Russia Ukraine war live: US targets Putin’s war machine with 600 new sanctions ahead of anniversary

The United States and European Union on Friday heaped hundreds of new sanctions on Russia in connection with the second anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine and in retaliation for the death of noted Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny last week in an Arctic penal colony.

The US government imposed roughly 600 new sanctions on Russia and its war machine in the largest single round of penalties since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.

The EU, for its part, added sanctions on several foreign companies over allegations that they have exported dual-use goods to Russia that could be used in its war against Ukraine. The 27-nation bloc also targeted scores of Russian officials, including members of the judiciary, local politicians and people it said were “responsible for the illegal deportation and military re-education of Ukrainian children.”

Ukraine’s will to fight remains strong, although reports of morale on the ground are more mixed, writes Mary Dejevsky:

Education investment for children in conflict zones must increase, Sarah Brown has said, as her charity launches a new development project for young people in Ukraine.

The wife of UK former prime minister Gordon Brown is chairwoman of Theirworld, which announced the programme on Friday.

The project includes a Museum of Mathematics and an early years development programme, after the Ukrainian government said that education must be “the cornerstone of the country’s reconstruction”.

Mrs Brown told PA: “I would argue that we need to be doing more for humanitarian support across the board and that the education piece is absolutely critical.”

The £5million Museum of Mathematics will open in Kyiv later this year, and will house more than 120 exhibits as well as an “innovation lab” to enhance the skills of maths teachers across the country.

The museum will also embark on a nationwide tour to ensure children in remote areas benefit from the investment.

The early years development programme, a collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, will focus on supporting children in the first eight years of their life.

Lord David Cameron warned the UN against fatigue and compromise over Russia’s war, as he urged allies to keep up support for Kyiv.

The UK Foreign Secretary said the world must “recognise the cost of giving up” in a speech in New York.

European countries are struggling to find enough stock to send to Kyiv, and US help worth £47billon is stalled over political differences in Washington.

Lord Cameron told the UN general assembly: “Two years on, I recognise some want a rethink. There is a sense of fatigue. There are other problems.

“A compromise might seem attractive. But this is wrong. We must recognise the cost of giving up.

“Putin has said there will be no peace until Russia’s goals have been achieved. And in his latest interview, he studiously avoided confirming he was satisfied with the land seized from Ukraine at present.”

The Foreign Secretary added: “This is not a man seeking compromise. Rather, this is a neo-imperialist bully who believes that might is right.

“And an unjust peace now merely invites a turn to fighting in Ukraine when it suits him.”

Lord Cameron, who was prime minister during Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, started his speech by saying “the lesson of this history is clear: if we do not stand up to Putin, he will be back for more.”

UK political leaders have marked the second anniversary of the war in Ukraine by vowing to stand with Kyiv “until they prevail”.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said “tyranny will never triumph” as President Volodymyr Zelensky’s troops defend the country against an emboldened Russia.

Mr Sunak said the UK was “going further in our support”, and Britain was prepared to do “whatever it takes, for as long as it takes”.

Saturday marks two years since the Kremlin launched its attack on Ukraine, starting the biggest incursion in a European country since the Second World War.

Mr Sunak, who visited Kyiv last month to sign a new security agreement and announce an increase in military funding for the country, said on Friday: “When (Russian President Vladimir) Putin launched his illegal invasion two years ago, the free world was united in its response.

“We stood together behind Ukraine. And on this grim anniversary, we must renew our determination.

“I was in Kyiv just a few weeks ago and I met wounded Ukrainian soldiers. Each harrowing story was a reminder of Ukraine‘s courage in the face of terrible suffering.

“It was a reminder of the price they are paying not only to defend their country against a completely unjustified invasion, but also to defend the very principles of freedom, sovereignty and the rule of law on which we all depend.”

“We are ready to carry on fighting and spill our blood whatever happens,” says Ivan, from the front line not far from Avdiivka. “But we know victory probably won’t be possible without the help of our allies.”

A lieutenant colonel says his battalion is facing Russian men and weaponry freed up by the capture of Avdiivka to attempt further advances while Ukrainian forces are reeling and off balance.

Switzerland has told the United Nations it intends to organise a high-level Ukraine peace conference by the summer, as the 193-member world body met to mark the second anniversary of Moscow’s invasion of its neighbour.

Ukraine is seeking to rally support for president Volodymyr Zelensky’s 10-point peace plan amid signs of war fatigue as the front lines remain largely unchanged and the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has become a more pressing focus of global attention.

“At Ukraine‘s request, we intend to organise by the summer a high-level conference on peace in Ukraine,” Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis told the UN General Assembly. “I would therefore like to take this opportunity to invite all nations … to work together towards our common goal.”

Mr Zelensky’s peace plan envisages the restoration of Ukraine‘s territorial integrity, withdrawal of all Russian troops, protection of food and energy supplies, nuclear safety and the release of all prisoners of war.

“Russia cannot ignore the voice of the world majority if we all take a principled stance and act together. The peace formula … represents exactly such an opportunity,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told the General Assembly.

Russia’s UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said: “One should not waste time on Kyiv’s futile plans to negotiate on the basis of Zelensky’s so-called peace formula.

“It is nothing other than an ultimatum to Russia and an attempt to lure as many countries as possible into endless meetings on this utopian project.”

The people of Ukraine are unsurprisingly weary of death and destruction, but two years on Kim Sengupta finds their spirit still burns bright