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Russia's President Vladimir Putin says his country will continue its yearlong "special military operation" in Ukraine, and he accused the US-led NATO alliance of fanning the flames.
Russia-Ukraine conflict would have cost world economy $1.6 trillion in 2022, according to a study published by the German Economic Institute.
KYIV -- Air raid sirens wailing across Kyiv are awakening residents in the Ukrainian capital to the bleak reality of an ongoing military operation that is dangerously close.
For the past three days, residents have been going on a nerve-wracking trip to-and-fro between bomb shelters, grocery stores and their apartments as fears of imminent danger are compounded by anxiety over food shortages and risks of COVID-19 infection.
Iryna, a 28-year-old local who only gave her first name, told a Xinhua correspondent that she was horrified at the sound of bombing and shelling during the day, and was planning to stay in her windowless bathroom overnight in case of further air strikes.
The city of some 3 million people, once a hub of bustling activities, has been plunged into chaos since Day One of Russia's military operation on Thursday.
According to the latest information released by the two sides, multiple military targets across Ukraine were under attack; fighting was reported across several fronts; explosions were heard at Boryspil International Airport and other places across the city.
Sleep has been a luxury for many locals who stayed up all night fearing that they might miss the sirens and end up alone in the danger zone.
Oksana, a 40-year-old manager, who also only gave her first name, said she was hiding in an underground parking area following a siren on Day One, and has kept her bag at the door ever since.
"Like all people in my country, I am scared. I do not understand when and how this will end. It has been only one day of the war, but it seems to me that it has been a month. I hope that all of this can somehow be stopped," Oksana said.
In downtown Kyiv, the local bus system, subway, banks, supermarkets, pharmacies and hotels were still running normally. However, operations in private shops and bookstores had ground to a halt due to curfews and air raids.
Long lines snaked outside of gas stations, water stations, supermarkets and ATMs as people scrambled to withdraw money and stock up on supplies.
Anna, 37, who also only gave her first name, told Xinhua that sales in her cosmetics stores in Kyiv had dropped by 40 percent in the past month due to heightened tensions.
Not planning to leave the city because her children are still in school, she hoped that life could return to normal as soon as possible.
As some of Kyiv's residents rushed into nearby churches and subway stations in a desperate attempt to avoid artillery fire, others were reportedly seen leaving the city on foot along the highway, carrying children, pets and suitcases.
According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, around 100,000 people had fled their homes within Ukraine and several thousand more had left the country since the conflict erupted.
Refugee High Commissioner Filippo Grandi had voiced serious concern over the rapid deterioration of the situation as military operations unfolded across Ukraine.
"I hope that the Ukrainian society and leaders will remain cool and devoted to the strategic interests of Ukraine," a Kyiv resident said. "I would like to believe that we will have enough composure and wisdom to overcome this."
KYIV -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that "partners" are sending weapons to help Kiev, adding that he had spoken by phone with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.
"A new day on the diplomatic frontline began with a conversation with Emmanuel Macron. Weapons and equipment from our partners are on the way to Ukraine. The anti-coalition is working," Zelensky said on Twitter.
MOSCOW -- The Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 821 Ukrainian military infrastructure objects, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday.
"In total, the Russian Armed Forces hit 821 military infrastructure objects of Ukraine. Among them: 14 military airfields, 19 control points and communication centers, 24 S-300 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, 48 radar stations," Konashenkov said, according to a statement published by the ministry.
Seven combat planes, seven helicopters and nine drones have been downed, he said, adding that 87 tanks and other armored vehicles, 28 multiple launch rocket systems, and 118 special military vehicles have been destroyed.
"The Russian Navy destroyed eight military boats of the Ukrainian Navy," the spokesman said.
BUDAPEST -- Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto has offered Budapest as a venue for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine on late Friday night on his Facebook account.
"Due to a dispute on the possible location -- in Minsk, Warsaw -- of peace talks, I recommended Budapest to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and to Andriy Yermak, chief of cabinet of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky," Szijjarto said in a video message posted on his Facebook page.
He added that neither party rejected the proposition during the telephone conversations.
Budapest can serve as a safe place for both the Russian and Ukrainian negotiating delegations, the top Hungarian diplomat said.
"The sooner talks begin, the sooner there will be peace and the fewer people will have to die in the war," he said.
