Ukraine opens and closes the 13th day of war with a truce announced by the Russians. In the next few hours the fifth attempt, after three have practically failed between the reciprocal accusations of sabotage by Kiev and Moscow. The fourth, the one staged from 8 Italian, 9 local, is the one that has held the most so far: this morning during a short ceasefire the humanitarian corridors were opened to evacuate civilians from Kiev, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Mariupol. A human tide poured into the capital station to leave the country.

Odessa has been waiting for the Russian attack for days, as well as the capital Kiev, ready for the final offensive with the Russian tanks that have massed on the outskirts of the city. The situation in Mariupol, under siege for a week, is dramatic: the 200,000 inhabitants are "trapped in a frozen nightmare, without water or light, and live under the constant threat of Russian bombing", Human Rights Watch reports.

In terms of negotiations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, for the first time since the start of the crisis, talks about a possible opening with Russia on Crimea and what he calls the separatist "pseudo-republics" of Donbass. "We can discuss and find a compromise on how these territories will continue to live", he proposes, but warns that he is open "to dialogue, not to capitulation".

Then the energy war breaks out: American President Joe Biden announces the stop of imports of crude oil and Russian as of today, and London follows him, pledging to reduce its supplies of gas and oil from Russia to zero by the end. of 2022. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, says that the invasion of Ukraine constitutes "an opportunity, not only significant but imperative, for many countries in Europe, to free themselves from dependence on Russian energy", because Moscow "use energy as a weapon".

The EU Commission opens up to joint purchases and storage of gas and proposes a diversification of supply from non-Russian suppliers, an increase in production volumes and the import of biomethane and renewable hydrogen. The goal is to unhook the EU from its dependence on Russian gas "well before 2030".

News also from China, which intervenes for the first time since the beginning of the crisis: in a conference call with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Chinese President Xi Jinping asked for "maximum restraint" in Ukraine . Xi explained that China "deeply deplores" the war and has placed Beijing halfway between the positions of the two adversaries, stressing that it supports respect for the "sovereignty and integrity of all countries", but also "legitimate concerns on the matter. safety". To get out of the crisis, he added, "all efforts for a peaceful solution" must be supported, while the sanctions adopted against Moscow are to be avoided, because due to their "negative impact" they are "harmful to all parties".

Below is the live broadcast with all the updates on the conflict ( HERE all the news on the Ukrainian crisis).

9.40 pm - Farnesina: "Crisis unit for companies exporting to Russia"

The Farnesina launches the Crisis Unit to support companies exporting to Russia and Ukraine. At the instigation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Luigi Di Maio, the Foreign Ministry has convened the first technical meeting of a Working Group in charge of assessing the overall impact of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict to the detriment of Italian exporting companies. towards that area.

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20.55 - The Viminale to the prefects: "Finding reception places"

In the hypothesis of "massive influxes or particular criticalities, not only actually occurring, but also only foreseen" on the arrival of Ukrainians in Italy, the prefects will have to start "the finding on the territory, with the necessary timeliness, of additional reception places ". Thus a circular sent by the head of the Interior Ministry to all the prefects who are invited to "maximum involvement of local authorities, acquiring from the mayors the availability of suitable housing structures".

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19.56 - Zelensky-Macron conversation on humanitarian corridors

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron to examine the situation of the evacuation of civilians from combat zones in Ukraine. "I maintain a constant dialogue with Emmanuel Macron - wrote Zelensky on Twitter -. We discussed the implementation of the agreements on humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of the population and the delivery of necessary goods".

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7.45 pm - Putin signs the ban on import-export to some countries

A decree signed today by Russian President Vladimir Putin mandates the government to draw up within two weeks a list of countries for which export and import movements will be banned "to safeguard Russia's security". Tass reports it. According to Interfax, the ban will affect finished products and raw materials.

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19.30 - Russia Today appeals to the Court of Justice against the EU ban

Russia Today turned to the EU Court of Justice against the ban in the Union for the Russian public broadcaster decided by the European Council on 1 March. This was announced by the Court in Luxembourg in a tweet. The EU also banned the other state-owned Russian media, Sputnik, with its subsidiaries in member states.

