By The Related Press
On the Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday night time, attendees expressed help for Ukraine by going silent for 30 seconds.
A tribute that began with phrases from the Ukrainian-born Mila Kunis ended with the Academy Awards fading to black about halfway by means of the present, with a plea for anybody watching to do no matter attainable to ship assist to these within the war-torn nation.
“We’d wish to have a second of silence to indicate our help for the individuals of Ukraine presently dealing with invasion, battle and prejudice inside their very own borders,” learn the display. “Whereas movie is a crucial avenue for us to specific our humanity in instances of battle, the fact is thousands and thousands of households in Ukraine want meals, medical care, clear water and emergency companies. Sources are scarce and we — collectively as a worldwide neighborhood — can do extra.”
The tribute ended with a show of the next: “We ask you to help Ukraine in any means you're able. #StandWithUkraine.”
Some arrived to the occasion carrying blue-and-gold ribbons, the colours of the Ukrainian flag. Sean Penn had additionally campaigned for Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — a former actor — to talk on the ceremony.
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KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:
— Zelenskyy: West wants extra braveness in serving to Ukraine battle again
— ‘My private tragedy’: Ukrainians brace for an assault on Black Sea jewel of Odesa
— Struggle shakes Europe’s path to power independence, local weather targets
— World science decouples from Russian specialists, creating challenges in exploring house, combating local weather change
– U.S.-funded humanitarian group delivers lifesaving medicines to 1000's in Ukraine
Go to https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine for extra protection
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OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:
LVIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s priorities on the Ukrainian-Russian talks in Turkey this week shall be “sovereignty and territorial integrity,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy advised his nation Sunday in his nightly handle.
“We're on the lookout for peace, actually, immediately,” he mentioned. “There is a chance and a necessity for a face-to-face assembly in Turkey. This isn't dangerous. Let’s see the end result.”
This week, he mentioned, “I'll proceed to attraction to the parliaments of different international locations” to remind them of the dire state of affairs in besieged cities like Mariupol.
Zelenskyy additionally advised unbiased Russian journalists Sunday that his authorities would think about declaring neutrality and providing safety ensures to Russia, repeating earlier statements. That would come with conserving Ukraine nuclear-free, he mentioned.
He advised the reporters that the difficulty of neutrality – and agreeing to remain out of NATO – ought to be put to Ukrainian voters in a referendum after Russian troops withdraw. He mentioned that a vote may happen inside a number of months as soon as Russian troops go away.
Russia shortly banned Zelenskyy’s interview from being printed. Roskomnadzor, which regulates communications for Moscow, issued the ban Sunday, saying there may very well be motion taken towards the Russia-based media shops that took half, which included “these which might be overseas media shops appearing as overseas brokers.”
Zelenskyy responded by saying Moscow was afraid of a comparatively quick dialog with journalists. “It will be humorous if it weren’t so tragic,” he mentioned, based on the Ukrainian information company RBK Ukraina.
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BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says that neither NATO nor U.S. President Joe Biden goal to result in regime change in Russia.
Biden mentioned of Russian President Vladimir Putin throughout a speech on Saturday that “this man can't stay in energy.” The White Home and different U.S. officers rushed to make clear that Biden wasn’t really calling for Putin to be toppled.
Requested throughout an look Sunday on ARD tv whether or not Putin’s removing is actually the true goal, Scholz replied: “This isn't the goal of NATO, and likewise not that of the American president.”
Scholz added: “We each agree utterly that regime change isn't an object and goal of coverage that we pursue collectively.”
Requested whether or not Biden made a harmful mistake together with his remark, Scholz replied: “No.” He mentioned that “he mentioned what he mentioned” and Secretary of State Antony Blinken additionally had clarified that he wasn’t speaking about regime change.
Scholz final month introduced an enormous enhance in German protection spending. On Sunday, he confirmed a report by the Bild am Sonntag newspaper that the federal government is contemplating buying a missile protection defend alongside the traces of Israel’s “Iron Dome.”
