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		Russian President Vladimir Putin</div></div>

The head of the Russian delegation in talks with Ukrainian officials says the parties have come closer to an agreement on a neutral status for Ukraine

Vladimir Putin

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	<strong>Live news updates:</strong>&nbsp;Japan and Australia on Friday slapped fresh sanctions on Russian entities as punishment for Moscow&#39;s invasion of Ukraine, which the West says has been stalled by staunch resistance but continues to take a devastating toll on civilians.</div>
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Western sources and Ukrainian officials said Russia&#39;s assault has faltered since its troops invaded on Feb. 24, further dashing Moscow&#39;s expectations of a swift victory and the removal of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy&#39;s government.<br />
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A US Department of Defense official said there had been no shelling on Ukraine reported in the past 24 hours, and anecdotal indications morale in some Russian units was flagging, Reuters reported.<br />
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	The geopolitical crisis, which resulted in oil and other commodities to surge to multi-year highs, has <strong><a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/finance/global-developments-pose-downside-risks-to-india-says-rbi-report-122031700997_1.html" target="_blank">heightened the uncertainty</a></strong> clouding the global macroeconomic and financial landscape, posing downside risks to the Indian economy, the Reserve Bank of India said in a monthly report on Thursday. The economy is experiencing &quot;spillovers&quot; as it recovers from the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the report added.</div>
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	&ldquo;India&rsquo;s macroeconomic fundamentals remain strong. Unfolding global developments nevertheless pose downside risks in terms of spillovers,&rdquo; it said.</div>
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Ukraine crisis LIVE: Russia says it made progress in negotiations

Business Standard

First rating agency withdraws Russia sovereign score after EU ban

Germany-based Scope Ratings has become the first EU rating agency to withdraw its Russian sovereign credit score following a move by the bloc this week to ban their provision, Reuters reported. The move will raise expectations that the &#39;big three&#39; rating firms, S&amp;P Global, Moody&#39;s and Fitch, who also each rate dozens of Russian corporates and banks, will now follow suit before an April 15 EU deadline.