Ukraine crisis: Russia to suspend military operation only if Kyiv stops fighting

Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, Russia’s military operation in Ukraine can be suspended only if Kyiv ceases military actions and fulfills Moscow’s demands, reported the Russian News Agency TASS.

File Photo

President Vladimir Putin warned that Ukrainian statehood is in jeopardy and has likened the West's sanctions on Russia to 'declaring war' as the Russian invasion entered the 11th day on Sunday (March 6).

Amid thousands of people fleeing the war-torn country daily since Russia's attack on February 24, the UN refugee agency has said that the number of Ukrainian refugees could rise to 1.5 million by the end of the weekend from a current 1.3 million.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden, in a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, welcomed decisions by Visa and Mastercard to suspend their operations in Russia. Biden noted his administration is surging security, humanitarian, and economic assistance to Ukraine and is working closely with Congress to secure additional funding.

The development came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with Putin in the Kremlin to discuss the Ukraine crisis, then spoke with Zelenskiy by phone. Israel, home to a substantial population of Russian immigrants, has offered to mediate in the ongoing conflict.

06 March 2022

22:47 IST

"I make a heartfelt appeal for humanitarian corridors to be genuinely secured and for aid to be guaranteed and access facilitated to the besieged areas," tweets Pope Francis.

#PrayTogether #Ukraine #Peace pic.twitter.com/5r5YYzkINE

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) March 6, 2022

22:47 IST

A team from the Embassy of India is stationed in Poltava City to coordinate the safe passage of Indian students stranded in Sumy to Western borders via Poltava: Indian Embassy in Ukraine

20:59 IST

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia’s military operation in Ukraine can be suspended only if Kyiv ceases military actions and fulfills Moscow’s demands in a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Russian News Agency TASS

20:27 IST

French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold new telephone talks lasting 1 hour 45 minutes, reports AFP news agency quoting Elysee Palace

20:26 IST

Under Operation Ganga, so far 76 flights have brought over 15920 Indians back to India. Out of these 76 flights, 13 flights landed in the last 24 hours: Govt of India

19:04 IST

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russian rockets had completely destroyed the civilian airport of the central-western region capital of Vinnytsia: Reuters

19:04 IST

A group of 44 Indians who began their trip from Pisochyn are on their way to the Polish border from Lviv. Another group of over 150 Indians have made their way to the Romanian border: Indian Embassy in Ukraine

19:03 IST

People cover statues in Lviv amid the Russia-Ukraine Crisis.

People cover statues in Lviv amid the #RussiaUkraineCrisis; visuals from Rynok square

"Some sculptures are more than 100 years old. They have historical importance hence people are protecting them from the damage," says a Ukrainian citizen pic.twitter.com/ESroAaMkks

— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2022

17:44 IST

Humanitarian assistance provided to stranded students at Sumy Ukraine by Red Cross Ukraine in coordination with the Indian World Forum.

Humanitarian assistance provided to stranded students at Sumy #Ukraine by Red Cross Ukraine in coordination with Indian World Forum. They are being provided with water and essential supplies. pic.twitter.com/U00R0dDF0M

— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2022

16:29 IST

Ukraine President Zelensky says Russian forces preparing to bombard Ukraine port city Odessa: AFP

16:28 IST

Under Operation Ganga, 2135 Indians have been brought back today by 11 special civilian flights from Ukraine’s neighbouring countries. With this, more than 15, 900 Indians have been brought back since the special flights began on February 22, 2022: Ministry of Civil Aviation (ANI)

15:57 IST

More than 1 million people have now fled Ukraine to seek safety, and millions more are likely to join them: United Nations

14:25 IST

The city council of Ukraine`s Mariupol said an evacuation of some of 400,000 residents trapped by encircling Russian forces would start at 12:00 p.m. local time (1000 GMT) on Sunday under a temporary ceasefire that will last till 9:00 p.m. (Reuters)

14:22 IST

Over 11,000 Russian troops have been killed since Moscow launched an invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the Ukrainian armed forces' general staff said on Sunday. (Reuters)

14:14 IST

Embassy of India begins its last leg of Operation Ganga flights today. All those students staying in their own accommodation (other than arranged by Embassy) are requested to reach Hungaria City Centre, Rakoczi Ut 90, Budapest between 10 am-12 pm, says the Embassy.

