Latest on Putin

President Biden for the first time said Moscow was committing genocide against the Ukrainian people, but it was unclear whether his statement would lead to ...

The attack was scheduled to begin on the evening of April 8 as civilians returned home from work, Ukrainian officials said, and could have made it impossible for them to go about their daily lives or gain access to information about the war. “Trying to cut the power is definitely something very significant,” said Jean-Ian Boutin, the director of threat research at the cybersecurity firm ESET, which helped Ukraine analyze the malware. It used a complex chain of malware, including some custom-built to control utility systems, suggesting that Russia had planned the attack over several weeks and intended to maximize the damage by sabotaging computer systems that would be needed to restore the electrical grid. “These are tough choices and I don’t think it’s anything they relish,” said Tiernan Sittenfeld, the senior vice president for government affairs at the League of Conservation Voters, a nonprofit group. Corn state lawmakers and industry leaders have been urging Mr. Biden to fill the gap created by the United States ban on Russian oil exports with biofuels. Yet that policy was stopped by the courts and Mr. Biden last year auctioned off more than 80 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico — the largest lease sale in history. But in reality, Mr. Biden has had limited success putting his climate agenda in place — in large part because of opposition from Republicans and the energy industry. It was a marked escalation from statements earlier this month, when he said Russian atrocities in the suburbs near the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, amounted to war crimes, but did not rise to the level of genocide. Mr. Biden has walked a careful tightrope in the weeks since U.S. sanctions on Russian oil and gas sent energy prices soaring. Potential evidence from that and investigations involving several other countries will be channeled to the International Criminal Court, which is looking into possible war crimes in the conflict. On Tuesday, they said they had exhumed 49 bodies from one communal grave, many of which cemetery workers had collected from homes and streets during the occupation, often at great risk. Satellite images released on Wednesday offered new evidence that Russia is building up troops and military equipment for what analysts say could be a decisive battle in the region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his closest ally, President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, unveiled a new theory on Tuesday about who was behind the ...

More evidence is coming out literally of the horrible things that the Russians have done in Ukraine," he said. "The evidence is mounting. Almost overnight, an international consortium to document alleged war crimes came together and more than a dozen countries are assisting in the process. Putin said that Lukashenko had given him "papers" on the murders in Bucha that he gave to the FSB. Lukashenko said he and Putin discussed in detail "the psychological special operation in Bucha carried out by the British." Russian President Vladimir Putin and his closest ally, President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, unveiled a new theory on Tuesday about who was to blame for the murders, rapes and torture of hundreds of civilians in Bucha, Ukraine while the town was occupied by Russian troops.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet his ally, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, for talks Tuesday about Ukraine and ways to “counter” ...

The weapons: Ukraine is making use of weapons such as Javelin antitank missiles and Switchblade “kamikaze” drones, provided by the United States and other allies. The eight-mile convoy is believed to include a command element, a support battalion, helicopter support and other forces, a senior U.S. defense official said Monday, speaking on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the Pentagon. According to Reuters, about 30,000 Ukrainian refugees had arrived in France as of March 27. According to its official website, the chateau — which was built in 1453 — has a chapel, stables, private apartments and a guard room. However, hundreds of pro-democracy activists from Belarus have also joined the fight in Ukraine against Russia — inspired by Ukraine’s battlefield successes and determined to carry that momentum back into Belarus to end Lukashenko’s 28-year rule. Putin presented state awards to pilot-cosmonauts and met with workers. Information on her condition has been scant, in part because Griner’s representatives and officials are trying not to escalate the situation. “This is an unimaginable situation for BG to be in,” Engelbert said. Town by town, investigators have been building war crimes cases, documenting evidence they hope to use in prosecutions against Russia’s military and leaders. Britain and Australia — which called the allegation “deeply concerning” — said they were working with partners to verify the details. Putin said Russia “didn’t have a choice” in its decision to invade Ukraine, and he defended its actions as “the right decision,” Reuters reported. Putin flew to Russia’s far-east Amur region for the talks — as his military sends reinforcements and supplies to troops positioned in eastern Ukraine.

Fighting in eastern Ukraine is expected to intensify as Russian forces look poised to mount a major offensive that threatens to overwhelm Mariupol.

Russia has denied responsibility for the attack and has consistently denied targeting civilians in its assault on Ukraine. Children and families are under attack in the country, he said. Speaking with The Associated Press, Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko said that bodies are now "carpeted through the streets" of the besieged city. Ukrainian officials have accused Russian forces of blocking attempted humanitarian convoys and hampering efforts to evacuate residents. An evacuation route will be opened from the besieged port city of Mariupol to Zaporizhzhia, but only for those using private transport. The deputy defense minister said "official information" would be provided later. Ukrainian forces have held out for weeks in the besieged port city, but fears are growing for the civilians trapped without basic supplies as Russian troops appear poised to mount a major new offensive. Putin toured the Vostochny Cosmodrome, a space port in Russia's far east, with Lukashenko during the visit. Many are women and children. "Over the last weeks we have suspended deliveries, stopped new business and are moving our limited R&D activities out of Russia," it said, referring to research and development. Heappey did not elaborate on what the potential options were. NBC News could not verify that claim.

U.K. intelligence suggests that Russian forces are preparing for what is expected to be a large and more focused push into the east of Ukraine.