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18.54 - McDonald's closes 850 stores in Russia

McDonald's temporarily closes 850 of its stores in Russia. The decision seems to be linked to the pressing on the hamburger giant that until now had remained operational in Russia despite the invasion of Ukraine. A choice that had attracted a lot of criticism in McDonald's, especially on social media where a growing chorus of voices called for a boycott.

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18.15 - Zelensky in Westminster: "We do not give up"

"We do not want to lose what is ours as in the past you did not want to" surrender in the face of "the Nazi invasion". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a live video link to the deputies of the British House of Commons.

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17.55 - Biden: "Putin will be able to conquer the city but not the whole of Ukraine"

"Putin will not win, he will be able to conquer the city but not an entire country": said Joe Biden speaking from the White House.

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5.35 pm - Biden: "Stop Russian oil and gas"

The US will ban the import of Russian oil and gas: Joe Biden confirmed this, speaking from the White House, after media rumors. "By hitting the major artery of the Russian economy, the American people will deliver another powerful blow to Putin's war machine," he explained.

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17.25 - In 24 hours 4 thousand Ukrainian refugees in Italy

21,095 Ukrainian citizens have entered Italy at the moment: 10,553 women, 1,989 men and 8,553 minors. The main destination cities continue to be Rome, Milan, Naples and Bologna. Almost 4 thousand arrived in 24 hours, an increase compared to 3 thousand yesterday.

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5 pm - The Pentagon estimates between 2,000 and 4,000 Russian soldiers dead

The Pentagon estimates that between 2,000 and 4,000 Russian soldiers died in the nearly two-week invasion of Ukraine. General Scott Berrier, director of the US defense military intelligence agency, told a congressional commission.

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4.45 pm - The EU: "If the thermostat is lowered, there will be less dependence on Russian gas"

The reduction of one degree in the thermostat of the houses “is not a request but it is important that citizens are informed that their behavior can have a positive impact on energy consumption. By changing our behavior as citizens, we can partially reduce our dependence on Russian gas. "The vice president of the European Commission Frans Timmermans said at a press conference on the EU guidelines on energy.

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16.10 - Ukraine, the EU is working on new sanctions but not on energy

The European Union is developing new sanctions against Russia and Belarus. The measures are intended to lengthen the list of oligarchs targeted by Brussels and could also involve the suspension of some Belarusian banks from the Swift payment system. But, according to what has been learned, they will not concern the energy sector.

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3.40 pm - Berlin: "If Putin cuts the gas, Germany is prepared"

"If Putin cuts the delivery of energy sources, Germany is prepared". The German vice-chancellor, Robert Habeck, said at a press conference in Berlin: "Threats are something we can tolerate." The government, he added, must act "in a politically intelligent way" and undertake "long-term sustainable measures".

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15.20 - CERN suspends Russia and stops new collaborations

The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) condemns the military invasion of Ukraine (associated member state) and suspends the status of Observer of Russia, announcing that "it will not undertake new collaborations with the Russian Federation and its institutions until new notice ". CERN, in solidarity with the Russians who oppose the invasion, is however willing to respect "all applicable international sanctions". This was established by his Council, meeting in an extraordinary session dedicated to the international crisis.

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3 pm - Biden will announce the Russian oil embargo

Joe Biden will announce the Russian oil embargo today, according to US media.

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14.50 - Biden today announces new measures against Moscow

Joe Biden will announce new "actions to continue holding Russia accountable for its unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine": the White House announced. The president will speak at 10.45 local time, 16.45 in Italy. It is not excluded that Biden will announce the squeeze on the import of Russian oil.

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2.35pm - The evacuation of civilians to Sumy stopped

In Sumy, the evacuation of civilians through the so-called 'green corridor' was halted "due to the shelling of enemy tanks". This was reported by the Ukrainian agency UNIAN, citing a correspondent in the area. All outgoing cars are turned back as are people attempting to leave the city on foot.

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2.20 pm - "Shooting nonstop around Kiev"

"There is constant shooting" around Kiev: former boxing champion and brother of the mayor of the Ukrainian capital, Wladimir Klitschko, told CNN. "In the city of Kiev, when you go to bed, you hear explosions, the firing of rockets to defend the city, as well as the sound of bullets and rockets here on the territory of the city of Kiev," reported Klitschko who fights with the Forces of Defense of the country. "There is enormous pressure on us Ukrainians, but we are united against this Russian aggression", he added.