Szijjarto was speaking from the airport in Brussels, where he participated in an extraordinary meeting of European Union (EU) foreign ministers.
From Belgium he was traveling to New York to discuss the conflict with United Nations (UN) leaders.
The Ukrainian president on Friday reiterated his call for Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold talks to stop the conflict.
"Fighting is going on all over Ukraine. Let's sit down at the negotiating table," Zelensky was quoted by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency as saying.
Putin said Moscow is ready to negotiate with Ukraine, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency tweeted on Friday.
On Thursday, Putin authorized "a special military operation" in Donbass.
At least 137 Ukrainians were killed and more than 300 injured in the military operation, Zelensky said earlier.
MOSCOW -- The Russian Armed Forces have established full control over the southern Ukrainian city of Melitopol, Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a briefing on Saturday.
Earlier in the day, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the Russian military had entered Melitopol without meeting resistance.
"On the evening of February 25, after an amphibious landing near the locality of Azovske (Ukraine), Russian units marched and, without meeting resistance, entered Melitopol," the ministry's Zvezda broadcaster reported.
The Russian troops were greeted by residents of Melitopol, and some older citizens took to the streets with red flags.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin had authorized "a special military operation" in Donbass, and Ukraine confirmed that military installations across the country were under attack.
MOSCOW -- The Russian Armed Forces have struck Ukrainian military objects with air- and sea-based cruise missiles, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday.
"During the night, the Russian Armed Forces carried out a long-range precision strike with air- and sea-based cruise missiles on Ukrainian military infrastructure facilities," Konashenkov said, according to a statement of the Russian Defense Ministry.
"I would like to emphasize once again that only military facilities are subject to attack, no damage is caused to residential and social infrastructure," he added.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin had authorized "a special military operation" in Donbass, and Ukraine confirmed that military installations across the country were under attack.
UNITED NATIONS -- United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday that the world body will not give up on finding a solution to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, while calling on conflicting parties to better protect civilians.
Speaking to journalists after the Security Council meeting on Ukraine, the top UN official said that "we must never give up."
"We must give peace another chance. Soldiers need to return to their barracks. Leaders need to turn to the path of dialogue and peace," he said.
Despite growing operational challenges, he assured that the United Nations is expanding the delivery of life-saving assistance on both sides of the contact line.
"All concerned in this conflict must respect international humanitarian law and guarantee the safety and freedom of movement of UN staff and other humanitarians. Especially in a moment like this, it is important to remember that the UN ... is tens of thousands of women and men around the world," said Guterres.
UNITED NATIONS -- United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Amin Awad of Sudan as assistant secretary-general to serve as UN Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine.
Guterres announced the appointment on Friday while meeting reporters at the UN headquarters in New York after the Security Council meeting on Ukraine concluded.
Awad has served in a range of senior roles with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which brought with him over 30 years of experience in the field of humanitarian affairs, strategic action, planning and development, according to a press note issued by the UN chief's office.
Awad's appointment came as Ukraine is faced with increasing humanitarian needs amid its growing tensions with Russia.
KYIV - Fighting occured on Saturday in Kyiv near the military unit of the 101st separate guard brigade of the General Staff of Ukraine, Sputnik cited local media as reporting.
Explosions were heard and fire was observed in the area, according to the video footage published by Ukrainian news agencies UNIAN and strana.ua.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a "special military operation," and Ukraine confirmed that military installations across the country were under attack.
MOSCOW -- Russia's special military operation in Ukraine has seized a large quantity of weapons supplied by Western countries in recent months, said Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov on Friday.
The seized weapons include the US Javelin anti-tank missile systems and British NLAWs, the spokesman said.
"In total, the Russian Armed Forces disabled 211 facilities of the military infrastructure of Ukraine. Among them, 17 command posts and communication centers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 19 S-300 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, 39 radar stations. Six combat aircraft, one helicopter, five unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down," Konashenkov said.
MOSCOW/KYIV -- Moscow continued to exert hefty pressure on Kyiv by striking more military targets in Ukraine, while the two sides have expressed intention to start direct dialogue.
The Russian armed forces have disabled 211 military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine since the operation began on early Thursday, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Friday night, up from 118 facilities reported in his morning briefing.
During the fighting, a large number of weapons supplied by Western countries to Ukraine over the past few months have been seized, including the Javelin anti-tank missile systems from the United States, Konashenkov said.
