Russia-Ukraine latest updates
Children look out the window of a Lviv bound train, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 3. (Vadim Ghirda/AP) Photo credit to CNN
By Rebecca Lubin
It's been a little over a month now since that fateful day on Feb. 24 when Russia invaded Ukraine. The UN Children's Fund says that "One in every two Ukrainian children has been displaced since Russia began its invasion," according to CNN
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder described the situation to CNN as “mind-boggling” and further explained that since the start of the war, almost every child in the country has had to flee their home. UNICEF has been trying to get essential needs into the country however Elder stated that "Unless the war stops, unless the indiscriminate attacks stop, we're going to see more children wrenched from their homes and the bombardments."
On Tuesday, March 29 Biden attended a news conference with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsieng Loong at the White House, where he expressed that he would not "read into anything" after Russia's vow to reduce military attacks near Kyiv and Chernihiv until that happens. Sanctions on Russia will continue. “We’ll see if they follow through with what they’re suggesting,” Biden said, noting that peace negotiations are ongoing. Earlier in the day, Biden met with the heads of government of four other NATO nations — France, Germany, Britain, and Italy and mentioned that there “seems to be a consensus that, let’s just see what they have to offer.”
“But in the meantime, we’re going to continue to keep strong sanctions,” Biden said. “We’re going to continue to provide the Ukrainian military with their capacity to defend themselves. And we’re going to continue to keep a close eye on what’s going on.”
A White House readout of the Tuesday NATO meeting noted that the leaders “reviewed their efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the millions affected by the violence, both inside Ukraine and seeking refuge in other countries, and underscored the need for humanitarian access to civilians in Mariupol." The importance of supporting stable energy markets in light of current disruptions due to sanctions was also discussed.
According to the state media outlet RIA-Novosti, on March 24, the Russian military seems to have taken control of a Ukrainian city named Izyum. Ukraine with Lyudmyla Dolhonovska, an adviser to Ukraine Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, denies this claim stating to CNN that, “the battle for Izyum is “still going on."
Izyum had been cut off from all communications last week after intense battles broke out there between Russian and Ukrainian forces. Now videos and images are coming out of the city and it’s completely devastating “widespread destruction, charred and bombed-out buildings, and bodies left lying in the streets.”
While things are still tense with the Ukraine crisis the best thing we can do is continue to do our part by donating to help those suffering, and staying positive by saying a prayer and keeping those who this has affected in our hearts.
Works Cited
O'Murchú, Seán Federico, et al. “It's Midday in Ukraine. Here's What We Know.” CNN, Cable News Network, 25 Mar. 2022, https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-putin-news-03-24-22/h_f011a63737466ff2c2ede681080649b8.
Thebault, Reis, et al. “Biden Skeptical of Russia's Pledge to 'Drastically Reduce' Assault.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 30 Mar. 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/29/russia-ukraine-war-news-putin-live-updates/#link-UBEPDC4LDVGRXGENCZEPKJ7SWM.
Rebecca Lubin is a writer for the Voice.