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Russia Ukraine war has now lasted for 34 days with a peace agreement still not in sight. Joe Biden called Vladimir Putin ‘butcher’ which Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called ‘alarming’. Russia has also clarified that it would not use nuclear weapons unless there is a threat to the ‘existence of state’ and noted that there is ‘not a reason’ to use them in Ukraine.
Image: AP
03:36 IST, March 30th 2022
India reiterated its plea for unrestricted humanitarian access in Ukraine
India reiterated its plea for unrestricted humanitarian access to regions of armed conflict in Ukraine on Tuesday. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN TS Tirumurti stated that India is genuinely concerned about the current situation, which has worsened since the start of the hostilities. He further said that they renew their plea for unrestricted humanitarian access to Ukraine’s combat zones. Tirumurti also stated that the humanitarian needs of the impacted population in Ukraine must be addressed immediately.
(ANI)
02:57 IST, March 30th 2022
Zelenskyy says Ukraine’s defensive efforts are not being reduced
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that they may say the signals they are getting from the discussions are positive, they do not drown out the explosions of Russian shells. He further said that the Russian army still has a lot of capability to strike their country and as a result, Ukraine’s defensive efforts are not being reduced.
While Zelenskiy expressed confidence about the talks in Turkey, he cautioned that any peace agreement must not jeopardise Ukrainian sovereignty.
01:43 IST, March 30th 2022
Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) might consider joining Russia
Denis Pushilin, who is the Head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) has indicated Donetsk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine, backed by Russia, may consider joining Russia once it has complete control of Ukraine’s Donetsk area, according to its news source.
01:04 IST, March 30th 2022
Russia claims Ukrainian nationalists guilty of torturing Russian soldiers are captured
Russian legislator and Chairman of the State Duma’s Defence Committee, Vladimir Shamanov stated that the Russian Special Forces were able to apprehend Ukrainian nationalists guilty of torturing Russian soldiers, according to Russian media. Shamanov further stated that the joy of those who tortured our personnel did not last long, and three days after the torture video was released, the special forces apprehended these thugs.
00:03 IST, March 30th 2022
More than 100 Russian officials were expelled from European countries in March
In March, a total of more than 100 Russian officials were expelled from European countries. It comes as, the expulsion of Russian embassy workers was announced on Tuesday by Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland, and the Czech Republic. They claimed that the Russians were carrying out espionage under the guise of diplomacy.
23:27 IST, March 29th 2022
Evacuation from Mariupol is still impossible, says Elysee Palace
French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin has a conversation today on various topics regarding the Ukraine crisis and the topic of evacuation from Mariupol was also raised. Elysee Palace stated that the conditions for the start of a humanitarian operation in the coming days to offer help to residents of the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol to evacuate have not been formed.
22:54 IST, March 29th 2022
Zelenskyy asks the Danish parliament for stronger sanctions against Russia
In a video message to the Danish parliament, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged stronger sanctions against Russia. The Ukrainian President stated that Russia’s sanctions must be reinforced constantly and they must abandon Russian oil, stifle trade with the Russian Federation and stop Russian ships from entering the ports. He further stated that this must be a European Union-wide solidarity policy involving all member states.
22:24 IST, March 29th 2022
UK PM Boris Johnson says ceasefire would not be enough to lift sanctions against Russia
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a gathering of his top ministers on Tuesday that a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine would not be enough to prompt the relaxation of British sanctions. Johnson stated that the prime minister indicated that a ceasefire alone would not be enough to lift UK sanctions against Russia.
22:11 IST, March 29th 2022
Poland bans coal imports from Russia without EU decision
The Polish government has implemented restrictions prohibiting coal imports from Russia without waiting for the EU decision. Government spokesperson Peter Mueller said that they can no longer wait for the European Union to make a decision. The government enacted a bill on exceptional decisions to oppose Russian aggression in Ukraine on Tuesday.
Mueller further stated that they went above and beyond the provisions outlined in this bill, introducing national-level provisions prohibiting the import of coal from Russia and that it will be written into the law directly.
21:57 IST, March 29th 2022
Ukrainian troops destroy Russian Kamaz Typhoon armored vehicle
Ukrainian troops destroy Russian Kamaz Typhoon armored vehicle. Kamaz Typhoon mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles are among the Russian military’s best weapons.
