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Biden terms Putin ‘war criminal’

US President Joe Biden meets his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Geneva.(credit: https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse)

Biden’s remark did not go down well with Russia, which may further escalate diplomatic tensions amid the ongoing war….reports Asian Lite News

For the first time since Moscow waged its war on Kiev on February 24, US President Joe Biden called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a “war criminal” as the latter is “inflicting appalling devastation and horror on Ukraine”.

Biden made the remarks while responding to a reporter’s question at the White House on Wednesday, the BBC reported.

When the reporter asked the President is he was ready to call Putin a “war criminal”, Biden responded by saying: “Did you ask me whether I would tell ….? Oh, I think he is a war criminal.”

Later in a tweet, the American leader said: “Putin is inflicting appalling devastation and horror on Ukraine – bombing apartment buildings and maternity wards.

“Yesterday (Tuesday), we saw reports that Russian forces were holding hundreds of doctors and patients hostage. These are atrocities. It is an outrage to the world.”

Addressing reporters at the White House, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that Biden’s branding of Putin as a “war criminal” came as the US President “had been speaking from his heart and speaking from what he’s seen on television, which is barbaric actions by a brutal dictator, through his invasion of a foreign country”.

“There is a legal process that continues to — is underway, continues to be underway at the State Department. That’s a process that they would have any updates on,” she added.

But Biden’s remark did not go down well with Russia, which may further escalate diplomatic tensions amid the ongoing war.

“We believe such rhetoric to be unacceptable and unforgivable on the part of the head of a state, whose bombs have killed hundreds of thousands of people around the world,” the BBC quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying to Russia’s state-run TASS News Agency.

ALSO READ: India in touch with France on Russia-Ukraine mediation

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-Top News Europe USA

West responsible for Ukraine bloodshed: Putin

“The economic difficulties of the population of Western countries are not caused by the actions of Russia, but were the result of myopic mistakes and ambitions of the ruling elites of their states, “saidPutin…reports Asian Lite News

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that the West is pushing Kiev to bloodshed.

“It is also clear to us that Western patrons are simply pushing the Kiev authorities to continue the bloodshed,” Putin said, RT reported.

He noted that the supply of weapons and the dispatch of mercenaries continued.

“Ukraine, encouraged by the United States and a number of Western countries, purposefully prepared for a military scenario. To the bloody massacre and ethnic cleansing in the Donbass. A massive attack on the Donbass and then on the Crimea was only a matter of time,” Putin said.

The Russian armed forces thwarted these plans, he claimed.

“In Kiev, they were not only preparing for war, for aggression against Russia, against the Donbass, they were waging it. Attempts to organise sabotage and terrorist underground did not stop. In recent years, hostilities have continued in the Donbass, with shelling of peaceful settlements. During this time, almost 14,000 civilians died, including children,” Vladimir Putin said.

The economic difficulties of the population of Western countries are not caused by the actions of Russia, but were the result of myopic mistakes and ambitions of the ruling elites of their states, who are obsessed with superprofits, Putin said.

“Evidence of this is the data of international organisations, which say that social problems even in the leading Western countries have only worsened in recent years: Inequality is growing, the gap between the poor and the rich, racial and national conflicts are making themselves felt. The myth of the Western welfare society, the so-called golden billion, is collapsing,” the Russian head of state said at a meeting on economic issues.

ALSO READ: India in touch with France on Russia-Ukraine mediation

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-Top News Canada Europe

Russia takes on Canada, imposes sanctions

The restrictions were introduced in retaliation for the anti-Russian hostility of the current Canadian government…reports Asian Lite News

 The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that 313 Canadian officials have been barred from entering Russia, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, Defence Minister Anita Anand, and most members of the House of Commons of the Parliament are among the blacklisted officials, the ministry said in a statement, Xinhua news agency reported.

The restrictions were introduced in retaliation for the anti-Russian hostility of the current Canadian government, it said.

ALSO READ: Putin sanctions Biden

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-Top News Europe

Three European prime ministers head to Kiev

The European leaders are set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Kiev….reports Asian Lite News

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa arrived in Ukraine and are headed to Kiev, the Polish PM’s office announced on Tuesday.

