Ukraine

US, UK, Europe, Canada to block Russian access to SWIFT – UPDATED

WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS, Feb 26 (Reuters) - The United States, Britain, Europe and Canada on Saturday moved to block Russia's access to the SWIFT international payment system as part of another round of sanctions…

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Chelsea owner Abramovich gives trustees stewardship of club amid Ukraine pressure

Feb 26 (Reuters) - Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has given trustees of the London side's foundation stewardship of the Premier League club, the Russian billionaire said on Saturday, amid calls in Britain…

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Pressure on Apple to cut products, services supply in Russia

Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister urged Apple Inc top boss Tim Cook to cut supply of its products and block access to App Store in Russia. Mykhailo Fedorov, who is also…

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Internet in Ukraine disrupted as Russian troops advance

LONDON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Internet connectivity in Ukraine has been badly affected by the Russian invasion, particularly in the southern and eastern parts of the country where fighting has been heaviest,…

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Send military help to Ukraine, sanction Russia harshly, east EU leaders tell Scholz

WARSAW/VILNIUS, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Leaders from Poland and Lithuania urged the European Union on Saturday to go further in their support for Ukraine in the face of a Russian invasion, as…

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Biden approves $350 million in military aid for Ukraine

WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden instructed the U.S. State Department to release up to an additional $350 million worth of weapons from U.S. stocks to Ukraine on Friday as…

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Russia resumes Ukraine offensive from all directions after pause -RIA

MOSCOW, Feb 26 (Reuters) - All Russian units in Ukraine were on Saturday given the order to resume their offensive from all directions after a pause on Friday, the RIA news agency…

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France’s Macron reiterates support to Georgia, Moldova, to boost NATO presence in Estonia, Romania

PARIS, Feb 26 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron has told the presidents of Georgia and Moldova, neighbours of Ukraine in Europe's east, that France would support them "against any tension or…

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UK’s Prince William and wife say they stand with Ukraine

LONDON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate said on Saturday they stood with the people of Ukraine as they "bravely fight" the invasion by Russia, in a…

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Ukrainian leader says it is ‘crucial moment’ to decide on EU membership

KYIV, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday it was "a crucial moment" to decide on Ukraine's membership of the European Union, as Russia continued to…

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The Ukrainian crisis roundup

Here's what you need to know about the Ukraine crisis so far: HEADLINES * Britain's defence ministry said on Saturday the bulk of Russian forces involved in the advance on…

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Ukraine says Russia has closed off northwestern part of Black Sea to navigation

KYIV, Feb 26 (Reuters) - The Ukrainian border guards service said on Saturday Russia had closed off the northwestern part of the Black Sea to navigation. "The presence of ships and ships…

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Ukraine embassy staff evacuating from Moscow

VILNIUS, Feb 26 (Reuters) - The staff of Ukraine's embassy in Moscow is evacuating to Latvia, the Latvian foreign ministry told Reuters on Saturday. "It was their plea, we readily agreed. We…

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Italy may reopen coal plants due to war in Ukraine

Premier Mario Draghi said Friday that the knock-on effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine were set to have a major impact on the Italian economy and, with the energy sector…

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Russia prohibits use of word “invasion” in media reports on situation in the Ukraine

Russia's communications regulator accused 10 local media outlets on Saturday of falsely depicting what Russia calls a special military operation in Ukraine and distributing false information about events there. Among…

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Photo story: German corvette leaves to reinforce Standing NATO Maritime Group 1

The corvette F262 Erfurt of the German Navy (Bundesmarine) leaves the port of Wilhelmshaven, northern Germany, 26 February 2022. The type K130 corvette (Braunschweig class) deploys to join the Standing…

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Dutch to deliver 200 air defence rockets to Ukraine

AMSTERDAM, Feb 26 (Reuters) - The Netherlands will supply 200 air defence rockets to Ukraine as quickly as possible, the Dutch government said in a letter to parliament on Saturday.…

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UPDATED: Greece and Cyprus to back EU line on Russia sanctions, including on SWIFT

Greece will support any European Union line on sanctions against Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, including measures to cut off Moscow from the global SWIFT payments system, a senior…

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UPDATED: France seizes ship suspected of violating Russia sanctions

BOULOGNE-SUR-MER, France, Feb 26 (Reuters) - French sea police seized a ship on Saturday that authorities suspect belongs to a Russian company targeted by European Union sanctions over the war in Ukraine,…

