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The US State Department issued a travel advisory on Tuesday warning that Moscow “may single out and detain US citizens in Russia” and repeating earlier warnings for Americans not to travel to the country. Follow our live blog for the latest developments. All times indicated are Paris time [GMT+1].
9:25 am: Germany declares 'early warning' gas plan to secure supply
Germany on Wednesday raised the alarm level under its emergency gas plan as fears rose that Russia could cut off supplies if Western countries refused to make payments in roubles. After G7 countries rejected the Russian demand, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said at a press conference he had called for the first "early warning" alert level under the plan, establishing a crisis team in the ministry to monitor the situation.
Under Germany's existing gas emergency plan, the early warning is the first of three stages and does not yet imply state intervention. Economy Minister Robert Habeck said in a statement that supplies were safeguarded for the time being and that Germany was closely monitoring supply flows with market operators.
9:15 am: Shelling continues around Eastern city of Kharkiv as Ukraine claims having regained control of cities
FRANCE 24's Catherine Norris Trent is in the eastern city of Kharkiv and reports, as shelling continues in the city. Kyiv has claimed to have pushed back the frontline, regaining control of areas previously controlled by pro-Russian troops.
8:15 am: An inside look at Mariupol's devastation, as besieged port city now reduced to ghost town
France 2's team managed to enter a part of the southern port city of Mariupol, which is besieged and under heavy Russian shelling. Inhabitants that have not fled are living under constant infighting and have been without running water or heating for almost a month.
6:58 am: Residential areas of Ukraine's eastern city of Lysychansk shelled
Residential areas of Ukraine's eastern city of Lysychansk were shelled by heavy artillery on Wednesday morning, Luhansk regional governor Serhiy Gaidai wrote on Telegram. "A number of high-rise buildings have been damaged. Information on casualties is being confirmed," he said. "Many buildings have collapsed. Rescuers are trying to save those still alive."
06:14 am: Trump asks Putin to help dish dirt on Hunter Biden
Donald Trump has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin, who launched an invasion of Ukraine last month, to reveal any compromising information he might have on US President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter.
The former Republican president returned to accusations he had repeated many times during his unsuccessful campaign against Biden in the 2020 presidential election.
In an interview excerpt broadcast Tuesday by Real America’s Voice “Just the News” show, Trump claimed that the wife of the mayor of Moscow gave $3.5 million to Hunter Biden.
“That’s a lot of money,” he said. “She gave him $3.5 million so now I would think Putin would know the answer to that. I think he should release it.”
Trump has long claimed, without providing evidence, that the younger Biden received the funds from Elena Baturina, wife of the late Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov, in a bid to curry favor with Joe Biden.
04:55 am: US State Department warns that Moscow may ‘detain’ Americans in Russia
The US State Department issued a travel advisory on Tuesday warning that Moscow “may single out and detain US citizens in Russia” and repeating earlier warnings for Americans not to travel to the country.
The warning was “due to the unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces” as well as the potential for harassment of US citizens by Russian authorities, the travel advisory said, repeating calls for Americans travelling or living in Russia to leave “immediately”.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
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