LVIV/KYIV: The number of Ukrainian refugees was expected to reach 1.5 million on Sunday as Russia continued its attack 11 days after invading Ukraine and Kyiv pressed for further Western action, including more sanctions and weapons.
Moscow and Kyiv traded blame over a failed ceasefire plan that would have let civilians flee Mariupol and Volnovakha, two southern cities besieged by Russian forces. Another round of talks was tentatively planned for Monday as Ukrainians who could escape spilled into neighboring Poland, Romania, Slovakia and elsewhere.
In a televised address on Saturday night, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on people in areas occupied by Russian troops to go on the offensive and fight.
"We must go outside and drive this evil out of our cities," he said, vowing to rebuild his nation. "My confidence in this is reinforced by the energy of our resistance, our protest."
Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier reiterated that he wanted a neutral Ukraine that had been "demilitarised" and "denazified," and likened Western sanctions "to a declaration of war," adding: "Thank God it has not come to that."
Ukraine and Western countries have decried Putin's reasons as a baseless pretext for the invasion he launched on Feb. 24 and have imposed sweeping sanctions aimed at isolating Moscow and crippling its economy.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Ukraine-Poland border, said he expected new sanctions and weapons for Ukraine in coming days.
The United States has said it would give Ukraine more weapons and has repeatedly warned it could escalate sanctions, with President Joe Biden seeking $10 billion in emergency funding to respond to the crisis.
Washington is working with Poland as Warsaw considers whether to provide fighter jets to Ukraine, a White House spokesperson said late on Saturday, adding that the United States could replenish Poland's supply of jets if they did, although challenges remain given the contested airspace.
Zelenskiy had asked for help securing aircraft from European allies in a video call with U.S. lawmakers earlier on Saturday. He also called again for more lethal aid, a ban on Russian oil, a no-fly zone and an end to Visa Inc V.N and MasterCard Inc MA.N privileges in Russia, U.S. media reported.
Biden spoke with Zelenskiy for about 30 minutes on Saturday evening in Washington as Sunday broke in Ukraine, the White House said. They discussed security, financial support for Ukraine and the continuation of sanctions against Russia, Zelenskiy wrote on Twitter.
NATO, which Ukraine wants to join, has resisted Zelenskiy's appeals to impose a no-fly zone over his country, saying it would escalate the conflict outside Ukraine.
Seeking to mediate, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with Putin at the Kremlin on Saturday and later spoke to Zelenskiy, Bennett's spokesperson said.
"We continue dialogue," Zelenskiy tweeted after the call.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a six-point plan to respond to Russia's invasion ahead of meetings with leaders from Canada, the Netherlands and Central Europe in London next week.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is expected to talk with Putin on Sunday. Turkey, a NATO member, shares a maritime border with Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea.
Ukrainian negotiators said a third round of talks with Russia on a ceasefire would go ahead on Monday, although Moscow was less definitive.
FIERCE FIGHTING
Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces were carrying out a wide-ranging offensive in Ukraine and had taken several towns and villages, Russian news agency Interfax said.
Ukraine's military said armed forces "are fighting fiercely to liberate Ukrainian cities from Russian occupiers," counter-attacking in some areas and disrupting communications.
The general staff of Ukraine's armed forces said the military shot down two Russian planes and five helicopters on Saturday and also carried out air strikes against 15 motorized brigades. Reuters had no way to corroborate the claim.
In Kherson, southern Ukraine, the only regional capital to have changed hands since the invasion, several thousand people demonstrated on its main square on Saturday, chanting "Kherson is Ukraine" and demanding Russian forces withdraw.
Eyewitnesses cited by Interfax said Russian troops fired automatic rifles into the air in an unsuccessful attempt to disperse the crowd and later left.
Concerns over nuclear dangers remained after Russia seized Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, with a top U.S. official saying on Friday that Russian troops were 20 miles (32 km) from Ukraine's second largest nuclear facility.
