Ukraine

PEN International expressing solidarity with writers, journalists, artists and the people of Ukraine

PEN International, the literary and free expression organisation, has released a letter signed by 1,040 writers from around the world, expressing solidarity with writers, journalists, artists and the people of…

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FIFA and UEFA suspend Russia from all competitions until further notice

Feb 28 (Reuters) - FIFA and UEFA have suspended Russia's national and club teams from all competitions until further notice due to the country's invasion of Ukraine, the bodies said…

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Ceasefire talks end with no breakthrough

KYIV/MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian artillery bombarded residential districts of Ukraine's second largest city Kharkiv on Monday, killing possibly dozens of people, Ukrainian officials said, as Moscow's invading forces met stiff resistance…

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Ukrainian president signs formal request to join the European Union

LVIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday said he had signed an official request for Ukraine to join the European Union. Zelenskiy has asked the European Union to…

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Ukraine raises $13 mln in crypto after crowdfunding appeal

LONDON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Ukraine's government has raised cryptocurrency worth almost $13 million after posting appeals on social media for donations of bitcoin and other digital tokens, data from blockchain analysis firm Elliptic showed on Monday. Ukraine's official Twitter…

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Lithuania asks International Criminal Court to investigate war crimes in Ukraine

VILNIUS, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Lithuania's government announced on Monday it will ask prosecutors at the International Criminal Court to investigate "war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine". "There is new…

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French communist chief: requisition Russian oligarchs’ Riviera villas for war refugees

PARIS, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The presidential candidate for France's communist party said that the sumptuous villas of Russia's oligarch should be requisitioned to house Ukrainian refugees from the war. France, especially…

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Airbnb to house up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees

Feb 28 (Reuters) - Home rental company Airbnb Inc said on Monday its non-profit arm Airbnb.org would offer free, temporary housing for up to 100,000 refugees fleeing Ukraine. Chief Executive Brian Officer Brian…

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Ceasefire talks begin at Belarus border but battles for Ukraine’s cities go on

KYIV/MOSCOW, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Russian and Ukrainian officials met on the Belarusian border to discuss a ceasefire on Monday while invading Russian forces met with determined resistance from Ukrainian troops and…

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Bolsonaro won’t condemn Putin, says Brazil will remain neutral over invasion

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro declined to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, while departing from his government's official stance at the United Nations to say…

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Chelsea owner Abramovich helping Ukraine negotiate for peace

Russian billionaire businessman Roman Abramovich, who owns English Premier League soccer club Chelsea, has accepted a Ukrainian request to help negotiate an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Under…

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Latvia allows its citizens to fight in Ukraine

VILNIUS, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Latvia's parliament voted unanimously on Monday to allow its nationals to fight in Ukraine if willing, the parliament said in a statement. "Our citizens who want to…

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The Ukrainian crisis roundup

Here's what you need to know about the Ukraine crisis so far: HEADLINES * Russia's defence ministry said on Monday its nuclear missile forces and Northern and Pacific fleets had…

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Ukrainian Orthodox church says guards intercepted ‘saboteurs’ at Kyiv Golden-Domed monastery

LVIV, Ukraine, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Guards intercepted a group of saboteurs plotting a suspected attack on one of Ukraine's best known religious sites, the St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv, a…

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U.S. blocks any U.S. transactions with Russian central bank, others

WASHINGTON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The United States on Monday blocked Americans from engaging in any transactions involving Russia's central bank, National Wealth Fund and finance ministry in further punishment of Moscow…

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Kremlin defends logic for actions in Ukraine, berates ‘hostile’ EU

MOSCOW, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Russia on Monday doubled down on the logic for sending its forces into Ukraine, saying Western arms supplies to Kyiv showed that Moscow was right to try…

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UPDATED: Czech PM, Polish President support Ukraine efforts on EU entry

The Czech Republic supports Ukraine's efforts to join the European Union, Prime Minister Petr Fiala was cited as saying by the CTK news agency on Monday. Fiala said it was…

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Greek gaming firm OPAP halts betting on Russian sport events

ATHENS, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Greece's biggest gaming firm OPAP on Monday halted betting on Russian sport events in solidarity with Ukraine where a Russian invasion continued for a fifth day. OPAP…

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EU says 400,000 refugees from Ukraine so far, millions expected

