latest on the Russia–Ukraine crisis, March 2. Click here for updates from March 1.
Apple Halts Sale of All Products in Russia, Ford Suspends Operations
Apple announced Tuesday that it will halt the sale of all of its products in Russia, while global users will no longer be able to download state-backed media outlets RT News and Sputnik News from its app stores in the wake of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
While Apple doesn’t have any physical stores present in Russia, it does operate online. However, the tech giant has now halted the sales of all of its products, including Macs, iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices, from its Russian website.
Customers attempting to purchase any product from the website are instead told that “delivery is unavailable” when they attempt to put the item in their online shopping cart.
Apple said in a statement on Tuesday that it has paused the sale of its goods in the country as a sign of solidarity with the people of Ukraine after Russia invaded on Feb. 24.
Read the full article here
___
Russia Says It Controls Ukraine’s Kherson
A week after launching its invasion of Ukraine, Russia said its forces took control of the first sizable city on Wednesday, seizing Kherson in the south, as fighting raged around the country and Western nations tightened an economic noose around Russia.
More than half a million Ukrainians have fled the fighting since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of his southern neighbor nearly a week ago.
Russian bombardments of Ukrainian cities continued, with video posted on social media showing heavily damaged buildings around the second city of Kharkiv.
“While he may make gains on the battlefield, he will pay a continuing high price over the long run,” President Joe Biden said at his State of the Union address. Straying from the prepared text, Biden added, “He has no idea what’s coming.” He did not elaborate.
invaders’ advances have been met with fierce resistance by Ukrainian forces and a miles-long Russian military convoy north of Kyiv has made little progress toward the capital.
Biden further ratcheted up sanctions on Moscow, joining the European Union and Canada in banning Russian planes from U.S. airspace.
He also said the Justice Department would seek to seize the yachts, luxury apartments, and private jets of wealthy Russians with ties to Putin.
Russian forces have taken control of Kherson, a city of nearly a quarter million people just north of Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014, a Russian defense ministry spokesperson said. Strategically located on the Dnieper river, the provincial capital is the biggest city to fall to Russian forces so far.
southeast city of Mariupol had been under intense shelling since late Tuesday and was unable to evacuate the wounded, according to its mayor.
___
Plot to Assassinate Zelensky Foiled, Top Ukrainian Official Says
An assassination attempt against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by Chechens has been foiled, a top Ukrainian official said.
An “elite group” of Chechens had arrived in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, to assassinate Zelensky, Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, said during a briefing, according to a Telegram post by Ukraine’s Center for Strategic Communications, a government office.
Kadyrovites—made up of elite Chechen special forces—were allegedly sent to assassinate the Ukrainian president, and the group was split into two, said Danilov. One half was destroyed in Hostomel, a town northwest of Kyiv, and the other unit was “under fire” from Ukrainian forces.
“We are well aware of the special operation that was to take place directly by the Kadyrovites to eliminate our president,” Danilov said.
Read the full article here
___
US Will Bar Russian Planes from American Airspace: Biden
At the State of the Union address on Tuesday, President Joe Biden announced that the United States will join several other western nations in barring Russian aircraft—including commercial and private flights—from entering U.S. airspace.
“Six days ago, Russia’s Vladimir Putin sought to shake the very foundations of the free world,” Biden said. “He thought he could roll into Ukraine and the world would roll over. Instead, he met with a wall of strength he never anticipated or imagined—he met the Ukrainian people.”
“Yes, we the United States of America stand with the Ukrainian people,” Biden continued. “Throughout our history, we’ve learned this lesson: When dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos. y keep moving, and the cost, the threats to America and to the world keeps rising.
“That’s why the NATO alliance was created, to secure peace and stability in Europe after World War II. United States is a member along with 29 other nations.”
Biden continued, “It matters. American diplomacy matters. American resolve matters.”
Read the full article here
___
Russian Bank Exiting Europe Amid Sanctions
Leading Russian bank Sberbank announced Wednesday it is pulling out of European markets amid tightening Western sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
bank said its subsidiaries in Europe were facing an “abnormal outflow of funds and a threat to the safety of employees and branches,” according to Russian news agencies. y did not provide details of the threats.
Authorities in Austria and Czech Republic had taken actions in recent days against Sberbank’s activities in Europe.
move was the latest consequence of Russia’s invasion last week, which has led to warfare across Ukraine and unprecedented Western sanctions aimed at isolating Russia’s economy.
___
Sony Donating $2 Million to Humanitarian Aid in Ukraine
Sony is donating $2 million as humanitarian aid to Ukraine though the United Nations Refugee Agency and aid group Save the Children.
Japanese electronics and entertainment company has already said it will halt theatrical releases in Russia. Upcoming films include “Morbius,” featuring the Marvel comics hero.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been impacted and hope this crisis will be resolved quickly,” Sony Pictures said in a statement.
Earlier this week, Mickey Mikitani, chief executive of Japanese online retailer Rakuten, donated 1 billion yen ($8.7 million) to the Ukrainian government through the embassy in Japan.
Separately, the foreign ministry said the Japanese embassy in Kyiv is closing temporarily, with operations transferred to an office in Lviv, western Ukraine.
Isabel van Brugen, Joseph Lord, Katabella Roberts, Reuters, and Associated Press contributed to this report.
Pezou : LIVE UPDATES: Apple Halts Sale of All Products in Russia, Ford Suspends Operations