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LVIV, Ukraine — On Sunday night time, a rocket assault hit an oil base within the far northwestern area of Volyn, mentioned regional governor Yuriy Pohulyaiko. He didn't give particulars on casualties or the particular location. Volyn’s capital is Lutsk, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Lviv.
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ISTANBUL – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pressured the necessity for a cease-fire in Ukraine in a phone name Sunday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Erdogan’s workplace mentioned.
Erdogan additionally known as for an enchancment to the humanitarian state of affairs within the area, based on the assertion.
The 2 leaders agreed the subsequent assembly between Russian and Ukrainian officers ought to be held in Istanbul, the assertion added, with out giving a timeframe.
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LVIV, Ukraine — A member of the Ukrainian delegation in talks with Russia on ending the month-long conflict says the 2 sides have determined to satisfy in particular person in Turkey starting on Monday.
Davyd Arakhamia, the chief in parliament of the faction of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Servant of the Individuals get together, mentioned on Fb that the in-person talks had been agreed upon in a video session. He didn't give additional particulars.
Nevertheless, Russia’s chief negotiator mentioned the in-person talks would start on Tuesday, slightly than Monday.
The 2 sides have met beforehand with no deal reached.
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WARSAW, Poland – The sixteenth version of a well-liked half-marathon in Warsaw, Poland, on Sunday was devoted in help of Ukraine.
The annual occasion was known as the “Warsaw Half-Marathon of Peace” this yr. The organizers are donating a part of the proceeds and funds raised to a Polish charity and to a few hospitals in Ukraine. A number of the 7,000 members had been additionally operating to boost funds for Ukrainian refugee youngsters.
Greater than 2.2 million individuals have fled to Poland since Feb. 24, when Russia launched its invasion of Poland’s neighbor, Ukraine.
Ukrainian refugees had been among the many feminine runners Sunday. Valentina Dushko, who belongs to one among Ukraine’s oldest operating golf equipment, mentioned she and her companions had been grateful to the organizers for the chance to run within the occasion.
“We thank all of the Poles for serving to us to get by means of this troublesome interval of life. Due to the Poles, we really feel as a lot at residence right here as attainable,” Dushko advised The Related Press.
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LVIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a legislation proscribing the reporting on troop and army tools motion until such data has been introduced or accredited by the army basic workers.
The state information company Ukrinform reported Sunday that the legislation requires potential jail phrases of three to eight years for violations.
The legislation bans “unauthorized dissemination of details about the path, motion of worldwide army help to Ukraine, the motion, motion or deployment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or different army formations of Ukraine, dedicated in a state of martial legislation or a state of emergency,” Ukrinform mentioned.
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ROME — Ukraine’s power minister says no leaks of radioactive materials have been detected since Russian tanks fired at nuclear energy crops in Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia however that nightmares a few nuclear catastrophe hold him awake at night time.
In an interview with one among Corriere della Sera’s correspondents in Kyiv, German Galushchenko was quoted as saying that his nation’s nuclear crops “are a relentless fear.”
“I haven’t slept for a whole night time with the nightmare of nuclear catastrophe,” mentioned Galushchenko, who can also be an official of the state firm that manages the nation’s 4 nuclear energy crops.
Referring to the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia services, Galushchenko mentioned that “fortunately each services are nonetheless within the arms of our technicians, however Russian armored carriers fired towards the services.” Within the interview printed Sunday, he known as these actions “felony” and “completely irresponsible.”
With out citing a location, Galushchenko mentioned “one other gasoline pipeline was simply hit” and “total areas are left within the darkness and within the chilly, particularly within the area of Mariupol.”
He mentioned Russian bombs have left 800,000 houses with out electrical energy and 250,000 houses with out gasoline.
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HELSINKI — One of many final remaining passenger practice hyperlinks from Russia into the European Union has been suspended following the departure of the final two Allegro high-speed trains from St. Petersburg to Helsinki.