Feb 28 (Reuters) - At least 400,000 Ukrainian refugees have entered EU territory so far, and the bloc needs to prepare for millions of arrivals, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said…

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China urges calm after Putin puts nuclear deterrent on high alert

BEIJING, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Monday that all sides should remain calm and avoid further escalation, after Russian President Vladimir Putin put his country's…

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EU plans to grant Ukrainians right to stay for up to 3 years

BRUSSELS, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The European Union is preparing to grant Ukrainians who flee the war the right to stay and work in the 27-nation bloc for up to…

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UK says Putin nuclear remarks aimed to distract from Ukraine troubles

LONDON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin's nuclear deterrent alert is rhetoric designed to distract from the invasion of Ukraine and not linked practical steps to increase readiness…

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UPDATED: Neutral Swiss adopt sanctions against Russia

ZURICH, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Neutral Switzerland will adopt European Union sanctions against Russians involved in Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and freeze their assets, the government said on Monday in a sharp…

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UPDATED: EU’s arms finance plan will deliver defensive weapons to Ukraine

BRUSSELS, Feb 28 (Reuters) - EU defence ministers will discuss plans on Monday to jointly finance deliveries of weapons worth 500 million euros to Ukraine, and these will include a range of…

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U.N. Security Council calls rare General Assembly session on Ukraine

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council on Sunday called for a rare emergency special session of the 193-member General Assembly on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which will be held…

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Britain widens Russian ‘dirty money’ crackdown with new law

LONDON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Britain will intensify a crackdown on what Prime Minister Boris Johnson called "dirty money" by introducing the government's Economic Crime Bill to parliament on Monday, a step…

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Indications of imminent deployment of Belarusian paratroopers in Ukraine

The Kyiv Independent is reporting that Belarusian paratroopers could be deployed to Ukraine as early as this morning. The news outlet says it has multiple sources saying the decision has…

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EU’s Borrell: ‘We fear Russia is not going to stop in Ukraine’

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that the bloc was worried that the crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine could spill into neighbouring countries, including Moldova,…

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UPDATED: Vatican says ready to ‘facilitate dialogue’ between Russia and Ukraine

VATICAN CITY, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The Vatican is ready to "facilitate dialogue" between Russia and Ukraine to end the war, its top diplomat said on Monday. Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro…

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Crude jumps, stocks slip, rouble crashes to record low on tough Russian sanctions

TOKYO, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Crude oil jumped while the rouble plunged nearly 30% to a record low on Monday after Western nations imposed tough new sanctions on Russia for its invasion…

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Facebook-owner Meta says Ukraine’s military, politicians targeted in hacking campaign

Feb 28 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms said a hacking group used Facebook to target a handful of public figures in Ukraine, including prominent military officials, politicians and a journalist, amid Russia's ongoing…

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UPDATED: Ceasefire talks begin at Belarus border four days after Russia invades Ukraine

KYIV/MOSCOW, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Ceasefire talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials began on the Belarusian border on Monday as Russia faced deepening economic isolation four days after invading Ukraine. Russian forces…

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FIFA bans matches in Russia, no flag or anthem for team

No international soccer matches will be played in Russia and the country's flag and anthem will be banned from any of their matches abroad, governing body FIFA said on Sunday…

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In Pictures – Russian convoy of ground forces, fuel, tanks moving toward Kyiv – Maxar

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Satellite imagery taken on Sunday showed a large deployment of Russian ground troops moving in the direction of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv from approximately 40 miles (64…

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England won’t play against Russia for the ‘foreseeable future’

England will not play against Russia in any international fixture for the “foreseeable future” out of solidarity with Ukraine, the FA has said. The FA said in a statement that…

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EU says expects more than 7 million displaced Ukrainians – Update

BRUSSELS, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The EU's executive said on Sunday that Europe was facing its biggest humanitarian crisis in many years following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the number of Ukrainians…

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Anti-war protests held in cities across Russia, 2,000 people arrested

MOSCOW, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Police detained more than 2,000 people at anti-war protests held in 48 cities across Russia on Sunday, a protest monitoring group said, as people defied the authorities…

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Italy backs EU measures against Russia, Italy’s PM says

ROME, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Italy gave its full support to the measures announced by the European Commission on Sunday against Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said. …

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EU tightens Russian sanctions, buys weapons for Ukraine, curb media including RT, and target Belarus – UPDATE

