Russia - Ukraine War Live Update Today: EU & Biden Sanctions, humanitarian corridors, Putin strategy...

Ukraine says checking unverified information that Russia used chemical weapons in Mariupol

Ukraine is checking unverified information that Russia may have used chemical weapons while besieging the southern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said on Tuesday.

"There is a theory that these could be phosphorous munitions," Malyar said in televised comments, adding: "Official information will come later."

Russia's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned on Monday that Russia could use chemical weapons in Ukraine.

Britain and the United States have said they are aware of reports that Russia may have already used chemical agents in Mariupol. Britain said it was working with partners to verify the reports. Russia has previously accused Ukraine of preparing to use chemical weapons, without providing evidence. Last month the Kremlin said US talk of Russia using such weapons was a tactic to divert attention away from awkward questions for Washington.

Russian attack on east Ukraine immenent

A few weeks back, Russian forces began to retreat from the areas around Kyiv and other major cities in Ukraine. Many went to Belarus or back into Russian territory to regroup and re-strategize. Most military intelligence has warned that the Russian army plans to launch a full scale offensive in the Donbas region of the country.

Liberating the Donbas was one of the initial missions of the President Putin. President Zelenskyy has warned those in that region of the country that Russian troop presence is going to increase and that there could be major outbreaks of violence.

60 Minutes interviews Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy:

Inching closer to the two month mark of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky sat down with 60 Minutes to discuss the war and how his forces have been able to push back against Russian troops. Scott Pelley also spoke with the Ukrainian leader about possible war crimes perpetatred by Russian troops against civilians in various cities across the country.

New Russian general in Ukraine "another page from the same book"

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby speaking to the reporters said that the new general that has been appointed to lead the invasion of Ukraine is "another page from the same book."

Vladimir Putin has given Army General Alexander Dvornikov command of the Russian operations in Ukraine, the first commander sent to Syria in 2015 back the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Under his command Russian aircraft bombed densely populated parts of Aleppo and other urban areas causing major civilian casualties.

"Sadly we can all expect those same brutal tactics, that same disregard for civilian life, for civilian infrastrucutre, will probably continue," Kirby said.

"There's a track record here, before Ukraine, of Russian brutality," he said. "And you've seen it on display every single day of the last 46 days." 

"He and other senior russian leaders have shown in the past, and you mentioned Syria as one example, have shown clearly in the past their disregard for avoid civilian harm. Their utter disregard in many ways for the laws of war."

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Sniper Wali makes a reappearance in Russian invasion of Ukraine

Wali, the Canadian sniper fighting for Ukraine as they battle the invading Russian forces, has made a reappearance in the media, speaking to our sister newspaper El País. 

Although he has been cautious not to reveal his real identity nor his exact whereabouts in Ukraine, he wanted to set the record straight after new false rumors spread about hims by the Kremlin, this time that he was in Mariupol.

Full details

Russia steps up security over "possible provocations" from Ukraine

The authorities in regions bordering Ukraine are boosting security and urging citizens to be more vigilant to counter what one regional governor called "terrorist threats" from Ukraine.

Russia illegally invaded Ukraine 24 February in what it calls "special military operations" saying that it needed to demilitarize, denazify Ukraine and liberate Ukraine. In the over six weeks that have followed Ukraine has accused Russia of thousands of war crimes.

Austrian Chancellor trip to Moscow not "a visit of friendship"

"Very direct, open and tough" talks in Moscow between Russian and Austrian leaders

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer went to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to have a frank conversation about what is really happening in Ukraine.

Nehammer is the first EU leader to have a direct meeting with Putin since Russian forces invaded Ukraine 24 February. 

He decided to make the trip after visiting Ukraine to meet personally with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and see first hand the atrocities comminted by Russian troops in Bucha.

During the meeting with Putin, Nehammer informed the Russian leader that all those responsible for war crimes commited in Ukraine have to be brought to justice.

US and Indian leaders meet virually to discuss Russian invasion of Ukraine

President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a virtual meeting on Monday where it was expected that the US leader would discuss India's continued purchase of Russian oil and military equipment.

However, Kevin Liptak at CNN reports that no specific demands were made nor commitments given according to a senior administration official.

