Russia-Ukraine War: Putin Says 'Unfriendly' Countries to Pay in Rubles for Gas; Russia Destroys Chernobyl Nuclear Power Lab

Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the Biden administration has made a formal determination that Russian troops have committed war crimes in Ukraine. Blinken said the assessment was based on a careful review of public and intelligence sources since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine last month. America’s top diplomat said the United States would share that information with allies, partners and international institutions tasked with investigating allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In a dry dock in the Tuscan seaside town of Massa stands the “Scheherazade”, the most infamous yacht in Italy today due to speculation it could belong to Vladimir Putin. READ MORE

Sweden will provide Ukraine with an additional 5,000 anti-tank weapons, TT news agency quoted the Swedish Defence Minister saying. Sweden has already sent 5,000 anti-tank weapons, along with other military materiel to Ukraine.

Ukrainian health ministry said Russia damaged 58 ambulances, killed 6 medics since war began on February 24, reported Ukrainian media The Kyiv Independent. Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said the ministry began supplying bulletproof vests to emergency medical workers, “who despite everything are rescuing Ukrainians.”

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, during address to French parliament, called on French companies to quit Russia amid invasion of Ukraine.

NATO will likely decide on Thursday to ramp up military forces on its eastern flank. “I expect leaders will agree to strengthen NATO’s posture in all domains, with major increases in the eastern part of the alliance. On land, in the air and at sea,” NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg.

Two additional yachts linked to a Russian oligarch were immobilised by French customs authorities in the south of the country, several French news outlets reported on Wednesday, citing government sources. The two vessels had values of 20 million euros and 70 million euros respectively, the reports by BFM television and AFP newsagency, among other media outlets, said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned China against supporting Russia. “China has provided Russia with political support, including by spreading blatant lies and misinformation,” Stoltenberg said raising concerns that China could provide “material support” for Russia. “I expect NATO to call on China to live up to its responsibilities.”

NATO warned against Russia’s war in Ukraine sliding into a nuclear confrontation between Moscow and the West. “Russia should stop this dangerous irresponsible nuclear rhetoric,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference. “Russia must understand that it can never win a nuclear war,” he said on the eve of a summit of the Western military alliance’s national leaders in Brussels. “NATO is not part of the conflict … it provides support to Ukraine but isn’t part of the conflict,” he reiterated.

After Poland’s move to expel 45 Russian ‘spied’, Belarus on Wednesday has asked some Ukrainian diplomats to leave the country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia will demand payment in ruble for natural gas purchases from ‘unfriendly countries’ reports The Spectator Index.

Veteran Russian reformer Anatoly Chubais, has left his post as President Vladimir Putin’s special representative for ties with international organisations, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Chubais had left the country and had no intention of coming back. Chubais is the highest-profile figure to step down since Russia began what it calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych on Wednesday said he expected the active phase of the Russian invasion to be over by the end of April as the Russian advance had already stalled in many areas.

A firefighter works at a residential district that was damaged by shelling, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine March 23, 2022. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

President Vladimir Putin plans to attend a G20 summit later this year in Indonesia, Moscow’s envoy said Wednesday, dismissing suggestions Russia could be excluded from the group over the war in Ukraine. READ MORE

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned Russian President Vladimir Putin in direct talks not to use biological or chemical weapons in Ukraine, a government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit said.

Reuters has removed TASS from its business-to-business marketplace for customers, according to a Reuters message to staff on Wednesday, amid growing criticism of how Russia’s state-owned news agency is portraying the war in Ukraine. “We believe making TASS content available on Reuters Connect is not aligned with the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles,” Matthew Keen, interim CEO of Reuters, wrote in an internal memo to staff on Wednesday.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he planned to unveil more support measures for Ukraine and strengthen Tokyo’s sanctions against Russia at a G7 meeting in Brussels.

Ukraine negotiator says ongoing talks with Russia ‘difficult’, reports AFP News Agency.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked Japan to increase sanctions pressure on Russia by introducing a trade embargo on Russian goods. Addressing the parliament in Tokyo via video link, Zelenskiy thanked Japan for leading the way among Asian countries in condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and introducing sanctions.