Roman Abramovich and Ukrainian peace negotiators fell victim to the symptoms of suspected poisoning after meeting in Kyiv earlier in March, the Wall Street Journal reported. The sanctioned Russian oligarch and at least two senior members of the Ukrainian delegation showed symptoms, such as red eyes and peeling skin on their faces and hands, according to sources familiar with the matter. Elsewhere, the mayor of Irpin, a besieged city on the outskirts of Kiev, said Monday that Ukrainian forces had taken full control after weeks of heavy fighting. Irpin was one of the main battle points after the Russian invasion on February 24 and was praised by Kremlin troops for its position near the capital. “We have good news today, Irpin has been released,” Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn said in a video post to the Telegram. “We understand that there will be more attacks on our city and we will defend it with courage.”
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Roman Abramovich suspected of poisoning claims “very worrying” – Foreign Office
The Bureau of Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and Development said reports that Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich had been suspected of being poisoned while taking part in peace talks were “very worrying”. Mr Abramovich was among a group suffering from symptoms of poisoning after attending peace talks in Ukraine, according to reports. The suspected attempt to poison the Russian-born billionaire was not intended to kill him and the two Ukrainian representatives who were also affected, said a leading Russian Bellingcat researcher. The FCDO said the United Kingdom would “continue to help” by imposing tough sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime, as well as providing defense and humanitarian assistance to put Ukraine “in the strongest possible negotiating position”. Arpan Rai29 March 2022 05:02 1648525924
No results in Ukraine would justify nuclear weapons, Russia says
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peshkov said Russia would use nuclear weapons only in the event of a threat to the country’s existence and not as a result of “any effect” on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. In an interview with PBS Newshour, Mr. Peshkov said: “Any result of the operation (in Ukraine), of course, is not a reason to use a nuclear weapon. “We have a concept of security that states very clearly that only when there is a threat to the existence of the state in our country, we can use and will use real nuclear weapons to eliminate the threat to the existence of our country,” he said. Peshkov. This comes just days after Russia refused to rule out the use of nuclear weapons, citing an “existential threat” as an excuse. Arpan Rai29 March 2022 04:52 1648524463
UN chief calls for humanitarian ceasefire in Ukraine
Pushing for “a humanitarian ceasefire in Ukraine,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was launching an initiative to immediately investigate arrangements to meet growing demand for aid. The UN leader has pushed for immediate progress in delivering basic aid and food to the millions still trapped in the war-torn country and called for political negotiations to end the war. Mr Guterres said he had asked Undersecretary of State Martin Griffiths to investigate the possibility of a ceasefire between the two countries, adding that some contacts had already been made. The UN General Assembly has called for an immediate end to hostilities in Ukraine twice already – on March 2 and March 24 – with an overwhelming majority of votes from almost 140 countries. Arpan Rai29 March 2022 04:27 1648522076
Unprotected Russian soldiers disturb radioactive dust in Chernobyl “red forest”
Workers at the Chernobyl site said Russian soldiers were moving in armored vehicles through the highly toxic “red forest” surrounding the unprotected nuclear power plant, spewing clouds of radioactive dust. Calling the act “suicide” for the soldiers, a Chernobyl official said the radioactive dust was likely to cause internal radiation to their bodies. The reactor at the power plant exploded in 1986, causing the worst political nuclear disaster ever recorded, the effects of which continue to plague babies born in the area. Last month, Ukraine’s state nuclear inspectorate confirmed an increase in Chernobyl radioactivity levels due to heavy military vehicles disturbing the contaminated soil. Emily Goddard has the full report here: Arpan Rai29 March 2022 03:47 1648520933
Ukraine and Russia are preparing for peace talks today
