The newest updates on Russia's invasion of Ukraine:
WARSAW, Poland -- In a forceful speech in Warsaw denouncing Russian President Vladimir Putin and voicing robust assist for Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden additionally appeared to have a message for his Polish hosts.
Talking of a "perennial battle for democracy," Biden talked about the rule of regulation and freedom of the press among the many rules which are important in a free society.
He spoke in a speech attended by President Andrzej Duda and his political allies within the conservative ruling Regulation and Justice occasion. Since they gained energy in 2015, the European Union has accused them of undermining the rule of regulation in Poland by eroding the independence of the judicial department of presidency.
The Polish authorities had been additionally in battle with Washington final yr over authorized makes an attempt to silence TVN, a broadcast community owned by U.S. firm Discovery. The purpose was to strip Discovery of its management of TVN, which produces impartial information packages which are vital of the nationalist authorities.
Duda late final yr vetoed the laws, however considerations about press freedom in Poland stay because of the authorities's use of public media as a celebration mouthpiece.
Biden additionally paid homage to Poland's lengthy battle for democracy in his speech on the Royal Fort, which like most of Warsaw was destroyed by occupying Nazi German forces in the course of the Second World Warfare and later rebuilt.
He mentioned Warsaw "holds a sacred place within the historical past of not solely of Europe however humankind's endless seek for freedom. For generations, Warsaw has stood the place liberty has been challenged and liberty has prevailed."
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LVIV, Ukraine -- A number of rockets struck the western Ukrainian metropolis of Lviv on Saturday in what officers say had been two separate assaults that occurred the identical day U.S. President Joe Biden was visiting the capital of Poland, whose border is simply 75 kilometres away.
The highly effective explosions frightened a metropolis that had been a haven for tons of of hundreds of individuals fleeing the Russian assault on different components of Ukraine.
The regional governor, Maxym Kozytsky, mentioned on Fb that preliminary indications had been 5 individuals had been injured within the first assault however didn't specify what the 2 rockets hit. Hours later, he reported three extra explosions outdoors the town, once more with no particulars.
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi referred to as the second spherical of explosions a rocket assault, saying it did important harm to an unspecified "infrastructure object."
Lviv had been largely spared since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, though missiles struck an plane restore facility close to the worldwide airport per week in the past.
The back-to-back assaults on Saturday introduced a chill to residents and displaced Ukrainians who had seen Lviv as a comparatively secure place to rebuild their lives. House to about 700,000 individuals earlier than the invasion, the town has absorbed many extra.
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LONDON -- Britain has seized two jet plane belonging to Russian billionaire Eugene Shvidler as Western governments searching for to finish the warfare in Ukraine put strain on Russian President Vladimir Putin by focusing on the posh existence of his closest supporters.
Treasury Secretary Grant Shapps mentioned Saturday that the 2 plane can be detained "indefinitely" after three-week investigation that had already grounded the planes. The Instances of London described the plane as a US$45 million Bombardier International 6500 and a $13 million Cessna Quotation Latitude.
"Putin's mates who made tens of millions out of his regime won't take pleasure in luxuries while harmless individuals die," Shapps mentioned on Twitter.
The U.Ok. froze Shvidler's U.Ok. property final week because it introduced a brand new spherical of sanctions on Russian firms and rich people. Shvidler was sanctioned due to his hyperlinks to those that have backed the warfare in Ukraine and since he has profited from his assist for the Putin regime, the U.Ok. mentioned.
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LVIV, Ukraine -- Air raid sirens sounded Saturday afternoon within the western metropolis of Lviv, and governor of the area Maxym Kozytsky reported "three highly effective explosions close to Lviv." Footage shot by The Related Press confirmed thick plumes of smoke rising above the town.
Lviv, a metropolis of over 700,000 roughly 70 kilometres east of Ukraine's border with Poland, has been largely spared from main Russian assaults in current weeks. Two weeks in the past, the Russian forces fired missiles on a navy coaching centre close to Lviv, which on the time was probably the most westward goal, and killed 35 individuals.
