LIVE: Putin says Russia will enforce rouble payments for gas from Friday

Russian President said on Thursday that he had signed a decree saying foreign buyers must pay in roubles for Russian gas from April 1

Live news updates: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday said that his forces are preparing for new Russian attacks in the southeast region, where Moscow's guns are now trained after Russia's assault on the capital Kyiv was repelled.

Russia's and Ukraine's economies will shrink by 10 per cent and 20 per cent respectively, said the European development bank, EBRD on Thursday, reports news agency AFP. Before the Russia-Ukraine war, the EBRD had said Ukraine's economy would grow by 3.5 per cent while Russia 3 per cent.
 
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit India, which has so far refused to condemn Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, for a two-day visit beginning Thursday, New Delhi said.

Top Indian-American US advisor Daleep Singh, currently in New Delhi, will consult closely with India on "consequences" of Russia's "unjustified war" against Ukraine, the White House said.

 
India has abstained from UN resolutions censuring Russia and continues to buy Russian oil and other goods, despite pressure from Washington, with US President Joe Biden last week describing India as "somewhat shaky" on Russia.

11:34 PM

Erdogan says Istanbul talks gave impetus to Ukraine peace efforts

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy by phone on Thursday that Russian-Ukrainian peace talks in Istanbul this week had given "meaningful impetus" to efforts to end the war in Ukraine, Erdogan's office said.

 

In the phone call, Erdogan reiterated his proposal to bring together Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting in Turkey, the Turkish presidency statement said.

11:34 PM

Ukraine diversifying fuel supply after Russian missile strikes on depots: Energy minister

Ukraine is diversifying its fuel supplies and is confident of maintaining enough resources after several Russian missile strikes on oil depots, Energy Minister Herman Haluschenko said on Thursday.

 

Haluschenko said in a televised interview that Ukraine suffered "intense" attacks on its oil infrastructure over the last several days.

11:16 PM

Moscow says all foreign leased aircraft will remain in Russia

All foreign leased aircraft still in Russia after the termination of Western leasing contracts will remain in Russia, Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said on Thursday.

 

Sanctions imposed by Western powers in response to Russia's military campaign in Ukraine forced Western firms to terminate leasing contracts with Russian airlines for over 500 aircraft.

 

Russia has said 78 of these planes were seized while abroad, meaning that well over 400 remain.

 

"The entire fleet, meaning foreign aircraft, will remain in Russia," Borisov said on Russian television. "Some were impounded(abroad) as sanctions were being introduced, (but) the vast majority of Boeing and Airbus (planes) remain in Russia." Moscow has passed a law allowing the aircraft, worth almost $10 billion, to be entered on its own register, in contravention of international rules.

11:00 PM

IMF says US 'soft landing' amid Ukraine war pressures entails downside risks

Achieving a "soft landing" for the U.S. economy amid new inflationary pressures prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine will be a challenging task for the Federal Reserve and will entail "significant downside risks," IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice said on Thursday.

 

Rice also told a regular news briefing that amid the food and energy supply crunches prompted by the conflict, countries should avoid policy moves that would worsen the situation. They should avoid hoarding commodities, imposing export restrictions or price controls and avoid launching new trade disputes, he said.

10:19 PM

Moscow says all foreign leased aircraft will remain in Russia

All foreign leased aircraft still in Russia after the termination of Western leasing contracts have been entered into the Russian aircraft register and will remain in Russia, Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said on Thursday.

 

The imposition of sanctions by Western powers in response to Russia's military campaign in Ukraine forced Western leasing firms to terminate leasing contracts with Russian airlines for more than 500 aircraft. More than 400 of these are still in Russia.

 

9:56 PM

Russia bans sunflower seed exports, imposes quota on sunoil

Russia will ban exports of sunflower seeds from Friday until the end of August and impose an export quota on sunflower oil to avoid shortages and ease pressure on domestic prices, its agriculture ministry said on Thursday.

 

The government has approved the ban and quotas among other measures aimed at stabilising domestic prices for agriculture produce.

 

"With sharp growth in global prices for sunflower oil and oilseeds, there is currently increased demand for the Russian product," Russia's agriculture ministry said in a statement.

9:42 PM

Pakistan’s PM says will face no confidence vote on Sunday

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said he will face a no-confidence vote on Sunday after days of speculation over the timing of the move. 

 

“On Sunday, Pakistan’s fate will be decided,” Khan said in a televised address. “I will fight to the last and if I win, I will come back stronger,” he added. 

 

9:40 PM

UK adds three more firms to sanctions list

Britain added three firms to its Russia-related sanctions list on Thursday: Photon Pro LLP, Majory LLP, Djeco Group LP.

9:27 PM

I'll come back stronger, whatever may the result be: Pakistan PM

9:22 PM

Putin's rouble gas payment order covers deliveries due after April 1: Report

Russian President Vladimir Putin's order for foreign gas buyers to use Gazprombank to make gas payments in roubles covers deliveries due after April 1, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters.

 

"Payments for 'April gas' on some contracts start in the second half of April, on others - in May," the source added.

9:20 PM

I don't need anything today: Pak PM

9:13 PM

Pak PM Imran Khan alleges foreign conspiracy against his govt

9:06 PM

Russia bars top EU officials

Russia said on Thursday it had barred the European Union's top leadership from entering the country in response to what it described as anti-Russian policies.

8:57 PM

Russia's RT says UK sanctions are death knell for media freedom

Russia's state-funded RT television channel said on Thursday that British sanctions on Russian state media organisations showed the imminent end of media freedom and the blinkered nature of officials who thought anything Russian was wrong.

 

Britain on Thursday announced sanctions on 14 more Russian entities and people, including on state media organisations behind RT and Sputnik and some of their senior figures, saying it was targetting those who push out President Vladimir Putin's "fake news and narratives".

 

"With this action the UK government has sounded the death knell for media freedom in Britain," Anna Belkina, RT's deputy editor in chief, told Reuters.

 

"We will continue to bring the news to audiences that wish to seek it, and prevent a media echo chamber from being orchestrated by blinkered officials hell-bent on conflating anything remotely Russian with wrong," Belkina said.

8:56 PM

Pak PM says the country has reached a 'defining moment' in its history