Russia-Ukraine Conflict LATEST Updates
In a Firstpost exclusive, Indra Shekhar Singh interviews Roman Babushkin, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Russian Embassy on the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Babushkin clears the air on the plight of Indian students stranded in the war zone and goes on to cover the Russian military action, sanctions, Indo-Russia trade and possible solutions to the crisis. Babushkin also discusses the historical origins of the crisis, while highlighting the inconsistencies of the mainstream narrative on the persecution of Russians in Ukraine and highlights the failure of the West-backed international order.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LATEST Updates
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and reviewed the situation in Ukraine, especially in Kharkiv, according to the prime minister’s office on Wednesday.
Both the leaders also discussed the safe evacuation of the Indian nationals from the conflict areas. “The leaders reviewed the situation in Ukraine, especially in the city of Kharkiv where many Indian students are stuck. They discussed the safe evacuation of the Indian nationals from the conflict areas,” the PMO statement said.
– ANI
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LATEST Updates
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken talked by telephone with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and reiterated the United States’ commitment to providing security, financial and other support to Ukraine, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a readout of the conversation on Wednesday.
“Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to reiterate the United States’ commitment to providing security, financial, and humanitarian support as Ukraine faces increasingly brutal bombardment by Russian forces, including missile strikes on apartment buildings, hospitals, and a Holocaust memorial site,” Price said.
-ANI
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LATEST Updates
US President Joe Biden on Wednesday extended the national emergency regarding Ukraine by one year due to extraordinary threat national security and foreign policy threats posed to the United States by the situation in the Eastern European country.
“The actions and policies of persons that undermine democratic processes and institutions in Ukraine … continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13660 with respect to Ukraine,” Biden said in a message to Congress. Biden cited the actions of Russia, including their integration of Crimea and recognition of the Donbas republics, as reasons to continue the national emergency declaration.
-ANI
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LATEST Updates
Joe Biden on Wednesday said it’s Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s “judgement” to make whether to leave Ukraine. He added, “We’re doing everything we can to help him.”
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LATEST Updates
The Ukrainian government is calling on the United Nations to reconsider Russia’s status as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Wednesday, questioning the legitimacy of Russia’s position on the council.
Speaking in televised address, Kuleba called for a “thorough and unbiased” legal review of Russia’s permanent membership.
–CNN
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LATEST Updates
Vladimir Putin “badly miscalculated” with his invasion of Ukraine, President Joe Biden said in his first State of the Union address on Tuesday, calling the Russian leader a “dictator” and warning that the war will leave his country weaker.
In a show of solidarity with Ukraine, Biden asked the audience for his speech to stand. Many lawmakers and guests held Ukrainian flags.
-AFP
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LATEST Updates
Polish universities will be opening their doors to Indian students evacuated from Ukraine so that they can finish their studies, said Union Minister VK Singh on Wednesday.
Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways and Civil Aviation, VK Singh interacted with 600 Indian students at Hotel Prezydenckie in Rzeszow, Poland. He said, “If your course isn’t complete…all people I met in Poland said that they’ll take up responsibility for education of all students who were in Ukraine” Many students were in the middle of their studies in Ukraine when the crisis between Russia-Ukraine escalated. However, Poland, with whom the Government of India has friendly relations, is ready to take these students to complete their studies.
–ANI
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LATEST Updates
Russian missiles struck central Kharkiv damaging the Kharkiv city council building, the Palace of Labor and high rise buildings on Wednesday as the Russian operations in Ukraine entered the seventh day.
The Kyiv independent, a Ukraine media outlet, in a tweet said “Russian missiles hit central Kharkiv again.” It added that “according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the attack damaged the Kharkiv City Council building, the Palace of Labor, and high-rise buildings.” Russia on Tuesday intensified the shelling on the sixth day of its military operations in Ukraine by targeting the capital city Kyiv as well as the second-largest city Kharkiv.
-ANI
Russia-Ukraine Conflict LATEST Updates
Jyotiraditya Scindia helps Indian national ailing from a ligament tear in Romania
Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday ushered an Indian national with a ligament tear to the front row of an aircraft under Operation Ganga and asked fellow passengers to take care of her.
The Indian national, Srishti, who had a ligament tear and was stuck in Bucharest, had met the minister last night. Scindia earlier on Wednesday interacted with Indian students at Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest in Romania.