Tag: Ukraine

  • ’Immoral’, Moscow to allow Ukrainian civilians to ‘escape’ and enter Russia

    ’Immoral’, Moscow to allow Ukrainian civilians to ‘escape’ and enter Russia

    After bombarding Ukraine, Russia said that their military will hold fire and six humanitarian corridors will be opened around Ukrainian cities to allow civilians to escape, reports Al Jazeera citing Russia’s Defence Ministry.

    Ukraine rejected the plan to give civilians in several key cities safe passage to Russia and Belarus as ‘immoral’.

    “This is a completely immoral story. People’s suffering is used to create the desired television picture,” the spokesman for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. “These are citizens of Ukraine, they should have the right to evacuate to the territory of Ukraine”, he added.

    Kyiv also said that negotiations are taking place with Russia on establishing humanitarian corridors but warned that such escape routes are unlikely to be set up.

    Oleksiy Arestovich, an adviser to Zelensky’s chief of staff, said each Ukrainian should be allowed to decide where they want to go. He also advised Ukrainians against evacuating to Russia.

    China’s Foreign Minister (FM) said that the country’s Red Cross Society will provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

    As of yet, more than one million Ukrainians have fled to Poland since the start of the Russian invasion.

  • Pakistan finds EU diplomats’ letter to condemn Russia ‘unacceptable’

    Pakistan finds EU diplomats’ letter to condemn Russia ‘unacceptable’

    The Pakistan Foreign Office has taken a strong exception to a statement by European Union (EU) envoys on Pakistan’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine War in a weekly press briefing.

    A few days earlier, envoys of 22 countries — including EU member states — to Pakistan had jointly asked Pakistan to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the resolution which was brought in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) emergency session.

    “As heads of mission to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, we urge Pakistan to join us in condemning Russia’s actions,” said a joint statement signed by envoys from 22 countries.

    However, Pakistan abstained from voting to censure Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

    A spokesperson of the Foreign Office, Asim Iftikhar, said that this showed an “unacceptable attitude” by EU diplomats.

    He said, “This attitude is unacceptable and Pakistan has conveyed its concern to the embassies.”

    He clarified that Pakistan pursued a clear-minded foreign policy and that the country wants balanced and broad-based relations with all countries, including the United States and Europe.

    He also stated that the Pakistan embassy in Ukraine is working to facilitate Pakistani nationals, including students, to evacuate them to secure places.

  • ‘Great people’: Indians praise Pakistan Embassy for assisting their students in evacuation from Ukraine

    Pakistan has won the hearts of Indian citizens after assisting their students in evacuation from Ukraine.

    Indian students were left alone as they could not find any Indian embassy officials who could help them evacuate safely from war zone areas.

    According to media reports, Indian nationals have been facing discrimination in Ukraine since India abstained from the right to vote against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    When Indian students reached Lviv, a town 70 kilometers away from Poland, they did not find any Indian embassy officials to facilitate them.

    A Sweden-based Professor, Ashok Swain, shared a video in which a student has described the current situation sitting with other Pakistani nationals in a dining hall of a building at the Romanian border.

    He said, “Only four of us are Indian. The rest of them are Pakistanis. You can see. There were many people when we reached Lviv yesterday from Kharkiv. There were no officials from Indian Embassy. We have tried many times to find them.”

    Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also confirmed the news about the facilitation given to Indian students from Pakistan Embassy in Ukraine.

    He said that Pakistani embassy officials helped Indian students in Ukraine on humanitarian grounds as they were in distress.

    Indian Twitter user, Gaurav Sabnis, appreciated the gesture shown by the Pakistani Embassy staff.

    He said, “First with that vandalized temple reconstruction and now this, the Pakistani government is showing that it has a much better grasp on the concept that doing the right thing can actually be good for your public image too. That you can ‘win’ with generosity.”

    Another Indian has shared his experience of hospitality when some Pakistanis helped him in the United Kingdom.

  • Russia and Ukraine talks begin after Putin puts nuclear forces on alert

    Russia and Ukraine talks begin after Putin puts nuclear forces on alert

    After five days of Russian aggression, Moscow and Ukraine have begun high-level talks on the Ukraine-Belarus border with the aim of an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian forces, reports Al Jazeera.

    The Ukrainian military claimed that the pace of Russia’s assault has slowed. However, a day earlier Russian President Vladimir Putin put the country’s nuclear forces on high alert.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called the next 24 hours “crucial” for the country. He has also indicated that he sees little prospect of any meaningful dialogue.

