Latest news about Russia and the war in Ukraine

Macron calls for restraint in words and deeds on Russia and Ukraine after Biden’s statements

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for restraint when talking about or getting involved in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

“We want to stop the war that Russia has launched in Ukraine without escalation – that is the goal,” Macron said in an interview with France 3 television. He said the goal is to use diplomatic means to reach a ceasefire and troop withdrawal.

“If this is what we want to do, things should not escalate – neither with words nor with deeds,” Macron said.

Macron’s comments came after Biden delivered an impassioned speech in Poland in which he called Putin a “butcher” and said Putin “cannot stay in power.” The White House later attempted to retract those comments, asserting that the United States had no strategy for regime change.

The French president has spoken to Putin on several occasions as part of a diplomatic effort and said he continues to talk to Putin.

“I will not use this kind of language because I continue to have discussions with President Putin,” Macron said.

– Hana Miu, with a report from Reuters

Zelensky says the West lacks courage to help Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Western countries lacked the courage to help Ukraine, especially with regard to arms supplies.

In a video speech, Zelensky accused Western governments of being “afraid to prevent this tragedy. They are simply afraid to make a decision.”

“So, who is responsible for the Euro-Atlantic community? Is Moscow still thanks to intimidation tactics?” He said. Our partners must increase their assistance to Ukraine.”

The comments came after Biden delivered a speech in Poland in which he said Putin “cannot stay in power” and urged allies to unite. The White House later attempted to retract those comments, asserting that the United States had no strategy for regime change.

— Hana Miu, Associated Press

An adviser to the Ukrainian Energy Ministry said that officials are working to remove Russia from their posts at the International Atomic Energy Agency after confiscating nuclear power plants.

Olena Zerkal, Adviser to the Minister of Energy of Ukraine, at radio interview He said that Russia may be removed from key positions in the International Atomic Energy Agency because of nuclear terrorism. Zirkal said that Ukraine is already working to resolve the issue.

Russia occupied Ukraine Chernobyl And the Zaporizhia Nuclear power plants.

German Energy Minister Galushenko said on March 8 press release That Ukraine sent official appeals to the International Atomic Energy Agency on the security of nuclear energy in light of the Russian invasion.

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The March 8 statement said the demands included “a ban on Russia’s access to the intellectual and technological resources of the International Atomic Energy Agency” and “the severing of relations with Russian nationals working in UN nuclear-related structures.”

The IAEA did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.

Hana Miu, translation by Maria Ulyanowska, freelancer for NBC

Firefighters work at a fuel storage facility hit by cruise missiles in Lviv

Firefighters work to contain the flames at a fuel storage facility in Lviv that was hit by cruise missiles.

Rescue workers work at the site of fuel storage facilities hit by cruise missiles, as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues, in Lviv, in this photo posted on March 27, 2022.

State Emergency Service of Ukraine | Reuters

Rescue workers work at the site of fuel storage facilities hit by cruise missiles, as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues, in Lviv, in this photo posted on March 27, 2022.

State Emergency Service of Ukraine | Reuters

First responders work at the site of fuel storage facilities hit by cruise missiles, as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues, in Lviv, Ukraine in this photo posted March 27, 2022.

State Emergency Service of Ukraine | Reuters

Rescue workers work at the site of fuel storage facilities hit by cruise missiles, as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues, in Lviv, in this photo posted on March 27, 2022.

State Emergency Service of Ukraine | Reuters

Ukrainian intelligence chief says Russia is trying to split Ukraine in two

The head of Ukraine’s military intelligence gave an update on Russian military tactics, saying in a statement that Moscow was seeking to divide the country in two, according to Reuters.

“It’s really an attempt to create North and South Korea in Ukraine,” Kirillo Budanov said.

Shortly after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014Pro-Russian separatists declared two republics in the eastern part of the country: the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic.

on Sunday, Russian state-owned media reported That there may soon be a referendum in the Luhansk People’s Republic on joining Russia.

Katrina Bishop and Holly Eliat

Blinkin: The United States has no strategy for regime change in Russia

Blinken said the United States had no strategy for regime change in Russia.

