Russia-Ukraine live news: UN chief warns of global food crisis

Antonio Guterres says he's ‘hopeful’ talks to renew Ukrainian grain, Russian fertiliser exports can avert shortages.

A neighbour walks on the debris of a burning house, destroyed after a Russian attack in Kharkiv.
A neighbour walks on the particles of a burning home, destroyed after a Russian assault in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Thursday, March 24, 2022 [Felipe Dana/AP]

  • UN Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres has warned of a “international meals scarcity” within the coming months however says talks can avert a disaster.
  • Washington reopens its embassy in Kyiv after abandoning the diplomatic submit shortly earlier than the Russian invasion.
  • President Joe Biden’s nationwide safety crew “emphatically” help bids by Sweden and Finland to hitch NATO, says prime US official.
  • Mariupol’s fall seems close to as Ukraine declares an finish to the Azovstal steelworks operation, the place its troopers held out for months.

INTERACTIVE Russia Ukraine War Who controls what in Mariupol Day 84
[Al Jazeera]

Listed below are all the newest updates:

33 minutes in the past (23:48 GMT)

World Financial institution to supply $30 bn as Ukraine struggle threatens meals safety

The World Financial institution has stated it'll make $30 billion accessible to assist stem the meals safety disaster threatened by Russia’s struggle in Ukraine.

The entire will embrace $12 billion in new tasks and over $18 billion funds from current meals and nutrition-related tasks which have been authorised however haven't but been disbursed, the financial institution stated.

The financial institution stated the brand new tasks are anticipated to help agriculture, social safety to cushion the consequences of upper meals costs on the poor, and water and irrigation tasks.

Nearly all of assets are going to areas hardest hit by the disaster – Africa and the Center East, Japanese Europe and Central Asia, and South Asia.


42 minutes in the past (23:39 GMT)

UN meals chief appeals to Putin to open ports

The UN meals chief has appealed to Putin to open Ukraine’s ports in order that exports can attain the “poorest international locations”.

“It's completely important that we enable these ports to open as a result of this isn't nearly Ukraine. That is in regards to the poorest of the poor all over the world who're on the point of hunger as we communicate,” David Beasley stated at a UN assembly on international meals safety.

“So I ask President Putin, ‘When you've got any coronary heart in any respect, please open these ports. Please guarantee everybody involved that the passageways will likely be clear in order that we will feed the poorest of the poor and avert famine…” he added.


2 hours in the past (22:47 GMT)

Zelenskyy says Russian-occupied cities ‘will return’ to Ukraine

Zelenskyy has stated Ukraine is decided to reclaim management over the southern cities of Kherson, Melitopol, Berdiansk, Enerhodar and Mariupol, now occupied by Russian troops.

“All of our cities and communities underneath occupation – underneath momentary occupation – ought to know that Ukraine will return,” Zelenskyy stated.

A view of a street in Mariupol, captured by Russian forces, with the Azovstal steel plant in the background.
A view of a road in Mariupol, captured by Russian forces, with the Azovstal metal plant within the background. Tuesday, Could 17, 2022 [Alexei Alexandrov/AP]


2 hours in the past (22:33 GMT)

Russia has fired greater than 2,000 missiles in Ukraine: Zelenskyy

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated Russia has fired greater than 2,000 missiles throughout its assault on Ukraine.

He stated nearly all of the missiles hit civilian infrastructure and introduced no strategic army profit. Prior to now day, Russian missiles hit the southern cities of Mykolaiv and Dnipro, Zelenskyy stated in his nightly video tackle to the nation.

Zelenskyy additionally famous Russia’s claims to have deployed new laser weapons in Ukraine, saying it mirrored a want to search out a substitute for its missiles.


3 hours in the past (21:50 GMT)

Google’s Russian subsidiary to file for chapter after checking account seized

Google’s Russian subsidiary plans to file for chapter after authorities seized its checking account, making it unimaginable to pay workers and distributors, however free companies together with search and YouTube will hold working, an organization spokesperson has stated.

The Alphabet Inc unit has been underneath stress in Russia for months for failing to delete content material Moscow deems unlawful and for limiting entry to some Russian media on YouTube, however the Kremlin has to this point stopped wanting blocking entry to the corporate’s companies.

“The Russian authorities seizure of Google Russia’s checking account has made it untenable for our Russia workplace to perform, together with using and paying Russia-based workers, paying suppliers and distributors, and assembly different monetary obligations,” a Google spokesperson stated.

