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9 mins ago
The G7 meeting is underway
By Kevin Liptack
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left;
the president of the United States, Joe Biden, in the center;
and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, pose during the G7 summit in Brussels on March 24.
(Photo: Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images)
US President Joe Biden meets with the G7 to discuss new sanctions and other actions to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
At the beginning of the meeting, the leaders stood for a family photo, but did not attend to the press as the talks began.
Biden was seen sitting at a round table and opening his notebooks as the meeting began.
He entered alongside UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Some background
: The G7 is short for the Group of Seven, an organization of leaders from some of the world's largest economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Russia was suspended indefinitely from the group — then known as the G8 — in 2014 after most member countries banded together against its annexation of Crimea.
It was the first violation of the borders of a European country since the Second World War.
19 mins ago
Biden: "NATO is stronger and more united than ever"
By Allie Malloy
French President Emmanuel Macron (L) shakes hands with US President Joe Biden upon his arrival at NATO headquarters in Brussels on March 24, 2022. (Photo by MICHAEL KAPPELER/POOL /AFP via Getty Images)
US President Joe Biden said in a statement that the NATO alliance is "as strong and united as ever" and vowed to continue supporting Ukraine after the NATO summit in Brussels on Thursday.
"NATO leaders have gathered today on the first anniversary of Russia's unprovoked and unwarranted invasion of Ukraine to reiterate our strong support for the Ukrainian people, our determination to hold Russia accountable for its brutal war, and our commitment to strengthening the NATO Alliance," Biden said.
Noting that the leaders were able to hear from Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky via video conference, Biden said in the statement that NATO and the United States "will continue to support him and his government with significant and increasing amounts of aid." to security to fight against Russian aggression and defend their right to self-defense".
1 hour ago
The United States announces sanctions on more than 300 members of the Russian Duma
By Allie Malloy
General view of the State Duma building, the lower house of the Russian parliament, in Moscow on March 23, 2021. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
The United States will announce new sanctions on more than 300 members of the Russian Duma and more than 40 Russian defense companies on Thursday, a senior administration official told reporters.
The official added that the EU and the G7 will also announce a new sanctions evasion initiative that is "designed to prevent the circumvention or padding" of sanctions.
Asked by CNN's Phil Mattingly about examples of the sanctions evasion initiative, a senior administration official said it will, in part, reduce the ability of Russia's Central Bank to deploy international reserves by making it clear that any transaction involving gold is prohibited, which prevents the ruble from being propped up.
Russian oligarchs find 'paradise' to flee war sanctions
"The general message is that we have taken historic steps in imposing costs on Russia, now we are going to make sure that we are fully aligned and that we get the maximum impact from the measures that we have applied," the official said.
Asked about the long-awaited joint energy strategy that is expected to be announced this Friday, administration officials declined to elaborate, but said "it's something we've been working on for some time and I think it's going to be a step forward." significant in terms of accelerating Europe's diversification away from Russian gas.
1 hour ago
The President of Ukraine, to NATO: Give us only 1% of what you have
By Andrew Carey, Yulia Kesaieva
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) is pictured on a screen as he addresses Sweden's parliament in Stockholm on March 24, 2022. (Photo by PAUL WENNERHOLM/TT/AFP News Agency via Getty Images)
Volodymyr Zelensky told NATO leaders meeting in Brussels that Ukraine only needs a fraction of the Alliance's combined firepower.
"They can give us one percent of all their planes. One percent of all their tanks. One percent," he said in a speech on Facebook.
"They have thousands of warplanes, but they haven't given us any yet...we are reaching out [to you] asking for tanks so we can unlock our cities...they have at least 20,000 tanks...but we don't have a clear answer yet." , said.
He called on the leaders to take the necessary decisions to achieve it.
“The threat of the use of chemical weapons is real”: Biden's statement on the war in Ukraine that worries the world
"We can't just buy [these items]. This supply is directly dependent on NATO decisions, political decisions," he said.
He also said that NATO leaders should recognize what Ukraine's armed forces have shown in the war against Russia.
"Please do not tell us again that our army does not meet NATO standards. We have shown what standards we can meet. And we have shown how much we can contribute to the common security of Europe and the world."
1 hour ago
The US is expected to accept up to 100,000 refugees fleeing Ukraine
By Kevin Liptack
The United States plans to accept up to 100,000 refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, says a person familiar with the decision, in what would be an important step toward easing a brewing humanitarian crisis in Europe.
President Joe Biden is expected to unveil the decision during his trip to Europe to drum up support for a common approach to the crisis.
