U.S. explores oil imports ban as Putin says invasion will not cease till Kyiv ‘ceases hostilities’

“We are actually speaking to our European companions and allies to look in a co-ordinated method on the prospect of banning the import of Russian oil whereas ensuring that there’s nonetheless an acceptable provide of oil on world market,” Blinken mentioned. “That is a really energetic dialogue as we communicate.”

In the meantime, Blinken was additionally in Moldova pledging U.S. help to the small Western-leaning former Soviet republic that’s dealing with an inflow of refugees from Ukraine and warily watching Russia’s intensifying conflict with its neighbour.

Blinken was assembly on Sunday with senior Moldovan officers, who’re interesting for worldwide help in coping with greater than 120,000 refugees from Ukraine that the nation of about 2.5 million individuals is now internet hosting, whereas additionally looking for safety reassurances towards potential Russian aggression. Greater than 230,000 individuals have crossed into Moldova from Ukraine because the conflict started on Feb. 24, however about half have moved on to different nations.

Blinken mentioned Moldova’s welcoming of refugees is an inspiration to the world.

“We admire the generosity of hospitality, the willingness to be such good pals to people who find themselves in misery, and, certainly, I need to do every thing we are able to that will help you take care of the burden that this has imposed,” he mentioned.

Russia already has troops within the nation of two.6 million which are stationed within the disputed territory of Transnistria and are being intently watched as Russian President Vladimir Putin presses forward with the invasion of Ukraine.

Though it has no plans to attempt to turn into a member of NATO, Moldova formally utilized to hitch the European Union simply three days in the past in a fast-track bid to bolster its ties with the West.

Putin speaks with Macron, Erdogan

The French presidency mentioned the decision between Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday targeted totally on the security of Ukraine’s nuclear crops.

A French official mentioned Macron insisted on the necessity to make sure that the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company’s security requirements are revered at Chornobyl and in different nuclear crops. He informed Putin these amenities should not be focused by a Russian offensive or caught within the preventing.

Putin mentioned he doesn’t intend to assault nuclear crops and agreed on the precept of a “dialogue” between the IAEA, Ukraine and Russia on this difficulty, in line with the official, who spoke anonymously according to the French presidency’s practices. Potential talks are to be organized within the coming days, he mentioned.

Individually, the Kremlin mentioned Putin informed his Turkish counterpart that Russia’s army motion in Ukraine might be halted “provided that Kyiv ceases hostilities and fulfils the well-known calls for of Russia.”

Putin has listed the “demilitarization” and “denazification” of Ukraine, in addition to recognition of Russian-annexed Crimea as a part of Russia and separatist areas in Japanese Ukraine as unbiased states, because the Kremlin’s primary calls for.

In accordance with the readout of Sunday’s name with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, “hope was expressed that in the course of the deliberate subsequent spherical of negotiations, the representatives of Ukraine would present a extra constructive method, totally considering the rising realities.”

Pope dispatches cardinals

Pope Francis says he has dispatched two cardinals to Ukraine, a extremely uncommon transfer.

The pontiff mentioned Sunday that “the Holy See is prepared to do every thing to place itself in service for peace.” The papal almsgiver, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, has been dispatched with assist, together with Czechoslovakian-born Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny, who’s head of the papal workplace that offers with migration, charity, justice and peace.

Francis didn’t say the place precisely the cardinals had gone, however he mentioned they represented him and all Christian individuals with the message that “conflict is insanity.”

Referring to Ukraine as “that martyred nation,” Francis known as for a cessation of violence, the institution of humanitarian corridors and a return to negotiations.

“In Ukraine, rivers of blood and tears are flowing. This isn’t only a army operation however a conflict that sows loss of life, destruction and distress,” he mentioned in his conventional Sunday blessing.

Extra company backlash

Netflix and TikTok suspended most of their companies in Russia on Sunday as the federal government cracked down on what individuals and media shops can say about Russia’s conflict in Ukraine.

TikTok mentioned Russian customers of the favored social media app would now not be capable of publish new movies or livestreams they usually additionally would not be capable of see movies shared from elsewhere on this planet.

Netflix mentioned it was suspending its service in Russia however did not present further particulars.

WATCH | Kremlin tightens grip on media entry:

Kremlin tightens grip on Russians’ entry to media with misinformation regulation

President Vladimir Putin is tightening his grip on media and data in Russia, signing into energy a brand new regulation that would see journalists sentenced to fifteen years in jail for straying from the nation’s authorised narrative on what is occurring in Ukraine. 1:54

The actions are prone to additional isolate the nation and its individuals after a rising variety of multinational companies have reduce off Russia from important monetary companies and know-how merchandise in response to Western financial sanctions and international outrage over the invasion of Ukraine.

Putin on Friday intensified a crackdown on media shops and people who fail to hew to the Kremlin line on the conflict, blocking Fb and Twitter and signing into regulation a invoice that criminalized the intentional spreading of what Moscow deems to be “faux” reviews.

American Specific additionally introduced earlier within the day it might droop operations in Russia, in addition to in Russian-allied Belarus. Globally issued American Specific playing cards will now not work at retailers or ATMs in Russia, the corporate mentioned in a press release. AmEx playing cards issued regionally in Russia by the nation’s banks may also now not work outdoors of Russia.