The tripartite meeting was held in Antalya of Turkey with the participation of the foreign ministers of Russia, Ukraine and Turkey on Thursday morning as the Ukraine crisis enters its third week.
Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers have arrived in Turkey for face-to-face talks on Thursday. It is the first time the top diplomats have met since Russia began its operation on February 24.
Officials from Kyiv and Moscow have previously held talks in Belarus. But the meeting between Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Antalya represents the first time Russia has sent a minister for discussions on the conflict.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko tweeted Wednesday that the talks were aimed at stopping the Russian attack.
The meeting was held in the city of Antalya in Turkey where the Turkish foreign minister was also attending. The talks ended without progress on ceasefire.
Energy supplies to EU would continue: Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a government meeting in order to discuss economic issues amid a new round of anti-Russian sanctions.
Putin said in the meeting that Russian gas is being transported from Russia to European countries via pipelines passing through Ukraine.
He addressed the hostile states that Moscow will abide by its commitments to supply energy.
Russia to pay a price for its invasion on Ukraine: US VP
The US vice-president, Kamala Harris, says she will discuss issues with Poland that will force Russia to pay a price on Ukraine, reports Reuters.
More than 2.3 million refugees have fled Ukraine
UNHCR, the UN’s refugee agency, recorded 2,316,002 refugees from Ukraine on Thursday – 160,731 more than the previous count on Wednesday.
Zelensky signs law on forced seizure of Russian property in Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a law on forced seizure of property that belonged to Russia or its residents in Ukraine, the Stana.ua news agency was quoted as reporting on Thursday.
Zelensky also said that he is ready to do everything to confiscate property of "Russian propagandists".
Europe's banks reveal billions worth of Russia risk as sanctions bite
Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse said Thursday that its exposure to Russia totalled over $900 million at the end of last year, with "minimal" links to individuals sanctioned over the Ukraine war, Reuters reported.
Switzerland's second largest bank said its exposure to Russia stood at 848 million Swiss francs ($914 million, 828 million euros) at the end of 2021.
Russia outraged by US activities at biolabs in Ukraine
Russian FM Sergey Lavrov told reporters after the Turkey-hosted meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart on Thursday that Russia was "outraged" by the experiments that the Pentagon conducted at bio laboratories in Ukraine. He said that American money was used to experiment on dangerous pathogens that could potentially be used in biological weapons, Sputnik reported.
No alternative to the Russia-Ukraine talks in Belarus:
Russian FM Sergey Lavrov spoke to the press after negotiations in Turkey during which he said that Ukrainian president Zelensky offered to meet President Putin face to face to "show off" not to address the existing problems, Anadolu Agency reported.
According to Sputnik, Lavrov also said that there is no alternative to the Russia-Ukraine talks being held in Belarus.
UK sanctions Abramovich, Deripaska amid Ukraine crisis
The UK government announces sanctions on seven individuals including Roman Abramovich and Oleg Deripaska, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.
Abramovich’s assets will be frozen, and he is subject to a prohibition on transactions with UK individuals and businesses, a travel ban and transport sanctions.
US House of Representatives approves ban on Russian energy imports
The US House of Representatives passed legislation to ban US imports of Russian energy products and to encourage the World Trade Organization to suspend Russia’s trade concessions, Sputnik reported on Thursday.
Russian troops take over parts of Mariupol: Defense ministry
The Russian defense ministry said in a statement on Thursday morning that the Russian troops have taken over parts of the third-largest city in Ukraine, Maripol.
Ukraine's president signs law on civilian use of weapons during wartime
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law Wednesday allowing civilians to use weapons during wartime, Anadolu Agency reported.
To catch up with the latest Ukraine developments on Wednesday click here.
KI/Live