Finland’s state-owned railway firm VR mentioned Friday it will droop companies between the Finnish capital and Russia’s second-largest metropolis on Sunday, closing one of many final public transport routes for Russians who need to attain the EU.
Citing the sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, the Finnish railway firm mentioned it was now not applicable to function the route. It added that Finnish residents and “individuals who needed to depart from Russia have had satisfactory time to go away.”
Solely a morning departure from Helsinki to St. Petersburg ran on Sunday, whereas the afternoon practice was cancelled. Two departures from St. Petersburg left as scheduled.
Russians wishing to journey to Finland can achieve this by means of crossing factors on the 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) land border with Russia that stay open for personal vehicles. Bus companies to Finland proceed to function each from St. Petersburg and Moscow.
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DOHA, Qatar — France’s prime diplomat is warning that the besieged Ukrainian metropolis of Mariupol is changing into a “second Aleppo,” the Syrian business capital that in 2016 noticed widespread Russian-backed destruction.
Overseas Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Sunday advised the Doha Discussion board, a coverage convention in Qatar, that Russia’s “siege warfare” towards Ukrainian cities ought to induce “collective guilt.”
“Civilian populations are slaughtered, annihilated, the struggling is horrible,” mentioned a visibly indignant Le Drian.
When requested whether or not he agreed with President Joe Biden’s comment in Warsaw that Russian President Vladimir Putin can't stay in energy, he mentioned solely that diplomacy with either side remained a French precedence.
Le Drian mentioned French President Emmanuel Macron was attempting to avert the worst in Ukraine by means of talks with each the Ukrainian and Russian presidents. A ceasefire stays probably the most urgent process, he added, in order that events can transfer onto thornier matters like Ukraine’s safety ensures and a attainable impartial army standing.
Le Drian mentioned the world is “at a tipping level” because the conflict continues to spiral, including, “This can be a disaster that impacts us all.”
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BERLIN — Russian authorities have blocked the web site of German newspaper Bild, a part of their efforts to manage the message on Ukraine.
Communications and media regulator Roskomnadzor mentioned Sunday it blocked Bild’s web site at prosecutors’ request.
Instagram and Fb had been already blocked in Russia after Roskomnadzor mentioned they had been getting used to name for violence towards Russian troopers. Russian authorities even have shut entry to overseas media web sites, together with BBC, European information community Euronews, the U.S. government-funded Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle and Latvia-based web site Meduza.
Bild says it has been placing Russian-language reviews on Russia’s conflict in Ukraine and its slide towards “totalitarian dictatorship” on its web site, and components of its stay video broadcasts have been subtitled in Russian. It famous that it additionally has a Russian-language Telegram channel.
Bild editor-in-chief Johannes Boie mentioned the choice to dam its web site in Russia “confirms us in our journalistic work for democracy, freedom and human rights.”
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WASHINGTON — The highest-ranking Republican on the Senate Overseas Relations Committee has urged U.S. President Joe Biden to “keep on script” as he offers with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Sen. James Risch of Idaho’s feedback criticizing the president got here a day after Biden asserted on the finish of a serious handle in Poland that Russian President Vladimir Putin “can't stay in energy.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken and different administration officers on Sunday sought to stroll again Biden’s remarks, saying that Biden’s was not calling for regime change in Russia.
Risch, nevertheless, instructed Biden must be extra cautious together with his phrases on the worldwide stage.
“Please Mr. President, keep on script,” Risch mentioned in an look Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
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KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s army intelligence chief says that Russia may attempt to break Ukraine in two.
Kyrylo Budanov mentioned in remarks launched by the Protection Ministry on Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has realized “he can’t swallow your complete nation” and would doubtless attempt to break up the nation below “the Korean situation.” That’s a reference to the decades-old division between North and South Korea.
Budanov mentioned that “the occupiers will attempt to pull the occupied territories right into a single quasi-state construction and pit it towards unbiased Ukraine.” He pointed to Russian makes an attempt to arrange parallel authorities buildings in occupied cities and to bar individuals from utilizing the Ukrainian forex, the hryvnia.
