U.S. Air Force sends its Doomsday plane to Europe, as President Joe Biden demands Russia is booted from the G20
Kyiv residents are being warned to seal their windows at night, according to Kyiv City State Administration.
This comes as Russian forces shelled a train transporting Ukrainians from the capital, with no confirmed injuries yet.
A senior Ukrainian official says that Russian forces have not allowed humanitarian aid to enter the crippled regions. Despite Russia’s claim that it will open a corridor for ships to leave Ukrainian ports.
Russia claims the supposed corridor would be three miles wide and open for 8:00 AM until 7:00 PM local time on Friday.
Doomsday Plane departs
Meanwhile, the United States Air Force has sent its Doomsday plane to Europe, to support President Biden’s four-day mission.
The U.S. keeps at least one of the four jets on permanent standby for immediate launch in the event of a nuclear conflict.
In his latest address, President Biden also called for Russia to be removed from the G-20, as Western leaders continue their talks in Brussels.
Humanitarian aid
The U.S. will also greatly increase its humanitarian efforts, with plans to accept up to 100-thousand Ukrainian refugees.
More than 3.5m residents have fled since Russia invaded, which is already starting to strain neighbouring European countries.
Biden says his administration will also work to coordinate further food and energy security… as sanctions on Russia are ramped up again.
It’s become clear that sanctions are unable to deter Putin from engaging in further aggression, but Biden says it’s the “maintenance” of sanctions alongside the “increasing pain” that will eventually stop the Russian leader.
When speaking with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Biden warned his counterpart that China’s economic relations with the US and EU will be put in “significant jeopardy” if the nation was to aid Russia.
When it comes to chemical weapons, “the nature of response will depend on the nature of the use”.
It has now been exactly one month to the day since Moscow announced a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Zelensky is calling on people everywhere to take to the streets in a show of support for his nation to mark the occasion.
As this grim milestone is met, Biden says NATO has never been more united with the alliance agreeing to bolster its strategic defences.
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has confirmed four new battlegroups will be deployed into Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania.
This move represents a change in the state of security throughout Europe, as NATO prepares for the “long haul”.