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2.20 pm - Blinken: "EU free itself from Russian energy dependence"

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it was "imperative" that European countries stop relying on Russian energy. Speaking at a press conference in Tallinn with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Blinken stressed that "at this moment there is an opportunity, not only significant but imperative, for many countries in Europe to free themselves from dependence on Russian energy" . Russia, he insisted, "uses energy as a weapon".

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13.45 - Pope: "I pray for mothers with children on the run"

"I think of young mothers and their children fleeing wars and famines or waiting in refugee camps. There are so many!". Pope Francis says this in a tweet on the day of 8 March dedicated to women. The Pontiff continues his messages for peace in Ukraine, using Russian and Ukrainian in addition to the nine official languages of his account. "May the Queen of Peace obtain harmony in our hearts and the whole world", says the Pope in the tweet that portrays him in prayer in front of a Marian icon.

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1.10 pm - USA: "Assault on Kiev within 4 days"

Russian forces will attack Kiev "in the next 24-96 hours": is the forecast of the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The Guardian reports it.

"Russian forces are concentrating in the eastern, north-western and western suburbs of Kiev for an assault on the capital ...", writes the institute in its daily update on the war, noting that Moscow's troops are plagued by logistical problems. but they are "bringing in supplies and reinforcements, as well as conducting artillery, aircraft and missile attacks to weaken the defenses and intimidate the defenders before the assault" on the capital. This could herald the start of a critical moment in the war, ISW experts continue.

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1.00 pm - Stoltenberg: "Conflict out of control if it goes beyond Ukraine"

"We have a responsibility to ensure that the conflict does not escalate and does not spread beyond Ukraine, which would be even more dangerous, destructive and even more deadly. The situation would spiral out of control." NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this at a press conference during his visit to Latvia.

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12.45 - Xi: "Sanctions on Russia harmful to all"

China asks to "work together" to reduce the consequences of the crisis in Ukraine, rejecting the sanctions "which will have a negative impact on the stability of global finance, energy, transport and supply chains", dragging down "the world economy, which is under the heavy impact of the pandemic "of Covid-19 and" will be harmful to all parties ".

This was stated by President Xi Jinping in the video summit held with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in the CCTV report.

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12.30 - Alarm for health supplies

Alarm from the World Health Organization on the health situation in Ukraine on the twelfth day of the war: attacks on hospitals and ambulances have increased "rapidly" in recent days and vital medical supplies are running out. The Guardian reported, citing a statement by the WHO emergency manager for Europe, Catherine Smallwood, according to which at least nine people have died in 16 attacks on health facilities since the invasion began.

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12.10 pm - Beijing calls for "maximum restraint"

Chinese President Xi Jinping during the phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for "maximum restraint" on the Ukrainian crisis.

China calls for "maximum restraint" to prevent a large-scale humanitarian crisis, considering "to prevent tensions from escalating or even getting out of control" as a top priority.

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12 noon - "Moscow holds 300,000 civilians hostage in Mariupol"

"Russia holds 300,000 civilians hostage in Mariupol, prevents humanitarian evacuation despite agreements with the mediation of the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross, ed). A child died of dehydration yesterday! War crimes are part of the strategy of Russia. I urge all states to ask publicly: RUSSIA, LET THE PEOPLE GO! "Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote today in a tweet.

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11.45 am - Kiev: "Moscow does not respect Mariupol humanitarian corridor"

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense accuses the Russians of not respecting the Mariupol humanitarian corridor.

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11-35 - UN: "More than two million Ukrainians fleeing"

The number of people who have fled Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion has passed the 2 million mark. This was announced by the UN refugee agency. Since last February 24, the date of the Russian invasion, a total of 2,011,312 people have fled Ukraine, according to the latest update published on the website of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Of these, over 1.2 million arrived in Poland, more than 191 thousand in Hungary and over 140 thousand in Slovakia.

