Ukrainian refugees.

Albanian Overseas Minister Olta Xhacka, in the meantime, vehemently shot down Russian President Vladimir Putin’s assertsions that Albanian mercenaries are working in Ukraine, calling it “a lie that Moscow retains repeating shamelessly!”

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated Ukrainian forces had been holding key cities within the central and southeastern a part of the nation Saturday, whereas the Russians had been making an attempt to dam and preserve encircled Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv and Sumy.

“We’re inflicting losses on the occupants they may not see of their worst nightmare,” Zelenskyy stated. He alleged that 10,000 Russian troops had been killed within the 10 days of the warfare, a declare that might not be independently verified. The Russian navy does not supply common updates on their casualties. Solely as soon as, on Wednesday, they revealed a demise toll of almost 500.

“That is horrible,” Zelenskyy stated. “Guys 18, 20 years previous … troopers who weren’t even defined what they had been going to battle for.”

WARSAW, Poland — The top of Ukraine’s Supreme Court docket has appealed for Russia’s high court docket to be excluded from a physique of Central and Japanese Europe’s chief justices due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine’s high court docket president, Vsevolod Kniaziev, stated the Supreme Court docket of Russia ought to be excluded from the Convention of Chief Justices of Central & Japanese Europe “because it represents a rustic that introduced terror, demise and crimes in opposition to humanity in Ukraine.”

Kniaziev’s letter of attraction was acquired Saturday by Malgorzata Manowska, the president of the Supreme Court docket in Poland, which borders Ukraine.

NEW YORK — Russian President Vladimir Putin says there’s nothing that warrants imposing martial regulation in Russia at this level.

Putin’s touch upon Saturday adopted days of hypothesis that the introduction of martial regulation might be imminent.

Putin stated that “martial regulation is imposed in a rustic … within the occasion of exterior aggression, together with in particular areas of hostilities. However we don’t have such a state of affairs, and I hope we received’t.”

ROME — Italian state broadcaster Rai is suspending reporting by its correspondents in Russia.

Rai’s measure, efficient Saturday, follows related strikes by another overseas media. Rai stated the measure is critical to “safeguard the security of its journalists within the place in addition to the utmost freedom of details about the nation.”

Russia on Friday handed a regulation foreseeing jail sentences of as much as 15 years for spreading what’s deemed to be faux details about its armed forces.

NEW YORK — Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow would contemplate any third-party declaration of a no-fly zone over Ukraine as “participation within the armed battle.”

Talking at a gathering with feminine pilots on Saturday, Putin stated Russia would view “any transfer on this route” as an intervention that “will pose a risk to our service members.”

“That very second, we are going to view them as contributors of the navy battle, and it could not matter what members they’re,” the Russian president stated.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pushed NATO to impose a no-fly zone over his nation, warning that “all of the individuals who die from at the present time ahead will even die due to you.”

NATO has stated a no-fly zone, which might bar all unauthorized plane from flying over Ukraine, might provoke widespread warfare in Europe with nuclear-armed Russia.

BERLIN — The U.N. human rights workplace says it has confirmed the deaths of 351 civilians in Ukraine for the reason that Russian invasion started.

The Geneva-based workplace stated that one other 707 civilians had been injured between Feb. 24 and midnight Friday.

The rights workplace makes use of strict methodology and solely experiences casualties it has confirmed. It stated Saturday it believes the true figures are significantly increased, “particularly in government-controlled territory and particularly in latest days,” because the receipt of data from some locations the place there was intense preventing was delayed and lots of experiences had been nonetheless present process corroboration.

Ukrainian officers have introduced far increased numbers.

NEW YORK — Aeroflot, Russia’s flagship service, has introduced that it’s going to halt all worldwide flights besides to Belarus beginning March eight.

The transfer by Russia’s largest state-owned airline comes after the nation’s aviation company, Rosaviatsiya, really helpful that each one Russian airways with foreign-leased planes halt each passenger and cargo flights overseas.

It cited a excessive danger of foreign-leased planes being impounded as a part of Western sanctions that ban leasing of planes to Russia.

Rosaviatsiya’s advice doesn’t apply to Russian airways that use Russian planes or overseas planes that are not prone to being impounded. Aeroflot’s assertion Saturday cited “circumstances that hinder working flights” as a motive for its transfer.

One other Russian airline, low-cost service Pobeda, stated Saturday that additionally would halt all worldwide flights beginning March eight.

BERLIN — German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF say they’re suspending reporting from their Moscow studios after Russia handed a regulation foreseeing jail sentences of as much as 15 years for spreading what’s deemed to be faux details about its armed forces.

The measure was signed into regulation by President Vladimir Putin on Friday and already prompted some overseas media together with the BBC and Bloomberg to say they had been suspending operations inside Russia.

ARD and ZDF stated in a press release that they’re analyzing the implications of the brand new laws and suspending reporting from the Moscow studios for now.

The passing of the regulation comes amid a broader crackdown on media shops and social media in Russia.

Comply with AP’s protection of the tensions between Russia and Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine