Zelenskyy refuses to flee, urges Ukraine to 'stand firm'

Louis Tomlinson and HEALTH are among the latest to pull their Russian gigs, joining the likes of Yungblud, Green Day and Russian rapper Oxxxymiron.Tomlinson was due to perform in both Ukraine and Russia this year, with a show at Kyiv’s Stereo Plaza slated for Monday July 4, and at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall on Wednesday July 6.In a statement shared to social media overnight, the former One Direction singer wrote: “Due to the recent events in Ukraine, I have to sadly announce that my tour shows in Moscow and Kyiv are canceled until further notice. The safety of my fans is my priority and my thoughts go out to the people of Ukraine and all those suffering from this needless war.”A post shared by Louis Tomlinson (@louist91)HEALTH, on the other hand, were booked in to play two shows in Russia next month, taking to St.

PHILADELPHIA - Locals with close ties to Ukraine have watched from afar as the place they called home continues to fight a fierce and bloody invasion effort from a world super power. Kostyantyn Peredery, a native of Ukraine, moved to Chester County six years ago with his family to work in the field of Information Technology. Now, from Chester Springs, Kostyantyn watches as Vladimir Putin's Russian arm continues to bombard his homeland. "It makes me very angry, it makes me very upset," Kostyantyn said.

Ukraine‘s fight against the violent and unprovoked invasion launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement on Monday, adding the federal government also plans to prohibit all imports of Russian crude oil — a commodity he said has enriched Putin and the Russian oligarchs surrounding him.

told a Russian warship to "go f--- yourself" are "alive and well," according to a Facebook post published by the Ukrainian Navy. "Regarding the Marines and border guards, who were taken captive by Russian occupiers on the island of Snake. We are very happy to learn that our brothers are alive and well," the post, which was published on Monday, read in part. The Ukrainian soldiers were on Zmiiny Island, also known as Snake Island, and were live-streaming on Feb.

Medical oxygen supplies are "dangerously low" in Ukraine owing to the Russian invasion, World Health Organization (WHO) officials said yesterday in a statement.

In a statement Monday, Switzerland’s federal council said it would adopt sanctions against Russia effective immediately. The measures, it said, would match those of the European Union, of which Switzerland is not a member.The sanctions package targets various Russian companies and individuals, and involves freezing the personal assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.The federal council said it would also close its airspace to all flights from Russia and “all movements of aircraft with Russian markings,” bar people close to Putin from entering Switzerland, and send relief supplies to Poland to help with settling Ukrainian refugees.FULL STATEMENT:In view of Russia’s continuing military intervention in Ukraine, the Federal Council took the decision on 28 February to adopt the packages of sanctions imposed by the EU on 23 and 25 February.

Ukrainian and Russian officials began talks in Belarus on Monday to bring Moscow’s invasion of the eastern European nation to an end.Though the talks are underway, war rages on between the two nations on the fifth day of the campaign, which began last Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale attack on Ukraine.Talks began with the aim of an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian forces, the Ukrainian president’s office has said, after Russia’s advance has gone more slowly than expected. Ukraine slows Russian invasion under looming threat of nuclear attack Five days in, Russian forces have seized two small cities in southeastern Ukraine, and the Zaporizhzhya area, which is home to a nuclear power plant, the Interfax news agency said on Monday.

KYIV, Ukraine - Outgunned but determined Ukrainian troops slowed Russia’s advance and held onto the capital and other key cities — at least for now. In the face of stiff resistance and devastating sanctions, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia’s nuclear forces put on high alert, threatening to elevate the war to a terrifying new level.Explosions and gunfire that have disrupted life since the invasion began last week appeared to subside around Kyiv overnight, as Ukrainian and Russian delegations met Monday on Ukraine’s border with Belarus.