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11.30 - Kiev: "At least 12 thousand Russian soldiers killed"

At least 12,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion of the country by the forces of Moscow: the Ukrainian foreign ministry said in a tweet. According to Kiev, Russia has so far lost 48 aircraft, 80 helicopters, 303 tanks, 1,036 armed vehicles, 120 pieces of artillery and 27 anti-aircraft missile systems.

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11.20 - Zelensky accuses the West

"We have been hearing promises for thirteen days. For thirteen days we have been told that they would help in the skies, that there would be planes, that they would deliver them to us," Zelensky said in a video posted on Telegram.

"The responsibility" for what is happening in Ukraine "also falls on those who have not been able to make a decision in the West for 13 days. On those who have not secured the Ukrainian skies from Russian killers," he added. .

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11.05 am - Zelensky: "Possible compromise on Donbass and Crimea"

"We can discuss and find a compromise on how these territories will continue to live": Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told ABC, referring to Crimea and the "pseudo-republics" of the Donbass separatists. "I am ready for a dialogue, not for capitulation", he stressed.

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11 am - 21 civilians dead in Sumy

The death toll in the Russian dawn attack in a residential district of Sumy rises to 21 civilians, including 2 children. The Kyiv Independent reports it.

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10.50 am - Moscow: "The US and Russia return to the principle of peaceful coexistence"

Russia and the United States should return to the principle of peaceful coexistence as they did during the Cold War, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, according to Interfax.

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10.20 am - Yanukovich to Zelensky: "Stop the bloodshed"

"Stop the bloodshed": the former pro-Russian president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, asks the current number one, Volodymir Zelensky, to "put aside pride" and stop the war "at any cost". The appeal is contained in a letter published by the Russian media, according to the Kyiv Independent. "I want to make a request, presidential and even a little fatherly, to Zelensky," said the former president. "Volodymir, perhaps dreams of becoming a true hero, but heroism is not ostentation, it is not fighting to the last Ukrainian".

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10 am - Moscow confirms: "5 humanitarian corridors open"

The first operations of the evacuation from the Ukrainian city of Sumy have begun. This was reported by international media citing the Ukrainian government and showing a video posted on social media in which you can see images from the humanitarian corridor of Sumy with buses with the red cross ready to leave and people already on board.

The Russian armed forces have confirmed that they have declared a ceasefire and have opened the humanitarian corridors from Kiev, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Mariupol starting at 10 am Moscow time (8 am Italian time). The Interfax agency reports.

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9.40 am - Kiev: "Moscow wants to boycott Sumy's humanitarian corridor"

"We have information according to which the Russian side plans to obstruct this" humanitarian corridor "and that there are maneuvers to force people to take another route, which is not the one coordinated" with the Ukrainians, "and it is dangerous": Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Verechtchouk said this, referring to the humanitarian corridor in Sumy.

The Moscow Ministry of Defense has committed in a letter with the Red Cross to respect a humanitarian corridor in Sumy to evacuate civilians today with a ceasefire from 9 to 21 local (from 8 to 20 Italian) and a first convoy of evacuation starting at 10 (9 in Italy).

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8.55 am - Humanitarian corridor in Sumy

A humanitarian corridor will be opened in the morning in the city of Sumy. This was announced by the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister, Iryna Vereshchuk, according to the Guardian website. Vereshchuk said civilians will start leaving the city in northeastern Ukraine on buses starting at 8 am GMT (9 am in Italy).

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8.30 - Zelensky: "There will be a world war"

"This war will not end like this. It will unleash world war": Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said last night during an interview with ABC's World News Tonight program. Zelensky further states that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a war criminal: "Everyone who came to our land, everyone who gave the orders ... are all war criminals."

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7.55 am - Attack on Sumy: "More than ten dead, even children"

Russian forces launched an air strike against the Ukrainian city of Sumy, in the north-east of the country, causing at least 9 victims, including two children. This was announced by the head of the regional military administration, Dmytro Zhyvytsky, according to international media reports. "Unfortunately there are children among the victims," Zhyvytsky said in a video posted on Facebook, explaining that there are more than 10 casualties. There was an "unequal battle" with Russian forces bombing civilians, he writes. post: "There are dead and wounded, the rescuers are working on the places".

(Unioneonline / L)

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