Ukraine

EXPLAINER-How Western sanctions target Russia

Feb 25 (Reuters) - The United States, Britain and other Western nations have hit Russia with new sanctions following Russian's invasion of Ukraine on Thursday. The European Union broadly agreed new measures,…

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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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France says cutting Russia off SWIFT is “very last resort”

PARIS, Feb 25 (Reuters) - French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Friday the option of cutting off Russia from the SWIFT global interbank payments system remained open, but that he…

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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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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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Ukraine calls on hacker underground to defend against Russia

The government of Ukraine is asking for volunteers from the country's hacker underground to help protect critical infrastructure and conduct cyber spying missions against Russian troops, according two people involved…

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France says Putin needs to understand NATO has nuclear weapons

PARIS (Reuters) -France’s foreign minister said that Russian President Vladimir Putin, when making threats about using nuclear weapons, needs to understand that NATO, too, is a nuclear alliance, but he…

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Some 100,000 Ukrainians have left their homes, as several thousand flee abroad -U.N. estimates

Several thousand Ukrainians have crossed into neighbouring countries, mainly Moldova and Romania, while an estimated 100,000 have fled their homes and are uprooted in the country after Russia's invasion, the…

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Companies shut Ukraine operations, assess impact of sanctions on Russia

Feb 25 (Reuters) - Brewer Carlsberg, Japan Tobacco and a Coca-Cola bottler were among firms shutting factories in Ukraine on Thursday following Russia's invasion, while UPS and FedEx Corp suspended services in and out…

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UPDATED: Ukraine reports higher but “not critical” Chernobyl radiation

Feb 25 (Reuters) - Ukraine's nuclear agency and interior ministry said on Friday they were recording increased radiation levels from the site of the defunct Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Experts at the…

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UPDATED: Ukraine says Russia hit 33 civilian sites in last 24 hrs, Russian troops at the doors of Kyiv

Feb 25 (Reuters) - Russia has bombed 33 civilian sites in its assault on Ukraine in the last 24 hours, Kyiv's interior ministry said on Friday as Russian troops advanced on the…

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Explosions heard in Kyiv, official says enemy aircraft downed

KYIV, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Ukrainian forces downed an enemy aircraft over Kyiv in the early hours of Friday, which then crashed into a residential building and set it on fire, said…

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EU leaders agree ‘maximum impact’ Russia sanctions

UPDATE - EU leaders held an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and agreed on sanctions designed to impose "massive and severe…

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Russia cracks down on anti-war protesters at home, as its troops invade Ukraine

MOSCOW, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Police on Thursday detained more than 1,600 Russians who protested against Russia's multi-pronged military operation in Ukraine, while authorities threatened to block media reports that contain what…

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Biden unveils new sanctions on Russian banks, businesses after Ukraine attack

WASHINGTON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden unveiled harsh new sanctions against Russia on Thursday after Moscow launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine, imposing measures to impede Russia's ability to do…

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Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant under Russian control – Reports

The decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant is now under the control of Russian forces, according to Ukrainian media reports . According to reports from the Ukrainian president, Volodymir Zelensky , the Russians are trying…

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UK PM Johnson unveils ‘severe’ sanctions against Russia

LONDON, Feb 24 (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled a package of "severe" sanctions against Russia on Thursday, targeting banks, members of President Vladimir Putin's closest circle and the extremely…

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Russia plans to ‘decapitate’ Ukraine government -U.S. defense official

WASHINGTON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - The United States believes Russia's invasion of Ukraine is designed to decapitate Ukraine's government and one of the three main axes of assault is directed at the…

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Erdogan ‘saddened’ by Russian invasion, Ukraine urges Turkey to shut straits

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey backs Ukraine's territorial integrity and is "sincerely saddened" by Russia's invasion, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, as Kyiv's envoy to Ankara urged Turkey to close…

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G7 demands Russia end bloodshed in Ukraine

BERLIN (Reuters) - The Group of Seven industrialized nations strongly condemned on Thursday Russia's invasion of Ukraine and said they would bring forward severe and coordinated economic and financial sanctions…

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UEFA to move Champions League final from Russia – source

Feb 24 (Reuters) - UEFA will move this year's Champions League final from St Petersburg in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a source with knowledge of the situation told Reuters…

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Vettel set to boycott Russia GP

Former world champion Sebastian Vettel has said he doesn't plan to race at this year's Russian Formula One Grand Prix after ther country invaded Ukraine. Aston Marin driver Vettel said…

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Siren goes off in Polish town on border with Ukraine – Reuters witness

MEDYKA, Poland, Feb 24 (Reuters) - A siren went off on Thursday in the Polish town of Medyka, a border crossing with Ukraine, a Reuters witness said. After weeks of denying plans…

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EU to hit Russia with new sanctions over ‘barbaric’ attack on Ukraine

