Russia-Ukraine War Live Updates: Russia Warns Kyiv Residents To Leave, Convoy Nears Capital
Russia’s attack on Ukraine stretched into its sixth day Tuesday, as a massive armored convoy advanced toward the capital, Kyiv, and major cities were hit by more heavy shelling.
In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, video captured a deadly explosion at the regional state administration building that left at least 10 people dead, according to Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser Anton Herashchenko.
The International Criminal Court said Monday it would open an investigation into whether Russia has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. The decision was announced hours after peace talks in Belarus ended without any clear progress.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy implored the European Union to accept Ukraine’s application to join the bloc in a speech before the European Parliament on Tuesday that was met with a standing ovation.
It came amid a swift Western response to Russia’s invasion, with countries imposing widening sanctions that hit Russia’s economy hard and forced its currency, the ruble, to drop to around 30 percent against the U.S. dollar Monday.
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy tells Russia “just stop the bombing” before more ceasefire talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday Russia must stop bombing Ukrainian cities before meaningful talks on a ceasefire could start, as a first round of negotiations this week had yielded scant progress.
Speaking in an interview in a heavily guarded government compound, Zelenskyy urged NATO members to impose a no fly zone to stop the Russian air force, saying this would be a preventative measure and not meant to drag the alliance into war with Russia.
Zelenskyy, who has refused offers to leave the Ukrainian capital as Russian forces advanced, also said Ukraine would demand legally binding security guarantees if NATO shut the door on Ukraine’s membership prospects.
Setting out his conditions for further talks with Russia, Zelenskyy told Reuters and CNN in a joint interview: “It’s necessary to at least stop bombing people, just stop the bombing and then sit down at the negotiating table.”