Ukraine-Russia war LIVE – Roman Abramovich hit with suspected POISONING after negotiating peace with Ukraine
ROMAN Abramovich reportedly suffered symptoms of a suspected poisoning earlier in March, new reports claim.
The Russian oligarch and Chelsea owner fell ill along with Ukrainian peace negotiators earlier in the month, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The billionaire and at least two members of his Ukrainian counterparts fell ill shortly after a meeting in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv where he was looking to hold peace talks.
The alleged attack has been blamed on hardliners in Moscow who they say want to sabotage their talks to end the war.
It isn't known whether the suspected attack was caused by a biological or chemical agent or electromagnetic radiation.
However, President Zelensky - who has met with Abramovich in recent weeks - has reportedly been unaffected.
Sources claim symptoms of the poisoning include constant and painful tearing, red eyes and peeling skin on the face and hands.
The source also added the Chelsea owner and Ukrainian negotiators have since recovered and their lives are not in danger.
Follow our Russia-Ukraine live blog below for up-to-the-minute updates...
Ukraine should qualify for World Cup, says PM
Mr Johnson is asked if Ukraine should be allowed a free pass to compete at this year’s football world cup.
“Football is not my best subject,” says the Prime Minister.
“Should they be given a bye for the world cup? I’m out of area here. That’s not my subject. I don’t see why not.”
US to welcome 100,000 Ukrainian refugees
The United States plans to accept up to 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion and is pledging $1 billion in new humanitarian aid, the Biden administration has announced.
More than 3.5 million people have fled since Russia invaded last month and advocates have urged Biden to do more to help those seeking refuge in the United States.
In the first two weeks of March, just seven Ukrainian refugees were resettled in the United States. Some Ukrainians have travelled to Mexico and have attempted to cross into the US at its southern border.
A senior Biden official said the administration still expected many Ukrainians to choose to remain in Europe close to their home country but added the US commitment to receive more people would relieve some pressure on European nations currently hosting the bulk of refugees fleeing the conflict.
Nato has never been as united before as it is now, says Biden
President Joe Biden has given a speech from the White House following a meeting of G7 leaders.
Mr Biden announced new sanctions on more than 400 individuals and entities.
He said: “Putin was banking on NATO being split… it was clear to me that he didn’t think we could sustain this cohesion.
“NATO has never, never been more united than it is today. Putin is getting exactly the opposite of what he intended to have as a consequence of going into Ukraine.”
Italy tells citizens not to fight in Ukraine
Italian nationals should not go and fight in Ukraine, the foreign ministry said on Thursday, following media reports that some Italians have signed up to battle the Russian invasion.
A foreign ministry statement said such conduct “may be considered criminally relevant under current legislation,” and reiterated its advice that Italians should not enter Ukraine.
Eugenio Spina, head of the Italian police unit investigating terrorism and extremism, estimated around 20 Italians were fighting in Ukraine, some with national forces others, with pro-Russian militia.
“At the moment we do not have a sustained flow (of people), just lots of people saying they want to go,” Spina said.
Kyiv has established an “international” legion for foreigners and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has publicly urged outsiders to “fight side-by-side with Ukrainians”.
He said earlier this month that more than 16,000 foreigners had volunteered, without specifying how many had arrived.
West will impose new sanctions when necessary – Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that Western powers were ready to ramp up sanctions against Russia if necessary as they continue to try to isolate Moscow over its war in Ukraine and force a ceasefire.
“These sanctions have an impact and are tangible and we must continue them for their dissuasive effect,” he told a news conference after a NATO and G7 leaders summit.
Kremlin attacks Boris
The Kremlin has said that the UK's Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is the most active anti-Russian leader.
"As for Mr Johnson, we see him as the most active participant in the race to be anti-Russian," RIA news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.
"It will lead to a foreign policy dead end."
Moscow says it will retaliate for Poland's expulsion of its diplomats
The Russian Foreign Ministry said today that Moscow will respond to Poland's expulsion of 45 Russian diplomats, which it said threatened to destroy their already fraught relations.
"Russia will not leave this hostile attack without a response, which will make Polish provocateurs think and will hurt them," the ministry said in a statement.
'Ukraine deserves to be full EU member'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has told the Swedish parliament this morning that Ukraine deserves a place in the European Union.
