Ukraine rejects humanitarian corridors that lead to Russia
Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk has said a Russian proposal to evacuate civilians out of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol and Sumy is not an acceptable option as the humanitarian corridors mostly lead to Russian cities.
Earlier on Monday, Russia proposed six humanitarian corridors. Three of them exited to Russian cities, one to Belarus and two to central and southeastern Ukraine.
Vereshchuk called on Russia to agree to a cease-fire from Monday morning to allow Ukrainians to evacuate toward the western Ukrainian city of Lviv instead.
Ukraine received Russia's proposal early on Monday morning after French President Emmanuel Macron held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Vereshchuk told a televised briefing.
"I hope that French President Emmanuel Macron understands that his name and sincere desire to help... in reality is being used and manipulated by the Russian Federation," she said.
Russia declines to attend UN top court hearing on invasion
Russia failed to send an envoy to attend a hearing at the UN's top court, the head judge said.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague is hearing an injunction Ukraine has sought against Russia under the UN Convention against Genocide. The United Nations court is tasked with settling disputes between two countries.
Kyiv wants the UN judges to classify the Russian attack as genocide and at the same time reject Moscow's claim that Ukraine was committing genocide against the Russian minority in the east of the country.
The Kremlin's lawyers were expected to vehemently reject the case as Russia denies the jurisdiction of the court in The Hague. Moscow argues that since no genocide is being committed by Russia, there is no case and therefore no court that would have jurisdiction.
Ukrainian and Russian foreign ministers to meet in Turkey
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has announced that Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov would meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmitro Kuleba on Thursday, according to local media reports.
The meeting is to take place in the Turkish city of Antalya. It would be the highest-level talks to take place since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.
Ankara has strong relations with both Kyiv and Moscow and has tried to play a more neutral role in the conflict, separating itself from its NATO partners.
Town near Kyiv reports mayor's death by Russian fire
Authorities at the town of Gostomel said Russian forces have killed the mayor.
Gostomel is a town around 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) away from Kyiv. It is home to the strategic Antonov military airport, which was the site of fierce battles between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the first days of the war.
"The head of Gostomel, Yuri Illich Prylypko, died while distributing bread to the hungry and medicine to the sick," the city said on its Facebook page.
"No-one forced him to go under the occupiers' bullets," it said. "He died for his people, for Gostomel. He died a hero."
Authorities said Prylypko was shot dead along with two others. It wasn't clear when he was shot.
Zelenskyy calls for new sanctions 'if invasion continues'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the international community to impose further sanctions on Russia, boycott Russian oil and provide Ukraine with military aircraft.
"If the invasion (of Ukraine) continues and Russia has not abandoned its plans against Ukraine, then a new sanctions package is needed... for the sake of peace," he said in a video address.
Over 5,000 detained in Russia at Sunday anti-war protests: monitor
Russian police took at least 5,020 people into custody on Sunday at protests in some 60 cities against Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, the OVD-Info group said on Monday.
The number — unprecedented for a single day — cannot be independently verified.
OVD-Info, which monitors arrests during protests in Russia, said 2,394 people had been arrested in the capital, Moscow, and at least 1,253 in Saint Petersburg.
The group said police had sometimes used electric shockers on protesters.
Anti-war protests have been growing in Russia despite the fact that protesters risk possible prison sentences by taking to the streets.
Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has called on Russians from his prison cell to demonstrate daily against the Kremlin's invasion.
Many people were also arrested during a wave of protests against his imprisonment in January 2021 on charges critics say are politically motivated.
China says Russia relations are still 'rock solid'
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized China's "rock-solid" friendship with Russia and said the prospects for cooperation between the two countries are very broad.
At a press conference explaining Beijing's position on the conflict, Wang called on both sides to settle disputes by peaceful means, through dialogue and negotiation, and "respect and protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries."
China has offered to act as a mediator in the conflict and denounced trade and financial sanctions against Russia.
The Chinese Red Cross will provide humanitarian help to Ukraine, Wang added.
Russia announces another cease-fire for humanitarian corridors
The Russian Defense Ministry said forces will stop firing at 10 a.m. Moscow time (0700 UTC) to allow civilians to evacuate, according to the Interfax news agency.
Moscow said it will open humanitarian corridors in the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol and Sumy. Evacuation routes published by Russia's RIA Novosti news agency, citing the Defense Ministry, show that civilians will be able to leave to Russia and Belarus
Those who want to leave Kyiv will also be able to be airlifted to Russia, according to the ministry.
The move comes at the request of French President Emmanuel Macron, the ministry said.
There has initially been no confirmation from the Ukrainian side
On Saturday, Russia had declared a temporary cease-fire that could have established humanitarian corridors out of two cities. However, it failed to materialize, as Ukrainian officials halted the evacuations and accused Russian forces of violating the truce.
Meanwhile, Russia blamed Ukraine for the failure of those attempts. In the Russian Defense Ministry's statement on Monday, it said it would use drones to monitor the evacuation and "attempts by the Ukrainian side to deceive Russia and the whole civilized world... are useless this time."
