Russian troops advancing closer to Kyiv, US says: Live News | Russia-Ukraine crisis News
Some 100,000 people have fled their homes as US official says Russian troops advancing towards Ukraine’s capital.
- Russian soldiers are advancing in the direction of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, and Moscow continues to flow troops into the country, a US official says.
- The UN refugee agency says an estimated 100,000 Ukrainians have fled their homes.
- US President Joe Biden unveils new sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine while Western powers decry Moscow’s move.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin launches sweeping Ukraine invasion.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vows to defend his nation, declares martial law.
Here are all the latest updates:
New US sanctions to isolate Russia from global economy: Correspondent
Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett, reporting from Washington, said new US sanctions on Russia, which are being coordinated with European allies, aim to isolate the country from the global economy.
“Any assets that Russia currently holds in the United States are now frozen,” Halkett said.
100,000 Ukrainians believed to be displaced
The UN refugee agency has said an estimated 100,000 Ukrainians have fled their homes and that several thousand have crossed into neighbouring countries, mainly Romania and Moldova.
Russian forces advancing closer to Kyiv: US defence official
Russian forces are making advances on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv and Moscow has continued to flow forces into the country, a senior US defense official has said.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that so far Russia had fired more than 160 missiles at Ukrainian targets.
US decries Russia’s ‘aggression’, thanks Baltic states
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has condemned Russia’s military operation in Ukraine as “premeditated, unprovoked and unjustified”, the department said in a statement.
Blinken spoke with Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, and Estonian Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets on Thursday, spokesman Ned Price said.
“Blinken thanked the Baltic states for their steadfast support of Ukraine and for hosting US and NATO forces. Blinken strongly condemned Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine and emphasised the importance of Allied unity for the strong, swift response to Russia’s aggression,” Price said in a readout of the call.
Welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the Ukraine-Russia crisis.
Read all the updates from Thursday, February 24, here.