Poland's leaders, in particular, called on the United States to expedite the processing of refugees with families in the country.
More than 3.6 million people have already fled Ukraine, according to the latest update from the UN Refugee Agency.
2 hours ago
Zelensky asks for more help in a virtual call with NATO
By Kevin Liptack
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses a meeting of the NATO Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government in Brussels, Belgium, on March 24, via video link.
(Photo: NATO Pool/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Leaders attending a closed-door NATO summit heard an impassioned plea from Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky for new Western security assistance, according to a senior US administration official who heard the remarks.
The Ukrainian leader refrained from making his usual calls for a no-fly zone or NATO membership.
But Zelensky, in a virtual speech, spoke "very eloquently" to describe his army's efforts to defend Ukrainian citizens and democratic values, the official said.
Zelensky's virtual speech kicked off the summit, which is being held in private.
US President Joe Biden then intervened to outline the West's coordinated approach to sanctions, reiterate strong support for Ukraine, and reinforce US commitment to NATO.
Biden "laid out a number of issues that the alliance is going to have to address" in the coming months before the NATO alliance meets again in late June in Spain, the official said.
The keys to the meeting between Biden and European leaders
That includes the completion of posturing changes for forces on NATO's eastern flank.
The atmosphere inside the NATO summit was "sober, resolute and incredibly united," the official said.
"There was a very strong sense that we are facing an important historical moment, and very strong support from all the leaders who spoke about the need to defend our democracy," the official said.
Other themes that came up were China and the collective desire to prevent Beijing from supporting Russia in its invasion.
And the leaders discussed contingencies in case Russia uses a chemical or nuclear weapon on the battlefield in Ukraine.
"I think there is recognition that NATO must continue its good work to be prepared to respond to various contingencies," the official said.
3 hours ago
Russian military officials have rejected calls from their American counterparts
By Barbara Starr
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty)
Top Russian military officials have rejected calls from their American counterparts since before the invasion of Ukraine began, a Pentagon spokesman said Thursday.
"For the past month, Secretary Austin and President Milley have sought, and continue to seek, calls with their Russian counterparts. Minister Shoigu and General Gerasimov have so far refused to compromise. We continue to believe that compromise between the leaders of The defense of the United States and Russia is of paramount importance at this time," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a statement.
Exclusive: Inside A Rare US Meeting With A Russian General In Moscow
CNN has previously reported that the last known time Austin spoke with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu was on February 18.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley last spoke with Russian Chief of Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov on February 11.
3 hours ago
Summits are underway.
This is what to expect
By Kevin Liptack
(FRONT L/R): Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, United States President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister , Boris Johnson, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other leaders pose for a family photo before NATO headquarters in Brussels on March 24, 2022. (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Historic emergency summits are taking place in Brussels as US President Joe Biden works to rally the West around a strategy to confront Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
What is happening this Thursday:
World leaders, including Biden, arrived at NATO headquarters on Thursday morning, posing for a brief family photo before entering a lengthy closed-door session.
Biden did not stop to speak in his entrance;
other leaders made brief comments and took questions.
Today we still haven't heard from the president of the United States.
The ongoing NATO session was expected to focus in part on what to do if Russia deploys a chemical, biological or even nuclear weapon.
US officials have been quietly outlining possible ways the United States might respond if Russian President Vladimir Putin were to take such an extreme step.
Other issues, including new sanctions on Russia, the posture of NATO forces and military assistance to Ukraine, are expected to be part of the last-minute diplomatic outburst.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to address NATO leaders virtually.
What to expect later:
While at NATO headquarters, Biden will meet with G7 leaders, where new sanctions are expected to be announced.
A G7 family photo is expected to be taken at 9:10 a.m. ET (2:10 p.m. local time) before the meeting, which will take place at 9:15 a.m. ET (2:15 p.m. local time).
Biden will next address the European Council, where he is expected to dominate the issue of Europe's dependence on Russian energy.
He will arrive at 11:20 a.m. ET (4:20 p.m. local time) and hold a meeting with European Council President Charles Michel.
The European Council summit begins at 12:00 ET (17:00 local time).
Biden will then return to NATO headquarters for a news conference at 3:00 p.m. ET (8:00 p.m. local time).
3 hours ago
Putin wants "hostile" countries to pay for Russian gas in rubles
Putin wants gas to be paid for in rubles
Russia will ask to be paid in rubles for natural gas it sells to "unfriendly" countries, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday, with gas prices in Europe soaring on concern the move would aggravate the world's energy crisis. region.
