LIVE: 'Russia breaking promises on Mariupol humanitarian corridor'

11:49 PM

Europe pursues payment response as Russian gas supply threat eases

European governments and companies worked on a common approach on Friday to Russia's demand that they pay for its gas in roubles as the threat of an imminent supply halt eased, Reuters reported.

 

European capitals have been on alert for a disruption to gas imports as Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks retaliation over Western sanctions for the Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.

 

A crunch point appeared to be in the offing when Moscow issued a decree on Thursday requiring foreign buyers of Russian gas to open rouble accounts in state-run Gazprombank from Friday or else risk being cut off.

11:44 PM

Sitharaman, Jaishankar defend India buying Russian oil

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday defended the purchase of cheap Russian oil even as sanctions have been imposed on Moscow following its military attack on Ukraine.

 

At an event in Mumbai, Sitharaman said, "We have started buying Russian oil and have bought at least 3 to 4 days of supply. I will put my energy security and my country's interest first. If supply is available at a discount, why shouldn't I buy it?"

 

In the meantime, Jaishankar said said that Europe has bought 15 per cent more oil and gas from Russia than it did the month before. 

 

11:13 PM

Red Cross: Team could not reach Mariupol

The International Committee of the Red Cross says a team intending to help people leave the besieged city of Mariupol was unable to reach the port city on Friday.

 

The Red Cross said in a statement that the team hopes to try again Saturday.

 

“Arrangements and conditions made it impossible" for the convoy of three vehicles to get safely to Mariupol and they returned to Zaporizhzhia, it said.

 

“For the operation to succeed, it is critical that the parties respect the agreements and provide the necessary conditions and security guarantees,” the organization said.

10:23 PM

Top security official denies Ukraine carried out attack on Russian fuel depot

Ukraine's top security official on Friday denied accusations by Russia that Ukraine was behind an attack on an oil depot in the Russian city of Belgorod.

 

Speaking on national television, Security Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said: "For some reason they say that we did it, but according to our information this does not correspond to reality."

9:29 PM

Local governor says Russia is breaking promises on humanitarian corridor for Mariupol

The governor of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region on Friday accused Russia of breaking its promises in terms of allowing humanitarian aid to reach the city of Mariupol, which is encircled by Russian troops.

 

"Humanitarian deliveries, despite all the agreements and promises of the Russian side, are not being carried out," Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said in a televised address. "The humanitarian corridor ... is essentially not operational." 

 

Repeated efforts to deliver aid to Mariupol and help civilians evacuate have failed, with both sides blaming the other.

9:24 PM

Infosys is closing Russia office: Media report

Infosys, in which UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak's wife owns shares thought to be worth more than 400 million pounds, is closing its office in Russia, reported BBC on Friday. 

8:30 PM

Payment on Russia 2030 dollar bond executed: Report

A payment on Russia 2030 sovereign dollar bond has been executed, a source familiar with the situation said on Friday.

 

The $447 million coupon payment was due on Thursday on the bond issued in March 2000.

 

It was the fifth payment due on Russia's international bonds since sweeping sanctions were imposed over its invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special military operation".

 

The payment had been processed earlier by correspondent bank JPMorgan Chase, a source said on Thursday.

7:56 PM

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov calls on PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called for early cessation of violence in Ukraine and expressed India's readiness to contribute to the peace efforts to resolve the conflict, during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

 

According to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the visiting Russian Foreign briefed Modi on the situation in Ukraine, including Moscow's ongoing peace negotiations with Kyiv.

 

Lavrov called on the Prime Minister after holding wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

"Foreign Minister Lavrov briefed the Prime Minister on the situation in Ukraine, including the ongoing peace negotiations," the statement said.

7:33 PM

Europe pursues payment response as Russian gas supply threat eases

European governments and companies were working on Friday on a common approach to Russia's demand that they pay for its gas in roubles as the threat of an imminent supply halt eased.

 

European capitals have been on alert for a disruption to gas imports for weeks as President Vladimir Putin seeks retaliation over Western sanctions for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

 

A crunch point appeared to be in the offing when Moscow issued a decree on Thursday requiring foreign buyers of Russian gas to open rouble accounts in state-run Gazprombank from Friday or else risk being cut-off.

7:19 PM

Russian Foreign Minister was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

7:15 PM

China should not interfere with sanctions on Russia, EU says

The European Union's chief executive called on China on Friday to help end Russia's invasion of Ukraine and at the very least do nothing that might help Moscow circumvent economic sanctions.

 

"We made very clear China should not interfere with our sanctions," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a news conference after a virtual summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

7:00 PM

India to continue oil purchases from Russia, says FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said New Delhi would continue to purchase crude from Russia as India required oil at a discount after the surge in global prices.

 

India has already started buying oil from Russia, Nirmala Sitharaman said, adding that the transition to gas was challenging as supplies had reduced.

Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is on a visit to New Delhi to get support from the country after U.S. and British officials pressed India to avoid undermining the dollar-based financial system and sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.

6:38 PM

Russia using church as staging ground for Kyiv assault: Senior US administration official

Russian forces are using a church site 22 miles northwest of Kyiv as a staging ground for their assault on the Ukrainian capital, a senior US administration official said on Friday.

 

"Military personnel are situated both on the grounds of the church and the surrounding residential area," the official said on condition of anonymity and without citing evidence.

6:36 PM

Putin discusses measures to curb internal security threats: TASS

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed additional measures to "avert and neutralise internal security threats" with members of his Security Council on Friday, TASS news agency reported, as Moscow continues its military campaign in Ukraine.

 

Last month Putin delivered a stark warning to Russian "traitors" who he said the West wanted to use as a "fifth column" to destroy the country.

6:36 PM

Ukraine's defence ministry declines direct comment on Russia fuel depot accusation

Ukraine's defence ministry declined on Friday to comment directly on Russian allegations that its forces struck a fuel depot in the Russian city of Belgorod, but said Ukraine was conducting a defensive operation and could not be held responsible for "every catastrophe on Russia's territory".

 

"Ukraine is currently conducting a defensive operation against Russian aggression on the territory of Ukraine, and this does not mean that Ukraine is responsible for every catastrophe on Russia's territory... I will not confirm or deny these allegations," ministry spokesperson Oleksandr Motuzyanyk told a briefing.