Vladimir Putin’s implied threat to turn the Ukraine war into a broader nuclear conflict presents President Joe Biden with choices rarely contemplated in the atomic age, including whether to raise the alert level of U.S. nuclear forces.The turn of events is all the more remarkable for the fact that less than a year ago, Putin and Biden issued a statement at their Geneva summit that seemed more in keeping with the idea that the threat of nuclear war was a Cold War relic.

rouble tumbled to a record low against the dollar on Monday, after Western nations announced a harsh set of sanctions over the weekend to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, including curbs on the country’s currency reserves.The rouble fell as far as 119.50 per dollar in Asian trading, a record low for the currency and a steep drop of 30 per cent from Friday’s close. It subsequently recovered to around 110 per dollar.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his military command on Sunday to put Russia’s deterrence forces, a reference to units including its nuclear arms, on high alert.

West Block host Mercedes Stephenson interviews Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly about what more could be done to punish Russia in response to President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Credit: @anastasiia.lenna via Instagram A former beauty queen has apparently traded in her tiara for a rifle to join Ukraine's ongoing resistance to Russia's invasion.Anastasia Lenna, who was Miss Grand Ukraine in 2015, posted on her Instagram account that she was one of the thousands of Ukrainians who have picked up arms to defend their nation."Everyone who crosses the Ukrainian border with the intent to invade will be killed!" she said in one post.Lenna Instagram stories have been filled with calls for assistance for Ukraine and praise for the brave men and women fighting to defend their homeland. According to TMZ, Lenna speaks five languages and worked as a translator and PR manager.Get breaking news alerts in the free FOX5NY News app!  |  Sign up for FOX 5 email newslettersIn a dramatic escalation of East-West tensions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian nuclear forces put on high alert Sunday in response to what he called "aggressive statements" by leading NATO powers.Ukraine latest: Putin puts Russia's nuclear deterrent forces on alert amid tensions with WestMeanwhile, Ukraine announced that a delegation would meet with Russian officials for talks.AdvertisementUkraine’s health minister reported Saturday that 198 people, including three children, had been killed and more than 1,000 others wounded. It was unclear whether those figures included both military and civilian casualties.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - Vladimir Putin put his nuclear forces on increased alert on Sunday in an unprecedented escalation of tension with the West over Russia’s massive conventional assault of Ukraine, which entered its fourth day with fighting in the streets of the country’s second-largest city.Here are the things to know about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the security crisis in Eastern Europe:MOSCOW, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 24, 2022: Russia's President Vladimir Putin is seen during a meeting with members of Russian business community in the Moscow Kremlin.

The latest as of 9.35 a.m. ET Sunday:

Kyiv curfew extended as Russian troops pound on Ukrainian capital “We have not supported what Russia has done. We have abstained.

The Ukrainian government says at least 200 people have been killed on its soil during the invasion by Russia. The country’s president wants peace and to get it through negotiation, not death, and would be willing to engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but Volodymyr Zelenskyy is not willing to bow to any Kremlin ultimatums.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an address on Saturday that he welcomes moves by various countries to disconnect Russia from “global financial civilization” by cutting the country off from the SWIFT international payment system. Russia still has access to SWIFT, but more countries are pushing for it to happen, including Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday that Canada will be placing sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - FEBRUARY 26: A protester holds a banner calling for imminent help for Ukraine during a demonstration against Russia's invasion of Ukraine held in front the building of the Permanent Mission of Russia to the E.U. on February 26, 20 The Rev.

The latest as of 2:20 p.m. ET Saturday:

In early November 2021, Crew-2 ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet photographed the space station from above during the return trip home aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour (NASA/ESA/SpaceX) In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, President Joe Biden announced new sanctions Thursday targeting the Russian economy and attempting to cut off access to emerging technology, which could impact the Russian space program, Roscosmos. "Between our actions and those of our allies and partners, we estimate that will cut off more than half of Russia's high-tech imports and will strike a blow to their ability to continue to modernize their military," Biden said Thursday. "It'll degrade their aerospace industry, including their space program, and hurt their ability to build ships, reducing their ability to compete economically."While Russian and U.S.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - Kyiv residents braced Saturday for another night sheltering underground, as Russian troops closed in on Ukraine’s capital and skirmishes were reported on the outskirts. Ukraine’s leader, meanwhile, claimed the country’s forces had repulsed the Russian assault, and he vowed to keep up the struggle and appealed for more help from the outside world."The real fighting for Kyiv is ongoing," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video message in which he accused Russia of hitting infrastructure and civilian targets."We will win," he said.RELATED: Who is the 'Ghost of Kyiv'? Tale of Ukrainian fighter pilot trends on social mediaCentral Kyiv appeared quiet on Saturday, though sporadic gunfire could be heard.

Russian troops stormed the city, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said Saturday morning.The strike set the building on fire and left a massive hole and an evacuation was underway, the government said. There was no immediate word on any potential fatalities or injuries. RELATED: Ukraine crisis: Russian troops close in on Kyiv as residents fleeRussian troops stormed toward Ukraine’s capital Saturday, and street fighting broke out as city officials urged residents to take shelter. Emergency services in Kyiv said six people were injured after a high-rise apartment building was damaged by shelling early on February 26, as the city faced increasing pressure from invading Russian forces. (Credit: Mykola Medinsky via Storyful)"Kyiv, our splendid, peaceful city, survived another night under attacks by Russian ground forces, missiles," Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country’s fate is being decided right now, as Russian forces close in on Kyiv. Journalist Joe Federman of the Associated Press reports from Ukraine’s capital on the escalating anxiety and chaos, and the resistance among Ukrainians.

PHILADELPHIA - Ukraine immigrants were among a crowd of Philadelphians who gathered near City Hall on Friday to rally support for Ukraine as it continues to fight a Russian invasion from Russia. Russian troops bore down on Ukraine’s capital Friday while the president grimly predicted that the conflict would soon intensify, and fears of wider war in Europe triggered new international efforts to make Moscow stop, including direct sanctions on President Vladimir Putin.Amid reports of hundreds of casualties — including shelling that sliced through a Kyiv apartment building and pummeled bridges and schools — there also were growing signs that Russia may be seeking to overthrow Ukraine’s government, which U.S. officials have described as Putin’s ultimate objective.

LOS ANGELES - Cities in the United States and across the globe are displaying blue and yellow lights, the colors of the Ukrainian flag, in a show of solidarity with the European nation as it grapples with a full-on invasion from neighboring Russia.The Empire State Building was illuminated with blue and yellow lights in a display of support for Ukraine currently under siege by Russian forces."Tonight, the Empire State Building will shine its tower lights in the colors of the Ukrainian flag," wrote the official Twitter account for the Empire State Building. In Dallas, the Ukrainian flag’s colors could be seen shining throughout the Texas city’s skyline. In Cincinnati, Ohio, a sister city to Kharkiv, Ukraine, the Duke Energy Convention Center was also lit up as a hat tip to Ukraine.Roughly 200 miles to the north, in Sandusky, Ohio, a tribute to Ukraine could also be found.Tributes to Ukraine could also be seen in Paris, London, Melbourne, Berlin and Rome, Reuters reported. Berlin, which stood as the front line during the Cold War until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, sent a clear signal to the Kremlin when it lit up the iconic Brandenburg Gate, the city’s most famous landmark, in blue and yellow."We are showing our solidarity with the people of Ukraine, the many Berliners with Ukrainian roots but also with the many Russians who want peace in Russia and Ukraine," Berlin Mayor Franziska Giffey said in a statement."They all want nothing more than an end to the escalation and a peaceful settlement to this threatening conflict," she added.A day after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered military action in the breakaway regions of Ukraine, Russian forces appear to be closing in on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.Explosions

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday that Canada will be placing sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 24, 2022: Russia's President Vladimir Putin is seen during a meeting with members of Russian business community in the Moscow Kremlin. Alexei Nikolsky/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS (Photo by Alexei N BRUSSELS - With a military intervention in Ukraine off the table, and countries around the world looking to heap more financial punishment on Moscow, the United States, Britain and European Union said Friday they will move to sanction Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.The Russian military is in the middle of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.The EU’s unanimous decision, part of a broader sanctions package, indicated that Western powers are moving toward unprecedented measures to try to force Putin to stop the brutal invasion of Russia’s neighbor and from unleashing a major war in Europe.

BRUSSELS - U.S. President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts agreed Friday to reassure member countries on the alliance’s eastern flank by sending parts of the organization’s response force to help protect them following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.With Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealing for help, NATO members ranging from Russia’s neighbor Estonia in the north down to Bulgaria on the Black Sea coast triggered urgent consultations about their security.

KYIV, Ukraine - Ukraine is seeking financial support for its military defense and has launched a website to request logistical and medical support for their armed forces amid an ongoing Russian invasion. "Please donate the funds for logistical and medical support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in UAH to the bank account of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine," according to the website. The website adds: "Due to numerous requests from individuals and legal entities who are not residents of Ukraine and wish to make donations (in foreign currency) for the logistics and medical support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has set up a designated bank account." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that Sweden is providing military, technical and humanitarian assistance to the country. On Thursday he said any citizen who wanted a weapon to defend their country would receive one. "We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country.

KYIV, Ukraine - Russia pressed its invasion of Ukraine to the outskirts of the capital Friday after unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security order.Explosions sounded before dawn in Kyiv and gunfire was reported in several areas, as Western leaders scheduled an emergency meeting and Ukraine's president pleaded for international help to fend off an attack that could topple his democratically elected government, cause massive casualties and ripple out damage to the global economy.Among the signs that the Ukrainian capital was increasingly threatened, the military said Friday that a group of Russian spies and saboteurs was seen in a district on the outskirts of Kyiv, and police told people not to exit a subway station in the city center because there was gunfire in the area. Elsewhere in the capital, soldiers established defensive positions at bridges, and armored vehicles rolled down the streets, while many residents stood uneasily in doorways of their apartment buildings.U.S.

assault on Ukraine that opened with air and missile strikes on Ukrainian military facilities and included ground troops invading from Crimea.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 137 "heroes" including 10 military officers had been killed and another 316 wounded. Ukraine’s leadership called it a "full-scale war" targeting the country from the east, north and south. Ukraine said Russia’s intent was to destroy the state of Ukraine, a Western-looking democracy intent on escaping Moscow’s orbit.As Ukrainian forces fought back and civilians piled into trains and cars to flee, the U.S.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin unleashes its attack on Ukraine, people across the country are scrambling to leave or face getting caught in the crossfire.

The latest as of 12:20 a.m. ET Friday:

New satellite images are providing a clear view of the damage Ukrainian military infrastructure has already suffered after Russia’s military invaded the country on Thursday.

PHILADELPHIA - Members of Philadelphia's Ukrainian community gathered Thursday to rally for peace as Russia's invasion of their homeland continued for a second day. Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security order. Ukraine’s government pleaded for help as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee.Members of the First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church in Northeast Philadelphia gathered for a special night of prayer. "It's kind of like this state of not knowing what to do next," Pastor Denis Sichkar said.

KYIV, Ukraine - Explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv early Friday as Russian forces pressed on with a full-scale invasion that resulted in the deaths of more than 100 Ukrainians in the first full day of fighting and could eventually rewrite the global post-Cold War security order.After using airstrikes on cities and military bases, Russian military units moved swiftly to take on Ukraine's seat of government and its largest city in what U.S. officials suspect is a brazen attempt by Russian President Vladimir Putin to dismantle the government and replace it with his own regime.Ukrainian leaders pleaded for help as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee, and hotels in Kyiv were being evacuated amid early indications of an assault.Ukrainian forces braced for more attacks after enduring for hours a Russian barrage of land- and sea-based missiles, an assault that one senior U.S.

KYIV, Ukraine - Several explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv early Friday as Russian forces pressed on with their assault.Associated Press reporters heard several blasts in different parts of the city.Earlier on Thursday, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides in an attack that could rewrite the global post-Cold War security order. Ukraine’s government pleaded for help as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee.Scores of Ukrainians, civilians and service members alike, were killed in the first full day of fighting, and the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv appeared to be increasingly threatened.

PHILADELPHIA - While the sovereign and free democratic country of Ukraine now faces an invasion from a world superpower, a Ukrainian father is praying for the safety of his daughter and mother."My daughter, my little daughter in Kyiv is with her mom, they spent all the day in the subway in the underground because there was alarm sounds all day," Yevhen Semekhin said.Semekhin’s family is trying to escape the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and meet in Western Ukraine, but so are many other frightened Ukrainians."They are in their car but there are a lot of cars in Kyiv. There is no gasoline at gas stations people with money go to the gas stations.

Canada is targeting members of the Russian elite and major banks in a series of new sanctions after Moscow ordered a invasion of Ukraine on Thursday.

KYIV, Ukraine - A presidential adviser says Ukraine lost control of the Chernobyl nuclear site, where Ukrainian forces had waged a fierce battle with Russian troops.Adviser Myhailo Podolyak told The Associated Press that Ukrainian authorities did not know the current condition of the facilities at Chernobyl, the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster."After the absolutely senseless attack of the Russians in this direction, it is impossible to say that the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe," he said.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had announced several hours earlier Thursday that Russian forces were trying to seize the Chernobyl nuclear plant.SEE ALSO: Russia invades Ukraine as Putin threatens 'consequences you’ve never seen' if West intervenesA nuclear reactor at the plant 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, exploded in April 1986, sending a radioactive cloud across Europe.The exploded reactor was covered by a protective shelter several years ago to prevent radiation leaks.A Ukrainian official said Russian shelling hit a radioactive waste repository and an increase in radiation levels was reported.

WASHINGTON - Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, President Joe Biden announced a new round of sanctions targeting Moscow.Biden decried the Kremlin’s military aggression during an address from the White House, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin "chose this war" and that his country will bear the consequences of his actions. Ukraine’s government has reported mounting casualties as Russian forces attack from the east, north and south. The sanctions are aimed at Russian banks, oligarchs and high-tech sectors in hopes of crippling Russia’s financial system and Putin’s inner circle. U.S. President Joe Biden arrives to deliver remarks about Russia's "unprovoked and unjustified" military invasion of neighboring Ukraine in the East Room of the White House on February 24, 2022 in Washington, DC.

KYIV, Ukraine - A presidential adviser says Ukraine lost control of the Chernobyl nuclear site, where Ukrainian forces had waged a fierce battle with Russian troops.Adviser Myhailo Podolyak told The Associated Press that Ukrainian authorities did not know the current condition of the facilities at Chernobyl, the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster."After the absolutely senseless attack of the Russians in this direction, it is impossible to say that the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is safe," he said.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had announced several hours earlier Thursday that Russian forces were trying to seize the Chernobyl nuclear plant.SEE ALSO: Russia invades Ukraine as Putin threatens 'consequences you’ve never seen' if West intervenesA nuclear reactor at the plant 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, exploded in April 1986, sending a radioactive cloud across Europe.The exploded reactor was covered by a protective shelter several years ago to prevent radiation leaks.A Ukrainian official said Russian shelling hit a radioactive waste repository and an increase in radiation levels was reported.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday that the European Union would introduce “massive and targeted” sanctions against Russia after President Vladimir Putin ordered a wide-ranging military attack on Ukraine.

NATO secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to order a “special military action” in Ukraine, saying “we are at a grave moment for the security of Europe.” He called the decision “barbaric” and accused Russia of “trying to turn back the clock by force.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin seems adamant on invading Ukraine, so what’s possibly fuelling his mindset? Eric Sorensen explains how the two nations’ historic ties factor in, and how Putin’s perspective clashes with the rest of the world.

KYIV, Ukraine - Photos and videos showed long lines of traffic heading out of the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Thursday after Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on the country, a move condemned by leaders around the world. Sirens rang out in Kyiv and people massed in train stations and took to roads, as Ukraine's government said it was seeing a long-anticipated invasion from the east, north and south and reported more than 40 soldiers had been killed and dozens wounded.Video showed residents sitting in gridlock traffic along the main Kyiv-Odessa highway as people tried to leave the capital. Other footage showed long lines of vehicles waiting to fill up at a gas station in northwest Ukraine."A full-scale war in Europe has begun," Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said.