Here’s the latest from Ukraine, as the Russian invasion enters its thirteenth day…
• Russian shelling continues to prevent the evacuation of civilians from besieged cities including Kyiv, Mariupol, Volnovakha, Sumy and Kharkiv. Fears are mounting for civilians trapped in Ukrainian cities because the Russian onslaught continues.
• Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths, has known as on Russia and Ukraine to make sure safe passages for civilians fleeing conflict zones.
• Ukraine rejected a Russian proposal to allow civilians to escape through humanitarian corridors, after it came to light that many of the routes would solely result in Russia or its ally Belarus.
• Notably, a Russian strike hit a civilian evacuation point outdoors Kyiv, reportedly killing eight people, together with two kids, as they tried to flee their properties.
• Russia has proposed a brand new ceasefire starting 10 a.m. Moscow time Tuesday in five Ukrainian cities. Ukraine has yet to formally agree to the proposal, which would presumably allow civilians to escape via humanitarian corridors. It’s not yet identified where the routes would result in and if civilians might escape to other Ukrainian cities or neighboring European international locations.
• A third round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine on Monday has ended but once more with no ceasefire and little settlement on terms of peace. Dark talked of minor progress towards civilian evacuation through secure corridors.
• Moscow demanded that Ukraine change its constitution to ensure it won’t be part of the EU and Nato, so as to name off the invasion.
• An estimated 230 Western companies have joined a rising corporate boycott of Russia. Global franchises Coca-Cola and McDonald’s are being pressured to join the boycott as well.
• Russian deputy PM warns Moscow may reduce off pure gasoline provides to Europe, in retaliation against European sanctions. Meanwhile, the US and its European allies are contemplating a ban on importing Russian oil.
• However, there are disagreements concerning the extent of such a ban, as many European nations are extra reliant on Russian oil than the US, which produces a lot of its own oil, whereas also importing from other countries.
• A Ukraine lawyer at the International Court of Justice says Russia “is resorting to ways harking again to medieval siege warfare.”
• At least 1.5 million refugees have fled Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s invasion, according to UN estimates, with more than a million feeling north to Poland..