Russia Ukraine Conflict Highlights: In order to conduct a humanitarian operation, from 10:00am. (Moscow time) on Tuesday, the Russian Federation has declared ceasefire and is ready to provide humanitarian corridors, said the Russian Embassy in India. According to the statement, the said corridors will be opened in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Mariupol for the evacuation of civilians.
Meanwhile, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti told the UN Security Council meeting on Monday that the country is “deeply concerned” over the fact that despite its repeated urgings to both Russia and Ukraine, the safe corridor for Indian students stranded in Sumy did not materialize. Tirumurti also informed that India has managed to facilitate the safe return of over 20,000 Indians from Ukraine. “We have also assisted nationals from other countries, who approached us, in their return to their respective countries. And we will remain open to doing so in the coming days.” The Indian envoy told the Council that more than 80 evacuation flights have been crisscrossing the skies to bring the Indian nationals home, PTI reported.
Also Read: Crisis deepens, Ukraine accuses Moscow of ‘medieval’ tactics
The World Bank on Monday approved a package of loans and grants worth $723 million for Ukraine, as the country continuously battles the Russian forces. The bank in a statement confirmed that the package includes a $350 million loan supplement to a prior World Bank loan, augmented by about $139 million through guarantees from the Netherlands and Sweden, reported Reuters. “The World Bank Group is taking quick action to support Ukraine and its people in the face of the violence and extreme disruption caused by the Russian invasion,” World Bank President David Malpass said in a statement. “The World Bank Group stands with the people of Ukraine and the region. This is the first of many steps we are taking to help address the far-reaching human and economic impacts of this crisis,” Malpass added.
Here are the latest updates from Russia-Ukraine War:
Biden: US ban on Russian oil a 'powerful blow' to 'Putin's war,' warns Americans 'defending freedom is going to cost', reports AP
We are enforcing the most significant package of economic sanctions in history, and it's causing significant damage to Russia's economy, US President Joe Biden (Agencies)
"We're moving forward with this ban understanding that many of our European allies and partners may not be in a position to join us.": US President Joe Biden (Agencies)
"Putin may be able to take a city, but he will never be able to hold the country.": US President Joe Biden (Agencies)
Ukraine will 'never be a victory for Putin', says US President Biden (AFP)
We will not be part of subsidizing Putin's war, says US President Joe Biden (Agencies)
"We're banning all imports of Russian gas, oil, and energy," announces US President Joe Biden (AFP)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with the Prime Minister of Netherlands Mark Rutte, discussed the ongoing situation in Ukraine (ANI)
Average price for a gallon of gasoline in the US hits a record $4.17 as country prepares to ban Russian oil imports, reports AP
RePowerEU will diversify our gas supplies, speed up the renewable roll-out, improve energy efficiency and replace gas in heating and power. It can reduce our demand for Russian gas by 2/3 before the end of the year: Ursula von der Leyen, President of European Commission (ANI)
Three killed, three children wounded by anti-personnel mine north of Kyiv: official (AFP)
Operation Ganga: About 18,000 Indians brought back from Ukraine by special flights so far (ANI)
Rating agency Icra has warned of serious downside risks to the economy next fiscal with runaway current account deficit, steep fall in the rupee and a hardening yields on government bonds, as a result of the Russian-Ukraine crisis and the resultant spike in crude and other commodity prices.
