US tells nationals to consider leaving Russia immediately — as it happened | News | DW

• US tells nationals to contemplate leaving Russia instantly
• The EU will purchase weapons for Ukraine to combat Russia
• Putin has ordered nuclear deterrence be placed on alert
• Ukraine agrees to talks on the Belarus border

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Bolsonaro says Brazil will stay impartial on Russia’s invasion

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has determined to not condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and as an alternative as opted for neutrality.

The appropriate-wing populist chief stated he had talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the cellphone the place he mentioned Brazil’s place.

The 2 leaders had met earlier within the month for talks in Moscow. At a press convention on Sunday Bolsonaro stated: “We won’t take sides, we are going to proceed being impartial, and assist with no matter is feasible.”

Safety Council requires uncommon emergency Basic Meeting session

The United Nations Safety Council on Sunday referred to as to carry a particular session of the Basic Meeting because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

The emergency session will likely be held on Monday and affords members of the worldwide physique a chance to precise their views on the disaster.

Russia didn’t have the ability to veto the transfer attributable to it being a procedural motion falling underneath a 1950 decision referred to as “Uniting for Peace.”

The emergency session was adopted with 11 sure votes, to Russia’s no vote.

China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstained.

Russian airline Aeroflot suspends flights to European locations

Russian provider Aeroflot stated it’s chopping off flights to all European locations. 

The airline stated that fellow Russian provider Rossiya Airways would even be impacted, and gave a proof for the choice on Twitter.

“As a result of closure of the airspace of plenty of European international locations, Aeroflot cancels flights and suspends flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg (together with flights operated by Rossiya Airways) to plenty of locations,” Russia’s flag provider tweeted.  

Quite a few European international locations have taken the choice to bar Russian plane from their airspace, together with Germany, Italy, Iceland, the Netherlands, the UK and most Jap European EU member states.

Tsikhanouskaya: Lukashenko ‘shares the accountability’ for the invasion

Belarus’ strongman chief Alexander Lukashenko is making an attempt to repay Russia’s help after stealing the election in August 2020, exiled Belarusian opposition chief Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya advised DW.

“Lukashenko shares the accountability for the invasion of Ukrainian territory,” she stated, noting that the regime was internet hosting Russian troops that are used to invade Ukraine. 

“I believe that Lukashenko shouldn’t be controlling our territory anymore. He is just like the Kremlin’s vassal, and he has to point out his loyalty for the help he obtained after the fraudulent elections,” Tsikhanouskaya stated.

On the identical time, bizarre individuals in Belarus have been protesting towards the struggle, in keeping with the exhiled politician.

“We need to help our Ukrainian neighbors as a result of they’re preventing not just for themselves, they’re preventing for the way forward for Belarus and the entire area,” she advised DW.

US tells nationals to contemplate leaving Russia instantly

People in Russia ought to contemplate leaving the nation instantly, the US Embassy in Russia stated, pointing to a number of airways canceling flights to and from Russia. Many international locations, together with the entire EU, have already closed their airspace to Russian plane. US diplomats stated People in  Russia ought to use business flights which are “nonetheless obtainable.”

The US State Division has additionally advised its residents to not journey to Russia.

G7 threatens extra sanctions towards Russia

The G7 group of prime industrialized nations warned Moscow that it may face further sanctions if the struggle in Ukraine continues.

International ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US additionally agreed on Sunday that any Russian navy beneficial properties in Ukraine wouldn’t obtain worldwide recognition.

Ukrainian International Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who met with the G7 ministers, stated the highest diplomats mentioned “new painful sanctions to cease Putin’s struggle.”

BP abandons stake in Russia’s Rosneft

British power big BP stated it was pulling its 19.75% stake in Russian state-owned fuel and power firm Rosneft.

BP didn’t element how it could exit its stake however stated it anticipated to jot down off a complete $25 billion on the finish of the primary quarter. Rosneft accounts for round half of BP’s oil and fuel reserves and a 3rd of its manufacturing.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, BP’s chief government Bernard Looney introduced he was resigning from the Russian power firm’s board “with speedy impact.” Looney’s predecessor as CEO, Bob Dudley, can also be stepping down from the Rosneft board.

“I’ve been deeply shocked and saddened by the scenario unfolding in Ukraine and my coronary heart goes out to everybody affected. It has induced us to basically rethink bp’s place with Rosneft,” Looney stated in an announcement on Sunday.

BP operated in Russia for over 30 years.

EU prepares for thousands and thousands of Ukrainian refugees

After simply 4 days, Russia’s struggle on Ukraine has displaced over 7 million individuals as Ukrainians flee their houses for different comparatively safer elements of the nation or go away Ukraine, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Help and Disaster Administration Janez Lenarcic advised reporters.

“We’re witnessing what may grow to be the biggest humanitarian disaster on our European continent in lots of, a few years,” Lenarcic stated.

The European Fee introduced it could suggest guidelines to assist Ukrainian refugees. The proposal, anticipated to be offered Thursday, would permit displaced individuals to obtain speedy momentary safety with no drawn-out asylum process.

EU Residence Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson stated she doesn’t know the way many individuals will come however that the 27-memberbloc ought to “put together for thousands and thousands.”

A whole lot of 1000’s of Ukrainians have come to the EU due to the Russian struggle towards Ukraine, she stated.

Sweden, Denmark be a part of international locations sending arms to Ukraine

Sweden has stated it could ship anti-tank launchers, discipline rations, helmets and physique armor to Ukraine.