European countries and the United States have imposed heavy sanctions on Russia since Moscow sent troops to Ukraine on February 24.
But Europe relies heavily on Russian gas for heating and electricity generation, and the European Union is divided on whether to sanction the Russian energy sector.
Putin's message was clear: if you want our gas, buy our currency.
It is unclear whether Russia has the power to unilaterally change existing contracts agreed to in euros.
Read the full note here.
4 hours ago
It is noon in Ukraine.
This is what we know
By CNN
A picture taken on March 23, 2022 shows damage to a school destroyed by a Russian aerial bombardment in Kharkiv.
(Photo by SERGEY BOBOK/AFP via Getty Images)
A month after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, its forces continued to fall back around the capital of Kyiv and took up defensive positions northwest of the capital, a US official said.
On Wednesday night, CNN crews on the ground saw a barrage of gunfire coming from the area.
Ukraine Advances
: Ukrainian forces have pushed back Russian forces on the front lines around Kyiv, a senior US defense official told reporters on Wednesday.
The Russian forces are about 55 kilometers (approximately 34 miles) from Kyiv's city center to the east, the official said.
Northwest of the center of the capital, the Russian forces are "entrenching and establishing defensive positions", according to the official, and have not approached the center of Kyiv along this line.
Russia intensifies attacks in the east
: At the same time, the official said that Russian forces are becoming more active in the eastern part of Ukraine, in the Donbas area, saying that they have "applied much more energy" in the regions of Luhansk and Dontesk, the two areas the Kremlin declared independent republics before last month's invasion.
Russia's war in Ukraine is one month old: here's what you need to know about the conflict
Russian Ship Destroyed:
A large Russian ship was destroyed in the Russian-occupied port of Berdyansk in southeastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian Navy said Thursday.
CNN was unable to confirm the Navy's claim, although social media videos appeared to show a very large fire with secondary explosions in the harbor.
Partial Reopening of Russian Stock Exchanges
: The Russian stock market opened for the first time in a month on Thursday, as investors engaged in a highly restricted trading session.
The benchmark MOEX index gained as much as 10% in early trading in Moscow.
Russian stocks last traded on February 25, after President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine sent stocks plummeting.
In the weeks since Russian stocks were delisted, Western-imposed sanctions have crushed the ruble and sent the country's economy into a tailspin.
Biden arrives at NATO summit
: US President Joe Biden has arrived in Brussels to participate in the emergency summit to respond to the war in Ukraine.
The visit comes at a time when the West is still trying to find a way to disrupt the Russian invasion.
According to White House press secretary Jen Psaki, Biden will "discuss ongoing defense and deterrence efforts" during the NATO summit and will reaffirm America's commitment to its NATO allies.
4 hours ago
Kharkiv suffers the Russian onslaught and almost a thousand residences are destroyed
By Olga Voitovych, Andrew Carey
A girl walks in front of a kindergarten damaged by a Russian bombardment on March 23, 2022 in Kharkiv.
(Photo by SERGEY BOBOK/AFP via Getty Images)
As the Russian assault on Ukraine enters its fifth week, Kharkiv's governor has given an indication of the number of casualties it is causing in and around the city.
Oleh Synehubov reported that there had been 44 artillery, tank and mortar shelling, as well as 140 multiple launch rocket attacks, over the past day.
"This is what we call a stable situation," he said.
Cellist plays in the destroyed streets of Kharkiv to seek humanitarian aid
Kharkiv authorities reported on Wednesday that some 998 residential buildings had been damaged or destroyed since the start of the Russian offensive.
Synehubov's comments Thursday morning also included a reminder of the importance of Russia's Black Sea fleet to Putin's offensive against key cities in Ukraine.
The center of Kharkiv — which is about 500 kilometers from the sea — had been hit overnight by cruise missiles fired from Russian warships, Synehubov reported.
4 hours ago
Biden arrives at NATO summit in Brussels
By Allie Malloy
Joe Biden, left, walks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg upon arrival for an extraordinary summit at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on March 24.
(Evan Vucci/AFP/Getty Images)
El presidente de EE.UU., Joe Biden, llegó a Bruselas para asistir a las cumbres de emergencia para responder a la guerra en Ucrania, una visita consecuente que se produce mientras Occidente sigue lidiando con la forma de interrumpir la invasión de Rusia.
Biden se dirige a una breve reunión con el secretario general de la OTAN, Jens Stoltenberg, y se hace una foto de familia con otros líderes de la OTAN, saludando al primer ministro del Reino Unido, Boris Johnson, al presidente turco, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, y al presidente francés, Emmanuel Macron, entre otros.
