Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday accused Russia of targeting civilians with the war set to complete three months. In Donbas region, the 44-year-old leader – who has been backed by the West in his resistance against Moscow said, “It is hell there – and that is not an exaggeration. (There are) constant strikes on the Odessa region, on the cities of central Ukraine. The Donbas is completely destroyed.”

On February 24, the Kremlin launched its offensive and said it was aimed at “de-Nazifying” the neighbouring country – claims that have been repeatedly dismissed by Kyiv. There has been no headway despite several rounds of peace talks.

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“This is a deliberate and criminal attempt to kill as many Ukrainians as possible, to destroy as many houses, social facilities and enterprises as possible,” Zelensky said.

A UN Security Council meeting yet again saw the US and Russia sparring amid intensifying food crises across the world. “Stop blocking the ports in the Black Sea. Allow for the free flow of ships and trains and trucks carrying food out of Ukraine,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said to the Russian envoy. “Stop threatening to withhold food and fertiliser exports from countries that criticise your war of aggression,” he said.

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“The food supply for millions of Ukrainians and millions more around the world has quite literally been held hostage by the Russian military,” he added.

Russia’s ambassador to the US, countering the US secretary of state, Vassily Nebenzia said that Ukraine’s ports are blocked by Ukraine itself, which, he said, has placed mines along the Black Sea coast, news agency AFP reported.

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The US Congress has cleared a $40 billion aid package for the war-battered country. The bill has now been sent to Joe Biden for the presidential nod. The latest package includes 18 more howitzers as well as anti-artillery radar systems, news agency AP reported.