Because the starting of the invasion, Lviv has grow to be a secure harbor for some 200,000 displaced Ukrainians.
The explosions Saturday got here as U.S. President Joe Biden was wrapping up a go to to neighbouring NATO ally Poland through which he advised Poland's president that " your freedom is ours."
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WARSAW -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday frolicked with Ukrainian refugees in Poland as he wrapped up his four-day go to to Europe, marveling on the spirit of their resolve within the aftermath of Russia's invasion of their homeland.
The president listened intently to younger Ukrainian kids inform them about their mother and father. He picked up a younger Ukrainian lady in a pink coat, smiling broadly and telling her she reminded him of his personal granddaughters.
He additionally held palms and gave hugs to their mother and father, as he heard their tales throughout a go to to a stadium in Warsaw the place Ukrainian refugees go to acquire a Polish identification quantity that provides them entry to social companies corresponding to well being care and colleges.
A few of the ladies and youngsters advised Biden that they fled for Poland with out their husbands and fathers, males of preventing age that had been required to stay behind to help within the combat towards Russian forces.
"What I'm at all times stunned by is the depth and energy of the human spirit," Biden advised reporters after his conversations. "Every a kind of kids mentioned one thing to the impact of `Say a prayer for my dad or grandfather or my brother."'
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WARSAW, Poland -- Poland's President Andrzej Duda welcomed U.S. President Joe Biden's assurances whereas visiting the Polish capital on Saturday that NATO would assure his nation's safety.
He mentioned the assurances had been all of the extra necessary as Russia is finishing up brutal assaults in Ukraine, simply throughout Poland's japanese border.
"I feel that for us Poles, within the scenario now we have in the present day, in our a part of Europe, within the period of Russian aggression towards Ukraine, this can be a essential factor," Duda mentioned.
Duda, talking after assembly Biden, mentioned that he additionally urged the USA to hurry up its deliberate supply of weapons to Poland.
Duda famous that below contracts already concluded with the U.S., Poland is ready to obtain Patriot missile units, artillery rocket launchers, F-35 fighter jets and 250 Abrams tanks.
"I requested the U.S. president, Joe Biden, to speed up, as a lot as potential, these buying packages which are already being carried out as a way to strengthen our safety," the Polish chief mentioned.
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A Winona, Minnesota man taken into custody by Russian forces in Ukraine has been launched, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar mentioned.
Tyler Jacob had been detained earlier this month whereas making an attempt to cross from Ukraine into Turkey. Klobuchar mentioned she reached out to the U.S. State Division and related with John Sullivan, the U.S. ambassador to Russia, who mentioned the scenario with the Russian authorities.
The 28-year-old Jacob went to Ukraine in November, the place he took a job educating English to be together with his longtime girlfriend, a Ukrainian, the Star Tribune reported. The couple married in January and lived in Kherson, a southern port on the Black Sea. Jacob stayed even after Russia invaded final month, however lastly determined he ought to attempt to get out.
Together with some mates from Turkey, he acquired on a bus headed for the Turkish border however was taken into custody at a checkpoint in Armiansk.
Jacob is now secure together with his spouse and daughter and they're all planning to journey to Minnesota. The household declined to elaborate on the circumstances of Jacob's detainment. Klobuchar mentioned they "need to be actually cautious" and "in some unspecified time in the future ... the entire story can be advised."
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WARSAW, Poland -- U.S. President Joe Biden has advised Poland's President Andrzej Duda that "your freedom is ours," echoing of one in every of Poland's unofficial mottos. He assured Duda that the U.S. and different NATO allies would come to their support if Russia ought to assault.
The 2 gathered Saturday on Biden's closing day in Europe to discuss their shared effort to finish the warfare in neighboring Ukraine.
