Before the meeting of NATO defense ministers, Poland is bringing up a “peace mission”. Zelenskyj sees rapprochement in the negotiations with Russia. Follow the most important developments in the star-Live blog.
It is day 21 of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine – and the attacks continue with undiminished severity. According to the US government, however, the Russian ground forces are making little progress. The capital, Kyiv, will continue to be bombed from long ranges, a senior US defense official said on Tuesday. More and more civilian targets such as residential areas would be hit.
After Russia’s attack on Ukraine, NATO is considering a significant and permanent reinforcement of the eastern flank. At a meeting of defense ministers on Wednesday, a discussion about the long-term strengthening of security in all areas should be started, explained Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Poland also brought up a NATO “peacekeeping mission” in Ukraine. This should be of a humanitarian nature, but protected by armed forces.
The most important news of the day in brief:
- 3:12 p.m: The Council of Europe excludes Russia from membership with immediate effect after 26 years because of the Ukraine war.
- 2:31 p.m: In a speech before both chambers of the US Congress, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj emphatically calls for the establishment of a no-fly zone again.
- 2:12 p.m: The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has documented the deaths of 726 civilians since Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24.
- 1:19 p.m: Russia blocks access to the websites of at least 15 media.
- 12:43 p.m: Kyiv contradicts the Russian statements on a possible neutrality of Ukraine based on the Swedish model.