Ruckus on the streets in Kyiv, President seeks India’s support in UNSC
Russian troops entered the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Saturday and a riot has started in the streets. At the same time, the local authorities have appealed to the people to stay away from the windows and take shelter in the right place.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has refused to accept the US offer to leave and insisted that he stay in the capital. “The war is on here,” he said.
It was not immediately clear how far the troops had advanced in Kyiv. Ukrainian officials reported some success in stopping the attacks, but fighting continued near the capital.
Hundreds of people have been killed in the clashes after two days of fighting, and there has been heavy damage to bridges, schools and apartment buildings.
US officials believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to overthrow Ukraine’s government and subjugate it.
Russia claims that its attack on Ukraine is aimed only at military targets, but civilians have been killed and wounded in Europe’s biggest ground war since World War II.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klichschko said a missile hit a high-rise building near one of Kyiv’s two civilian airports, damaging the building. A rescue worker said six civilians were injured.
Thousands of people from Ukraine have left their homes because of the conflict. UN officials said more than 120,000 people from Ukraine had fled to Poland, Moldova and other neighboring countries.
Ukraine’s infrastructure ministry said a Russian missile was shot down in the early hours of Saturday as it was approaching the dam of a huge reservoir that supplies water to Kyiv.
President Zelensky reassured on Saturday that the country’s military would face Russian aggression. In a video recorded on a street in the capital Kyiv, he said he had not left the city and that the claim that the Ukrainian army would lay down was a lie.
Не вірте фейкам. pic.twitter.com/wiLqmCuz1p
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 26, 2022
He said, ‘We are not going to lay down arms. We will defend our country. He said, ‘The truth is that this is our land, our country, we have children. And we will defend them all.
The attack underscores Putin’s boldest attempt to draw a new map of the world and revive the influence of Moscow’s Cold War era. New international efforts have begun to end this offensive, including direct sanctions on Putin.
The future of Kyiv, shaken by the sound of explosions, is in the balance. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelensky called for a ceasefire and said in a desperate statement that several cities in the country were being attacked.
According to a senior US intelligence official, Zelensky has been advised by the US administration to leave Kyiv, but he has turned it down.
The official quoted the Ukrainian president as saying, “The war is on and they need anti-artillery ammunition and not advice to flee.”
Meanwhile, the authorities of Kyiv have appealed to the people to take shelter somewhere. Stay away from windows and take care to avoid flying debris and bullets.
The Kremlin has accepted Kyiv’s offer of talks, but the effort appears to be to coerce Zelensky into coercion rather than a diplomatic solution.
Security personnel of the country’s National Guard deployed in the central part of Kyiv. (Photo: Reuters)
On Friday, the Russian army continued to advance, claiming the city of Melitopol in southern Ukraine. However, it was not clear in the war how much of Ukraine was still under Ukrainian control and how much was occupied by Russian forces.
Ukraine’s military reported the shooting down of a Russian transport plane near Vasilkiv, a town 25 miles (40 km) south of Kyiv, a senior US intelligence official confirmed. However, the Russian army did not comment in this regard.
Ukraine’s health ministry said on Saturday that 198 people, including three children, have been killed and more than 1,000 injured since the Russian attack that began early on Thursday. It is not yet clear whether this figure includes both soldiers and civilians.
Ukrainian officials claim that hundreds of Russians have been killed in the fighting so far. Russian officials have not released any casualties figures.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, warned that Moscow could take actions such as pulling out of the final nuclear weapons deal, confiscation of Western assets.
Meanwhile, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Friday for the first time decided to send parts of the coalition’s response force to help defend the member states. NATO did not say how many troops would be deployed, but said it would include land, sea and air power.
Putin has not disclosed his final plans for Ukraine. “We want to let the Ukrainian people decide their fate,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov signaled.
Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia recognizes Zelensky as president, but did not say how long the Russian military operation could last.
Zelensky on Friday offered to negotiate a key demand from Putin that Ukraine declare itself neutral and give up its ambitions to join NATO.
Curfew period extended in Kyiv
Russian army rocket damaged building. (Photo Credits: Twitter)
In the capital Kyiv, the curfew period has been extended here after night blasts and street ruckus.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klichsko said a missile hit a high-rise building on the city’s south-west outskirts near one of Kyiv’s two passenger airports, damaging the building.
