Putin imposes new visa restrictions
Russia has suspended its simplified system for issuing visas to citizens of what it calls “unfriendly” countries.
President Vladimir Putin signed the decree on Monday, according to Reuters, and it will affect some European Union countries as well as Norway, Switzerland, Denmark and Iceland.
Russia faces a barrage of new sanctions
The United States and its European allies are preparing to impose another set of sanctions on Russia after mounting evidence of war crimes committed by its forces in Ukraine.
This was stated in a statement issued by the European Council on Monday. “The European Union condemns in the strongest possible terms the reported atrocities committed by the Russian armed forces in a number of occupied Ukrainian towns that have now been liberated,” he added.
The massacres in Bucha and other Ukrainian towns will be included in the list of atrocities committed on European soil.
International media published horrific images of residential streets littered with corpses. Russia denies the accusations, calling the photos “another provocation” by Ukraine.
Read the full story here.
—Matt Clinch
Hungarian nationalist leader Orban criticizes Ukraine’s Zelensky
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán delivers a speech on stage next to Fidesz party members at their electoral base, the “Palna” building on the bank of the Danube in Budapest, April 3, 2022. – Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed a “great victory” in the general election, Partial results gave Fidesz the lead. (Photo by Attila Kisbenedek/AFP) (Photo by Attila Kisbenedek/AFP via Getty Images)
Attila Kispendek | Afp | Getty Images
How Russian banks were cut off from global finance
Several Russian banks were banned from the SWIFT financial messaging system in the wake of the all-out Russian invasion of Ukraine. So, what does losing access to this important part of the international economy mean, and are there any viable alternatives?
CNBC’s Nissa Anwar has the full story.
British FM visits Poland, calls for tougher sanctions against Russia
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will travel to the Polish capital on Monday to meet her Ukrainian and Polish counterparts, ahead of talks with the Group of Seven and NATO allies later this week.
Truss is expected to call for tougher sanctions against Russia in a bid to bolster Ukraine’s negotiating position in peace talks.
“Putin has yet to show that he is serious about diplomacy,” Truss said in a statement. “The tough approach of the UK and our allies is vital to strengthening Ukraine’s hand in negotiations.”
“Britain helped lead the way with sanctions to cripple Putin’s war machine. We will do more to intensify the pressure on Russia and we will continue to push others to do more.”
– Sam Meredith
Pictures show the devastation in Ukraine in the aftermath of the Russian invasion
Here is a selection of photos depicting the Russian war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:
A family mourns a missing relative in front of a mass grave in the town of Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, April 3, 2022.
Narciso Contreras | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
A Ukrainian soldier walks past the wreckage of a cargo plane at the military airport in the town of Hostomel, on the outskirts of Kyiv, April 3, 2022.
Narciso Contreras | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
People stand on a bus as an evacuation convoy of buses and cars arrives at a center for displaced people in Zaporizhia, in the early hours of April 4, 2022.
Emre Kaylac | Afp | Getty Images
People cook a meal in the besieged port city of Mariupol, Ukraine on April 4, 2022.
Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
A mother and daughter outside their destroyed home in the coastal city of Mariupol.
soba pictures | Light Rocket | Getty Images
– Sam Meredith; Getty Images
Bucha was killed to demand more punishments; EU discusses ban on Russian gas imports
In what appears to be a major policy shift, Germany has called for talks with the European Union on whether to impose a ban on the import of Russian gas.
Photo Alliance | Photo Alliance | Getty Images
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
“Crime against humanity”: Georgia strongly condemns the killings in the Ukrainian city of Bucha
Fans wave Ukraine and Georgia flags at a match between Georgia and Spain at the European Rugby International Championship on March 20 in Tbilisi, Georgia. Russia went to war with Georgia in 2008, after which it recognized the independence of the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Lifan Verdzioli | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images
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 requests Security Council meeting on provocations by ‘Ukrainian radicals’ in Bucha
“In light of the provocations of Ukrainian radicals in Bucha, Russia has requested a meeting of the United Nations Security Council in the second half of Monday, April 4,” Dmitry Polyansky (above) said via Telegram. TASS Agency.
Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
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
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister said humanitarian corridors have been established in Mangosh, Mariupol and Luhansk
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
‘Beyond Blame’ and ‘Punch to the Gut’: The world reacts to images of Buca’s destruction
Ukrainian soldiers inspect the wreckage of a destroyed Russian armored column on the road in the suburb of Bucha, north of Kyiv.
soba pictures | Light Rocket | Getty Images
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
UK says Russian forces have refocused offensive on Donbass
A woman interacts before a train leaves the eastern city of Kramatorsk, in the Donbass region, on April 3, 2022.
Fadel Al-Sunnah | Afp | Getty Images
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
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