The Russian forces have blockaded Kyiv after capturing the Gostomel airfield in a suburb of Kyiv, killing more than 200 members of Ukraine's special units.
Russia has also taken full control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and military units of the two sides there have reached agreement on the protection of the nuclear facilities and the sarcophagus.
Russian President Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting with permanent members of the country's Security Council via video link on Friday, commending the performance of Russian soldiers and officers.
"The Russian army's main armed clashes are taking place not with regular Ukrainian armed forces' units but with nationalist groups," he said.
The president noted that Ukraine's nationalists are deploying heavy weapons, including multiple-rocket launchers, right in the central districts of large cities, including Kyiv and Kharkov.
Putin urged the Ukrainian military to "take power into your own hands."
Russia has no intention of occupying Ukraine and Moscow is ready to hold negotiations straight after the Ukrainian forces "lay down their arms," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a press conference on Friday.
Also on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a televised address that he wants to hold dialogue with Russia.
Putin agreed to send a Russian delegation to the Belarusian capital of Minsk for negotiations with Ukraine at the level of representatives of the Defense Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the presidential administration.
But Kyiv later suggested holding talks in Poland's Warsaw and then stopped responding, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Ukraine and Russia are currently discussing a date and a place of possible negotiations, as the sooner dialogue begins, the more chances there will be to resume normal life, Zelensky's press secretary Serhiy Nikiforov said on Friday night.
UNITED NATIONS－The United Nations announced on Thursday it is immediately allocating $20 million to scale up UN humanitarian operations in Ukraine.
UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said the $20 million from the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund will support emergency operations along the contact line in eastern Donetsk and Luhansk and in other areas of the country, and will "help with healthcare, shelter, food, and water and sanitation to the most vulnerable people affected by the conflict".
David Beasley, executive director of the UN World Food Program, expressed deep concern at the potential impact of the conflict on access to food for civilians in conflict areas.
Missiles pounded the Ukrainian capital as Russian forces pressed their advance into Kyiv on Friday.
China has called for restraint and is encouraging every effort to find political and diplomatic solutions to the Ukraine crisis.
On Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China would continue to promote the political settlement of the crisis.
Noting the door of peaceful settlement of the conflict has not been completely shut, Wang said China hopes all parties stay calm and rational, act on the principles of the UN Charter and solve relevant problems through peaceful negotiations.
The spokesman said what Beijing did constitute a sharp contrast to Washington's behavior of creating a crisis and gaining interests from the crisis, adding that history would draw a fair conclusion in which move was more conducive to European long-term stability and security.
China's embassy in Ukraine has announced the organization of charter flights to evacuate Chinese nationals in Ukraine.
The embassy on Friday launched a process on its website to collect information of those wanting to leave, saying that the registration window would close on Sunday.
"The flight time will be confirmed according to the safety situation of the flights, and will be notified in advance," the embassy said in a statement.
French President Emmanuel Macron said after a summit of EU leaders on Friday that it was useful to keep alive the chance of dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Macron said that "while condemning, while sanctioning" it remained useful "to leave this path open so that the day when the conditions can be fulfilled, we can obtain a cessation of hostilities".
Zhao Jia in Beijing contributed to this story.
Agencies Via Xinhua
KYIV -- Xinhua reporter Lu Jinbo from Belarus drove all night long and arrived in Kyiv on Friday. Follow his camera and have a glimpse of the current situation in Kyiv, capital of Ukraine.
The United Nations Security Council on Friday failed to adopt a draft resolution on Ukraine. The draft resolution, proposed by the United States and Albania, was vetoed by Russia, a permanent member of the UNSC. Any negative vote from the council's five permanent members means a failed resolution.
China, India and United Arab Emirates abstained in the voting. Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN, reiterated China's position on the Ukraine crisis, and cautioned that any action by the Security Council should be truly conducive to defusing the Ukraine crisis.
"China always forms its own position according to the merits of the matter at hand. We believe that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states should be respected, and that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be jointly upheld," he said after the voting.
Zhang said China has always called on all parties to seek reasonable solutions to address each other's concerns through peaceful means on the basis of equality and mutual respect. "We welcome and encourage all efforts for a diplomatic solution, and support the Russian Federation and Ukraine in resolving the issue through negotiations," the envoy said.
