WORLD
Russian MP says invasion was planned a year ago
"We did not prepare this, this operation spontaneously," State Duma member Rifat Shaykhutdinov said on state-controlled Channel One TV on Wednesday. "It had been in preparation for a year, maybe more. We understood what [was happening] and had been warning them in advance," he said in remarks on Channel One's daily talk show Time Will Tell.
Escalating tension between Russia and West brings nuclear weapons in focus
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, earlier on Thursday, accused Western leaders of fixating on nuclear war. He also compared the US to French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and German dictator Adolf Hitler. The world leaders have started talking about usage of nuclear weapons but if used, the world would witness disaster which no one could ever imagine.
Second round of Ukraine-Russia talks to take place today
Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted that the Ukrainian delegation is traveling to the meeting point after Russian officials said the talks would take place on Thursday. "Enroute talks with Russian Federation. Already in helicopters. We will start in couple of hours," tweeted Podolyak along with a photo of himself with David Arahamiya, a senior official of the governing party.
Ukraine's defence lines hold, but Russia continues shelling: Zelensky
In a new video address to the nation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday said that his country's defence lines were holding, but Russia has continued shelling major cities since midnight. "We have nothing to lose but our own freedom," Zelensky said, adding that Ukraine is getting daily arms supplies from its international allies.
Kherson Mayor tells residents to obey Russian soldiers
Igor Kolykhaiev, the city's Mayor, said in an update that "armed visitors" had stormed a council meeting and imposed new rules including a strict curfew and urged citizens to follow them. But it was far from clear whether Ukrainian forces had totally withdrawn, with the UK MoD saying Thursday the situation is "unclear".
US recalls cable saying India & UAE 'in Russia's camp'
The US State Department has recalled a cable to American diplomats that instructed them to inform counterparts from India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) their position of neutrality on Ukraine put them "in Russia's camp", Axios reported. The recall of the strongly worded cable indicates either a process error with a fabled and vital work product — or a policy dispute inside the US government involving two key allies.
China asked Russia to delay Ukraine invasion until after Beijing Olympics
A Western intelligence report indicated that Chinese officials in early February requested senior Russian officials to wait until after the Beijing Olympics had finished before beginning an invasion of Ukraine, CNN reported citing US officials as saying. US officials broadly view the report as credible, but its particulars are open to interpretation, a source familiar with the intelligence said on Wednesday.
Russian forces trying to encircle Kiev amid intense fighting
Russian forces were on Thursday trying to encircle Kiev amid intense fighting currently underway within 20-40 km of the Ukrainian capital, a non-profit think tank said. Russian forces were on Thursday trying to encircle Kiev amid intense fighting currently underway within 20-40 km of the Ukrainian capital, a non-profit think tank said.
US arms Ukraine with stinger missiles to shoot down Russian fighter jets
The US delivers anti-aircraft gun -- stinger missiles -- as military aid to Ukraine to take down Russian aircraft and helicopters what it did in Afghanistan 42 years ago to end USSR's presence over there. The stinger surface to air missiles will be a boost for Ukraine's air defence if Russian fighter aircraft bombs the cities. So far Russians have not involved its Air Force into the war. The war between Russia and Ukraine has entered into the eight day after Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a military operation.
Kiev residents permanently move to metro tunnels
As Russian missiles rain down on their homes, many people in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev have moved permanently into the safe shelter of the metro. Kiev's extremely deep metro tunnels are a perfect place to hide. Descending into the cavernous cool of the Dorohozhychy station, one is greeted with the sight of wall to wall blankets, tents, piles of personal goods and people sitting or lying on the floor, with their children and their pets, waiting and hoping that the Russians will be defeated and that they could have their lives back, the local Kyiv Independent newspaper reported.
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