Russia was warning the EU and NATO again to stop the "pumping of state-of-the-art weapons systems" into Kyiv, foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said, according to RIA.
Putin, in one of several decrees signed on Saturday, also gave his government two days to draw up a list of nations engaged in "unfriendly acts" towards Russia, its news agencies reported.
VISA, MASTERCARD EXIT
The International Monetary Fund warned the conflict would have a "severe impact" on the global economy, driving up energy and grain prices. It said it would weigh Kyiv's request for $1.4 billion in emergency financing as early as next week.
Many Russians, reeling from a 30% fall in the rouble's value, money transfer curbs and the exit of a growing number of Western companies, have expressed fear for their economic future.
Both Visa and Mastercard on Saturday said their credit card operations would be suspended in Russia.
Elon Musk promised to deliver more Starlink satellite internet terminals to Ukraine next week, Zelenskiy said on Saturday, adding he had spoken to the SpaceX chief executive. That could help shore up Ukraine's internet access but also poses potential security risks, experts say.
'HELP US IF YOU CAN'
Heavy shelling was heard in the background as residents of Volnovakha tried to flee the fighting.
"Help us if you can, we all want to live, we have kids, husbands, we are mothers and fathers, we are also people," said one local, Larisa. "Where shall I go? What's on me and a bag of things is all I got. That's all I have."
Blinken, following a meeting in Brussels of counterparts from NATO, the G7 and the European Union, met refugees staying in a disused shopping mall in Poland, which has taken in the vast majority of the Ukrainians forced to flee their country.
Ksenia Tymofeeva, 41, worked in a bank in Kyiv until she fled two days ago, leaving behind her husband, also a bank worker, who stayed to fight the Russian invaders.
"He doesn't have any military experience, but it's our homeland," she said at the site near the Poland-Ukraine border.
More refugees crossed into Moldova, Blinken's next stop.
The World Health Organization said 249 civilians had been killed so far and 553 injured as of March 3. It put the number of refugees at 1.2 million and said another 160,000 people had been internally displaced.
"The human cost is likely much higher as access and security challenges make it difficult to verify the actual number of deaths and injuries," it said in a statement.
READ MORE: Russia-Ukraine crisis: What led to the attacks and the latest developments
Reuters
Sun Mar 06 2022
![Ukrainian refugees near 1.5 million as Russian assault enters 11th day Ukrainian refugees near 1.5 million as Russian assault enters 11th day](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-03/51646532688_KYIV.jpg)
An elderly woman is helped while crossing a destroyed bridge as she tries to leave the city of Irpin, in the Kyiv region, Ukraine March 5, 2022. - Jedrzej Nowicki/Agencja Wyborcza.pl/via REUTERS
![Ahli ekonomi yakin pertumbuhan KDNK sekitar 5.8 peratus pada suku kedua 2024 Ahli ekonomi yakin pertumbuhan KDNK sekitar 5.8 peratus pada suku kedua 2024](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81717305735_EkonomiMalaysia.jpg)
Ahli ekonomi yakin pertumbuhan KDNK sekitar 5.8 peratus pada suku kedua 2024
Kalangan ahli ekonomi yakin KDNK Malaysia bagi suku kedua 2024 akan berkembang pada 5.8 peratus berbanding 4.2 peratus pada suku pertama tahun ini.
![Cisco akan kurangkan 7 peratus tenaga kerja globalnya Cisco akan kurangkan 7 peratus tenaga kerja globalnya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723681507_Ciscologo.jpg)
Cisco akan kurangkan 7 peratus tenaga kerja globalnya
Langkah mengurangkan kakitangan itu dijangka melibatkan kos pra-cukai sehingga AS$1 bilion.
Jiwa SME: Kuih tradisonal sejuk beku 'diterbangkan' ke Tanah Suci
Inovasi pembuatan makanan sejuk beku, terutama kuih muih tradisional telah berjaya membawa produk itu ke peringkat global, terutama dalam memenuhi citarasa jemaah haji dan umrah rakyat Malaysia di Tanah Suci Mekah dan Madinah.