Mr Zelensky said: "We are not fighting just for the people of Ukraine, but for Europe's security and we have shown that we deserve to be a fully-fledged member of the EU."
Ukraine applied to be an EU member within days of Russia's invasion.
'Ukraine deserves to be full EU member'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has told the Swedish parliament this morning that Ukraine deserves a place in the European Union.
Mr Zelensky said: "We are not fighting just for the people of Ukraine, but for Europe's security and we have shown that we deserve to be a fully-fledged member of the EU."
Ukraine applied to be an EU member within days of Russia's invasion.
Zelensky: Summits will show ‘who is a friend’
In a video released earlier today, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky said the outcome of NATO, EU and G7 summits will reveal “who is a friend” to Ukraine.
“Politicians must … support freedom. All of them. They must support the struggle for life. We are waiting for meaningful steps. From NATO, the EU and the G7,” Zelensky said.
“We know that the Russians have already begun to lobby their interests. These are the interests of war,” he added.
“We know that they want to put this issue out. The struggle against war. But this is the war that needs to be put out.
“Our firm position will be represented at these three summits. At these three summits we will see: Who is a friend, who is a partner, and who betrayed us for money.”
Zelensky: Russia has used phosphorus bombs
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky addressing the NATO summit via videolink today.
He accused Russia of using phosphorus bombs this morning.
"Again, children were dying, people were dying," he told Nato.
He did not provide any evidence, nor did he say where the attack took place.
John 'laments' agony over 'inability to do more' for Ukraine
Boris Johnson has conceded it would be a challenge to give Volodymyr Zelensky the tanks he has demanded, as he hit back at the Kremlin effectively labelling him enemy number one among western leaders.
The Prime Minister said it would "logistically" be "very difficult" to supply the Ukrainian president with the tanks and jets he asked for during a Nato summit on Wednesday.
But Mr Johnson said allies would strive to give Mr Zelensky weapons "in the quantity and of the quality" he needs to defend his nation from the Russian invasion.
He pledged more missiles and a new deployment of UK troops to Bulgaria, while doubling personnel in Poland and Estonia to boost Nato on the eastern flanks.
Mr Zelensky, who regularly speaks to the Prime Minister, did not bring up his longstanding demand for Nato to enforce a no-fly zone of Ukraine.
Instead, he pleaded when appearing virtually at the summit in Brussels for "1% of all your planes, 1% of all your tanks".
Western allies have previously been hesitant about providing jets out of concerns it could further provoke Russian President Vladimir Putin.
EU says Russia cannot blackmail Europe with energy resources
Russia cannot blackmail Europe with its energy resources, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has demanded that countries buy oil and gas using roubles.
But EU countries remain divided on whether to sanction Russian oil and gas directly, a move already taken by the United States.
"This would be a unilateral decision and a clear breach of contract," Ms Von der Leyen said of Russia's request to be paid in roubles.
"It would be an attempt to circumvent the sanctions. We will not allow our sanctions to be circumvented.
"The time when energy could be used to blackmail us is over."
US to welcome 100,000 Ukrainian refugees
The United States plans to accept up to 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing Russia's invasion and is pledging $1 billion in new humanitarian aid, the Biden administration has announced.
More than 3.5 million people have fled since Russia invaded last month and advocates have urged Biden to do more to help those seeking refuge in the United States.
In the first two weeks of March, just seven Ukrainian refugees were resettled in the United States. Some Ukrainians have travelled to Mexico and have attempted to cross into the US at its southern border.
A senior Biden official said the administration still expected many Ukrainians to choose to remain in Europe close to their home country but added the US commitment to receive more people would relieve some pressure on European nations currently hosting the bulk of refugees fleeing the conflict.
Ukraine should qualify for World Cup, says PM
Mr Johnson is asked if Ukraine should be allowed a free pass to compete at this year's football world cup.
"Football is not my best subject," says the Prime Minister.
"Should they be given a bye for the world cup? I'm out of area here. That's not my subject. I don't see why not."
Boris Johnson says he is 'not remotely anti-Russian'
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was 'not remotely anti-Russian' as he delivered a news conference following a meeting of world leaders today.
Asked why he had been labelled as "public enemy number one" by Russia, he said: "I think it's very important for everybody to understand that there isn't a single person around the G7 table who is against Russians or the Russian people.
