LIVE: Biden says US to give Ukraine drones, anti-aircraft systems

11:29 PM

Five bodies found in rubble of shelled dormitory in Ukraine's Chernihiv

Ukraine's emergencies service said rescue workers had found the bodies of five people, including three children, during searches on Wednesday of residential buildings damaged by shelling in the northern city of Chernihiv.

 

The bodies were found in the ruins of a dormitory building, it said in an online statement.

11:03 PM

Biden says US to give Ukraine drones, anti-aircraft systems

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday said the United States was offering an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine to combat Russia's invasion, with the new package including drones and anti-aircraft systems.

 

"It includes 800 anti-aircraft systems to make sure that the Ukrainian military can continue to stop the planes and helicopters that have been attacking their people," Biden said.

10:39 PM

Three killed after shelling and fire in Ukraine's Kharkiv

Three people were killed and five wounded after shelling caused a fire at a market in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, Ukraine's State Emergencies Service said on Wednesday.

 

The fire was later extinguished, it said in an online statement.

10:39 PM

Russian bombing hits theatre in Mariupol sheltering residents: City council

Russian forces bombed a theatre where civilians were sheltering in the encircled port city of Mariupol on Wednesday, the city council said.

 

It said the number of casualties was not yet known. Reuters could not independently verify the information. Russia denies targeting civilians.

9:56 PM

Kremlin says too early to disclose potential agreements on resolving Ukraine conflict: RIA

It is too early disclose any set of potential agreements between Moscow and Kyiv on resolving the conflict in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Psekov said on Wednesday according to the RIA news agency.

 

The comment came after the Financial Times earlier on Wednesday reported that Ukraine and Russia had made significant progress on a tentative 15-point peace plan.

 

The newspaper cited three people involved in the talks as saying the plan included a ceasefire and Russian withdrawal if Kyiv declares neutrality and accepts limits on its armed forces.

9:42 PM

Biden to address Zelenskiy appeal, still opposes 'no fly zone'

President Joe Biden will announce an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine on Wednesday, but his position on a "no-fly zone" has not changed after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's urgent appeal to the U.S. Congress for military help to fend off a Russian invasion, the White House says.

 

Biden will address Zelensky's remarks in his planned speech, a White House official said. He also plans to detail funding to come from a massive spending bill Biden signed into law that includes $13.6 billion in new aid to Ukraine. The new funding will provide additional humanitarian, security and economic assistance, and roughly half of the aid package will be used to deploy troops to the region and send defense equipment to Ukraine.

9:38 PM

ICC insists on 'zero tolerance' of crimes against children in Ukraine

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said on Wednesday he insisted on "zero tolerance" of sexual and gender-based crimes and crimes against children as fighting intensifies in Ukraine.

 

In a rare trip into a conflict zone by a top international prosecutor, Karim Khan said he had met with Ukraine's foreign minister and prosecutor general during a short visit before visiting Poland.

 

He held virtual talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

9:25 PM

World Court orders Russia to cease military operations in Ukraine

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Russia on Wednesday to stop the military actions it started in Ukraine on Feb. 24.

 

"The Russian Federation shall immediately suspend the military operations that it commenced on Feb 24, 2022 in the territory of Ukraine," the judges said.

 

The judges added Russia must also ensure that other forces under its control or supported by Moscow should not continue the military operation.

8:41 PM

US warns Russia of consequences of any possible Russian use of chemical weapons

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan spoke on Wednesday with Nikolay Patrushev, the secretary of Russia's Security Council, and warned him about the consequences "of any possible Russian decision to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine," the White House said.

 

The White House statement did not specify what those implications would be.

 

Washington and its allies have accused Russia of spreading an unproven claim that Ukraine had a biological weapons program as a possible prelude to potentially launching its own biological or chemical attacks.

8:37 PM

7.3 magnitude quake hits north Japan, tsunami alert issued

A powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake shook off the coast of Fukushima in northern Japan on Wednesday evening, triggering a tsunami advisory.

 

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake struck 60 kilometres (36 miles) below the sea.

 

The region is part of northern Japan that was devastated by a deadly 9.0 quake and tsunami that also caused a nuclear disaster.

There are no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

8:30 PM

Earthquake jolts Japan's northeast coast, triggers tsunami warning

A strong earthquake jolted Japan's northeast coast on Wednesday, shaking buildings and triggering a tsunami warning.

 

The tremor registered magnitude 7.3, according to public broadcaster NHK.

7:51 PM

Biden to detail $800 million in Ukraine aid after Zelensky appeal for military support

President Joe Biden will announce an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine on Wednesday, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an urgent appeal to the U.S. Congress for military help to fend off a Russian invasion.

 

The funding will come from a massive spending bill Biden signed into law that includes $13.6 billion in new aid to Ukraine. The new funding will provide additional humanitarian, security and economic assistance, and roughly half of the aid package will be used to deploy troops to the region and send defense equipment to Ukraine.

 

In his address to Congress, Zelensky compared the ongoing attacks in Ukraine to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that pulled the United States into World War Two, and begged lawmakers, and Biden directly, for more help.

 

 

7:49 PM

Russia's central bank does not need to print money, Putin says

Russia's central bank does not need to print money and the country has enough financial resources to fight current challenges, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.

 

"Our economy and business have all necessary resources to meet all the goals set, challenges should only mobilize us," he said, adding that Russian economy would adapt to the new reality triggered by western sanctions on Moscow.

 

Putin also ordered the increase of financing on infrastructure, said the government would need structural changes to the economy and promised more support for families with children and increase in social payments as inflation is rising.

7:49 PM

Russia's central bank does not need to print money, Putin says

Russia's central bank does not need to print money and the country has enough financial resources to fight current challenges, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.

 

"Our economy and business have all necessary resources to meet all the goals set, challenges should only mobilize us," he said, adding that Russian economy would adapt to the new reality triggered by western sanctions on Moscow.

 

Putin also ordered the increase of financing on infrastructure, said the government would need structural changes to the economy and promised more support for families with children and increase in social payments as inflation is rising.

7:44 PM

Putin says he is ready to discuss neutrality for Ukraine but presses on with campaign March

President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia was ready to discuss Ukraine's neutral status in talks aimed at ending hostilities there, but that Moscow would still achieve the goals of its military operation, which was "going to plan".

 

Putin said the West had effectively declared Russia in default as part of its sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine, and that the conflict had merely been a pretext for the West to impose sanctions.

 

"The West doesn't even bother to hide the fact that its aim is to damage the entire Russian economy, every Russian," he said.