Zhang said the very complex and sensitive situation calls for the Security Council to make a necessary response. "At the same time, such a response should also be made with extreme caution. Any action should be truly conducive to defusing the crisis, rather than adding fuel to fire," he said.
"If not properly handled, or blindly exerting pressure and imposing sanctions, it may only lead to more casualties, more property loss, more complicated and chaotic situations, and more difficulties in bridging differences," Zhang said.
"It may completely shut the door to a peaceful solution, and eventually it is the vast number of innocent people that will be the victims," Zhang said. He stressed that the world must draw profound lessons from the extremely painful experience in the past. "For this reason, China abstained in the voting just now," he said.
Zhang stressed that the issue of Ukraine is not something that only emerged today; nor did the current situation occur suddenly overnight. "It is a result of the interplay of various factors over a long period of time," he said.
"The legitimate security concerns of all countries should be respected," he said. Against the backdrop of five successive rounds of NATO's eastward expansion, Russia's legitimate security aspirations should be given attention to and properly addressed, Zhang continued.
Zhang said that Ukraine should "become a bridge between the East and the West, not an outpost for confrontation between major powers."
"We strongly call on all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint, ease tensions, and avoid civilian casualties," he said.
"The final settlement of the Ukraine crisis still requires abandoning the Cold War mentality, giving full attention and respect to the legitimate security concerns of all countries, and conducting negotiations to build a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism," the ambassador said.
"We call on all parties to immediately come back to the track of diplomatic negotiations and political settlement, show sincerity and goodwill, make a political decision and engage in dialogue and consultation for a comprehensive settlement of the Ukraine issue," Zhang said.
KYIV - Ukraine shot down a Russian transport plane IL-76 near Vasylkiv town in Kyiv region, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in a statement on Facebook.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said on Friday that Russian advance forces have entered the northern suburb of Kyiv and residents are remaining indoors.
The Ukrainian military later claimed it had wiped out all Russian ground forces in Kyiv after exchanging fire. The Russian military hasn't released any information on that encounter.
Media reported gunshots were heard in the areas near the government building.
The Kremlin said on Friday that President Vladimir Putin is ready to send a delegation to Belarus' capital Minsk for talks with Ukraine. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian leader was "ready" to send a high-level delegation to Minsk "for talks with a Ukrainian delegation". Minsk was the host city of previous peace talks and agreements.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said in a text statement to media that Ukraine wants peace and is ready for talks with Russia, including on Ukrainian neutral status regarding NATO.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later said he was ready to have talks on the issue.
Asked about Zelensky's offer, Peskov described it on Friday as "a move in a positive direction", but he added that he could not say anything about possible talks between the two countries' leaders.
Peskov said he could not comment on whether talks would take place between Putin and Zelensky.
Saying that Moscow would analyze Zelensky's offer, Peskov added that Moscow's expectations of Kyiv remained unchanged. Moscow has long demanded guarantees that Ukraine would never join NATO or allow the bloc to deploy troops and weapons on its territory.
On Friday, a Ukrainian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jet was shot down over the capital. Photos from emergency services showed a two-story home on fire after fragments of an aircraft fell on it, although it was unclear whether they were from the Su-27 jet.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said the country's airborne assault troops blew up a bridge over the Teteriv River at Ivankiv, about 50 kilometers north of Kyiv, in an effort to prevent a column of Russian forces from advancing toward the capital.
Russia's military said it has destroyed 118 Ukrainian military targets on the first day of its "special military operation" in Ukraine.
The Kremlin said on Friday that Russia will retaliate against new sanctions, as the West hit Moscow with a wave of economic penalties in answer to its military actions in Ukraine.
"It goes without saying that retaliatory measures will follow," Kremlin spokesman Peskov told reporters.
"Just how symmetrical or asymmetrical they will be depends on the analysis; the restrictions have yet to be analyzed," he added.
Russia was hit with painful new sanctions on Thursday that target its two largest banks. Their assets have been frozen and the banks will be cut off from US dollar transactions. Further, state energy giant Gazprom and other major companies will not be able to get financing in Western markets.
In addition, the Western allies imposed export controls on high-tech items aimed at crippling the Russia's defense and aerospace sector, and Washington targeted another group of Russian oligarchs.
Agencies via Xinhua contributed to this story.