![Gol sulung Mbappe bantu Real Madrid juarai Piala Super UEFA Gol sulung Mbappe bantu Real Madrid juarai Piala Super UEFA](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723679998_KylianMbappe.jpg)
Gol sulung Mbappe bantu Real Madrid juarai Piala Super UEFA
"Ia adalah malam yang hebat. Ia adalah detik yang hebat untuk saya. Dan kami memenangi kejuaraan, yang penting - di Madrid anda perlu sentiasa menang."
![“I love you Am, bahagialah di syurga firdausi” - Aufahanie “I love you Am, bahagialah di syurga firdausi” - Aufahanie](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723679258_AufahanieNidzaAfh.jpg)
“I love you Am, bahagialah di syurga firdausi” - Aufahanie
Air mata Aufahanie sudah kering meratapi pemergian abang tercinta, Nidza Afham yang ditemui meninggal dunia selepas dilaporkan hilang.
Konsert jelajah: Taylor Swift teruskan konsert London selepas ancaman keganasan
Taylor Swift akan meneruskan persembahan di London pada Khamis, meneruskan jelajah konsert terbesar dunia di tengah-tengah kebimbangan keselamatan susulan cubaan serangan Daesh memaksa pembatalan tarikh konsert di Vienna, minggu lalu.
Taliban rai ulang tahun ketiga pemerintahan Afghanistan
Kerajaan Taliban semalam meraikan ulang tahun ketiga pemerintahannya di Afghanistan dengan perarakan tentera yang memberi penghormatan kepada bom buatan sendiri yang digunakan ketika peperangan, pesawat pejuang dan perbarisan pasukan keselamatan.
![Bapa bintang bola sepak Sepanyol, Lamine Yamal ditikam - Laporan Bapa bintang bola sepak Sepanyol, Lamine Yamal ditikam - Laporan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723677980_MounirNasraoui.jpg)
Bapa bintang bola sepak Sepanyol, Lamine Yamal ditikam - Laporan
Mounir Nasraoui, bapa kepada Lamine Yamal, ditikam pada lewat Rabu di tempat letak kereta di bandar Mataro di timur laut Sepanyol.
Warga AS dihukum penjara 15 hari di Rusia kerana bersikap samseng
Mahkamah Moscow menjatuhkan hukuman penjara 15 hari kepada warga Amerika Syarikat Joseph Tater pada Rabu kerana bersikap samseng.
Putin anggap rundingan dengan Ukraine tidak berguna
Presiden Rusia Vladimir Putin menyifatkan, tindakan Ukraine yang menyerang orang awam memperlihatkan keengganan Kyiv menyelesaikan konflik peperangan dua negara dengan cara perdamaian.
![Rusia dakwa kuasai satu lagi penempatan di wilayah Donetsk, Ukraine Rusia dakwa kuasai satu lagi penempatan di wilayah Donetsk, Ukraine](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723585515_RussianDefenseMini.jpg)
Rusia dakwa kuasai satu lagi penempatan di wilayah Donetsk, Ukraine
Kementerian Pertahanan Rusia pada Selasa mendakwa telah menguasai kampung Lysychne di wilayah Donetsk timur Ukraine.
![120,000 penduduk dipindahkan dari wilayah Kursk susulan serangan Ukraine - Gabenor 120,000 penduduk dipindahkan dari wilayah Kursk susulan serangan Ukraine - Gabenor](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723508889_KurskRussia.jpg)
120,000 penduduk dipindahkan dari wilayah Kursk susulan serangan Ukraine - Gabenor
Sebanyak 60,000 orang lagi masih perlu dipindahkan, kata Pemangku Gabenor Kursk, Alexei Smirnov semasa perbincangan dengan Presiden Vladimir Putin.
