Russian forces close on Kyiv
- Ukrainian officials are preparing for a Russian assault on the capital, Kyiv, as the full-scale attack enters a second day.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says 137 people have been killed so far, including civilians.
- The UN’s refugee agency says about 100,000 Ukrainians have been displaced, with thousands fleeing to nearby European states.
- Western powers have announced sweeping sanctions on Russia.
- Hundreds of Russians have staged anti-war protests in cities across the country.
Ukrainian president urges EU to toughen sanctions on Russia
Zelenskyy has urged Kyiv’s European allies to act more quickly and forcefully in imposing sanctions on Moscow for invading Ukraine, accusing the continent’s leaders of politicking as Russia’s forces advance on Kyiv.
“Europe has enough strength to stop this aggression,” the Ukrainian president said, adding that everything from banning Russians from entering the European Union to cutting Moscow off from SWIFT to an oil embargo should be on the table.
In call with Putin, Xi says China supports dialogue: Report
Chinese state television CCTV reports that the country’s president, Xi Jinping, has told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that Beijing supports Moscow in efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis via dialogue.
The leaders held talks on the situation by phone, CCTV reported.