Biden referred to as the "collective protection" settlement of the Western navy alliance a "sacred dedication," and mentioned that the unity of NATO was of the utmost significance. He additionally acknowledged that Poland was bearing the brunt of the humanitarian disaster, with greater than 2 million of the three.5 million individuals fleeing Ukraine getting into the nation. He mentioned the opposite NATO allies should do extra. The U.S. has pledged to simply accept as much as 100,000 refugees.
Duda mentioned that the relations between the 2 nations are flourishing, regardless of the troublesome occasions.
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BUCHAREST, Romania -- NATO's deputy secretary-general says that Russian President Vladimir Putin's month-old "barbaric warfare" towards Ukraine is one he can't win.
Mircea Geoana mentioned in an interview with The Related Press that NATO can be "compelled to take acceptable measures" within the occasion of a chemical or nuclear assault, which follows a string of ominous feedback from Moscow officers who refuse to rule out their use. He declined to say what these measures can be.
"NATO is a defensive alliance, but additionally it is a nuclear alliance," he mentioned. "If they are going to be utilizing chemical weapons or other forms of higher-end techniques towards Ukraine, this can be altering basically the character of the warfare that Mr. Putin has waged towards Ukraine."
"I can assure that NATO is able to reply proportionately," he added.
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HELSINKI -- Finland's president says his nation would seemingly be focused by Russian cyber warfare and will face border violations if it decides to use for membership in NATO.
A number of polls in current weeks have proven a majority of Finns now supporting NATO membership, up from 25% at most earlier than the Russian invasion of Ukraine. President Sauli Niinisto mentioned in an interview Saturday with public broadcaster YLE that the most important profit can be "gaining a preventive impact."
However he pointed to a danger of disruptive habits by Russia throughout an accession course of, which might take no less than months.
He mentioned an utility would result in tensions at Finland's 1,340-kilometre (830-mile) border with Russia, together with the potential of "sturdy" border and territorial violations -- not simply by Russian plane, as Finland has skilled prior to now.
Niinisto mentioned: "We do not even know all of the possiblities for hybid influencing that somebody might invent. The complete world of data know-how is weak. Even some necessary society features could be disrupted."
Moscow has mentioned it could think about European Union members Finland and neighboring Sweden becoming a member of NATO a hostile transfer that may have severe navy and political repercussions.
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MEDYKA, Poland -- Refugees arriving in Poland from Ukraine are pleading for extra assist to finish the warfare as U.S. President Joe Biden wraps up his four-day go to to Europe.
The U.S. has been sending cash and provides to assist the refugee effort. This week, Biden introduced US$1 billion in extra support and mentioned the U.S. would settle for as much as 100,000 refugees.
Elena Taciy, a 50-year-old from Berdyansk, mentioned that the U.S. assist is "proper and wanted." She mentioned Saturday she wished Biden "to come back to Ukraine in particular person and see the scenario together with his personal eyes."
Maria Shevchenka, a 43-year-old from Mykolaiv, mentioned that "we're ready for them (the Individuals) to assist us finish this disaster, in order that lastly we are able to return again to our nation and our properties."
Biden, who was in Warsaw on Saturday, dropped in on a gathering between U.S. and Ukrainian overseas coverage and protection leaders.
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LVIV, Ukraine -- The governor of the Kyiv area says that Russian forces have entered the town of Slavutych and seized a hospital there.
Slavutych is positioned north of Kyiv and west of Chernihiv, outdoors the exclusion zone that was established across the Chernobyl nuclear energy plant after the 1986 catastrophe. It's residence to employees on the Chernobyl web site.
Governor Oleksandr Pavlyuk mentioned Saturday that the Russians additionally kidnapped the town's mayor, however some media reported later within the day that the mayor was launched swiftly. Neither declare may very well be verified independently .
The governor mentioned that residents of Slavutych took to the streets with Ukrainian flags to protest the Russian invasion.
"The Russians opened fireplace into the air. They threw flash-bang grenades into the group. However the residents didn't disperse, quite the opposite, extra of them confirmed up," Pavlyuk mentioned.