![Rusia pindah penduduk Belgorod susulan ketegangan meningkat di sempadan Ukraine Rusia pindah penduduk Belgorod susulan ketegangan meningkat di sempadan Ukraine](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723462508_droneattack.jpg)
Rusia pindah penduduk Belgorod susulan ketegangan meningkat di sempadan Ukraine
Wilayah Belgorod di Rusia telah mula memindahkan penduduknya ke tempat yang lebih selamat berikutan peningkatan aktiviti ketenteraan berhampiran sempadan Ukraine.
![Loji kuasa nuklear Zaporizhzhia alami kerosakan selepas serangan Ukraine Loji kuasa nuklear Zaporizhzhia alami kerosakan selepas serangan Ukraine](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-10/41665311972_Zaporizhzhia.jpg)
Loji kuasa nuklear Zaporizhzhia alami kerosakan selepas serangan Ukraine
Infrastruktur Loji Kuasa Nuklear Zaporizhzhia (ZNPP) mengalami kerosakan serius buat kali pertama sejak serangan dan pengeboman oleh tentera Ukraine bermula, lapor Xinhua.
![Mali putus hubungan diplomatik dengan Ukraine Mali putus hubungan diplomatik dengan Ukraine](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81722861411_MaliRepublikMali.jpg)
Mali putus hubungan diplomatik dengan Ukraine
Mali memutuskan hubungan diplomatik dengan Ukraine, umum kerajaan peralihan Mali.
![Paris 2024: Almada, Echeverri temui sasaran tetapi Argentina sekadar naib juara Kumpulan B Paris 2024: Almada, Echeverri temui sasaran tetapi Argentina sekadar naib juara Kumpulan B](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71722376740_ThiagoAlmada.jpg)
Paris 2024: Almada, Echeverri temui sasaran tetapi Argentina sekadar naib juara Kumpulan B
Argentina antara pasukan pilihan untuk memenangi pingat emas ketiga mereka dalam temasya itu dan mereka jelas menyinar pada edisi kali ini.
![Rusia puji pendirian Malaysia tidak berpihak berhubung isu Ukraine - Lavrov Rusia puji pendirian Malaysia tidak berpihak berhubung isu Ukraine - Lavrov](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61722232685_SergeyLavrov.jpg)
Rusia puji pendirian Malaysia tidak berpihak berhubung isu Ukraine - Lavrov
Rusia memuji pendirian Malaysia yang tidak berpihak terhadap konflik Ukraine, kata Menteri Luar Sergey Lavrov pada Ahad.
![EU pindahkan 1.5 bilion euro aset Rusia yang dibekukan ke Ukraine EU pindahkan 1.5 bilion euro aset Rusia yang dibekukan ke Ukraine](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-07/51689601405_European.jpg)
EU pindahkan 1.5 bilion euro aset Rusia yang dibekukan ke Ukraine
Kesatuan Eropah (EU) mengumumkan telah memindahkan aset Rusia yang dibekukan bernilai 1.5 bilion euro kepada Ukraine.
![Zelensky ingin lihat Rusia hadir ke persidangan keamanan Ukraine seterusnya Zelensky ingin lihat Rusia hadir ke persidangan keamanan Ukraine seterusnya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721080146_VolodymyrZelenskiy.jpg)
Zelensky ingin lihat Rusia hadir ke persidangan keamanan Ukraine seterusnya
Zelensky berkata beliau telah menugaskan Kerajaan Ukraine untuk menganjurkan acara itu menjelang November tahun ini.
![Ukraine boleh bergantung kepada NATO untuk jangka panjang - Ketua NATO Ukraine boleh bergantung kepada NATO untuk jangka panjang - Ketua NATO](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51720755170_JensStoltenberg.jpg)
Ukraine boleh bergantung kepada NATO untuk jangka panjang - Ketua NATO
Ketua NATO itu berkata, pihaknya bersetuju bahawa sokongan China dalam konflik ini akan memberi kesan kepada kepentingan dan reputasinya.