International crude oil prices have hit a 14-year high at USD 130 a barrel on March 7, up from USD 94 a barrel before the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which is the world’s third-largest oil producer, supplying 14 per cent of global production. | READ MORE
US President Joe Biden to ban Russia oil imports, toughening toll on Russian economy in retaliation for invasion of Ukraine, reports AP
Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has released new estimates of casualties and damage from the Russian war, saying Russian military actions have killed 38 children and wounded more than 70. Overall at least 400 civilian deaths have been recorded and 800 wounded, though “these data are definitely incomplete,” he said in a video address. It was not immediately possible to verify the figures. He said Russian strikes have destroyed more than 200 Ukrainian schools, 34 hospitals and 1,500 residential buildings. He estimated some 10,000 foreign students, notably from India, China and the Persian Gulf are trapped by the fighting, and described attacks on British and Swiss journalists. (AP)
A temporary ceasefire mostly held around the Ukrainian city of Sumy on Tuesday, allowing civilians including around 1,000 foreign students to be evacuated through a humanitarian corridor, the regional governor said. Convoys of 20-30 private cars were leaving in waves, Governor Dmytro Zhyvytsky said in televised comments. (Reuters)
Two civilian flights from Suceava in Romania airlifted 410 Indians nationals to India on Tuesday, the civil aviation ministry said. The Ukrainian airspace has been shut since February 24 due to the Russian military offensive. The Indian citizens stuck in Ukraine are being airlifted once they cross to neighbouring countries such as Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland. "Under 'Operation Ganga' to rescue Indian citizens from Ukraine's neighbouring countries, 410 Indians have been airlifted today (March 8) by 2 special civilian flights from Suceava," a ministry statement said. (PTI)
SpiceJet delayed its evacuation flight from Suceava in Romania by approximately three hours on Monday night for a group of 36 Indian students who were stranded at the Ukraine-Romania border. "The departure of SpiceJet flight SG 9547 from Suceava to Delhi with 152 Indian students on board was scheduled at 7.20 pm (local time) when information was received about a group of 36 Indian students stranded at the Ukraine-Romania border," according to a statement issued by the airline. A decision was taken to wait for the students who would be travelling by road to the Suceava Ștefan cel Mare International Airport, the statement said. The departure of the flight was revised thrice as the SpiceJet team waited for the Indian students to arrive, it stated. "The flight finally departed at 10.05 pm (local time) and reached Delhi at 8.30 am today (local time) with a total of 188 students on-board," according to the statement. (PTI)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday expressed concern over rising crude prices due to the Ukraine crisis and indicated that the central government is looking to tap alternative sources. At an interactive session organised by BJP's Karnataka unit, she was asked about the impact of rising crude prices and war in Ukraine on the Indian economy. "It will certainly have an impact on Indian economy", the Minister said. "How much we are going to be prepared to take it as a challenge and mitigate the impact is something which we will have see as we go (along)". Noting that India imports more than 85 per cent of its crude oil requirements, she said when oil prices go up, it is a matter of concern and "now we will have to see how it pans out". (PTI)
Energy giant Shell says it will stop buying Russian oil, natural gas and shut service stations in Russia, reports AP. (PTI)
The Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday said that 496 people from the state have returned safely so far from war-hit Ukraine under Operation Ganga. State Home Minister Narottam Mishra also said that some students from MP are reportedly stuck in Sumy city in northeastern Ukraine. “If students from MP, if any, are stranded in Sumy, their family members here should immediately inform the state Home Department," Mishra, who is the state government spokesman, appealed. The MP government has already decided to provide free lodging and food to the returning students in Delhi and transport them to their homes in the central Indian state. Since Ukraine's airspace was shut on February 24, India has been evacuating its citizens by special flights from that country's western neighbours such as Romania, Hungary and Poland. (PTI)
Evacuations of people fleeing embattled Ukrainian cities along safe corridors began on Tuesday, while UN officials said the exodus of refugees from Russia's invasion reached 2 million. The Russian onslaught has trapped people inside cities that are running low on food, water and medicine amid the biggest ground war in Europe since World War II. Previous attempts to lead civilians to safety have crumbled with renewed attacks. But on Tuesday, video posted by Ukrainian officials showed buses with people moving along a snowy road from the eastern city of Sumy and yellow buses with a red cross on them heading toward the southern port of Mariupol. It was not clear how long the efforts would last. (AP)
Ukraine's World Cup play-off semi-final match against Scotland has been postponed, after the Scottish Football Association received notification from FIFA on Monday. A postponement of the match, due to be played at Hampden Park in Glasgow on 24th March, had been requested by Ukraine in light of the Russian invasion. The play-off final for the winners - against either Wales or Austria - will now also be delayed as a result of the decision. Discussions are will now begin for a new date, with the Nations League window in June expected to be the most likely option. The postponement has yet to be publically confirmed by FIFA. (AP)
"More than 2 million people have fled Ukraine war as refugees," reports AFP News Agency quoting United Nations (ANI)
Ukraine Foreign Affairs Ministry: Ceasefire violated! Russian forces are now shelling the humanitarian corridor from Zaporizhzhia to Mariupol. 8 trucks + 30 buses ready to deliver humanitarian aid to Mariupol & to evac civilians to Zaporizhzhia. Pressure on Russia MUST step up... (ANI)