“About an hour ago, the train of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister for Security Jaroslaw Kaczynski, and the prime ministers of the Czech Republic and Slovenia crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border,” the office tweeted, RT reported.

The leaders are set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Kiev. The purpose of the meeting is to express the unequivocal support of the European Union towards Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence, and discuss a broad package of support measures.

According to Polish government spokesman Piotr Muller, the meeting was agreed upon after consultations with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, for the purpose of sending “a strong signal for peace.”

Moscow attacked its neighbour on February 24, following a seven-year standoff over Ukraine’s failure to implement the terms of the Minsk agreements, and Russia’s eventual recognition of the Donbass republics in Donetsk and Lugansk.

ALSO READ: Biden to make sure Ukraine has weapons  

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-Top News Europe

‘The people of Ukraine are mourning with you’

According to Kiev police chief Andriy Nebytov, Renaud had been targeted by Russian soldiers…reports Asian Lite News

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has written a letter to the family of American journalist Brent Renaud, who was shot dead in the town of Irpin this week.

Renaud, the 51-year-old journalist who had been working in the region, was killed by Russian forces on Sunday during a firing, in which two more correspondents were also injured.

He is the first casualty among foreign journalists in the ongoing war.

Zelensky in his letter on Monday said that the “talented and brave journalist lost his life while documenting human tragedy, devastation and suffering of the millions of Ukrainians”.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy President of Ukraine.(photo:Facebook)

“With all his courage and determination, he travelled to the most dangerous war zones to film the unprecedented ruthlessness and evil inflicted upon our nation by the aggressor state.

“The people of Ukraine, who are fighting the Russian regime to defend their homeland and democracy, are mourning with you.

“May Brent’s life, service and sacrifice inspire generations of people all around the world to stand up in the fight for the forces of light against forces of darkness,” the President added.

According to Kiev police chief Andriy Nebytov, Renaud had been targeted by Russian soldiers, the BBC reported.

In the past, the journalist had reported from Afghanistan, Iraq and Haiti.

He also won a Peabody Award for his work on a 2014 series on Chicago schools, ‘Last Chance High’.

ALSO READ: Biden, Macron vow to hold Russia accountable for Ukraine war

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-Top News Europe

Talks to continue amid mounting attacks

Pic credits Belarusmfa twittr

The fourth round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine occurred earlier on Monday through video link….reports Asian Lite News

 Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are being held daily, Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, also the head of the Russian delegation, has said.

“The negotiations with Ukraine are being held every day, seven days a week, in a format of video conferences,” Medinsky posted on his Telegram account on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported. Medinsky said video meetings save time and are more efficient.

“We are striving to do everything that is possible to fulfill the tasks set by (Russian President) Vladimir Putin for Russia’s peaceful future,” he wrote.

The fourth round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine occurred earlier on Monday through video link.

According to Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak, a member of the delegation, a technical pause has been taken in the negotiations until Tuesday.

ALSO READ: Biden, Macron vow to hold Russia accountable for Ukraine war

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-Top News Europe

Europe running out of Sunflower oil as war intensifies

According to the association, the conflict in Ukraine has already prevented approximately 200,000 tonnes of sunflower seed oil per month from being shipped to European ports….reports Asian Lite News

Europe now faces a deficit in sunflower oil because exports from Ukraine have stopped, with the available stocks projected to last between 4 and 6 weeks, the EU vegetable oil industry association has warned.

“Beyond that period, it is likely that [the] lack of availability of crude sunflower seed oil and limited alternatives will lead to a shortfall of refined/bottled sunflower seed oil on the European market, and that this will be felt up to the consumer level,” reads the latest FEDIOL press release, RT reported.

According to the association, the conflict in Ukraine has already prevented approximately 200,000 tonnes of sunflower seed oil per month from being shipped to European ports.

The EU sources between 35 per cent and 45 per cent of the oil it consumes from Ukraine, FEDIOL explains, adding that such volumes are difficult if not impossible to replace on short notice.

Producers are already redirecting the oil destined for biodiesel back to the food market, FEDIOL says, predicting that rapeseed oil, soybean oil, and tropical oils could also be used as a replacement.

Since the beginning of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine on February 24, the country’s Black Sea ports have been closed, leaving dozens of cargo ships stranded and disrupting shipping.