A rescue worker said six civilians were injured.
The mayor has extended the curfew period due to an attack by Russian troops in the city. He said that strict curfew will be in force in Kyiv from 5 pm to 8 am.
He said, ‘All civilians present on the road during the curfew will be considered as members of enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups.’ The curfew, implemented two days ago, was from 10 pm to 7 am.
At the same time, at least six people were injured in a rocket attack on a multi-storey building on the outskirts of the capital Kyiv on Saturday. An employee associated with the rescue operation gave this information.
Firefighter Petro Prokopov, who took part in the rescue operation, said the rocket hit between the 16th and 21st floors of a multi-storey building near the Zhuliani airport on the southwest end of Kiev. At least six people were injured and a fire broke out on two floors of the building, they said. The personnel associated with the rescue operation rescued 80 people.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko posted a photo showing a large hole on one side of the apartment building.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s infrastructure ministry said a Russian missile was shot down in the early hours of Saturday when it was heading towards the dam of the huge reservoir. Water is supplied to Kyiv from this reservoir.
“If the dam had been destroyed, the flood would have resulted in casualties and a lot of damage,” the ministry said.
Russian troops are intensifying their attack on the Ukrainian capital and are trying to advance towards the city from several directions. Russia has repeatedly claimed that its target is only military bases in Ukraine.
Talks between Zelensky and Modi sought political support from India at UNSC
Volodymyr Zelensky. (Photo Credits: ScreenGrab/Twitter/@ZelenskyyUa)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday amid the Russia-Ukraine war. During this, Modi expressed India’s commitment to contribute in any way to peace restoration efforts.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Modi expressed deep anguish over the loss of life and property due to the ongoing conflict there. He also urged the Ukrainian authorities to take appropriate steps for the speedy and safe evacuation of Indian nationals.
The PMO said that President Zelensky briefed Prime Minister Modi in detail about the ongoing conflict situation in Ukraine.
“Prime Minister Modi reiterated his call for an immediate end to the violence and return to dialogue, and offered to contribute in any way to peace restoration efforts there,” the statement said.
Prime Minister Modi also conveyed to President Zelensky India’s deep concerns regarding the security of Indians present in Ukraine.
During this conversation, President Zelensky sought political support from India in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to stop Russia’s military attacks against his country.
Zelensky said in a tweet, ‘Spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The process of countering the Russian aggression by Ukraine was explained.
He said, ‘There are more than one lakh invaders on our land. They are firing indiscriminately on residential buildings. India was urged to give us political support in the UN Security Council. Together we stop the attackers.
Spoke with 🇮🇳 Prime Minister @narendramodi. Informed of the course of 🇺🇦 repulsing 🇷🇺 aggression. More than 100,000 invaders are on our land. They insidiously fire on residential buildings. Urged 🇮🇳 to give us political support in🇺🇳 Security Council. Stop the aggressor together!
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 26, 2022
India did not participate in the vote on a UN Security Council resolution that “strongly condemned” Russia’s “aggressive behavior” against Ukraine. This resolution was introduced by the US in the Security Council.
India has demanded an immediate end to the war, saying that dialogue is the only way to resolve differences.
Opened option to reach out to parties by not voting on UNSC resolution: India
Significantly, India did not vote on a resolution condemning Russia in the UN Security Council over the Ukraine crisis and kept the option open to reach out to all concerned to find a middle ground and promote dialogue and diplomacy.
Official sources gave this information on Saturday. Though India refrained from voting on the resolution, it also called for respecting the “sovereignty and territorial integrity” of the countries and demanded an immediate end to “violence and hostility”.
A resolution to “strongly condemn” Russia’s “aggressive behavior” against Ukraine was voted on in the UN Security Council, in which India did not participate. This resolution was introduced by the US in the Security Council.
This resolution could not be passed in the Security Council because Russia, a permanent member of the council, vetoed it.
Demonstration against Russia in Kolkata. (Photo: PTI)
India also told the UN Security Council that it is in touch with all concerned and has urged them to return to the negotiating table.