Budanov predicted that Ukrainian resistance will develop right into a “whole” guerrilla warfare, derailing Russia’s makes an attempt.
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PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron has distanced himself from U.S. President Joe Biden’s remark that Vladimir Putin “can't stay in energy.” He's urging efforts to de-escalate tensions.
Macron, who has spoken a number of instances to the Russian president in so-far unsuccessful peace-making efforts, is because of converse once more with Putin on Sunday or Monday.
“We ought to be factual and … do every part in order that the state of affairs doesn’t get uncontrolled,” Macron mentioned Sunday on France-3 tv, when requested about Biden’s comment.
Macron mentioned: “I wouldn’t use these phrases, as a result of I proceed to talk to President Putin, as a result of what we need to do collectively is that we need to cease the conflict Russia launched in Ukraine, with out waging conflict and with out an escalation.”
He pressured that the U.S. stays an necessary ally, saying, “We share many widespread values, however those that stay subsequent to Russia are the Europeans.”
Macron mentioned he'll speak with Putin a few proposed humanitarian hall for the besieged metropolis of Mariupol, additionally mentioned with Turkey and Greece.
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ISTANBUL – The Ukrainian embassy in Ankara says a bunch of 159 Ukrainian orphans has arrived within the southern Turkish metropolis of Antalya.
The girls and boys aged 4 to 18 had been evacuated from care houses within the Dnipro area, touring first to Poland by practice earlier than flying to Turkey.
Welcoming the youngsters and 26 care workers, Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar mentioned the goal was to shelter 2,000 youngsters and workers in Turkey.
“That is the primary group to return however we're ready for the second group,” the Demiroren information company quoted Bodnar as saying at Antalya airport. “Youngsters will come from cities that the Russian military has bombed or could bomb.”
The group will keep in motels within the Mediterranean resort.
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VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has stepped up his pleas for negotiations to finish the combating in Ukraine.
Francis advised the general public in St. Peter’s Sq. on Sunday that “this merciless and mindless conflict” continues after greater than a month, representing “a defeat for all.”
He lamented that folks are burying their youngsters, and “the highly effective resolve and the poor die.” As soon as once more, he didn’t cite Russia by identify because the aggressor.
Referring to reviews that about one-half of all the youngsters in Ukraine have been displaced by the battle, Francis mentioned that “conflict doesn’t simply devastate the current but additionally the way forward for society.”
The pontiff reiterated his condemnation of conflict as barbarous and sacrilegious. He mentioned that “humanity should perceive that the second has come to abolish conflict, to cancel conflict from the historical past of man earlier than it cancels man from historical past.”
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MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised Russia’s Nationwide Guard on the sixth anniversary of its creation.
Putin specifically addressed the service workers of the Nationwide Guard items concerned within the army operation in Ukraine.
“Comrades, certainly, fight circumstances contain elevated danger. I'm properly conscious of the way you act on this state of affairs: extremely courageously and professionally, skillfully and fearlessly. You resolve probably the most difficult duties set earlier than you competently and exactly whereas displaying private heroism,” Putin mentioned in a video assertion issued Sunday.
The Nationwide Guard, which numbers over 300,000 personnel, was established by Putin in 2016 as an inside army drive to battle terrorism and arranged crime, guard state services, management weapons turnover and to supply riot management.
The service reviews on to the president.
“Our total huge nation is rightly happy with every of you,” Putin mentioned. “I need to thanks in your stamina and your impeccable service to Russia, in your loyalty to our fatherland, to your oath of allegiance and your obligation.”
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KYIV, Ukraine — A supervisor at a UNESCO world heritage website in Kyiv says bombings within the capital are being felt within the landmark constructing and will threaten its foundations.
