Tuesday March 22, marks 26 days since Russian troops invaded Ukraine. Here are some developments that have taken place thus far.
New sanctions on Russia
European Union (EU) foreign and defence ministers met on Monday to discuss imposing further sanctions on Moscow, especially whether to introduce an oil embargo.
Trying to force a Russian military withdrawal from Ukraine, the European Union and its Western allies have already imposed a panoply of sanctions including freezing the Russian central bank’s assets.
The humanitarian crisis in the port city of Mariupol, where residents are besieged with little food, water and power, is increasing pressure on European leaders to toughen sanctions on Moscow.
Prof. Everisto Benyera gives a possible outcome of the conflict:
Ukraine rejects ultimatums as conflict intensifies
Ukraine said on Monday it would not obey ultimatums from Russia after Moscow demanded it stops defending besieged Mariupol, where hundreds of thousands of civilians are suffering through Russian bombardments laying waste to their city.
Mariupol has become a focal point of Russia’s assault on Ukraine, but attacks were also reported to have intensified on the country’s second city Kharkiv on Monday.
The conflict has driven almost a quarter of Ukraine’s 44 million people from their homes, and Germany predicted the refugee number could reach as high as 10 million in coming weeks.
Europe said Russia was using refugees as a tool and that it was prepared to take more action on top of existing sanctions to isolate Russia from global finances and trade.
UNHCR calls for cessation of hostilities amid rising needs for Ukrainian refugees:
Zelenskyy presses Israel for missile defence help, fighting rages in Mariupol
Russian and Ukrainian forces fought for control of the port city of Mariupol on Sunday, local authorities said, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to Israel for help in pushing back the Russian assault on his country.
In the latest in a series of appeals he has made for help from abroad, Zelenskyy addressed the Israeli parliament by video link and questioned Israel’s reluctance to sell its Iron Dome missile defence system to Ukraine.
“Everybody knows that your missile defence systems are the best… and that you can definitely help our people, save the lives of Ukrainians, of Ukrainian Jews,” said Zelenskyy, who is of Jewish heritage.
SA proposes rival draft resolution
South Africa has proposed a rival draft resolution in the United Nations General Assembly that seeks to address the humanitarian consequences of the conflict in Ukraine.
The South African-authored text was issued after a Western-led draft resolution was circulated to member states demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities by the Russian Federation in Ukraine, in particular the targetting of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
South Africa abstained along with 34 other member states in an earlier General Assembly vote that, by an overwhelming majority, deplored Russia’s aggression and demanded the immediate and complete withdrawal of its forces from Ukraine.
Zelenskyy calls for peace talks with Moscow, urges Swiss to target oligarchs:
Malema reaffirms EFF’s support for Russia
Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema has again thrown his party’s support firmly behind Russia in the ongoing conflict between that country and Ukraine.
Russia invaded Ukraine more than three weeks ago.
At least ten million people in Ukraine have fled their homes as Russia bombards major Ukrainian cities.
Speaking on Human Rights Day at the commemoration of the Sharpville Massacre, Malema said that Russia had given support during the liberation struggle against the apartheid regime – providing arms, money and education.-Additional reporting by Reuters
In the video below, Malema addresses EFF members:
