The developments of Russia's war on Ukraine today

Violent bombing north of Kyiv and America warns Russia against the use of chemical weapons

Neighborhoods in the northern part of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, are subjected to Russian bombardment during the morning hours, while the US State Department has warned Russia against the use of chemical weapons.

The Prime Ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia pledged - during their meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev - to continue supporting Ukraine, and US President Joe Biden announced the allocation of humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine worth $13.6 billion.

Adviser to the Ukrainian President, Mikhailo Podolyak, said on Tuesday that "deep contradictions" still exist in the Ukrainian-Russian negotiations, which will continue on Wednesday, stressing that a "settlement" is still possible.

On Tuesday, the European Union announced a fourth package of sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said that the number of Ukrainians who fled their country exceeded 3 million.

Here are the latest developments on the 21st of this war:

The US Senate has unanimously approved a resolution condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin as a war criminal.

White House official: Biden is expected to announce an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine on Wednesday.

The US Secretary of State: We are concerned that China may provide material support to Russia or undermine the sanctions imposed on Moscow.

Ukrainian President:

Yesterday we managed to evacuate about 29,000 citizens from Kharkiv, Kiev and Sumy, but things are very difficult.

More sanctions should be imposed on Russia.

I call for more official visits to Kyiv and the airspace remains open.

The Wall Street Journal on military officials: Biden is not expected to order additional forces in Europe at this time.

American fears

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that he had real concerns that Russia would use chemical weapons in Ukraine, pointing out that Washington was very clear with Moscow, and informed it that there would be a response and repercussions if it used chemical weapons.

He added - in statements to CNN - that Russia's talk about its nuclear weapons reflects irresponsibility, stressing that President Biden was clear in making sure that we avoided entering into a conflict with Russia that would lead us to a third world war.

According to Blinken, Putin's goal is to deprive Ukraine of its right to exist as an independent state, and Putin's concerns about Ukraine's admission to NATO are unfounded.

"Ukraine was not in the process of imminent accession to NATO even before the Russian aggression," he added.

The Wall Street Journal:

The US President will announce additional military aid to Ukraine amounting to one billion dollars.

The US aid will include Javelin and Stinger anti-armor and anti-aircraft weapons.

British intelligence:

Russia is seeking to exploit irregular forces provided by private companies and mercenaries from Syria and elsewhere.

Russia is redeploying its forces from as far afield as the Eastern Province, the Pacific Fleet and Armenia.

Continuing casualties will make it difficult for Russia to secure the territories it occupies in Ukraine.

Russia is increasingly seeking to form additional forces to reinforce and compensate for the casualties in Ukraine.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister:

I discussed with the German Vice Chancellor ways to increase support for Ukraine to repel Russian aggression.

I agreed with the German Vice Chancellor that sanctions against Russia should be increased.

Press conference of the prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia in Kyiv.

Prime Minister of Slovenia:

Ukrainians are not alone, hundreds of thousands have demonstrated in support of them.

We fight, fight and defend Ukraine's freedoms and ours at the same time.

Russia has decided to leave the Council of Europe, accusing NATO and the European Union of making it a tool in the service of their military, political and economic expansion to the east.

European sanctions

The fourth package of European Union sanctions targeting wealthy Russians, including a ban on the export of luxury goods from the bloc, entered into force on Tuesday, after it was published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

In a statement announcing the move, Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, said that those who enable the invasion of Ukraine are paying a price for their actions.

US Secretary of State:

I reiterated to my Ukrainian counterparts the United States' continued support for the Ukrainian people and its commitment to hold Putin accountable for his gratuitous and inhumane bombing of Ukraine.

We have provided $293 million to help the Ukrainian people since February 24.

The Italian scientific community rejects Rome's recommendations to boycott Russia

The Italian Science and Education Union expressed its regret over the recent recommendations of the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research to stop research and academic cooperation with Russian scientific institutions.

The Italian scientific community rejects Rome's recommendations to boycott RussiaItaly: No hesitation on our part about new sanctions against Russia

"We hope that, in accordance with academic independence, teachers, heads of educational institutions, researchers and professors will decide not to boycott the center of Russian education and science at a time when knowledge must have the most important civic function," said a message from the union's president, Francesco Sinopoli, published by the Italian agency "ANSA".

"Even during the Cold War years, scientific cooperation has always remained a ray of hope, which allowed to avoid the worst consequences," he added.

"Condemnation of Russian aggression and the support of the scientific community for Ukraine should not be a reason to divide the global research world and limit the exchange of scientific expertise, especially when it is so important against the background of common tasks, such as combating climate change," he added.

A statement was published on the website of the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research earlier, containing instructions "concerning cooperation with Russia and Belarus."

"In line with the European Union's restrictions and the Foreign Ministry's directives regarding travel to the two countries, heads of educational institutions are advised to consider suspending any travel related to joint programs for security reasons, as well as suspending the opening of new programs," it said.

"The ministry reminds that all research projects with scientific institutions in Russia and Belarus that involve the exchange of materials and technologies should be discontinued," he added.

Source: TASS + Italian ANSA

Sweden tightens identification procedures at borders

The Swedish government intends to reintroduce procedures for verifying the identity of arrivals to the country, in anticipation of the increase in the number of refugees from Ukraine.

The government in Stockholm said on Tuesday that Russia's military operation in Ukraine had led to Europe's largest and fastest refugee crisis since World War Two.

The government intends to resume its practice during the 2015 refugee crisis of verifying the identities of travelers arriving in Sweden by bus, train or ship, and parliament's approval for the proposal has yet to be obtained.

During the refugee crisis in 2015, Sweden passed a temporary law that has since expired, allowing carriers to check identities.

According to the government's proposal, the new law will enter into force on April 8 and will also be temporary, and it is scheduled that flights from or through Norway will be excluded.

In Denmark's far south, there are daily cases of Ukrainian refugees being sent back across the border with Germany because they do not have biometric passports or want to use Denmark as a crossing point to reach another country, according to radio station DR.

Source: db a