Sources said India is deeply concerned by the recent developments in Ukraine and stands by its “consistent and balanced” stand that resolution of differences is possible only through dialogue.
India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations TS Tirumurti said that the only way to resolve differences and disputes is through dialogue and no solution can ever come at the cost of human lives.
India issued an ‘Explanation of Vote’ for not participating in the vote on the resolution, in which it appealed to ‘return to the path of diplomacy’.
Sources said that India spoke of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries, as well as called for an immediate stop to violence and war, as in a conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Modi told Putin. said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to President Vladimir Putin on Thursday in the wake of the situation arising out of Russia’s attack on Ukraine and urged all parties to make concerted efforts to return to the path of diplomatic dialogue and dialogue. was called upon.
On the UN Security Council resolution, sources said India urged all member states to respect the UN Charter, international law, as they provide a constructive path.
Russia warns to retaliate against sanctions imposed by western countries
A senior Russian official has warned that Russia may retaliate against sanctions imposed by Western countries due to the attack on Ukraine. He said that Russia would also pull out of the rest of the nuclear weapons agreement and freeze the assets of Western countries.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of the Security Council, headed by President Vladimir Putin, dismissed severe sanctions imposed by the US, the European Union and other countries on Russia as a reflection of the “political incompetence” of Western countries.
In comments posted to his page on Russian social media VKontakte, Medvedev said the sanctions could give Moscow an opportunity to fully review its relations with the West.
He said Russia could also pull out of the New START nuclear arms control treaty aimed at limiting the US and Russian nuclear arsenals.
Medvedev also expressed the possibility of breaking diplomatic ties with Western countries, saying “there is no special need to maintain diplomatic ties.”
India-Russia relations are different from US-Russia relations, and there is nothing to worry about it: America
US President Joe Biden’s administration said that India’s relationship with Russia is different from the relationship between the US and Russia and there is nothing to worry about.
The US also said that it has asked every country that has relations with Russia to use its influence to protect the rules-based international order.
When asked about the US-India relationship in the context of Russia-Ukraine and whether the Ukraine crisis will affect bilateral relations, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said that America has important interests and values attached to India.
“We have vital interests at stake with India,” Price said at a daily news conference on Friday. We share important values with India, and we know that India’s relationship with Russia is different from the ones that we have with Russia, and there is really nothing to worry about.
In response to a question, he said, ‘India has strong relations with Russia, which we certainly do not have. India and Russia have relations in the field of defense and security, which we do not have…
It is noteworthy that Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation against Ukraine on Thursday, after which Russia attacked several areas of central and eastern Ukraine. This move of Russia has been condemned by many countries including America.
It is worth noting that Russia has a long-standing partnership with India and both countries in 2010 upgraded their relations from bilateral strategic relationship to a special and privileged strategic relationship. At the same time, India’s strategic relationship with America strengthened in an unprecedented way.
Responding to a question on Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Moscow and his meeting with Russian President Putin, Price said the US has conveyed its position to Pakistan and what it does to Russia’s aggression. What are the dangers and what is the meaning of the current ‘invasion’ in Ukraine.
“Well, we will leave it to our partner Pakistan as to what stand it takes on this,” he said.
“All I can say is that we have conveyed our position to Pakistan and explained the dangers of a Russian attack then and the dangers of a Russian attack on Ukraine now,” Price said. Like India, Pakistan should clearly know what is our stand on this.
The UN refugee agency said on Saturday that about 1.2 million people from Ukraine have taken refuge in neighboring countries due to Russia’s invasion.
According to the global agency, Ukrainians are running away with their belongings due to Russia’s attempt to capture the capital Kyiv, and this number is increasing continuously.
Shabiya Mantu, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said around 116,000 people have crossed the international border so far. This number is increasing every hour.
The agency estimates that about 4 million people could leave Ukraine to seek shelter in other countries if the situation worsens.
Mantu said that most of the people are going to neighboring Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia and some are also going to Belarus. Some Russian soldiers have also entered Ukraine via Belarus.
Poland’s government said on Saturday morning that nearly 100,000 people had crossed the border with Ukraine into its country in the past 48 hours. There is a 15 kilometer long queue of vehicles at the Medica border entering Poland from Ukraine, who want to enter Poland.