Hours before the resumption of peace talks today between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Turkey, air raid sirens sounded in cities across Ukraine as officials from the besieged country said they did not hope for a major breakthrough. Kyiv maintained its demand for a ceasefire without relinquishing its territory and sovereignty. “We are not trading people, land or sovereignty,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba. “The minimum program will be humanitarian issues and the maximum program is to reach an agreement on a ceasefire,” the minister said. Vadim Denishenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s Interior Ministry, said he doubted there would be a major breakthrough. Similarly, on the Russian side, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peshkov said the talks had so far failed to end the conflict. No substantial progress has been made so far, but he said it is important that they continue personally. The resumption of talks between Ukraine and Russia to end the ongoing war in Europe comes after a break of more than two weeks. Arpan Rai29 March 2022 03:28 1648520101
The streets of Mariupol are a cemetery, says the minister
Ukrainian Minister Lesya Vasilenko said the streets in the besieged city of Mariupol had been turned into a cemetery, with “graves everywhere”. “The streets of #Mariupol are a cemetery. Tombs everywhere. 5,000 Ukrainians were killed, 200 of them children. “#StopPutinNOW”, the minister said on Twitter. A photo of an improvised tomb in Mariupol outside an apartment was also shared. Arpan Rai29 March 2022 03:15 1648509959
Novaya Gazeta is printing the last front page as it suspends its publication
The Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, whose publisher was Dmitry Muratov, winner of last year’s Nobel Peace Prize, published its latest front page, following an earlier announcement that it would suspend its online and print activities until the end of its “special operation”. Russia in Ukraine. The Liberal Research newspaper was one of the last remaining independent news outlets in the country, but was forced to remove material from its website about Russian military action in Ukraine to comply with a new media law. She said she received a new warning from state communications regulator Roskomnadzor on Monday about her reports, resulting in a halt to her work. “We are suspending the publication of the newspaper on our website, on social media and in print until the end of the ‘special operation on the territory of Ukraine,’” the newspaper wrote on its website. In a separate message to readers, Mr Muratov said the decision to stop publishing was difficult but necessary. “There is no other choice,” the note said. “For us, and I know, for you, it is a terrible and difficult decision.” The Novaya Gazeta announcement follows the closure earlier this month of Ekho Moskvy radio station, one of the few remaining liberal voices in the Russian media. Authorities have also blocked the websites of many other genres, including the BBC, Voice of America and Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty. Joe Middleton March 29, 2022 00:25 1648509359
Ivanka Trump records a videotaped message for Ukrainians
The eldest daughter of former President Donald Trump expressed her sympathy for the people of Ukraine in an Instagram post on Sunday, where she announced that she had worked to distribute meals to Ukrainian families. Ivanka Trump said in a multi-part Instagram post that she and partner organizations had worked to deliver more than 1,000,000 meals to Ukrainian families in need in recent days, before turning her attention to addressing the Ukrainian directly. people. “You are in our thoughts and in our prayers, and our hearts break for what you are experiencing in this difficult time. You have inspired the world with your courage and bravery as you fight for your country and your freedoms. “God bless you,” he said. Joe Middleton March 29, 2022 00:15 1648508198
Zelensky urges Western nations to step up sanctions on Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Western nations to step up sanctions against Russia, including an embargo on oil supplies to Europe. In his overnight video address to the Ukrainians, Mr Zelensky said the West had miscalculated last year about delaying sanctions and that the invasion had followed. “A full-scale war has begun. “There are now many hints and warnings that supposedly tougher sanctions, such as an embargo on Russian oil supplies to Europe, will take effect if Russia uses chemical weapons,” Zelensky said. “There are simply no words … We, the people who are alive, have to wait. Doesn’t everything the Russian army has done so far justify an oil embargo? Do not phosphorus bombs justify it? “Does not a bombed-out chemical plant or a bombed-out nuclear power plant justify it?” The Ukrainian president said the sanctions should be “effective and serious” given Russia’s actions to date. “If the sanctions packages are weak or do not work well enough, if they can be bypassed, it creates a dangerous illusion for the Russian leadership that they will be allowed to continue doing what they are doing now,” he added. “Ukrainians pay for it with their lives. Thousands of lives. “ Joe Middleton March 28, 2022 …