“Google Russia has printed a discover of its intention to file for chapter.”


3 hours in the past (21:35 GMT)

US guarantees push to enhance international meals safety

Blinken has promised to work with allies to enhance international meals safety amid the struggle in Ukraine.

“President Putin is obstructing export of Ukraine’s grain and foodstuffs. We are going to proceed working with our allies and companions to construct resilient, sustainable, and inclusive meals methods to enhance international meals safety,” the highest US diplomat wrote on Twitter.


3 hours in the past (21:14 GMT)

Croatia president needs to dam new NATO members

President Zoran Milanovic of Croatia needs his nation to observe Turkey’s instance by making an attempt to dam Sweden and Finland from becoming a member of NATO.

Milanovic is in a bitter verbal dispute with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic over various points, together with whether or not to help the NATO purposes Sweden and Finland submitted.

Earlier than Croatia’s parliament ratifies NATO membership for the 2 Nordic nations, Milanovic needs a change in neighbouring Bosnia’s electoral legislation that may make it simpler for his or her nationalist Bosnian Croat allies to get elected to management positions.


4 hours in the past (20:41 GMT)

US nationwide safety officers ’emphatically’ help NATO growth: Sullivan

White Home Nationwide Safety Adviser Jake Sullivan has stated President Joe Biden requested his nationwide safety crew and cupboard members in regards to the dangers and advantages of Finland and Sweden becoming a member of NATO.

He stated the crew “emphatically supported the entry of Finland and Sweden”.

Sullivan stated Finland and Sweden is not going to be coated by NATO’s mutual defence settlement till all 30 members have ratified their accession, however US and European allies are ready to ship the message “that we are going to not tolerate any aggression in opposition to Finland or Sweden throughout this course of”.


4 hours in the past (20:38 GMT)

US in talks with Sweden, Finland: Defence official

A senior US defence official has stated the Pentagon is having discussions with Sweden and Finland on their safety wants, as each transfer in the direction of NATO membership amid the Russian offensive in Ukraine.

The official stated Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Swedish Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist and spoke in regards to the interim interval between when the nation’s NATO software is formally submitted and when it's authorised, The Related Press information company reported.

There have been issues about threats from Russia throughout that interval, during which Sweden and Finland wouldn't formally be coated by NATO’s Article 5, which states that an assault in opposition to one member is an assault in opposition to all and requires collective defence.


4 hours in the past (20:32 GMT)

UN chief ‘hopeful’ about averting international meals scarcity

UN Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres has warned of a “international meals scarcity” within the coming months because of points linked to the struggle in Ukraine, however stated he's “hopeful” the disaster could be averted.

Guterres stated he's in “intense contact” with Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, the US and the European Union to try to resume Ukrainian grain shipments and revive Russian fertiliser exports.

“I'm hopeful, however there's nonetheless a strategy to go,” he stated throughout a meals safety assembly on the UN hosted by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “The advanced safety, financial and monetary implications require goodwill on all sides.”


4 hours in the past (20:27 GMT)

US, Turkey affirm help for ‘answer to finish the struggle’

The US and Turkey have affirmed their help for locating an answer to finish the struggle in Ukraine, reasserting that they again the nation’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

After a gathering between Blinken and Turkish Overseas Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Ankara and Washington launched a joint assertion pledging to “intensify consultations on a spread of regional points”.

“In addition they reiterated their help for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in opposition to Russia’s unacceptable struggle. Inside this framework, the US and Turkey reaffirmed their help to discover a answer to finish the struggle,” the assertion stated.

Mevlut Cavusoglu and Antony Blinken
Antony Blinken meets with Mevlut Cavusoglu at UN headquarters in New York [Eduardo Munoz/Reuters]


4 hours in the past (20:19 GMT)

US reopens embassy in Ukraine’s capital

The US has reopened its embassy in Kyiv after abandoning the diplomatic submit shortly earlier than the Russian invasion started three months in the past.

“In the present day we're formally resuming operations on the US Embassy in Kyiv,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated in an announcement.

“The Ukrainian folks, with our safety help, have defended their homeland within the face of Russia’s unconscionable invasion, and, in consequence, the Stars and Stripes are flying over the Embassy as soon as once more,” he added, referring to the flag of the US.

Ukrainian forces had fended off a Russian offensive to seize the capital within the first weeks of the struggle.


Hiya and welcome to Al Jazeera’s persevering with protection of the struggle in Ukraine.

Learn all of the updates from Wednesday, Could 18 right here.

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