General Staff: Ukrainian troops destroy Russian Kamaz Typhoon armored vehicle.
Kamaz Typhoon mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles are among the Russian military’s best weapons.
Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine/Facebook pic.twitter.com/xmBM9Ex5jL
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 29, 2022
21:37 IST, March 29th 2022
Britain arrests Russian yacht Phi worth about 50 million dollars
Britain arrested the Russian yacht Phi worth about 50 million dollars The yacht belongs to an unnamed Russian businessman. Transport Minister Grant Shapps stated that the man is not under sanctions, but has “close ties” with Putin.
#Britain arrested the #Russian yacht Phi worth about 50 million dollars
The yacht belongs to an unnamed Russian businessman. Transport Minister Grant Shapps stated that the man is not under sanctions, but has “close ties” with Putin. pic.twitter.com/ZPXL7BICkz
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 29, 2022
21:36 IST, March 29th 2022
Medinskiy: de-escalation in Kyiv and Chernihiv directions does not mean a cease-fire
Medinskiy: de-escalation in the Kyiv and Chernihiv directions does not mean a cease-fire.
21:28 IST, March 29th 2022
Blinken: No signs that Russia is serious about peace talks with Ukraine
Blinken: No signs that Russia is serious about peace talks with Ukraine
⚡️Blinken: No signs that Russia is serious about peace talks with Ukraine.
“There is what Russia says, and there is what Russia does. We’re focused on the latter,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a press conference, as quoted by CNN.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 29, 2022
21:23 IST, March 29th 2022
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan
Had a phone conversation with 🇵🇰 Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI. Spoke about our struggle against Russian aggression. The people of 🇺🇦 seek peace. This is our unconditional priority.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 29, 2022
21:13 IST, March 29th 2022
With war next door, EU is warned on cybersecurity gaps
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine accelerates European Union defense cooperation, a watchdog said Tuesday that EU institutions face vulnerabilities on another front: cybersecurity.
The warning by the European Court of Auditors covers the wide range of EU bodies — from the executive arm based in Brussels to specialist agencies located across Europe — that run the 27-nation bloc’s day-to-day business.
“The EU must step up its efforts to protect its own organizations,” Bettina Jakobsen, a member of the ECA, said in a statement accompanying a special report on cyberthreats. “Such attacks can have significant political implications.”
Cyberattacks against EU bodies are increasing “sharply,” with major incidents jumping more than tenfold between 2018 and 2021, according to the Luxembourg-based ECA.
Cybersecurity has jumped up the political agenda in Europe following attacks in recent years that targeted EU nations such as Germany and other industrialized countries including the United States, Britain and Australia.
In 2020, the EU imposed cyber sanctions for the first time, blacklisting a number of Russian, Chinese and North Korean hackers.
Nonetheless, the European auditors said Tuesday that EU organizations were failing to enact some “essential” cybersecurity controls and underspending in this area. The auditors also alleged a lack of “systematic” cybersecurity training and information sharing.
EU entities as a whole handle political, diplomatic, financial, economic and regulatory matters. The spectrum of activities underpins the bloc’s status as a geopolitical force, a global setter of industrial rules and the world’s most lucrative single market.
The sensitive information processed by EU bodies makes them attractive targets for hackers, according to the report, which said the risks have grown as a result of remote working prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This has considerably increased the number of potential access points for attackers,” the ECA said.
It said a “particularly concerning trend is the dramatic increase in significant incidents,” which are described as attacks that involve the use of new methods and technologies and that can take weeks or even months to investigate and resolve.
One example cited is a high-profile cyberattack on the European Medicines Agency in late 2020, when the EU was pushing to authorize the first COVID-19 vaccines.
“Sensitive data was leaked and manipulated in a way designed to undermine trust in vaccines,” the ECA said.
Because the EU’s organizations are strongly interconnected, a vulnerability anywhere could have a cascading effect, it said.
“A weakness in one can expose others to security threats,” said the ECA.
It recommended the EU draw up legislation that would set common binding rules on cybersecurity for all the bloc’s institutions.
The auditors also urged more resources to support the Computer Emergency Response Team of EU bodies, or CERT-EU, saying “its effectiveness is compromised by an increasing workload, unstable funding and staffing, and insufficient cooperation from some” of the bloc’s organizations.
