Latest news about Russia and the war in Ukraine

European leaders have called for a wave of tougher economic sanctions against Russia amid the devastation of the Ukrainian city of Bucha.

German Defense Minister Christian Lindner said the European Union should discuss a ban on the import of Russian gas shipments.

This appears to represent a major policy shift for Europe’s largest economy, and comes as pressure intensifies on policymakers to isolate the Kremlin further on the world stage.

Berlin has so far resisted calls for a ban on Russian energy exports, citing the region’s dependence on Russian gas. Russia supplies about 40% of Europe’s gas supplies.

Separately, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio told the country’s Rai 3 channel that events in Boca would lead to a new wave of sanctions, Reuters reported, before adding that there could soon be a debate on whether to ban the import of fossil fuels. Russian.

– Sam Meredith

The Georgian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the killings in Ukraine’s Bucha, saying they were “devastated by scenes of brutal atrocities”.

“All those involved in these war crimes must bear responsibility,” the ministry said on Twitter.

Separately, President Salome Zurabishvili said the “massacre” in Bosha was a “crime against humanity”.

Russia recognized the independence of the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia after fighting a war with Georgia in 2008.

The country, which borders Russia and lies at the intersection of Europe and Asia, has repeatedly expressed support for the people of Ukraine but refused to join economic sanctions aimed at isolating the Kremlin.

– Sam Meredith

Russia’s deputy representative to the United Nations Security Council requested an emergency meeting on Monday, citing “the provocations of Ukrainian radicals in Bucha.”

This comes in the wake of the devastation in Bucha, a town on the outskirts of Kyiv that was liberated by Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine has accused Russia of perpetrating the massacre of civilians in Bucha, with international leaders condemning the video footage and photos of the bodies and calling for an independent investigation.

Russia has denied allegations that its forces killed civilians in Bucha.

“In light of the provocations of Ukrainian radicals in Bucha, Russia requested a meeting of the United Nations Security Council in the second half of Monday, April 4,” Dmitry Polyansky was quoted as saying by the official TASS news agency. “We will unmask the Ukrainian agitators and their Western sponsors.”

Polyansky did not explain how provocative the Ukrainians were in Bucha, the city invaded by Russian forces as part of their failed attempt towards Kyiv.

– Sam Meredith

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshuk said humanitarian corridors have been established in Mangosh, Mariupol and Luhansk.

Vereshuk said a corridor was set up on Monday to transport people from the besieged city of Mariupol to Zaporizhia.

Meanwhile, the Red Cross plans to continue its movement from Mangosh to Mariupol, with seven buses on the way, Vereshuk said, while evacuations continue in the Luhansk region.

– Sam Meredith

Ukraine accused Russian forces of committing a “massacre” in the town of Bucha, while Western leaders responded to photos of bodies in the Kyiv suburbs and called for an independent investigation.

Russia has denied the allegations, describing video footage and photographs of the bodies as “another provocation” by the Ukrainian government.

German Chancellor Olaf Schulz described the Bucha killings as “appalling and appalling”, while German Foreign Minister Annallina Barbock called the images “unbearable”.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “deeply shocked” by the images of the civilian deaths in Bucha, and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said it was akin to a “punch in the gut”.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the reported atrocities as “reprehensible” and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters he strongly condemned the attacks.

– Sam Meredith

Russian forces continue to refocus their offensive in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine, according to the British Ministry of Defense.

“Russian forces, including mercenaries from the state-owned Wagner PMC, are being transferred to the region,” the ministry said via Twitter.

– Sam Meredith