EU to freeze Russian assets, halt access to financial markets Sanctions to be discussed at emergency EU summit from 1900 GMT Sources say cutting Russia off from Swift unlikely at…

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Zelenskiy says Ukrainian forces trying to prevent Russian capture of Chernobyl

KYIV (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday Ukrainian forces were fighting to prevent Russian troops from capturing the former nuclear power plant at Chernobyl. Elsewhere, parts of Ukraine's…

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NATO puts warplanes on alert, to increase troop presence on eastern flank

BRUSSELS, Feb 24 (Reuters) - NATO on Thursday ordered its military commanders to intensify preparations to defend allied territory after Russia invaded Ukraine, putting hundreds of warplanes and ships on alert and agreeing to increase…

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“We will hold the Kremlin accountable” – EP President Roberta Metsola

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola strongly condemned Russia's "unjustified attack" on Ukraine, warning that the "Kremlin will be held accountable". In a statement on Twitter just hours after Russia commenced…

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Ukraine says at least 8 people killed by Russian shelling, 9 wounded

KYIV, Feb 24 (Reuters) - At least eight people have been killed and nine were wounded by the Russian shelling, an advisor to the Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs said on Thursday…

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Czechs to propose EU tightens passport rules for Russians

PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Czech Republic will ask European Union partners to only allow entry into the border control-free Schengen area to Russians who hold biometric passports, Czech Interior Minister…

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Ukraine confirms Russia’s ‘full-scale invasion’

Putin has just launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Peaceful Ukrainian cities are under strikes. This is a war of aggression. Ukraine will defend itself and will win. The world…

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U.N. Secretary-General to Putin: In the name of humanity, stop this war

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 23 (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a last-minute plea on Wednesday to Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the war 'in the name of humanity', after…

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Ukraine closes airspace to civilian flights amid “high risk” to safety

Feb 24 (Reuters) - Ukraine said early on Thursday it had closed its airspace to civilian flights because of a "high risk" to safety, hours after a conflict zone monitor warned airlines should stop…

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Ukraine separatists seek Russian help as U.S. says attack is ready

KYIV/DONETSK (Reuters) - Separatists in Ukraine asked Moscow to help repel "aggression" on Wednesday and explosions rocked the breakaway eastern city of Donetsk as the United States warned everything is…

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Britain says wholly unprovoked attack on Ukraine starting, Kyiv airport cancels flights

KYIV (Reuters) - Britain's ambassador to Ukraine said a "wholly unprovoked attack" on the country was starting after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised a special military operation there. Kyiv's Zhuliany…

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Biden says U.S., allies will respond to ‘unjustified’ attack by Russia on Ukraine

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its allies will respond in a united and decisive way to "an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces" on Ukraine, U.S.…

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Ukraine under full-scale attack; West unites to sanction Russia

KYIV/MARIUPOL, Ukraine, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Ukrainian forces battled Russian invaders on three sides on Thursday after Moscow mounted an assault by land, sea and air in the biggest attack on a…

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Pope pained by Ukraine crisis, calls for restraint

Pope Francis said Wednesday that he was pained by the escalation of the crisis in Ukraine and called for restrain after Russian recognized two rebel-held 'republics' in the east of…

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Italy: Further bilateral talks with Russia not possible for now – Di Maio

ANSA - ROME - Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said Wednesday that there was now a real risk of Russia staging a big military operation in Ukraine. "(Russian President…

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Ukraine appeals for U.N. help, warning: No one can ‘sit out this crisis’

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Ukraine appealed to the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday to stop Russia's "aggressive plans," as U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the 193-member body that an expanded conflict "could…

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Russian military will only enter Ukraine’s Donbass if separatists ask – official

DONETSK (Reuters) - Andrey Turchak, a senior member of Russia's ruling party, said on Wednesday that the Russian military would only enter two breakaway regions in Ukraine recognised by Moscow…

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Poland and Lithuania say Ukraine deserves EU candidate status due to ‘current security challenges’

VILNIUS (Reuters) - Ukraine deserves European Union candidate status, and Poland and Lithuania will support it in this goal, the presidents of the two countries said in a joint declaration…

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Ukraine to impose state of emergency, says top security official

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's top security official Oleksiy Danilov said on Wednesday that Ukraine would impose a state of emergency on all of its territory, apart from the Donetsk and…

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EU’s Russia sanctions to take effect on Wednesday

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A first, limited, round of European Union sanctions on Russia is set to take effect by 1400 GMT on Wednesday, a senior EU diplomat said, after foreign…

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Ukraine starts drafting reservists aged 18-60 after president’s order

KYIV, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Ukraine on Wednesday has started conscripting reservists aged 18-60 following a decree by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the armed forces said in a statement. The maximum service period…

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UK calls in finance heads and regulators to talk sanctions – BBC editor

LONDON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office and the Treasury have called in finance bosses and regulators to discuss how to ensure recently-announced sanctions on Russia are effective,…

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