Este jueves también se celebrará un Consejo Europeo y una reunión del G7.
- 5 preguntas clave para las cumbres de emergencia de Biden sobre la invasión de Rusia a Ucrania
Algunos antecedentes: Biden va a desvelar sanciones a figuras políticas y oligarcas rusas durante las cumbres, según ha dicho la Casa Blanca, y antes de las reuniones clave del jueves en Bruselas, el Gobierno estadounidense también declaró formalmente que los militares rusos han cometido crímenes de guerra en Ucrania.
Según la secretaria de prensa de la Casa Blanca, Jen Psaki, Biden "discutirá los esfuerzos de disuasión y defensa en curso" durante la cumbre de la OTAN y reafirmará el compromiso de Estados Unidos con sus aliados de la OTAN.
Hace 5 horas
Las acciones rusas abren al alza al reanudarse las operaciones
Por Robert North
Una mujer pasa por delante de un tablero que muestra los tipos de cambio del dólar estadounidense y el euro frente al rublo ruso en Moscú el 22 de febrero de 2022. (Foto de DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP vía Getty Images)
El índice bursátil ruso MOEX abrió al alza tras reabrir parcialmente por primera vez en casi un mes.
En los primeros minutos, el índice subió más del 10%.
La Bolsa de Moscú cotizó por última vez el 25 de febrero, después de que las acciones se desplomaran tras la invasión de Ucrania y las posteriores sanciones impuestas a Rusia.
El índice MOEX había perdido aproximadamente un 35% de su valor este año, mientras que el índice RTS -que está denominado en dólares- se hundió un 42%.
La reapertura: El Banco Central dijo que la bolsa reabriría parcialmente la negociación de acciones rusas este jueves.
El Banco de Rusia dijo que la negociación de 33 valores tendría lugar entre las 9.50 y las 14.00 horas, hora local. (Actualmente son las 10:42 horas en Moscú).
Entre los valores rusos autorizados a reanudar la negociación figuran grandes empresas como Gazprom, Lukoil, VTB Bank, Sberbank, Rusal y Rosneft.
El banco central dijo que se prohibirá la venta en corto de estas acciones y bloqueó a los inversores extranjeros la venta de sus acciones.
También introdujo controles de divisas, limitando la cantidad de moneda extranjera que se puede sacar de Rusia.
Un poco de contexto: La Casa Blanca criticó la reapertura del mercado de valores, calificándola de "farsa" y de "apertura del mercado Potemkin" que ocultará los graves efectos de las sanciones económicas occidentales.
Hace 5 horas
Un barco ruso fue destruido en el puerto ocupado de Berdyansk, dice Ucrania
Por Tim Lister
Un gran barco ruso fue destruido en el puerto ocupado por Rusia de Berdyansk, en el sureste de Ucrania, según informó la Marina de Ucrania el jueves.
CNN no pudo confirmar la afirmación de la Marina, aunque videos de redes sociales parecían mostrar un gran incendio con explosiones secundarias en el puerto.
Un poco de contexto: Berdyansk se encuentra en el mar de Azov y está aproximadamente a 70 kilómetros al suroeste de Mariúpol. La ciudad tiene una pequeña base naval y una población de alrededor de 100.000 habitantes. Las tropas militares rusas ocuparon por primera vez los edificios gubernamentales de Berdyansk el 27 de febrero.
Hace 5 horas
Rusia reclama el control de ciudad ucraniana, informan medios estatales
Por Tim Lister
Las imágenes de las redes sociales muestran destrucción en Izyum. (Facebook)
El ejército ruso afirmó haber tomado el control de la ciudad ucraniana de Izyum este jueves, informó el medio de comunicación estatal RIA-Novosti citando al Ministerio de Defensa ruso.
Sin embargo, Ucrania negó el reclamo con Lyudmyla Dolhonovska, asesora del comandante en jefe de Ucrania, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, y le dijo a CNN que la batalla por Izyum “todavía continúa”.
Izyum se encuentra en la carretera principal entre Járkiv y las zonas separatistas respaldadas por Rusia de Luhansk y Donetsk en el este de Ucrania.
- La guerra de Rusia en Ucrania cumple un mes: esto es lo que debes saber sobre el conflicto
Algunos antecedentes: Izyum ha perdido casi todas las comunicaciones desde que estallaron allí la semana pasada intensas batallas entre las fuerzas rusas y ucranianas.
Now, the first videos and images have emerged from the city, showing widespread destruction, buildings burned and bombed, and bodies lying in the streets.
war in ukraine