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UPDATE – Poland, Sweden refuse to play World Cup match with Russia

WARSAW (Reuters) -Poland and Sweden said they would not play their soccer World Cup qualifiers against Russia in March, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the governing bodies of both national…

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Moody’s puts Russia, Ukraine ratings on review for downgrade

Moody's said it has put the credit ratings of Russia and Ukraine on review for a downgrade after Moscow invaded the neighboring country in what is the biggest attack on…

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Russia to seize foreigners’ funds in retaliation

MOSCOW, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Russia will respond to the seizure of money of Russian citizens and companies abroad by seizing funds of foreigners and foreign companies in Russia, RIA…

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Why the Chernobyl disaster site is important for Russia

Russian and Ukrainian forces fought on Thursday for control of Chernobyl, the still radioactive site of the world's worst nuclear accident and a factor in the collapse of the Soviet…

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The Simpsons ‘show of solidarity’ with Ukraine

Long-running US cartoon The Simpsons has shared a specially commissioned cartoon in solidarity with Ukraine. The show’s executive producer Al Jean said the rapid creation of such a politically relevant…

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Macron tells French farmers: Ukraine war will weigh on you, and it will last

PARIS, Feb 26 (Reuters) - The war in Ukraine, and heavy sanctions Western powers have taken against Russia, will have long-lasting and serious consequences for the French farming sector, the European Union's…

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Ukraine’s Zelenskiy says Ukraine still in control of Kyiv, At least 198 Ukrainians killed in Russian invasion

Feb 26 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that the capital Kyiv was still under Ukrainian control after Russia launched an invasion on Thursday. "We have withstood and are…

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Thousands flee Ukraine into EU

MEDYKA, Poland/SIGHETU MARMATIEI, Romania (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Ukrainians, mostly women and children, crossed into Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia as Russian missiles pounded the capital Kyiv and men of…

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U.S. imposes sanctions on Putin and other Russian leaders, Biden approves $350 million in military aid for Ukraine

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States imposed sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov for Russia's invasion of…

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Action by the U.N. Security on Ukraine blocked as Russia vetoes and China abstains

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russia vetoed a draft U.N. Security Council resolution on Friday that would have deplored Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, while China abstained from the vote - a move Western…

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Ukraine says two commercial ships hit by Russian missiles near Odessa port

LONDON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Ukraine said Russian warships shelled a Moldovan-flagged chemical tanker and a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship due to load grain near Odessa port in the Black Sea on Friday,…

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UPDATED: Ukrainian president vows to fight on in Kyiv, Russian troops meet stiff resistance

MOSCOW, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday he would stay in Kyiv as he appeared in a video filmed outside his office in the capital city. "We…

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EU imposes sanctions on Putin as Ukraine pleads for tougher action

BRUSSELS, Feb 25 (Reuters) - EU states agreed to freeze any European assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister on Friday, as Ukraine's leader pleaded for faster and more…

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NATO allies to provide more weapons to Ukraine, Stoltenberg says

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday the alliance was deploying parts of its combat-ready response force and would continue to send weapons to Ukraine, including air defences, while saying that Russia…

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Putin urges Ukraine’s army to seize power as Kyiv girds for assault

KYIV, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin urged Ukraine's military to overthrow its political leaders and negotiate peace on Friday, as authorities in Kyiv called on citizens to help defend…

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Russia banned from Eurovision song contest over Ukraine invasion

Russia will be barred from the final of this year's Eurovision Song Contest, the organiser said on Friday (February 25), after Ukraine and several other European public broadcasters had called for the…

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Russia stripped of major events as invasion of Ukraine intensifies

(Reuters) - As Russian forces moved deeper into Ukraine on Friday, sports bodies moved quickly to strip Russia of events, with St Petersburg losing the Champions League final while the…

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Merkel condemns Russian invasion as legacy comes under scrutiny

BERLIN, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Russia's invasion of Ukraine marked a "deep rupture in Europe's history following the end of the Cold War" even…

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Deutsche Telekom introduces free-of-charge calls to Ukraine

BERLIN, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Deutsche Telekom is making calls and text messages to Ukraine free of charge, the German telecommunications company said on Friday in a move to support people with families…

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Erdogan says NATO, Western reaction to Russian attack not decisive

ANKARA, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that reaction from NATO and Western countries to Russia's assault on Ukraine had not been decisive, adding he hoped a…

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Invasion could drive 5 million Ukrainians to flee abroad – U.N.