In sum, according to the ECA, the network of EU institutions “has not achieved a level of cyber-preparedness commensurate with the threats.”
(Source: AP)
21:09 IST, March 29th 2022
Republic’s team in the warzone keeping you ahead from one of the most critical strategic locations in the Ukraine theatre of war
5 weeks into the war, Republic’s team in the warzone keeping you ahead from one of the most critical strategic locations in the Ukraine theatre of war.
21:02 IST, March 29th 2022
IEA Warns Global Energy Shortage Owing To Economic Sanctions On Kremlin
International Energy Agency head Dr. Fatih Birol, on Tuesday, warned that continued sanctions on Russia could lead to a global energy shortage. The statement comes as the Russia-Ukraine war transcends its first month and several countries including the US, the UK, Canada, Germany, and other European countries have imposed stringent economic sanctions on the Vladimir Putin-led country. He further confirmed the requirement to “ensure international energy security.”
Read full story here
20:45 IST, March 29th 2022
Russian forces attack Khmelnytsky’s airfield; no casualties reported
Russia’s military announced Tuesday it will “fundamentally” scale back operations near Ukraine’s capital and a northern city, Russian troops attacked the airfield in Starokonstantinov in the Khmelnytsky region. According to city mayor Nikolai Melnichuk, there were no casualties, but the stocks of fuel were destroyed.
20:40 IST, March 29th 2022
Belgium alleges Russian diplomats involve in espionage activities
Belgium expelled at least 21 Russian diplomats on Tuesday, March 29. As per the Belgium Foreign Ministry, the diplomats expelled were indulged in activities related to espionage or unlawful influence peddling. According to a report by the Associated Press, foreign affairs spokeswoman Elke Pattyn told the news agency that the expelled diplomats were granted two weeks to leave the country.
20:26 IST, March 29th 2022
Russian forces kidnap Hola Prystan mayor: Report
The Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine on Tuesday said that the Russian troops kidnapped the mayor in Kherson Oblast. According to a report by The Kyiv Independent, the mayor of Hola Prystan was kidnapped on March 28. Previously Russian troops had kidnapped other mayors in occupied territories.
19:37 IST, March 29th 2022
Netherlands and Belgium expel Russian diplomats
Amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Netherlands and Belgium acted a large number of Russian diplomats on Tuesday. According to a report by Nexta News, Netherland has expelled 17 Russian diplomats whereas Belgium expelled 21. Earlier today, Russia says it is expelling 10 diplomats from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia in a tit-for-tat move after the Baltic countries.
19:15 IST, March 29th 2022
Turkey sees ‘meaningful progress’ in talks
Turkey’s foreign minister says Russian and Ukrainian negotiators have reached “a consensus and common understanding” on some issues.
Mevlut Cavusoglu said the two sides made “the most meaningful progress” since the start of the negotiations at a meeting in Istanbul on Tuesday. He said the meeting would be followed by a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers.
Cavusoglu said a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders was also “on the agenda,” he said. He didn’t give a timeframe.
18:54 IST, March 29th 2022
Johnson & Johnson announces to stop shipments of its products to Russia
In yet another form of condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Pharmaceutical industry company, Johnson & Johnson has left the Russian market on Tuesday. According to the announcement, it will not ship its personal care products to Russia because of the invasion of Ukraine.
18:46 IST, March 29th 2022
Biden, Johnson and EU leaders will hold meeting on Ukraine war
According to a report by The Telegraph UK, US President Joe Biden, UK PM Boris Johnson and European leaders will discuss the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. According to the White House, the meeting will be held on Tuesday afternoon.
18:34 IST, March 29th 2022
Russia says it will cut back operations near Ukraine’s capital
Russia’s military said on Tuesday it would “fundamentally” cut back operations near Ukraine’s capital and a northern city, potentially a significant concession by Moscow amid talks aimed at ending the war that began more than a month ago.
Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said the move was meant “to increase trust” in talks aimed at ending the fighting, as negotiators met face-to-face after several rounds of failed negotiations. But Russia’s troops have been bogged down and struggling to make major advances recently.