ALSO READ: Biden, Macron vow to hold Russia accountable for Ukraine war

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-Top News China

China denies reports on Russian requests for help in Ukraine conflict

Despite sharing strong ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and criticizing the West over the sanctions against Russia, China’s President Xi Jinping has found himself in a tough position amid the Russia-Ukraine war….reports Asian Lite News

China’s embassy in Washington has denied reports that Moscow had asked Beijing for military equipment hours after media reports emerged that Moscow sought military assistance including procurement of drones.

Liu Pengyu, the Chinese embassy spokesperson in Washington, said he was unaware of any suggestions that China might be willing to help Russia. “I’ve never heard of that,” Pengyu said in a statement when asked about the reporting of Russia’s request for military aid.

Pengyu expressed concern for the Ukraine situation and said China has and will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, CNN reported.

“The high priority now is to prevent the tense situation from escalating or even getting out of control. … China calls for exercising utmost restraint and preventing a massive humanitarian crisis,” Pengyu said.

On February 24, Russia began a “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Despite sharing strong ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and criticizing the West over the sanctions against Russia, China’s President Xi Jinping has found himself in a tough position amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

The US and its European allies have introduced sanctions targeting several major Russian banks and high-rank Russian officials, including Putin, besides ousting Russia from the SWIFT financial system.

Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, the White House announced that US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and several officials from State Department will meet the Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission Yang Jiechi in Rome.

On Monday, Sullivan and officials from the National Security Council and State Department will be in Rome to discuss the impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine on regional and global security.

“On Monday, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and officials from the National Security Council and State Department will be in Rome. Sullivan will meet with the Chinese Communist Party Politburo Member and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission Yang Jiechi as part of our ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication between the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC),” read the White House release.

ALSO READ: China to face consequences if it helps Russia on sanctions, warns US

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-Top News Europe

4th round of truce talks on Monday

Ukrainian and Russian delegations have held three rounds of peace talks in-person in Belarus since February 28, though the negotiations ended without a significant breakthrough….reports Asian Lite News

 Russian and Ukrainian delegations will resume talks on Monday through a video link, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday.

“Negotiations go non-stop in the format of video conferences. Working groups are constantly functioning. A large number of issues require constant attention. On Monday, March 14, a negotiating session will be held to sum up the preliminary results,” Mykhailo Podoliak, advisor to the Head of the President’s Office of Ukraine, tweeted on Sunday night, Xinhua news agency reported.

Ukrainian and Russian delegations have held three rounds of peace talks in-person in Belarus since February 28, though the negotiations ended without a significant breakthrough.

ALSO READ: US authorises $200 M additional military aid to Ukraine

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-Top News Europe

Zelensky reiterates call for no-fly zone

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.(photo: twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa)

A no-fly zone refers to any region of airspace where it has been established that certain aircraft cannot fly….reports Asian Lite News

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has renewed his call to NATO leaders to establish a no-fly zone over his country, warning that it was only a matter of time that Russian missiles would also fall on the alliance’s territories.

The President’s call on Sunday night came after 30 missiles struck Lviv earlier in the day, while the shelling of the International Centre for Peacekeeping and Security located near the Ukraine-Poland border killed 35 people and injured 134 others.

Referring to the shelling of the Centre, Zelensky said that “nothing was happening there that could threaten the territory of the Russian Federation. The NATO border is only 20 kilometres away”, reports Ukrayinska Pravda.

“Last year, I clearly warned NATO leaders that if there were no harsh preventive sanctions against the Russian Federation, it would go to war. We were right.

“Now I am repeating again: if you do not cover us with a no-fly zone, it is only a matter of time before Russian missiles fall on your territory, on NATO territory, on the homes of NATO states’ citizens,” the President added.

A no-fly zone refers to any region of airspace where it has been established that certain aircraft cannot fly.

It can be used to protect sensitive areas, such as royal residences, or brought in temporarily over sporting events and large gatherings.

The US has ruled out a no-fly zone over Ukraine because it could mean NATO forces shooting down Russian aircraft to clear the skies, the BBC reported.

US President Joe Biden said do so would lead to an escalation, which he described as “World War Three”.

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has also confirmed that his country would not help enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine because fighting Russian jets would trigger a “war across Europe”.

ALSO READ: US journalist shot dead in Ukraine