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LVIV, Ukraine -- Authorities within the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, have introduced a brand new 35-hour curfew within the metropolis.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko mentioned the curfew will run from 8 p.m. native time on Saturday to 7 a.m. on Monday, with native residents allowed to go away their properties solely to get to a bomb shelter.
Klitschko mentioned that outlets, pharmacies, fuel stations and public transport won't be working in the course of the curfew.
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ISTANBUL -- Turkey's protection ministry says a "mine-like" object has been "neutralized" on the northern entrance to the Bosporus Strait.
The sighting on Saturday of a potential naval mine adopted warnings that mines laid on the entrances to Ukrainian ports may break away in unhealthy climate and cross the Black Sea.
Broadcaster NTV confirmed pictures of an object bobbing within the waves off Istanbul's Sariyer district, on the Bosporus' European coast. A Coast Guard vessel was stationed close by.
A Protection Ministry assertion mentioned divers had been dispatched to take care of the item. In response to Demiroren Information Company, it was seen by fishermen.
On March 18, Turkey suggested ships to maintain a "sharp lookout" and report any potential mines that had drifted from Ukrainian ports.
Final yr some 38,500 ships handed by way of the Bosporus, which hyperlinks the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. Quickly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ankara closed the strait to navy vessels.
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LONDON -- Britain's Protection Ministry says Russia continues to besiege quite a lot of main Ukrainian cities together with Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Mariupol.
A day by day replace says Russian forces are proving reluctant to interact in giant scale city infantry operations, fairly preferring to depend on the indiscriminate use of air and artillery bombardments in an try and demoralize defending forces.
The evaluation says it's seemingly Russia will proceed to make use of its heavy firepower on city areas because it seems to be to restrict its personal already appreciable losses, at the price of additional civilian casualties.
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DOHA, Qatar -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made a shock video look at Qatar's Doha Discussion board.
Zelensky in his video deal with Saturday criticized Russia's ongoing warfare on his nation. He referred to as on the United Nations and world powers to come back to his support. He in contrast Russia's destruction of the port metropolis of Mariupol to the Syrian and Russian destruction wrought on the town of Aleppo within the Syrian warfare.
"They're destroying our ports," Zelensky mentioned. "The absence of exports from Ukraine will deal a blow to nations worldwide."
He added: "The way forward for Europe rests along with your efforts." He referred to as on nations to extend their exports of vitality -- one thing significantly necessary as Qatar is a world chief within the export of pure fuel.
He criticized Russia for what he described as threatening the world with its nuclear weapons.
"Russia is deliberating bragging they will destroy with nuclear weapons, not solely a sure nation however your complete planet," Zelensky mentioned.
He additionally famous Muslims in Ukraine must combat in the course of the upcoming holy fasting month of Ramadan.
"We have now to make sure this sacred month of Ramadan will not be overshadowed by the distress of individuals in Ukraine," he mentioned.
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ISTANBUL -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky by phone, discussing the scenario in Ukraine and negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv, Erdogan's workplace mentioned late Friday.
Erdogan advised his counterpart that he had raised Turkey's assist for Ukrainian territorial integrity at a current NATO summit, the place he had relayed the diplomatic efforts made by Turkey in one-one-one conferences with different leaders, in line with a press release from the Turkish presidency.
Ankara, which has shut ties with each Russia and Ukraine, has positioned itself as a impartial occasion, searching for to facilitate negotiations between the warring sides.
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Russian forces in Ukraine seem to have shifted their focus from a floor offensive geared toward Kyiv to as a substitute prioritizing what Moscow calls the liberation of the contested Donbas area, suggesting a brand new section of the warfare.
It seems too early to know whether or not this implies President Vladimir Putin has scaled again his ambitions in Ukraine, however Russian navy strikes this week point out a recognition of the surprisingly stout Ukrainian resistance. Russian-backed separatists have managed a part of the Donbas area of japanese Ukraine since 2014.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday once more appealed to Russia to barter an finish to the warfare, however he mentioned Ukraine wouldn't agree to surrender any of its territory for the sake of peace.