The talks in Istanbul raised flickering hopes there could be progress toward ending a war that has ground into a bloody campaign of attrition.
Fomin said Moscow had decided to “fundamentally … cut back military activity in the direction of Kyiv and Chernihiv” to “increase mutual trust and create conditions for further negotiations.”
AP
18:17 IST, March 29th 2022
As peace talks ends; here’s what Zelenskyy’s advisor says
As the sixth round of peace talks ended on Tuesday after three hours of tough negotiations between the delegates of both countries, Mykhailo Mykhailovych Podolyak, an advisor to the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, briefed all the major developments on Twitter.
According to Podolyak, here are the key points:
- Security guarantees treaty with an enhanced analogue of Article 5 of NATO.
- Guarantor states (USA, UK, Turkey, France, Germany etc.) are legally actively involved in protecting from any aggression.
- Implementation through a referendum and parliaments of the guarantor states.
18:01 IST, March 29th 2022
Russia offered to hold a Putin-Zelensky meeting
As the sixth round of peace talks ended on Tuesday after three hours of a closed-door meeting, Russia offered to hold a Putin-Zelensky meeting simultaneously with initialling peace treaties by foreign ministers.
17:34 IST, March 29th 2022
Russia and Ukraine peace talks constructive, says Medinsky
As the sixth round of peace talks ended on Tuesday, the chief negotiator said that Russia received a ‘clearly articulated position’ from Ukraine in Istanbul.
Here are the major takeaways from today’s peace talks:
- Russian Ministry of Defence has decided to reduce military activity in Kyiv and Chernihiv directions.
- Russia offers to hold a Putin-Zelensky meeting simultaneously with initialling peace treaties by foreign ministers.
17:09 IST, March 29th 2022
6th round of Peace talks concludes
The first face-to-face talks in two weeks between Russia and Ukraine concluded on Tuesday. According to reports, an adviser to the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, Mykhailo Podoliak, is expected to make a statement.
16:55 IST, March 29th 2022
Zelenskyy advisor says talks underway with Russia in Istanbul
An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the talks underway with Russia in Istanbul are focusing on security guarantees for Ukraine and hopes of a cease-fire.
Home World News Russia Ukraine Crisis Russia Ukraine war LIVE: Biden, Johnson and other EU leaders to hold meeting on war issues Last Updated: 30th March, 2022 03:36 IST Russia Ukraine war has now lasted for 34 days with a peace agreement still not in sight. Joe Biden called Vladimir Putin ‘butcher’ which Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called ‘alarming’. Russia has also clarified that it would not use nuclear weapons unless there is a threat to the ‘existence of state’ and noted that there is ‘not a reason’ to use them in Ukraine. Image: AP 03:36 IST, March 30th 2022 India reiterated its plea for unrestricted humanitarian access in Ukraine India reiterated its plea for unrestricted humanitarian access to regions of armed conflict in Ukraine on Tuesday. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN TS Tirumurti stated that India is genuinely concerned about the current situation, which has worsened since the start of the hostilities. He further said that they renew their plea for unrestricted humanitarian access to Ukraine’s combat zones. Tirumurti also stated that the humanitarian needs of the impacted population in Ukraine must be addressed immediately. (ANI) 02:57 IST, March 30th 2022 Zelenskyy says Ukraine’s defensive efforts are not being reduced Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that they may say the signals they are getting from the discussions are positive, they do not drown out the explosions of Russian shells. He further said that the Russian army still has a lot of capability to strike their country and as a result, Ukraine’s defensive efforts are not being reduced. While Zelenskiy expressed confidence about the talks in Turkey, he cautioned that any peace agreement must not jeopardise Ukrainian sovereignty. 01:43 IST, March 30th 2022 Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) might consider joining Russia Denis Pushilin, who is the Head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) has indicated Donetsk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine, backed by Russia, may consider joining Russia once it has complete control of Ukraine’s Donetsk area, according to its news source. 01:04 IST, March 30th 2022 Russia claims Ukrainian nationalists guilty of torturing Russian soldiers are captured Russian legislator and Chairman of the State Duma’s Defence Committee, Vladimir Shamanov stated that the Russian Special Forces were able to apprehend Ukrainian nationalists guilty of torturing Russian soldiers, according to Russian media. Shamanov further stated that the joy of those who tortured our personnel did not last long, and three days after the torture video was released, the special forces apprehended these thugs. 