Embassy of India begins its last leg of Operation Ganga flights today. All those students staying in their own accommodation (other than arranged by Embassy) are requested to reach Hungaria City Centre , Rakoczi Ut 90, Budapest between 10 am-12 pm, says the Embassy. pic.twitter.com/U1LmKIRHfV

— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2022

14:06 IST

Embassy of India in Ukraine asks Indians in the war-torn country to contact them on an 'URGENT BASIS' with their mobile numbers, location and other important details.

All Indian nationals who still remain in Ukraine are requested to fill up the details contained in the attached Google Form on an URGENT BASIS .

Be Safe Be Strong @opganga@MEAIndia@PIB_India@DDNewslive@DDNationalhttps://t.co/4BrBuXbVbz

— India in Ukraine (@IndiainUkraine) March 6, 2022

12:34 IST

British military intelligence said on Sunday that Russian forces were targeting populated areas in Ukraine. "The scale and strength of Ukrainian resistance continue to surprise Russia," British military intelligence said, adding Russia "has responded by targeting populated areas in multiple locations, including Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Mariupol."

"Russia has previously used similar tactics in Chechnya in 1999 and Syria in 2016, employing both air and ground-based munitions," British military intelligence said. (Reuters)

11:35 IST

A group of Indian students studying in Crimea return to Delhi. 

A group of Indian students studying in Crimea returns to Delhi apprehending tensions amid Russia-Ukraine crisis

Situation in Crimea is normal, we left to be on the safer side as it lies b/w Russia & Ukraine. Colleges have allowed us to attend online classes, the students say. pic.twitter.com/sznbgoL6a2

— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2022

11:34 IST

The Canadian government asked its citizens not to travel to Russia. "Avoid all travel to Russia due to the impacts of the armed conflict with Ukraine, including limited flight options and restrictions on financial transactions. If you are in Russia, you should leave while commercial means are still available," the Canadian government said in a Saturday travel advisory, as per ANI. 

07:23 IST

Indian Air Force flight carrying 210 Indians evacuated from Ukraine arrived at Hindan airbase near Delhi from Bucharest, Romania.

Indian Air Force flight carrying 210 Indians evacuated from Ukraine arrives at Hindan airbase near Delhi from Bucharest, Romania. pic.twitter.com/CZAXHIuGcF

— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2022

06:41 IST

A special flight carrying 183 Indian nationals from Ukraine, arrived in Delhi from Budapest in Hungary. 

Delhi | A special flight, carrying 183 Indian nationals from #Ukraine, arrives in the national capital from Budapest in Hungary#OperationGanga pic.twitter.com/bpCd0uWBlf

— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2022

06:40 IST

A special flight carrying 154 Indian citizens from Ukraine landed in Delhi from Košice in Slovakia. 

Delhi | A special flight, carrying 154 Indian citizens from #Ukraine, lands in the national capital from Košice in Slovakia#OperationGanga pic.twitter.com/64jR8RSJrc

— ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2022

06:37 IST

"Mariupol Mayor: Russia blockades city, denies humanitarian corridor. According to Mayor Vadym Boychenko, the city has been left without water and electricity, while 400,000 city residents are held hostage by the Russians," reported The Kyiv Independent (ANI)

06:36 IST

Ukraine's Zelensky speaks by phone with US President Joe Biden to discuss "security, financial support for Ukraine and the continuation of sanctions against Russia", AFP reported. 

06:36 IST

Visa, Mastercard say they have suspended operations in Russia. (AFP)