Putin's forces are below nice pressure in lots of components of the nation, and the USA and different nations are accelerating their switch of arms and provides to Ukraine. In current days, U.S. officers have mentioned they see proof of Ukrainian defenders occurring the offensive in a restricted means in some areas.
Placing a optimistic face on all of it, the deputy chief of the Russian normal employees mentioned his forces had largely achieved the "essential aims" of the primary section of what Moscow calls a "particular navy operation" in Ukraine.
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LVIV, Ukraine -- Even because the battle rages, an enormous equipment is being constructed to assemble and protect proof of potential warfare crimes.
Lower than a month after Putin's order to drop the primary bombs on his neighbor, the USA declared that Russian forces had been violating worldwide legal guidelines of warfare that had been written after World Warfare II. Nevertheless it stays removed from clear who can be held accountable and the way.
Potential warfare crimes which were reported in Ukraine embody destroying properties, firing on civilians as they evacuate by way of secure corridors, focusing on hospitals, utilizing indiscriminate weapons like cluster bombs in civilian areas, attacking nuclear energy crops and deliberately blocking entry to humanitarian support or meals and water.
However intention issues. Destroying a hospital alone will not be proof of a warfare crime. Prosecutors must present that the assault was intentional or no less than reckless.
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LVIV, Ukraine -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of employees is asking on the West to create a brand new lend-lease program for Ukraine, referring to the World Warfare II effort that despatched U.S. provides to the Soviet Union to assist it combat Nazi Germany.
"We'd like a full lend lease," Andriy Yermak mentioned in an deal with late Friday. "At the moment Ukraine is the holy grail of Europe, and with out exaggeration Ukraine is reviving these rules that gave life to present Western civilization."
He mentioned what Ukraine wants most is real-time intelligence and heavy weapons.
Yermak additionally repeated the Ukrainian president's requires assist in closing the skies over Ukraine to cease Russian bombing and missile assaults. The West has refused to impose a no-fly zone for worry of widening the warfare.
He mentioned choices embody supplying Ukraine with air protection techniques or fighter jets, or creating an "air police pressure to guard civilian infrastructure."
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LVIV, Ukraine -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has once more appealed to Russia to barter an finish to the warfare, however says Ukraine wouldn't agree to surrender any of its territory for the sake of peace.
In his nightly video deal with to the nation Friday, Zelensky seemed to be responding to Col. Gen Sergei Rudskoi, deputy chief of the Russian normal employees, who mentioned Russian forces would now give attention to "the primary aim, the liberation of Donbas."
Russian-backed separatists have managed a part of the Donbas area of japanese Ukraine since 2014, and Russian forces have been battling to grab extra of the area from Ukraine, together with the besieged metropolis of Mariupol.
Rudskoi's assertion additionally was a suggestion that Russia could also be backing away from making an attempt to take Kyiv and different main cities the place its offensive has stalled. Zelensky famous that Russian forces have misplaced hundreds of troops however nonetheless have not been capable of take Kyiv or Kharkiv, the second-largest metropolis.
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LVIV, Ukraine -- The Related Press has independently documented no less than 34 assaults on Ukrainian medical services by Russian forces.
AP journalists in Ukraine have seen firsthand the lethal outcomes of Russian strikes on civilian targets, together with the ultimate moments of kids whose our bodies had been shredded by shrapnel and dozens of corpses heaped into mass graves.
AP journalists outdoors Ukraine have confirmed the small print of different assaults by interviewing survivors and independently verifying warfare zone movies and photographs posted on-line. The accounting is a part of the Warfare Crimes Watch Ukraine challenge, a broader effort by AP and PBS "Frontline."
The United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights confirms no less than 1,035 civilians, together with 90 kids, have died and one other 1,650 civilians have been wounded because the warfare began a month in the past. These numbers are actually an undercount.
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