GENEVA, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Fuel, cash and medical supplies are running low in parts of Ukraine after Russia's invasion, which could drive up to five million people to flee abroad, U.N.…

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Turkey cannot stop Russian warships accessing Black Sea

ANKARA, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Turkey cannot stop Russian warships accessing the Black Sea via its straits, as Ukraine has requested, due to a clause in an international pact that…

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Former US president Barack Obama shares his thoughts on the Ukrainian invasion

Barack Obama has called Russia's attack on Ukraine a "violation of international law and basic principles of human decency". He also says that the consequences will last far beyond Ukraine's…

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ECB policymakers told Ukraine war may shave 0.3%-0.4% off GDP

PARIS, Feb 25 (Reuters) - European Central Bank chief economist Philip Lane told policymakers meeting in Paris the Ukraine conflict may reduce the euro zone's economic output by 0.3%-0.4% this year, four…

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Some Latin American nations call for Russian withdrawal from Ukraine

BOGOTA/BUENOS AIRES/SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Colombia, Argentina and Chile on Thursday called for swift withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, as other Latin American countries rejected the use of force but stopped short…

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UPDATED: Moldovan-flagged tanker hit by missile on Ukraine coast

LONDON - A Moldovan-flagged chemical tanker was hit by a missile on Friday near Ukraine's port of Odessa, amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, injuring two crew members seriously, an official…

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Pope went to Russian embassy to express concern over war to Moscow envoy

VATICAN CITY, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Pope Francis went to the Russian embassy to the Holy See on Friday and relayed his concern over Russia's invasion of Ukraine to Moscow's…

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Putin tells Xi that Russia willing to hold high-level talks with Ukraine, China says

BEIJING, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in a call on Friday that Russia is willing to hold high level talks with Ukraine, China's foreign…

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Almost 11,000 Ukrainians entered Romania on first day of Russian invasion as people flee war into central Europe

BUCHAREST, Feb 25 (Reuters) - A total of 10,624 Ukrainians entered Romania through its six border checkpoints on Thursday as Russia invaded Ukraine by land, sea and air, Romanian Interior Minister Lucian…

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Russia’s Lavrov says Moscow wants Ukrainian people to be independent, denies plans to occupy Ukraine

MOSCOW, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Russia wants the Ukrainian people to be independent and have the possibility to freely define their destiny, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday. Lavrov said…

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UPDATED: Ukraine says more than 1,000 Russian soldiers killed so far

Feb 25 (Reuters) - Ukraine's Defence Ministry said on Friday that more than 1,000 Russian servicemen had been killed so far in the Ukrainian conflict. "Russia has not suffered so many casualties…

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Ukraine ready for talks with Russia on neutral status

Feb 25 (Reuters) - Ukraine wants peace and is ready for talks with Russia, including on neutral status regarding NATO, Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters on Friday. "If talks are…

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UPDATED: EU goes after Putin and Lavrov holdings over Ukraine – official

BRUSSELS, Feb 25 (Reuters) - European Union envoys meeting in Brussels to work out details of sanctions against Moscow cleared by the bloc's leaders on Thursday decided to freeze assets held in…

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Ukraine appeals for more missile defence munitions

TOKYO, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Ukraine needs more anti-aircraft munitions to defend against Russian missiles, its ambassador to Japan said on Friday. Ambassador Sergiy Korsunsky told reporters Ukraine was well equipped to defend tank…

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EU says “Putin must and will fail” as it agrees new sanctions

BRUSSELS, Feb 25 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin "must and will fail," top European Union leaders said on Friday as they agreed new sanctions over his invasion of Ukraine, saying he was…

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From Tokyo to New York, thousands protest against invasion of Ukraine

Protesters turned out on public squares and outside Russian embassies in cities from Tokyo to Tel Aviv and New York on Thursday to denounce the invasion of Ukraine -- while…

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UPDATED: Russia captures Black Sea island south of Odessa

MOSCOW, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Russian forces have captured Zmiinyi Island in the Black Sea, where 82 Ukrainian soldiers surrendered to them, Russia's defence ministry said on Friday. Ukrainian officials have said…

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UK says Russia wants whole of Ukraine but army failing

LONDON, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Russia intends to take the whole of Ukraine but the Russian army failed to deliver on the first day of its invasion, British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said on…

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