Chinese leader says security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously
President Xi Jinping said on Friday that China supports Russia and Ukraine in resolving their tensions through negotiations, reiterating Beijing's consistent position in respecting countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity and upholding the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.
Xi made the remarks in a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin following the escalation of the Ukrainian issue on Thursday. Both leaders exchanged their views about the current Ukraine situation.
Xi said China decides its position based on the merits of the Ukrainian issue. It maintains that Cold War mentality should be completely abandoned, reasonable security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously and respected, and a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism should be formed through dialogue and negotiation, he added.
Xi's remarks came after Putin briefed him on the historical evolution of the Ukrainian issue as well as the development of Russia's special military operation in the eastern region of Ukraine and Russia's position.
Putin said that the United States and NATO had been neglecting Russia's legitimate concerns about security issues, broke their commitments and continued to expand eastward with military deployments. Such moves have challenged Russia's strategic bottom line, he added.
The Russian president said his country is willing to develop high-level negotiations with Ukraine.
Xi said that the drastic changes in the situation of the eastern region of Ukraine have drawn a high level of attention from the international community.
China stands ready to work with the international community to promote a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at the core and the international order underpinned by international law, he said.
Xi also expressed to Putin his appreciation that the Russian leader attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, and he congratulated the Russian athletes on their outstanding performance in the Games by ranking second in the Games medal tally.
Putin expressed his warm congratulations to the Chinese people on Beijing's complete success in hosting the Games as well as the excellent performance of the Chinese sports delegation in the Games.
BEIJING - Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday elaborated on China's basic position on the Ukraine issue.
Wang also had an in-depth exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine during his phone talks with British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell as well as Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic counselor to French President Emmanuel Macron, respectively.
On China's basic position on the Ukraine issue, Wang stressed the following five points.
Firstly, China firmly stands for respecting and safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and earnestly abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China's position is consistent and clear, and it also applies to the Ukraine issue.
Secondly, China advocates the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, he said.
China believes that a country's security cannot come at the expense of harming others' security, and regional security cannot be guaranteed by reinforcing and even expanding military blocs. And all countries' reasonable security concerns should be respected.
Following the five consecutive rounds of eastward expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Russia's legitimate demands on security should be taken seriously and solved in a proper way, Wang added.
Thirdly, China has been following the evolution of the Ukraine issue, and the present situation is something China does not want to see.
It is absolutely imperative that all parties exercise necessary restraint in order to prevent the situation in Ukraine from deteriorating or even getting out of control. The safety of ordinary people's lives and properties should be effectively safeguarded, and in particular, large-scale humanitarian crises have to be prevented.
Fourthly, the Chinese side supports and encourages all diplomatic efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. And China welcomes direct talks and negotiations between Russia and Ukraine as soon as possible.
The Ukraine issue has evolved in a complex historical context. Ukraine should be a bridge of communication between the East and the West, instead of the frontline of confrontations between major countries.
China also supports Europe and Russia in their efforts to hold dialogue on an equal footing over the European security issue, and eventually form a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism.
Fifthly, China believes that the UN Security Council should play a constructive role in resolving the Ukraine issue and that regional peace and stability as well as the security of all countries should be put first.
Actions taken by the Security Council should reduce the tension rather than add fuel to the flames, and should help advance the settlement of the issue through diplomatic means rather than further escalating the situation.
China is always opposed to wilfully citing the Chapter VII in Security Council resolutions to authorize the use of force and sanctions.
Wang said that China, as a permanent member of the Security Council as well as a responsible major country, China has always been faithfully fulfilling its international obligations and playing a constructive role in safeguarding world peace and stability.
When it comes to the peace and security issue, China is a major country with the best record, Wang said, adding that China has never invaded other countries, launched proxy wars, sought spheres of influence or engaged in any military bloc confrontation.
China adheres to the path of peace and development, and is committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind, Wang said.
China will continue to firmly reject all hegemonies and strong powers, and firmly safeguard the legitimate and legal rights and interests of developing countries, especially small and medium-sized countries, he added.
MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to send a Russian delegation to Minsk for negotiations with Ukraine at the level of representatives of the Defense Ministry, the foreign ministry and the presidential administration, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday.
MOSCOW -- Russian airborne forces successfully conducted a landing operation at the Gostomel airfield outside Kyiv, blocking the Ukrainian capital city from the west, the Russian Defense Ministry said Frday.