“We and the landmark really feel the vibrations,” mentioned Vadim Kyrylenko, an engineer who now's probably the most senior on-site supervisor on the St. Sophia Cathedral. “It’s a minimal menace however we really feel it. If there can be a strike close by as I say it will be a degree of no return for our landmark as a result of it is vitally fragile and weak.”
The location shut its doorways to guests as quickly because the conflict in Ukraine began final month. Kyrylenko mentioned that the one individuals left on website other than him are a cook dinner, a carpenter and engineers who're conserving the principle features operating.
The Orthodox shrine dates again practically 1,000 years to the daybreak of Christianity within the area. It's thought of the center of Ukrainian non secular and nationwide id. The grand construction survived regardless of being within the crosshairs of quite a few invaders and armies.
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A separatist chief in jap Ukraine says that his area desires to carry a vote on becoming a member of Russia.
Leonid Pasechnik, the top of the self-proclaimed Luhansk Individuals’s Republic, mentioned Sunday that it may maintain a referendum “within the nearest time” asking voters whether or not they help making the area a part of Russia.
Russia has supported the separatist rebels in Luhansk and the neighboring Donetsk areas since an insurgency erupted there in 2014 shortly after Moscow’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula. Moscow acknowledged their independence on Feb. 21 after which cited their name for army help to launch the invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.
In talks with Ukraine, Moscow has urged it to acknowledge Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea and the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk areas. Pasechnik’s assertion may herald a shift within the Russian place.
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BERLIN — Germany’s president is internet hosting a “solidarity live performance” with Ukraine that includes musicians from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.
The Berlin Philharmonic was taking part in items by Ukrainian, Russian and Polish composers at President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s Bellevue palace in Berlin. Steinmeier — who addressed the occasion by video as a result of he examined constructive for the coronavirus final week — described it Sunday as a “sign for freedom and peace.”
Steinmeier mentioned: “Allow us to be vigilant towards sweeping animosities, and allow us to not succumb to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s pseudo-historical nationalist delusion. Allow us to not enable Putin’s hatred to turn into a hatred between individuals … in our personal society both.”
Nevertheless, Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany tweeted that he had spurned an invite. Andriy Melnyk wrote that “ONLY RUSSIAN (!) SOLOISTS” had been performing, “no Ukrainians.” He added: “An affront. Sorry, I’m staying away.”
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JERUSALEM — Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the U.S. isn't attempting to topple Russian President Vladimir Putin, regardless of its harsh condemnations of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Blinken spoke a day after President Joe Biden mentioned of Putin throughout a speech in Warsaw: “For God’s sake, this man can't stay in energy.”
At a information convention in Jerusalem, Blinken mentioned Biden’s level was that “Putin can't be empowered to wage conflict or interact in aggression towards Ukraine or anybody else.”
He mentioned the U.S. has repeatedly mentioned that “we shouldn't have a technique of regime change in Russia, or anyplace else for that matter.”
“On this case, as in any case, it’s as much as the individuals of the nation in query. It’s as much as the Russian individuals,” Blinken mentioned.
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KYIV, Ukraine —- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has once more urged the West to supply Ukraine with warplanes and air protection missiles.
Talking in a video handle early Sunday, Zelenskyy mentioned that “our companions have all that, and it’s simply accumulating mud. And in reality it’s crucial not only for Ukraine’s freedom, however for the liberty of Europe.”
Zelenskyy warned that the Baltic states, Poland and Slovakia may ultimately face a Russian assault “simply because they'll have stored of their hangars simply 1% of all NATO warplanes and 1% of all NATO tanks. Simply 1%! We aren’t asking for extra and we've got been ready for that for 31 days!”
He mentioned that “our companions should step up their support to Ukraine.”
The president mentioned: “Ukraine can’t shoot down Russian missiles with shotguns and machine weapons which have accounted for the majority of provides. And we are able to’t unblock Mariupol with out the mandatory variety of tanks, different armor, and warplanes. All defenders of Ukraine learn about it.”
He added that the US and “all European politicians” additionally know that.