"Absolutely not, least of all me.
"I think I am the only prime minister in UK history to be called Boris. I am not remotely anti-Russian.
"I think what we all agree is that what Vladimir Putin is doing, the way he is leading Russia at the moment is absolutely catastrophic.
Ukraine war: Latest developments
- Vladimir Putin could face being deposed in a coup as fury grows in his inner circle over Russia’s failures in Ukraine
- Russia has lost up to 40,000 troops in Ukraine along with at least 17 commanders
- Fears are growing of more brutal Russian tactics as Putin was accused of using phosphorous bombs
- Russian landing ship Orsk was blown up as it was anchored in the occupied port of Berdyansk
- Apocalyptic footage showed the devastation of Mariupol as the vicious bombardment of the city continues
- Video also shows the moment a Russian tank was blown to pieces as Putin has lost 3,300 vehicles during the invasion
- Britain is now sending another 6,000 anti-tank missiles to Ukraine to help the fight against Russia
Biden: China's economic future more tied to the West
President Joe Biden said on Thursday that China understands its economic future is more closely tied to the West than to Russia, after warning Beijing it could face consequences for aiding Moscow's war in Ukraine.
"I made no threats but I made it clear to him - made sure he understood the consequences of helping Russia," Biden said of a recent conversation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
"China understands that its economic future is much more closely tied to the West than it is to Russia."
Speaking at a news conference on the sidelines of emergency meetings in Europe, Biden said he also pointed out to Xi the number of American and foreign companies that have left Russia since its invasion of Ukraine.
Biden tells reporter 'he's up to the job'
A German reporter ask Mr Biden if he's up tp the job.
He responded "I don't think you'll find a European leader who thinks I'm not up to the job."
The president noted that he had the most foreign policy experience in the room.
US president says Russia should be kicked out of G20
Mr Biden was asked if Russia should be removed from the G20, to which he answered: "Yes.
"But that depends on the other countries.
"I raised the possibility if that cannot be done then we should ask to have Ukraine be able to attend the meetings."
President Biden tells China not to intervene
Mr Biden says he has spoken to President Xi Jinping of China and "made it clear to him the consequences of him helping Russia".
The president continued: "I made no threats but pointed out the number of companies that had left Russia thanks to that barbaric behaviour.
"I indicated he would be putting himself at significant jeopardy if he did that moving forward. I am hopeful that he doesn't get engaged."
Biden: US will respond if Putin uses chemical weapons
Asked about the threat of chemical weapons, Mr Biden said the US would respond if Mr Putin used them.
However, the "nature of the response would depend on the nature of the use".
Mr Biden added that he believes Russia should be removed from the G20 - a topic that has been brought up in recent days.
Nato has never been as united before as it is now, says Biden
President Joe Biden has given a speech from the White House following a meeting of G7 leaders.
Mr Biden announced new sanctions on more than 400 individuals and entities.
He said: "Putin was banking on NATO being split... it was clear to me that he didn't think we could sustain this cohesion.
"NATO has never, never been more united than it is today. Putin is getting exactly the opposite of what he intended to have as a consequence of going into Ukraine."
Italy tells citizens not to fight in Ukraine
Italian nationals should not go and fight in Ukraine, the foreign ministry said on Thursday, following media reports that some Italians have signed up to battle the Russian invasion.
A foreign ministry statement said such conduct "may be considered criminally relevant under current legislation," and reiterated its advice that Italians should not enter Ukraine.
Eugenio Spina, head of the Italian police unit investigating terrorism and extremism, estimated around 20 Italians were fighting in Ukraine, some with national forces others, with pro-Russian militia.
"At the moment we do not have a sustained flow (of people), just lots of people saying they want to go," Spina said.
Kyiv has established an "international" legion for foreigners and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has publicly urged outsiders to "fight side-by-side with Ukrainians".
He said earlier this month that more than 16,000 foreigners had volunteered, without specifying how many had arrived.
West will impose new sanctions when necessary - Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that Western powers were ready to ramp up sanctions against Russia if necessary as they continue to try to isolate Moscow over its war in Ukraine and force a ceasefire.
"These sanctions have an impact and are tangible and we must continue them for their dissuasive effect," he told a news conference after a NATO and G7 leaders summit.