00:03 IST, March 30th 2022 More than 100 Russian officials were expelled from European countries in March In March, a total of more than 100 Russian officials were expelled from European countries. It comes as, the expulsion of Russian embassy workers was announced on Tuesday by Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland, and the Czech Republic. They claimed that the Russians were carrying out espionage under the guise of diplomacy. 23:27 IST, March 29th 2022 Evacuation from Mariupol is still impossible, says Elysee Palace French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin has a conversation today on various topics regarding the Ukraine crisis and the topic of evacuation from Mariupol was also raised. Elysee Palace stated that the conditions for the start of a humanitarian operation in the coming days to offer help to residents of the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol to evacuate have not been formed. 22:54 IST, March 29th 2022 Zelenskyy asks the Danish parliament for stronger sanctions against Russia In a video message to the Danish parliament, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged stronger sanctions against Russia. The Ukrainian President stated that Russia’s sanctions must be reinforced constantly and they must abandon Russian oil, stifle trade with the Russian Federation and stop Russian ships from entering the ports. He further stated that this must be a European Union-wide solidarity policy involving all member states. 22:24 IST, March 29th 2022 UK PM Boris Johnson says ceasefire would not be enough to lift sanctions against Russia UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a gathering of his top ministers on Tuesday that a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine would not be enough to prompt the relaxation of British sanctions. Johnson stated that the prime minister indicated that a ceasefire alone would not be enough to lift UK sanctions against Russia. 22:11 IST, March 29th 2022 Poland bans coal imports from Russia without EU decision The Polish government has implemented restrictions prohibiting coal imports from Russia without waiting for the EU decision. Government spokesperson Peter Mueller said that they can no longer wait for the European Union to make a decision. The government enacted a bill on exceptional decisions to oppose Russian aggression in Ukraine on Tuesday. Mueller further stated that they went above and beyond the provisions outlined in this bill, introducing national-level provisions prohibiting the import of coal from Russia and that it will be written into the law directly. 21:57 IST, March 29th 2022 Ukrainian troops destroy Russian Kamaz Typhoon armored vehicle Ukrainian troops destroy Russian Kamaz Typhoon armored vehicle. Kamaz Typhoon mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles are among the Russian military’s best weapons. General Staff: Ukrainian troops destroy Russian Kamaz Typhoon armored vehicle. Kamaz Typhoon mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles are among the Russian military’s best weapons. Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine/Facebook pic.twitter.com/xmBM9Ex5jL — The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 29, 2022 21:37 IST, March 29th 2022 Britain arrests Russian yacht Phi worth about 50 million dollars Britain arrested the Russian yacht Phi worth about 50 million dollars The yacht belongs to an unnamed Russian businessman. Transport Minister Grant Shapps stated that the man is not under sanctions, but has “close ties” with Putin. #Britain arrested the #Russian yacht Phi worth about 50 million dollars The yacht belongs to an unnamed Russian businessman. Transport Minister Grant Shapps stated that the man is not under sanctions, but has “close ties” with Putin. pic.twitter.com/ZPXL7BICkz — NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 29, 2022 21:36 IST, March 29th 2022 Medinskiy: de-escalation in Kyiv and Chernihiv directions does not mean a cease-fire Medinskiy: de-escalation in the Kyiv and Chernihiv directions does not mean a cease-fire. 21:28 IST, March 29th 2022 Blinken: No signs that Russia is serious about peace talks with Ukraine Blinken: No signs that Russia is serious about peace talks with Ukraine ⚡️Blinken: No signs that Russia is serious about peace talks with Ukraine. “There is what Russia says, and there is what Russia does. We’re focused on the latter,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a press conference, as quoted by CNN. — The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 29, 2022 21:23 IST, March 29th 2022 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Had a phone conversation with 🇵🇰 Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI. Spoke about our struggle against Russian aggression. The people of 🇺🇦 seek peace. This is our unconditional priority. — Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 29, 2022 21:13 IST, March 29th 2022 With war next door, EU is warned on cybersecurity gaps As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine accelerates European Union defense cooperation, a watchdog said Tuesday that EU institutions face vulnerabilities on another front: cybersecurity. The warning by the European Court of Auditors covers the wide range of EU bodies — from the executive arm based in Brussels to specialist agencies located across Europe — that run the 27-nation bloc’s day-to-day business. “The EU must step up its efforts to protect its own organizations,” Bettina Jakobsen, a member of the ECA, said in a statement accompanying a special report on cyberthreats. “Such attacks can have significant political implications.” Cyberattacks against EU bodies are increasing “sharply,” with major incidents jumping more than tenfold between 2018 and 2021, according to the Luxembourg-based ECA. Cybersecurity has jumped up the political agenda in Europe following attacks in recent years that targeted EU nations such as Germany and other industrialized countries including the United States, Britain and Australia. In 2020, the EU imposed cyber sanctions for the first time, blacklisting a number of Russian, Chinese and North Korean hackers. Nonetheless, the European auditors said Tuesday that EU organizations were failing to enact some “essential” cybersecurity controls and underspending in this area. The auditors also alleged a lack of “systematic” cybersecurity training and information sharing. EU entities as a whole handle political, diplomatic, financial, economic and regulatory matters. The spectrum of activities underpins the bloc’s status as a geopolitical force, a global setter of industrial rules and the world’s most lucrative single market. The sensitive information processed by EU bodies makes them attractive targets for hackers, according to the report, which said the risks have grown as a result of remote working prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “This has considerably increased the number of potential access points for attackers,” the ECA said. It said a “particularly concerning trend is the dramatic increase in significant incidents,” which are described as attacks that involve the use of new methods and technologies and that can take weeks or even months to investigate and resolve. One example cited is a high-profile cyberattack on the European Medicines Agency in late 2020, when the EU was pushing to authorize the first COVID-19 vaccines. “Sensitive data was leaked and manipulated in a way designed to undermine trust in vaccines,” the ECA said. Because the EU’s organizations are strongly interconnected, a vulnerability anywhere could have a cascading effect, it said. “A weakness in one can expose others to security threats,” said the ECA. It recommended the EU draw up legislation that would set common binding rules on cybersecurity for all the bloc’s institutions. The auditors also urged more resources to support the Computer Emergency Response Team of EU bodies, or CERT-EU, saying “its effectiveness is compromised by an increasing workload, unstable funding and staffing, and insufficient cooperation from some” of the bloc’s organizations. In sum, according to the ECA, the network of EU institutions “has not achieved a level of cyber-preparedness commensurate with the threats.” (Source: AP) 21:09 IST, March 29th 2022 Republic’s team in the warzone keeping you ahead from one of the most critical strategic locations in the Ukraine theatre of war 5 weeks into the war, Republic’s team in the warzone keeping you ahead from one of the most critical strategic locations in the Ukraine theatre of war. 21:02 IST, March 29th 2022 IEA Warns Global Energy Shortage Owing To Economic Sanctions On Kremlin International Energy Agency head Dr. Fatih Birol, on Tuesday, warned that continued sanctions on Russia could lead to a global energy shortage. The statement comes as the Russia-Ukraine war transcends its first month and several countries including the US, the UK, Canada, Germany, and other European countries have imposed stringent economic sanctions on the Vladimir Putin-led country. He further confirmed the requirement to “ensure international energy security.” Read full story here 20:45 IST, March 29th 2022 Russian forces attack Khmelnytsky’s airfield; no casualties reported Russia’s military announced Tuesday it will “fundamentally” scale back operations near Ukraine’s capital and a northern city, Russian troops attacked the airfield in Starokonstantinov in the Khmelnytsky region. According to city mayor Nikolai Melnichuk, there were no casualties, but the stocks of fuel were destroyed. 20:40 IST, March 29th 2022 Belgium alleges Russian diplomats involve in espionage activities Belgium expelled at least 21 Russian diplomats on Tuesday, March 29. As per the Belgium Foreign Ministry, the diplomats expelled were indulged in activities related to espionage or unlawful influence peddling. According to a report by the Associated Press, foreign affairs spokeswoman Elke Pattyn told the news agency that the expelled diplomats were granted two weeks to leave the country. 