Ukraine war latest: Zelensky warns of ‘third world war’ if Russia talks fail as art school bombed
Zelensky accuses NATO of being ‘hypnotised’ by Russian aggression
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has warned of a “third world war” if talks with Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart, fail to achieve peace following the invasion of Ukraine.
“[I]f these attempts fail, that would mean … a third world war,” the wartime leader told CNN via video link on Sunday. He also repeated his belief that Putin’s troops were working to “exterminate” Ukraine’s civilian population.
It comes as the one-month anniversary of Russia’s assault on its neighbour looms this week, with the UN’s most recent data showing that 6.5 million Ukrainians have been internally displaced since the fighting began. At least 816 civilians are thought to have been, though the figure is likely much higher.
Meanwhile, the Russian military on Sunday bombed an art school where around 400 people were taking refuge in the besieged port city of Mariupol. Local authorities said the school’s building was destroyed and people could remain under the rubble. There was no immediate word on casualties.
On Wednesday, Russia targeted a theatre in the same city, where hundreds of civilians were sheltering. Moscow later denied responsibility, blaming far-right Ukrainians for the attack.
Ukrainians in Mariupol should lay down their arms, demands Russia
Ukrainians trapped in Mariupol should lay down their arms if they are seeking a safe passage out of the war-battered town, Russian officials have demanded.
Sternly, Ukraine has rejected the negotiation, asking Russians to not waste time.
Offering two humanitarian passages out of the coastal city — heading either east towards Russia or west to other side of Ukraine, Russian Col Gen Mikhail Mizintsev made the offer to Mariupol residents and asked them to raise white flags in response to the offer.
Mariupol residents were given until 5am Monday to reply to Russia over the negotiation.
However, Ukrainian deputy prime minister junked the Russian offer and said: “ “There can be no talk of any surrender, laying down of arms. We have already informed the Russian side about this,” she said.
“I wrote: ‘Instead of wasting time on eight pages of letters, just open the corridor.”’
Arpan Rai21 March 2022 02:16
Relief at Chernobyl
Management of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, site of the world’s worst nuclear accident in 1986, say 50 staff members who had been on the job since the plant was seized by Russian forces on 24 February have finally been replaced. Officials had repeatedly expressed alarm that the staff was suffering exhaustion after weeks of forced, unrelieved work and that this endangered the decommissioned plant’s safety. The authority that manages the plant did not give specifics on how agreement was reached to let the workers leave and others come in to replace them.
Alastair Jamieson21 March 2022 01:40
Watch: Zelensky predicts ‘third world war’ if talks fail
Zelensky predicts ‘third World War’ if talks fail
Sam Hancock21 March 2022 00:30
Zelensky praises Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher for Ukraine appeal
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has praised actors Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher for “inspiring the world” after they raised almost $35m (£26.6m) for the country.
The couple spoke with Mr Zelensky following their efforts to secure public donations to help supply humanitarian aid to those caught up in the conflict.
On Sunday, Mr Zelensky shared a photo on Twitter taken during a video call with the duo.
Sam Hancock21 March 2022 00:10
Ukraine rejects Russian offer to surrender in Mariupol
Ukraine’s deputy prime minister has rejected Russia’s offer of forces surrendering in Mariupol to allow for the creation of two humanitarian corridors, reports suggest.
Moscow said it would secure two routes out of the besieged city, heading either east toward sRussia or west to other parts of Ukraine, but demanded Ukrainian troops stop fighting for this to happen.
But Ukrainian deputy PM Irina Vereshchuk rejected the notion late on Sunday. “There can be no talk of any surrender, laying down of arms. We have already informed the Russian side about this,” she told the news outlet Ukrainian Pravda. “I wrote: ‘Instead of wasting time on eight pages of letters, just open the corridor.”
Previous bids to allow residents to evacuate Mariupol and other Ukrainian cities have failed or have been only partially successful, with bombardments continuing as civilians sought to flee.
The fall of Mariupol would allow Russian forces in southern and eastern Ukraine to link up. But Western military analysts say that even if the surrounded city is taken, the troops battling a block at a time for control there may be too depleted to help secure Russian breakthroughs on other fronts.
Two women escaping from Mariupol arrive at Lviv, western Ukraine on Sunday
(AP)
Sam Hancock20 March 2022 23:58
UK says Russian forces still trying to circumvent Mykolaiv
Britain’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) says Russian forces advancing from Crimea are still attempting to circumvent Mykolaiv as they look to drive west towards Odesa.
But it says these forces have made little progress over the past week.
“The blockade of the Ukrainian coast is likely to exacerbate the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, preventing vital supplies reaching the Ukrainian population,” the MoD said in a Twitter post.
And it added: “The blockade of the Ukrainian coast is likely to exacerbate the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, preventing vital supplies reaching the Ukrainian population.”
Sam Hancock20 March 2022 23:39
Watch: Chinese ambassador rejects claims Beijing is aiding Russia
Chinese ambassador rejects claims Beijing is aiding Russia
Sam Hancock20 March 2022 23:22
Russia gives Ukraine hours to surrender in Mariupol in exchange for escape
Sam Hancock20 March 2022 22:43
Kyiv’s mayor says shelling kills at least one in Podil
Shelling hit residential houses and a shopping district in Kyiv’s Podil district late on Sunday, killing at least one person, mayor Vitali Klitschko claims.
“According to the information we have at the moment, several homes and one of the shopping centres [were hit],” he said on his Telegram channel.
Mr Klitschko said rescue teams were putting out a large fire at the shopping centre, while other details are still to be confirmed.
The Independent has so far not been able to verify these reports.
Sam Hancock20 March 2022 22:31
Watch: Sunak distances himself from PM’s comparison of Ukraine war with Brexit
Rishi Sunak distances himself from Boris Johnson’s comparison of Ukraine war with Brexit
Sam Hancock20 March 2022 22:00