DW Correspondent Nick Connolly said Ukrainians believe that such announcements are "just Russia stalling, trying to win time with negotiations."
Russian forces have so far had several logistical issues, Connolly said. "They didn't think Ukraine will put up so much of a fight."
As Ukrainian and Russian officials are expected to hold further talks on Monday, Connolly said, "The suspicion here in Kyiv is that the Russians are negotiating in bad faith just to win time to keep on fighting."
Poland: Over 1 million refugees arrived from Ukraine
The Polish Border Guard has said more than 1 million refugees have arrived from Ukraine to Poland since the Russian invasion started on February 24.
It added that traffic on the Polish-Ukrainian border was increasing, with 42,000 people crossing Monday morning.
UK intelligence: Russia trying to reduce Ukrainians' access to news
The British Defence Ministry said in an intelligence update that Russia is seeking to restrict access to reliable news sources in Ukraine.
"Russia is probably targeting Ukraine's communications infrastructure in order to reduce Ukrainian citizens' access to reliable news and information," it said on Twitter.
"Ukrainian internet access is also highly likely being disrupted as a result of collateral damage from Russian strikes on infrastructure."
DW Correspondent Nick Connolly said internet access was "gone" in Mariupol, adding that it was "the real psychological difference" to other places in Ukraine, where internet connections were still present.
"Previously people were in difficult situations, but at least they had those communication links out, could find out what’s going on outside, could talk to their relatives and friends and give them a message that they were okay," he said.
"Without that, people are getting a lot more nervous."
UK intelligence: Russia trying to reduce Ukrainians' access to news
The British Defence Ministry said in an intelligence update that Russia is seeking to restrict access to reliable news sources in Ukraine.
"Russia is probably targeting Ukraine's communications infrastructure in order to reduce Ukrainian citizens' access to reliable news and information," it said on Twitter.
"Ukrainian internet access is also highly likely being disrupted as a result of collateral damage from Russian strikes on infrastructure."
DW Correspondent Nick Connolly said internet access was "gone" in Mariupol, adding that it was "the real psychological difference" to other places in Ukraine, where internet connections were still present.
"Previously people were in difficult situations, but at least they had those communication links out, could find out what’s going on outside, could talk to their relatives and friends and give them a message that they were okay," he said.
"Without that, people are getting a lot more nervous."
ICJ hears Ukraine case against Russia's invasion
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague will on Monday consider an injunction Ukraine has sought against Russia under the UN Convention against Genocide. The United Nations court is tasked with settling disputes between two countries.
Kyiv wants the UN judges to classify the Russian attack as genocide and at the same time reject Moscow's claim that Ukraine was committing genocide against the Russian minority in the east of the country.
On Tuesday, the Kremlin's lawyers will vehemently reject the case as Russia denies the jurisdiction of the court in The Hague. Moscow will argue that since no genocide is being committed by Russia, there is no case and therefore no court that would have jurisdiction.
Ukraine armed forces: Russian troops to storm Kyiv
The General Staff of the Ukrainian armed forces said in a Monday bulletin that Russian troops were preparing to storm Kyiv.
The statement said that Russian troops were aiming to take full control of Irpin and Bucha, two cities on the outskirts of Kyiv.
Russian troops were "trying to provide a tactical advantage to reach the eastern outskirts of Kyiv through the Brovarsky and Boryspil districts," according to the bulletin.
New Zealand to expand Russia sanctions
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Monday that the country would expand its sanctions on Russia.
Ardern said that the government will pass a bill this week which will allow for extensive sanctions on those associated with Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The bill could also ban the entry of Russian ships and aircraft into New Zealand waters or airspace.
Ukraine and Russia to meet for negotiations
Ukraine and Russia are expected to meet for a third round of negotiations, which both sides said could take place on Monday.
The location and exact time of the talks were initially unclear.
The two delegations last met in Belarus for two rounds of peace talks and agreed to put in place humanitarian corridors to allow evacuation from Mariupol and Volnovakha.
The attempt to evacuate Mariupol failed on Sunday, and Russia and Ukraine both blamed each other for the collapse of the cease-fire.
Russian gymnast sports pro-invasion insignia at medals podium
The International Gymnastics Federation asked for disciplinary proceedings to be opened against Ivan Kuliak after the Russian gymnast sported an insignia linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Kuliak wore a shirt with the letter "Z" on it as he accepted a bronze medal on Sunday. The "Z" has been seen painted on Russian tanks and vehicles in Ukraine.
Kuliak stood next to Ukraine's Kovtun Illia, who was the gold medalist.
Belarusian and Russian gymnasts will be banned from future competitions starting from Monday, a measure decided on before Kuliak received his bronze medal.
Blinken: US and allies discuss banning Russian oil imports
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the United States and its European allies were exploring banning imports of Russian oil.
Meanwhile, the White House coordinated with congressional committees developing their own ban.
US House of Representatives explores banning Russian oil imports
US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi said that the House of Representatives was discussing legislation to further isolate Russia from the global economy.
Measures explored by the House include banning the import of Russian oil and energy products into the US.
Pelosi added that Congress intended to enact $10 billion (€9.2 billion) in aid for Ukraine this week.