BRUSSELS, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The European Union will tighten sanctions on Russia, target Russian ally Belarus with measures and fund weapons for Ukraine to help it defend itself against Russia's invasion,…

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Germany advises citizens against travel to Russia

BERLIN, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Germany advises its citizens against travelling to Russia, the foreign ministry said on Sunday, as Moscow's invasion of Ukraine enters day four. The ministry said the use…

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At war with Ukraine, Putin puts nuclear “deterrence” forces on alert – UPDATED

KYIV/MOSCOW, Feb 27 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin ordered his military command to put Russia's nuclear deterrent on high alert on Sunday in the face of a huge Western response to his war…

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Launchpad for Russia’s assault on Ukraine, Belarus holds referendum to renounce non-nuclear status

Feb 27 (Reuters) - Belarus held a referendum on Sunday to adopt a new constitution that would ditch its non-nuclear status at a time when the country has become a launchpad for Russian…

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Ukraine and Russia agree to talks without preconditions, Zelenskiy says – UPDATE

LVIV, Ukraine, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Ukrainian and Russian officials will meet for talks at a venue on the Belarusian border with Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office said on Sunday. The talks,…

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Ukraine-made giant air cargo Mriya burnt in Russian shelling

KYIV, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The world's largest cargo plane, the Ukrainian-made Antonov-225 Mriya, was burnt in a Russian attack on Hostomel airport near Kyiv, Ukrainian state arms manufacture Ukroboronprom said on…

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In policy shift, Finland approves field guns export by Estonia to Ukraine

HELSINKI, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Finland is to allow neighbouring Estonia to export to Ukraine Soviet-origin howitzer field guns, which were previously sold to Estonia by Finland but could not legally be…

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Two of Russia’s billionaires call for peace in Ukraine

LONDON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Two Russian billionaires, Mikhail Fridman and Oleg Deripaska, called for an end to the conflict triggered by President Vladimir Putin's assault on Ukraine, with Fridman calling it…

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Western businesses cut some Russia ties over Ukraine invasion

Some Western companies severed their ties with Russia, and others studied whether and how to do so, as President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine triggered sanctions and pressure to abandon…

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Malta like other European nations and Canada close its skies to Russian planes – UPDATE

Malta is one of the European nations and Canada which on Sunday moved to shut their airspace to Russian aircraft, an unprecedented step aimed at pressuring President Vladimir Putin to…

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UK to press for more sanctions at G7 meeting, says foreign minister

LONDON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - British foreign minister Liz Truss said on Sunday she would press for further measures against Russia, particularly in cutting off their oil and gas supplies, at a…

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U.N. nuclear watchdog to hold emergency meeting on Ukraine -diplomats

VIENNA, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog IAEA's board of governors will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday on the situation in Ukraine, diplomats said on Sunday. One diplomat told…

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EU should fund weapons and fuel for ‘heroic’ Ukraine, Borrell says

Feb 27 (Reuters) - European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell will propose using EU funds to help finance weapons and other supplies such as fuel for Ukraine. "I will propose to…

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Greece to send defence supplies to Ukraine

ATHENS, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Greece is sending defence supplies to Ukraine in response to a request from the Ukrainian government, the prime minister's office said on Sunday. Two C-130 military transport…

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Israel sends aid to Ukraine but PM stays quiet on possible mediation role

JERUSALEM, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Sunday his government was proceeding "with moderation and responsibility" on a conflict testing its ties to Kyiv and Moscow. Speaking on…

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Internet in Ukraine disrupted as Russian troops advance

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

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UK says Russia needs to withdraw from Ukraine for any talks

LONDON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - British foreign minister Liz Truss said on Sunday there could be no talks with Russia over Ukraine while Moscow has troops in its neighbour. Truss also said…

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Blasts heard in Kyiv, fighting reported in vicinity

KYIV, Feb 27 (Reuters) - A series of blasts was heard to the west of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv's centre on Sunday, minutes after air raid sirens sounded, a Reuters correspondent reported. Ukrainian media…

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Russian troops enter Ukraine’s Kharkiv -Ukrainian official

MOSCOW, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Ukrainian forces were battling Russian troops on the streets of Ukraine's northeastern city of Kharkiv on Sunday, said regional governor Oleh Sinegubov. "The Russian enemy's light vehicles…

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