Ukraine urges NATO to help, US sanctions 300 Russian officials

According to the Guardian newspaper, speaking via video online at an emergency meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) today (March 24), President Zelensky called on the alliance to support 1% of the total the number of aircraft, tanks, anti-ship weapons and other military equipment of the countries in the bloc for Ukraine.

“To save our people and our cities, Ukraine needs unlimited military support,” Zelensky said. “This is the same as Russia using its entire arsenal of weapons without restriction on us.”

“When all the above requirements are fulfilled, it will give us and you 1% more safety,” the Ukrainian president added, before warning Moscow would target other countries. member of NATO in Eastern Europe in the near future.

President Zelensky speaks at an emergency NATO meeting on March 24. Photo: Anadolu

Also in the speech, Zelensky accused the Russians of using phosphorus munitions in Ukraine, a weapon banned under the third protocol of the United Nations Convention on the Prohibition or Limitation of the Use of Incendiary Weapons. .

“By the way, this morning (March 24), a phosphorus bomb was used. It was a Russian phosphorus bomb. Many adults and children were killed,” the 44-year-old leader revealed. . “NATO can once again prevent the deaths of Ukrainians from these attacks, by providing us with all the weapons we need.”

NATO agrees to strengthen the defense of the eastern flank

In a joint statement after the meeting in Brussels (Belgium), the leaders of NATO countries agreed to activate joint defense plans, including deploying components of the Response Force and deploying about 40,000 troops. with air and naval assets on the eastern flank.

The moves remain “precautionary, proportionate and non-escalating” in preparation for “a more dangerous strategic reality,” the statement said. Thereby, NATO will significantly strengthen its long-term deterrence and defense posture, and further develop the full range of forces and readiness when necessary, to maintain deterrence. and defense.

In addition, the alliance will also strengthen readiness to respond to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, the statement said.

NATO Secretary General urges China not to support Russia

Leaders of NATO countries at a meeting in Brussels on March 24. Photo: AP

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said alliance leaders had called on China to exercise restraint and not support Russia’s military efforts.

“China must not provide economic or military assistance to Russian campaign. Instead, Beijing should use its considerable influence over Russia and push for an immediate peaceful resolution,” Stoltenberg said.

The NATO secretary general also praised the Ukrainian people for their “courage and determination” in their “struggle for freedom and for their future”. He said the leaders of NATO countries had agreed to support Ukraine by retrofitting a significant amount of military supplies, including anti-tank and anti-aircraft systems, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles. However, NATO Secretary General also reiterated the statement that the alliance will not deploy ground troops to Ukraine.

Earlier, NATO member countries at the meeting agreed to extend the term of leader of the alliance Jens Stoltenberg by one year, until September 30, 2023. Mr. Stoltenberg, 63, was expected to step down as NATO secretary general at the end of September this year and will assume the role of governor of Norway’s central bank in December of the same year.

US sanctions more than 300 Russian officials

In a statement on March 24, the US Treasury Department announced new sanctions against dozens of defense companies, 328 members of the State Duma (or House of Representatives) of Russia, and executives of the Russian Federation. Sberbank – the country’s largest financial institution.

The statement also said that sanctions against companies that manufacture weapons that have been used in military operations will have “profound and lasting effects on the defense industry base and supply chains”. of Russia.

On the same day, in a statement after the summit of NATO leaders, US President Joe Biden Washington will continue to support President Zelensky and the Ukrainian government with “significant and growing amounts of security assistance to deal with Russian forces and maintain their right to self-defence,” said the statement.

In a related move, the British Government said on the same day that it had imposed new sanctions on 65 other Russian individuals and entities, including “banks, defense companies and oligarchs”. “.

Ukraine accuses Russia of “illegally” taking people out of Mariupol

Authorities in the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol accuse the Russian military of illegally bringing 15,000 civilians into Russia, after seizing parts of the city.

“Residents of Mariupol’s left waterfront are beginning to be deported to Russia. In total, about 15,000 Mariupol residents have been illegally deported,” the Mariupol city council said in a statement, adding that there was evidence that Russian forces seized passports and documents other identification of Ukrainians upon their deportation.

Kiev and Moscow have repeatedly blamed the failure to agree on agreements to evacuate civilians from Mariupol.

Ukraine denies that Russia occupies a strategic eastern city

In an interview with CNN, Lyudmyla Dolhonovska, an adviser to the Commander-in-Chief of the Army Ukrainedenied reports that Russian troops had taken control of the city of Izyum in the country’s eastern Kharkiv province, and insisted fighting inside the city was “still going on”.

A destroyed building in Izyum (Ukraine) on March 8. Photo: Reuters

Earlier, the RIA-Novosti news agency, citing the Russian Defense Ministry, reported that the country’s military had taken control of Izyum. The city has been cut off from almost all communications since intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces broke out here last week.

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