LAST UPDATE | 28 Feb 2022

THE CONFLICT IN Ukraine has entered the fifth day, as Russian forces continue to advance in the country despite international condemnation of their invasion.

The rouble has plummeted in value following announcements by Europe, the US and Canada of further sanctions against Russia over the weekend, including the freezing of the country’s hard currency reserves.

Talks have taken place today between Ukraine and Russia at the former’s border with Belarus, while the UN’s two major bodies – the 193-nation General Assembly and the more powerful 15-member Security Council – are holding separate emergency meetings.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the next 24 hours will be “a crucial period” for his country.

Here are the main points to know today:

• Russian and Ukrainian delegations have begun their first talks since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to invade Ukraine last week, Belarusian state news agency Belta reported.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed an application for “immediate” EU membership for his country; Taoiseach Micheál Martin earlier backed an accelerated joining process for Ukraine.
• The United Nations Security Council met in New York to discuss the situation. The UN’s General Assembly heard statements from representatives, with Secretary-General António Guterres saying the fighting “must stop”.
• French President Emmanuel Macron has spoken to Vladimir Putin and made a number of requests, including that strikes and attacks against civilians and residential areas would stop.
• More than 500,000 people have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion began, according to the UN refugee agency.
• The UN’s human rights chief says that at least 102 civilians, including seven children, have been killed so far.
• Ukrainian officials have said that 11 people have died during the shelling of Kharkiv.
• A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that international sanctions on Russia are intended to “bring down the Putin regime”, AFP reports.
• Missiles are reported to have hit a radioactive waste disposal site in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, according to the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog.
• The European Union yesterday took the unprecedented step to fund arms supplies to Ukraine to help it defend itself against Russia.
• Russia has said that its nuclear deterrent was put on high alert after what it called “aggressive statements” from the UK’s Foreign Minister, Liz Truss.
• Fifa and Uefa expelled Russia from the 2022 World Cup and all international football competitions “under further notice”.

Here are some other updates:

• The US State Department is recommending that American citizens in Russia leave immediately.
• Russia has banned airlines from 36 countries from flying in its aerospace in response to international sanctions.
• The International Olympic Committee has stripped Putin of his Olympic Order, a top honour from the committee, for his invasion of Ukraine.
• Russia has banned all its residents from sending money abroad, assumedly in response to tough sanctions imposed on its economy. 
• The Irish Red Cross has said close to €1.25 million has been donated by Irish people to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine through the Red Cross’ website and through Revolut. It said physical donations are not recommended due to the difficulties getting those packages to the right people.
• A group of Ukrainians gathered outside the Chinese Embassy in Dublin today to call on the country to wield its influence against Russia.