20:26 IST, March 29th 2022 Russian forces kidnap Hola Prystan mayor: Report The Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine on Tuesday said that the Russian troops kidnapped the mayor in Kherson Oblast. According to a report by The Kyiv Independent, the mayor of Hola Prystan was kidnapped on March 28. Previously Russian troops had kidnapped other mayors in occupied territories. 19:37 IST, March 29th 2022 Netherlands and Belgium expel Russian diplomats Amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Netherlands and Belgium acted a large number of Russian diplomats on Tuesday. According to a report by Nexta News, Netherland has expelled 17 Russian diplomats whereas Belgium expelled 21. Earlier today, Russia says it is expelling 10 diplomats from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia in a tit-for-tat move after the Baltic countries. 19:15 IST, March 29th 2022 Turkey sees ‘meaningful progress’ in talks Turkey’s foreign minister says Russian and Ukrainian negotiators have reached “a consensus and common understanding” on some issues. Mevlut Cavusoglu said the two sides made “the most meaningful progress” since the start of the negotiations at a meeting in Istanbul on Tuesday. He said the meeting would be followed by a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers. Cavusoglu said a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders was also “on the agenda,” he said. He didn’t give a timeframe. 18:54 IST, March 29th 2022 Johnson & Johnson announces to stop shipments of its products to Russia In yet another form of condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Pharmaceutical industry company, Johnson & Johnson has left the Russian market on Tuesday. According to the announcement, it will not ship its personal care products to Russia because of the invasion of Ukraine. 18:46 IST, March 29th 2022 Biden, Johnson and EU leaders will hold meeting on Ukraine war According to a report by The Telegraph UK, US President Joe Biden, UK PM Boris Johnson and European leaders will discuss the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. According to the White House, the meeting will be held on Tuesday afternoon. 18:34 IST, March 29th 2022 Russia says it will cut back operations near Ukraine’s capital Russia’s military said on Tuesday it would “fundamentally” cut back operations near Ukraine’s capital and a northern city, potentially a significant concession by Moscow amid talks aimed at ending the war that began more than a month ago. Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said the move was meant “to increase trust” in talks aimed at ending the fighting, as negotiators met face-to-face after several rounds of failed negotiations. But Russia’s troops have been bogged down and struggling to make major advances recently. The talks in Istanbul raised flickering hopes there could be progress toward ending a war that has ground into a bloody campaign of attrition. Fomin said Moscow had decided to “fundamentally … cut back military activity in the direction of Kyiv and Chernihiv” to “increase mutual trust and create conditions for further negotiations.” AP 18:17 IST, March 29th 2022 As peace talks ends; here’s what Zelenskyy’s advisor says As the sixth round of peace talks ended on Tuesday after three hours of tough negotiations between the delegates of both countries, Mykhailo Mykhailovych Podolyak, an advisor to the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, briefed all the major developments on Twitter. According to Podolyak, here are the key points: Security guarantees treaty with an enhanced analogue of Article 5 of NATO. Guarantor states (USA, UK, Turkey, France, Germany etc.) are legally actively involved in protecting from any aggression. Implementation through a referendum and parliaments of the guarantor states. 18:01 IST, March 29th 2022 Russia offered to hold a Putin-Zelensky meeting As the sixth round of peace talks ended on Tuesday after three hours of a closed-door meeting, Russia offered to hold a Putin-Zelensky meeting simultaneously with initialling peace treaties by foreign ministers. 17:34 IST, March 29th 2022 Russia and Ukraine peace talks constructive, says Medinsky As the sixth round of peace talks ended on Tuesday, the chief negotiator said that Russia received a ‘clearly articulated position’ from Ukraine in Istanbul. Here are the major takeaways from today’s peace talks: Russian Ministry of Defence has decided to reduce military activity in Kyiv and Chernihiv directions. Russia offers to hold a Putin-Zelensky meeting simultaneously with initialling peace treaties by foreign ministers. 17:09 IST, March 29th 2022 6th round of Peace talks concludes The first face-to-face talks in two weeks between Russia and Ukraine concluded on Tuesday. According to reports, an adviser to the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, Mykhailo Podoliak, is expected to make a statement. 16:55 IST, March 29th 2022 Zelenskyy advisor says talks underway with Russia in Istanbul An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the talks underway with Russia in Istanbul are focusing on security guarantees for Ukraine and hopes of a cease-fire.