Reports of Russian capture of Mariupol after 47 day siege

The first reports of the end of Ukrainian resistance in the besieged city of Mariupol are emerging as the siege seems to be drawing to a bloody conclusion.

"Today will probably be the last battle, as the ammunition is running out," an account belonging to the Ukrainian 36th marine brigade said on Facebook.

"It's death for some of us and captivity for the rest," it said.

What did Lavrov say about a pause in hostilities?

After we became convinced that the Ukrainians were not planning to reciprocate, a decision was made that during the next rounds of talks, there would be no pause (in military action) so long as a final agreement is not reached.

Russian offensive will not slow for talks

(Reuters) - Russia will not pause its military operation in Ukraine for subsequent rounds of peace talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday.

Russian officials say peace talks with Ukraine are not progressing as rapidly as they would like, and have accused the West of trying to derail negotiations by raising war crimes allegations against Russian troops in Ukraine, which Moscow denies.

Britsh Ministry of Defence shows updated map of Ukraine

The UK's Ministry of Defence has released a new map outlining what its intelligence says is happening on the ground in Ukraine.

WATCH: British Prime Minsister Boris Johnson walks with Zelenskyy around Kyiv

The British PM was making his case for supporting Ukraine by joining Zelenskyy for a tour around the Ukrainian capital. 

With the threat of attacks from Russia it is likely to be seen as a public relations coup for both.

Kramatorsk death toll has risen to 57 - Ukraine official

Pavlo Kyrylenko, the governor of the Donetsk region, says the death toll from the missile strike on the Kramatorsk train station has risen to 57. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a "firm global response" to the attack, which he has described as a war crime. Russia denies responsibility for the strike.

Austrian chancellor to meet Putin today

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer says he is to sit down with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. "I will meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow tomorrow," Nehammer tweeted on Sunday. "We are militarily neutral, but have a clear position on the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. He has to stop! We need humanitarian corridors, a ceasefire & full investigation of war crimes."

Ukraine GDP to halve this year due to war - World Bank

Ukraine's economic output will likely contract by a staggering 45.1% this year as Russia's invasion has shuttered businesses, slashed exports and rendered economic activity impossible in large swaths of the country, the World Bank said on Sunday in a new report.

The World Bank also forecast Russia's 2022 GDP output to fall 11.2% due to punishing financial sanctions imposed by the United States and its Western allies on Russia's banks, state-owned enterprises and other institutions.

(Reuters)

WORLD NEWS

Russia and Ukraine crisis: what is happening in Bucha?

When the Russian army announced last week that they would be repositioned to the east of Ukraine, opportunities arrived for the Ukrainian army to liberate numerous towns, especially around Kyiv. What celebrations could be had were short-lived, however, as soldiers found dozens of civilians executed in the streets.

The town which appears to have taken the brunt of this is Bucha, some 23 miles northwest of Kyiv. After examination by local experts, it is now estimated that more than 300 civilians had been killed by the Russian army in the town.

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Gazprom continues gas exports to Europe via Ukraine

Russian state-owned gas producer Gazprom continued to supply natural gas to Europe via Ukraine on Monday in line with requests from European consumers, the Interfax news agency reported. Requests stood at 95 million cubic metres for 11 April, Interfax reported, citing Ukraine's gas pipeline operator.

UK says Russian shelling continues in Donetsk and Luhansk

Russian shelling has continued in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, with Ukrainian forces repulsing several assaults resulting in the destruction of Russian tanks, vehicles and artillery equipment, the UK's Ministry of Defence tweeted in a regular bulletin on Monday.

Russian forces prior use of phosphorous munitions in the Donetsk region also raises the possibility of their future employment in Mariupol as fighting for the city intensifies, British military intelligence said. The report said that Russia's continued reliance on unguided bombs decreases their ability to discriminate when targeting and conducting strikes and greatly increased the risk of further civilian casualties.

Russia-Ukraine war, live updates: welcome

Good morning and welcome to AS USA's daily live blog on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which is now into day 47.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Saturday to meet Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Johnson said that countries supporting Ukraine would continue to tighten the economic sanctions on Moscow. On Sunday, more humanitarian corridors were established to help evacuate people from the eastern parts of the country which is being shelled by Russian forces.