The European Parliament on Thursday called for an immediate and total embargo of Russian oil, coal, nuclear fuel and gas. Those attempted advances threaten Ukraine's entire southern coastline and its outlet to the sea. Russia's unprovoked onslaught in Ukraine has resulted in a devastating humanitarian crisis and triggered an outpouring of global condemnation over mounting evidence of war crimes. Japan's involvement has fallen under scrutiny since Russia invaded Ukraine and Western oil companies exited Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed there is no doubt that Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which he has described as a "special military operation," will achieve its objectives. Moscow illegally annexed Crimea in 2014. U.S. officials have been warning for several days that the Russian army will continue to commit what they call "atrocities" as it doubles down on attacks in the eastern regions of Ukraine. "Reports that Russian forces may have used chemical agents in an attack on the people of Mariupol. We are working urgently with partners to verify details," Truss tweeted. The line of control in the Donbas is likely to "move west, not east" as Russia regroups and concentrates its forces, he predicted. "There's no doubt that the goals and objectives in operation in Ukraine will be fulfilled," Putin said, according to a translation. U.K. intelligence suggests that Russian forces are preparing for what is expected to be a large and more focused push on expanding control in the east of Ukraine. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also warned that Russia has deployed tens of thousands of troops to "prepare new attacks." Meanwhile, the U.K.'s foreign secretary said late Monday that her government was working "urgently" to verify details of an alleged chemical weapons attack in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

The presidents of Poland and the three Baltic states are heading to Kyiv in a show of support that follows the visits of other leaders to the Ukrainian ...

President dismisses killing of civilians in Bucha by Russian forces as 'fake'

His recent low profile has marked a stark change for a leader who was ubiquitous on Russian television in the early days of the war. They began to grow sprouts of nationalism and neo-nazism … And a clash with these forces was inevitable for Russia,” Putin said. “They were just picking a time for an attack … It was inevitable, it was only a matter of time.” He added that the invasion, which has so far cost tens of thousands of lives and driven more than 10 million Ukrainians from their homes, was “the right thing to do”. Putin also said sanctions imposed on his country would not have their desired effect, drawing an analogy between Russia’s situation today and that of the Soviet Union in 1961, when Gagarin became the first man in space. That this war was forced upon Russia. While goals and objectives might shift throughout this war, Putin simply can’t abandon this type of existential rhetoric,” he said. Western countries are working with Ukraine in a joint investigation to gather evidence of possible Russian war crimes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised that Moscow will triumph in its “noble” war aims. The mayor of Mariupol says about 21,000 civilians have been ...

Last year, authorities opened a treason case against Medvedchuk, who says Putin is the godfather to his daughter, and who denies wrongdoing. Russia’s appointment of Army General Alexander Dvornikov as commander of the war in Ukraine represents an attempt to centralise command and control. And it will only look like a humiliation for the democratic world.” The minister also added Russia is ready to supply oil to “friendly countries at any cost”. We are grateful for US assistance provided so far and we urgently need more heavy weapons to prevent further Russian atrocities. But he added that given “Russian propagandists” repeated threats to use chemical weapons in Mariupol and the Russian army’s repeated use of phosphorus munitions in Ukraine, “the world must respond now. The United States is “not in a position to confirm” recent reports of chemical weapons use in Ukraine but is working to determine what happened, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said. but our task is to ensure the functioning of the oil industry,” Shulginov said in an interview with the Izvestia newspaper. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has said it is concerned by the recent unconfirmed report of chemical weapons use in Mariupol. Biden has stood by his characterisation of Russia’s actions in Ukraine as “genocide”, saying Putin “is trying to wipe out the idea of being able to be Ukrainian”. But there were no casualties, Alexander Kamyshin wrote on his Telegram channel. EU diplomats say Germany is not actively supporting an immediate embargo on Russian oil.

In first recent remarks on the conflict, Russia's president says troops will act 'calmly' to 'fulfil goals' in Ukraine.

Ukraine has said it is fighting for its survival after Putin annexed Crimea in 2014 and on February 21 recognised two of its rebel regions as sovereign. On Monday, he met the visiting chancellor of Austria at a country residence outside Moscow but no images of that meeting were released. “Yesterday evening, the Ukrainian side changed something again. “Our task is to fulfil and achieve all the goals set, minimising losses. “The sanctions were total, the isolation was complete but the Soviet Union was still first in space,” said Putin, 69, recalling his own wonderment as a schoolboy learning of the achievement. Addressing the war in public for the first time since Russian forces retreated from northern Ukraine after they were halted at the gates of Kyiv, Putin said the situation in Ukraine was a tragedy.

New satellite images showed Russian troops massing in Ukraine's east this week as British and European officials warned Moscow was mounting a fresh attack ...

President Putin cannot control the power of the wind or the sun," Kerry said in his opening speech at a climate conference in Palau on Wednesday. "We need an oil embargo and a concrete readiness from Europe to reject all of the energy sources from Russia," Zelenskyy said in his daily video message. and dropped a small amount of this substance, which struck our boys,” the mayor said. Over the past 24 hours, the occupying forces have struck approximately 53 artillery and MLRS strikes,” he said in a Telegram post, referring to multiple launch rocket system missiles. “We will also increase the supply of energy resources to other regions of the world where they are really needed," he added. The Nordic country shares a 832-mile border with Russia and has been a NATO partner since 1994. "This myth was finally destroyed when the first Russian missiles flew to Ukrainian cities in February." "I am grateful to all our defenders, men and women, who hold their positions and accustom Russian soldiers to the idea that this war against Ukraine can only end in Russia's strategic loss — sooner or later," Zelenskyy said. The U.S. ambassador to the organization said it includes evidence of the direct targeting of civilians, rape, executions and attacks on hospitals. The presidents of the four NATO countries on Russia’s doorstep saw heavily damaged buildings and demanded accountability for what they said were war crimes carried out by Russian forces. Zelenskyy said in a video address that he was grateful for the support. Guterres said oil prices have increased by more than 60 percent over the past year, natural gas prices have jumped 50 percent in recent months, and fertilizer prices have doubled.