Speaking to reporters in Jerusalem, he sought to clarify Biden’s remarks, which Putin said “He can’t stay in power.”

“I think the president, the White House, made it clear last night that, quite simply, President Putin cannot be empowered to wage war or engage in aggression against Ukraine or anyone else,” Blinken said on Sunday.

“You know, and as you’ve heard us say over and over again, we don’t have a strategy for regime change in Russia – or anywhere else, for that matter.”

US Ambassador to NATO Julian Smith echoed Blinken’s comments.

“The United States has no policy of regime change in Russia. It has stopped completely,” Smith told CNN’s State of the Union.

“But I think the entire administration, including the president, believes that we cannot enable Putin at this time to wage war in Ukraine or pursue these aggressive actions,” Smith added.

Following Biden’s remarks on Saturday, a White House official also confirmed that the president “was not discussing Putin’s authority in Russia, or regime change,” but rather was saying that Putin “cannot allow Putin to exercise power over his neighbors or the region.”

Katrina Bishop and Hana Miu

Ukraine’s deputy prime minister says two humanitarian corridors have been agreed

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshuk holds a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine on March 24, 2022 (Photo by PRIME MINISTRY OF UKRAINE / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Prime Minister of Ukraine | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshuk reports that two humanitarian corridors have been agreed in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, according to a translation by NBC News.

She said people will be allowed to evacuate via personal transport along the corridor from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhya. She added that there will also be evacuation buses from Berdyansk to Zaporozhye. Vereshuk also said that there will be evacuations from Rubijni to Bakhmut.

– Kristen Wang

The Russians may try to encircle the Ukrainian forces in the east

Russian forces appear to be trying to corner Ukrainian forces facing separatist fighters in the country’s far east, according to a new intelligence assessment.

British Ministry of Defense, In his daily updateOn Sunday, Russian units were trying to advance south from Kharkiv and north from Mariupol. If successful, these maneuvers could cut off Ukrainian soldiers already engaged against separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk.

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CNBC was unable to independently confirm the ministry’s report.

Both Kharkiv and Mariupol are still in Ukrainian hands, but Russian artillery has been bombarded for weeks by Russian artillery, killing civilians and defenders alike. This week, the Ukrainian government rejected a Russian request to extradite Mariupol.

Russia claims that it does not use artillery against civilian targets, despite overwhelming evidence of this.

Meanwhile, stubborn Ukrainian defense efforts continue to prevent Moscow’s invasion of the country’s north, which would include the long-stalled Russian campaign toward Kyiv.

“The battlefield in northern Ukraine remains largely static with local Ukrainian counter-attacks hampering Russian attempts to reorganize its forces,” the British ministry said.

– Ted Kemp

Ukraine says more than 5,000 people have been evacuated from cities today

Evacuees fleeing the Ukraine-Russia conflict sit in the body of a cargo van as they wait in line to leave the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine, March 17, 2022.

Alexander Armoshenko | Reuters

A total of 5,208 people were evacuated from Ukrainian cities via humanitarian corridors today, a senior official said, down from 7,331 people who managed to escape the previous day.

Kirillo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the president’s office, said in an online post that 4,331 people had left the besieged city of Mariupol.

Reuters

The United States will provide $100 million in civilian security assistance to Ukraine

Igor, 5, comforts his mother, Helen Yakopets, crying in the ballroom, which has been converted into a temporary shelter, at the Mandachi Hotel after fleeing Chernihiv in Ukraine to Romania, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, at the border crossing in Suceava, Romania, March 20, 2022 Her 18-year-old son and husband remained in Ukraine to fight.

Claudagh Killcoin | Reuters

The United States will provide $100 million in civilian security assistance to Ukraine, according to the State Department.

The assistance will “enhance Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs’ ability to provide basic border security, maintain civil law enforcement functions, and protect critical government infrastructure,” Blinkin said in a statement.

The announcement comes after the city of Lviv in western Ukraine near the border with Poland was hit by missile strikes on Saturday.

Darla Mercado

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