The United Nations Security Council convened on Friday again during which Russian Federation and the US blamed one another for allegedly pursuing ‘biological weapons program’. India cautioned that it’s important for the countries to ensure full and effective implementation of Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) in letter and spirit.
U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at 9 a.m. Eastern time (1300 GMT) on Friday. This waspart of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication between the United States and the (People’s Republic of China), according to the statement. The two leaders discussed managing the competition between the two countries as well as Russia’s war against Ukraine and other issues of mutual concern.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday (local time) said that at least 12 people have been killed and 34 people have been injured in at least 43 attacks on health care facilities in Ukraine amid intensified attacks by Russia. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in his remarks to the UN Security Council said, “Attacks on health care are a violation of international humanitarian law – anytime, anywhere. They deprive people of urgently-needed care and break already strained health systems. That is what we are seeing in Ukraine.”
Here are the highlights from Ukraine-Russia War:
– Russian forces strike Lviv airport area in west Ukraine: AFP News Agency
– It’s important to ensure full and effective implementation of the BTWC (Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention) in letter and spirit. We also believe that any matter relating to obligations under the BTWC should be addressed as per the provisions of the Convention and through consultations and cooperation: India at UNSC briefing
– We need to undertake this engagement keeping in mind the need to respect the principles of the UN Charter, international law and sovereignty and territorial integrity of States: India at UNSC briefing
– Components of biological weapons were created on the Ukrainian territory… our Ministry of Defence is receiving more material about the unlawful activities carried out by the Pentagon on Ukrainian territory: Russian representative at UNSC meeting on Ukraine️
– Last week, we heard from the Russian representative a tirade of bizarre conspiracy theories. This week, we’re hearing a whole lot more of things that sound like they were forwarded to him on a chained email from some dark corner of the internet: US representative, at UNSC
– Ukraine does not have a biological weapons program, there are no such labs, not near Russia’s quarters, not anywhere. There are only public health facilities… It’s Russia that has long maintained biological weapons program in violation of int’l law: US representative, at UNSC
– We never said that Ukraine itself has a military biological program, we said that this program is something that the US itself has, and Ukraine is being kept in the dark…: Russian Federation representative at UNSC
– We will continue to increase the costs on Russia until it ends this war of choice. And we will continue to provide life-saving aid to the #Ukrainian people: US Secy of State Antony J Blinken
– US lawmakers urge India “to speak out against Vladimir Putin’s targeting of civilians in #Ukraine,” following a bipartisan call with Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Ambassador of India to the US
– Russia puts UNSC Ukraine Resolution on hold, calls for emergency meeting on US Biolabs
– The United States must immediately disclose the information about its military biological activities in Ukrainian laboratories, the Russian Embassy in Washington said. “We demand that the US Side disclose information about military biological activity in laboratories on the territory of Ukraine as soon as possible. What kind of peaceful research we are talking about if the Pentagon stands behind these projects,” the Embassy wrote on its Telegram channel.
– The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday (local time) said that at least 12 people have been killed and 34 people have been injured in at least 43 attacks on health care facilities in Ukraine amid intensified attacks by Russia.
– WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in his remarks to the UN Security Council said, “Attacks on health care are a violation of international humanitarian law – anytime, anywhere. They deprive people of urgently-needed care and break already strained health systems. That is what we are seeing in Ukraine.”
– US President Joe Biden on Thursday (local time) called Russian President Vladimir Putin a “murderous dictator” and a “pure thug” while speaking at the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon on St. Patrick’s Day at Capitol Hill. “(Putin is) a murderous dictator, a pure thug who is waging an immoral war against the people of Ukraine,” Biden was quoted as saying by CNN.
– Ukrainian actor Oksana Shvets killed in Russian rocket attack