    He said he was not confident that any progress would be made. “Let’s try, so that no citizen of Ukraine would have any doubt that I, as president, tried to stop the war when there was even a chance,” he stated.

    Ukraine’s health ministry stated that 352 Ukrainian civilians have been killed so far, including 14 children. Moreover, tens of thousands of Ukrainians have fled to Romania and other neighbouring countries to seek shelter.

    Earlier, Zelensky had asked the European Union (EU) to admit Ukraine as a member state. As a result, multiple European countries are offering military aid to Kyiv.

    Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member states are also stepping up their support for Ukraine by “providing Kyiv with air-defence missiles and anti-tank weapons.”

  • Pakistan embassy warns stranded nationals in Poland not to go anywhere else

    Pakistan embassy warns stranded nationals in Poland not to go anywhere else

    The Pakistan embassy has given a serious warning to stranded Pakistani nationals who were transported to Poland from Ukraine. This warning was given after 15 Pakistanis were arrested while trying to flee to Germany on Saturday, reports Samaa News.

    The embassy said that they would stop evacuation if Pakistanis did not follow said rules and regulations. Poland has given 15 days visas on a humanitarian basis to all Pakistanis who were evacuated from Ukraine.

    They have to return back to Pakistan after their visa expiration. They are also strictly not allowed to leave Poland during this duration.

    The embassy said that whoever tries to enter another country from Poland would face serious consequences.

    Pakistan Embassy has updated the evacuation details on their Twitter. Until now, 411 Pakistanis have been evacuated from Ukraine. Some people are on their way to Lviv from Kharkiv, Poltava, and Kyiv.

    The evacuation process has been delayed due to a rush of people wanting to escape the country.

    The embassy has requested all nationals to stay in contact with the authorities “for smooth evacuation as soon as possible.” 

  • PIA announces special flights for Pak students ‘stranded in Ukraine’

    PIA announces special flights for Pak students ‘stranded in Ukraine’

    Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced special flights to bring back Pakistani students, “stranded in Ukraine.” PIA has scheduled two special flights that will leave tomorrow for Poland.

    “In coordination with FollowPakistan Embassy in Ukraine, PIA has planned repatriation FLTs for Pak Students stranded in Ukraine, the first 2 FLTs wud leave tomorrow for Poland from where they will be repatriated to safety & united with their families. PIA always steps forward when the nation demands,” PIA wrote in a tweet.

    The Pakistan Embassy in Ukraine has managed to evacuate at least 70 students from Kharkiv city. Kharkiv city is one of the main battle grounds between Ukrainian and Russian forces.

  • Love in the time of war: Ukrainian couple gets married amid attacks

    Love in the time of war: Ukrainian couple gets married amid attacks

    A Ukrainian couple got married at Kyiv’s St Michael’s monastery with air raid sirens in the background, as Russia attacked Ukraine on Thursday.

    Talking to CNN, the bride said: “That was very scary. It’s the happiest moment of your life, and you go out, and you hear that.”

    Previously, their wedding was scheduled to take place on the terrace of a restaurant in front of Dnieper River in May. However, they had to change their plans as Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. They decided to get married as early as possible because of the uncertainty of the future.

    Yaryna Arieva, 21, works as a deputy in the Kyiv City Council, and her partner, Svyatoslav Fursin, 24, is a software engineer. They met each other in October 2019 during a protest in Kyiv.

    The married couple is ready to join Territorial Defence Centre to defend their country. Yaryna Arieva said, “We have to protect it. We have to protect the people we love and the land we live on.”

    “I hope for the best, but I do what I can to protect my land,” she added.

    “We maybe can die, and we just wanted to be together before all of that,” said the bride who wants to be with her partner while defending their country, Ukraine.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale military invasion by sea, land, and air on Thursday.

    According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Russian troops are targeting civilian and military zones with their strikes.

    According to the head of the UN refugee agency, Filippo Grandi, more than 50,000 citizens in Ukraine have taken refuge in Poland and Moldova. While some have taken shelters in the subway stations and basements.

  • ‘I am here’: Ukrainian President Zelensky tells citizens during Russian invasion

    ‘I am here’: Ukrainian President Zelensky tells citizens during Russian invasion

    Street fighting has reportedly broken out in Kyiv, as the Russian troops have reached the capital after less than three days of fighting, reports Al Jazeera.

    Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said that Ukrainian forces have been able to mount a strong defence against the Russians.

    In the early hours of Saturday, Zelensky released a video outside his office in the capital city. He said, “I am here. We will not lay down the weapons. We will defend our state. This is our land our country, our children and we will defend all of that.”

    The Ukrainian president has turned down an offer by the United States (US) government to evacuate the country. “I need ammunition, not a ride,” he remarked.

    Ukrainians have been advised to take shelter. Around100,000 people are believed to have left their homes.

    US officials believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to overthrow Ukraine’s government and replace it with a regime of his own. The Biden administration has also imposed sanctions on Russia.

    On February 23, Putin allowed Russian forces to invade Ukraine.

    Zelensky, in a tweet, called for Ukraine to be granted European Union (EU) membership. He said he had discussed “further effective assistance” as well as “the heroic struggle of Ukrainians for their free future” with European Council President Charles Michel.

  • ‘No to War’: Thousands of Russian citizens protest against their government for the Ukraine invasion

    ‘No to War’: Thousands of Russian citizens protest against their government for the Ukraine invasion

    Protests are taking place across Russia in different cities against the invasion of Ukraine by the Russians on Thursday.

    Most of the people were seen chanting “No to War” and raising slogans against the invasion. Thousands of Russians gathered on Thursday night to show a strong reaction against their own government.

    The protestor is holding a placard that says, “No To War”. This man is standing at Pushkinskaya Square on Thursday night in Moscow

    While talking with Al-Jazeera, one of the young protestors said, “I have no words, it’s just disgusting,” she added, “What is there to say? We feel powerlessness, anguish.”

    Several journalists, reporters, media figures, and independent media outlets, including the BBC, have signed a petition against the Russian military operation.

    Government workers of the municipal department from different cities of Russia signed a letter to the citizens of Russia, urging the citizens not to participate in the operation or stay silent.

    “We, the deputies elected by the people, unreservedly condemn the attack of the Russian army on Ukraine,” read the letter.

    The letter further added that the military operation is an atrocity that cannot be justified at any cost.

    Protestors raised slogans against their President, Putin.

    “Putin is a killer! Putin is the shame of Russia!” they shouted. “Ukraine! Ukraine!”, reports Al-Jazeera.

    Some were chanting and clapping in support of Ukraine as well in the protest.

    “Ukraine is not our enemy!”

    Police have arrested thousands of protestors who were taking part in the demonstrations against the invasion.

    After months of tensions with Ukraine, and its western allies, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale military operation by sea, land, and air on Thursday.

  • ‘Conflict not in anyone’s interest,’ PM Khan tells President Putin

    ‘Conflict not in anyone’s interest,’ PM Khan tells President Putin

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan had a Summit meeting with President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow yesterday. The two leaders held wide-ranging consultations on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest, stated the PM Office.

    ​”The Prime Minister regretted the latest situation between Russia and Ukraine and said that Pakistan had hoped diplomacy could avert a military conflict. The Prime Minister stressed that conflict was not in anyone’s interest and that the developing countries were always hit the hardest economically in case of conflict. He underlined Pakistan’s belief that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy,” read the statement.

    “The Prime Minister reaffirmed the importance of the Pakistan-Stream Gas Pipeline as a flagship economic project between Pakistan and Russia and also discussed cooperation on prospective energy-related projects. The Prime Minister underscored Pakistan’s commitment to forging a long-term, multidimensional relationship with Russia.”

    “PM Khan underlined the urgency of addressing the humanitarian crisis and preventing potential economic meltdown in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister reiterated that Pakistan would continue to work with the international community for a stable, peaceful, and connected Afghanistan. In this regard, he underscored the ongoing cooperation and coordination between Pakistan and Russia at various international and regional fora, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO),” said PMO.

    ​”On the situation in South Asia, the Prime Minister highlighted the serious human rights situation in IIOJK and underscored the imperative of peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. The Prime Minister also highlighted the developments detrimental to regional peace and stability and stressed the need for measures that would help keep the regional balance.”
    ​
    “Expressing concerns on rising trends of extremism and Islamophobia in the world, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for interfaith harmony and coexistence. Appreciating President Putin’s understanding of the respect and sensitivities that the Muslims attach to the Holy Prophet (PBUH), the Prime Minister said that interfaith harmony and respect for all religions were imperative for peace and harmony within and among the societies.”

    PM Khan, along with members of the cabinet and senior officials, was on a two-day visit to Russia.