The transfer is a break from a longstanding coverage of not arming nations in an energetic battle. Sweden final despatched weapons to a rustic in an armed battle when the Soviet Union invaded Finland in 1939.

In Denmark, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated the nation would donate as much as 2,700 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine.

Over 2,000 anti-war protesters arrested in Russia

Anti-war activists took to the streets throughout Russia to protest the nation’s invasion of Ukraine and the bloody struggle in its fourth day there.

Protests on Sunday have been smaller than earlier demonstrations, which noticed a whole lot of individuals detained by riot police.

Police on Sunday detained greater than 2,000 individuals at anti-war protests that occurred in 45 Russian cities, in keeping with OVD-Information, a gaggle that counts participation in opposition protests. The group stated about 5,250 individuals have been detained at protests because the struggle started 4 days in the past.

“It’s a crime each towards Ukraine and Russia,” Olga Mikheeva, who protested within the Siberian metropolis of Irkutsk, advised the AP information company. “I believe it’s killing each Ukraine and Russia. I’m outraged, I have not slept for 3 nights, and I believe we should now declare very loudly that we do not need to be killed and don’t desire Ukraine to be killed.”

In Moscow and St. Petersburg, many individuals went to memorials for Boris Nemtsov, a prime Russian opposition determine who was shot useless close to the Kremlin on February 27, 2015.

Ukrainian president ‘skeptical’ of talks with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated he was prepared to “strive” talks with Russia however added he’s “skeptical” they’ll result in a ceasefire.

“I will likely be trustworthy, as all the time: I do not likely imagine within the consequence of this assembly, however allow them to strive,” Zelenskyy stated in a video assertion.

If there was a “probability” to finish the struggle, he ought to participate within the talks, he added.

EU to purchase, ship weapons to Ukraine

For the primary time in its historical past, the European Union will buy weapons for a rustic underneath assault, stated European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen.

In a gathering on Sunday, EU overseas minister agreed to finances €450 million ($502 million) for weapons and gear for Ukraine. Poland agreed to work as a logistic hub for the supply of weapons.

She additionally stated EU airspace can be closed to Russia-owned, registered or managed plane, explicitly mentioning that the ban would apply to “the personal jets of oligarchs.” 

Moreover, von der Leyen introduced the 27-member bloc would take steps to cease “the Kremlin’s media machine within the EU” by banning state-owned Russia At the moment, Sputnik and their subsidiaries.

“We’re growing instruments to ban their poisonous and dangerous disinformation in Europe,” she stated.

EU overseas coverage chief Josep Borrell stated the transfer was aimed toward “turning off the faucet for Russia’s disinformation in Europe.”

Along with the measures towards Russia, von der Leyen added that the EU agreed to sanction Russia’s ally Belarus, which she referred to as “the opposite aggressor on this struggle.”

In a message to the a whole lot of 1000’s of individuals fleeing Ukraine, von der Leyen stated they might be welcomed with “open arms.”

Germany advises towards journey to Russia

The German International Ministry on Sunday suggested Germans towards touring to Russia. It additionally warned individuals to not journey to the southern Russian areas that border Ukraine.

The International Ministry additionally famous that journey to and from Russia was more and more tough as a number of international locations, together with Germany, shut their airspace to Russian flights and airways cease flying to Russian airports.

Two Russian billionaires come out towards struggle

Russian oligarchs Oleg Deripaska and Mikhail Fridman referred to as for an finish to the invasion of Ukraine.

Fridman, who was born in western Ukraine, referred to as it a tragedy for each Russia and Ukraine. In a letter to his workers, he wrote that the struggle was creating divisions between Russians and Ukrainians who he stated have been brothers for hundreds of years.

He wrote, “My dad and mom are Ukrainian residents and stay in Lviv, my favourite metropolis.”

Deripaska posed on Telegram a message calling for peace talks “as quick as doable.” On February 21, Deripaska incorrectly surmised there can be no navy battle.

DW analyst says Putin’s order on nuclear alert not clear

Former Russian navy officer Konstantin Eggert says he had “hassle discerning” what Putin meant when he stated nuclear forces are on increased alert.

“The expression he used to point some heightened state of alert doesn’t exist in Russian navy manuals,” Eggert, DW’s Russia affairs analyst, advised our TV channel.

There are 4 ranges of alert within the Russian navy, Eggert defined. These 4 ranges are: common, heightened, risk of struggle and full or full.

“Nuclear forces are just about all the time on heightened alert,” Eggert famous.

Turkey invokes treaty to restrict Russian warships

Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey’s overseas minister, stated throughout a stay interview on CNN Turk that Turkey would implement the 1936 Montreux Conference, limiting the passage of Russia’s warships via the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus straits.

The Montreux Conference provides Turkey management of the 2 waterways and permits it to chop off entry to warships throughout wartime or if threatened. The 2 waterways join the Mediterranean and Black seas.

Earlier Sunday, NATO member Turkey referred to as the Russian invasion of Ukraine a “struggle,” a shift that made it doable to dam Russia’s battleships.

Zelenskyy says Ukraine delegation prepared to begin peace talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to begin peace talks with Russia, his workplace stated Sunday.

Following a cellphone name with Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko, Zelenskyy’s workplace stated he’s prepared to ship a delegation to a gathering on the Belarusian-Ukrainian border close to the Pripyat River.

The talks can be the primary to happen since Russia invaded Ukraine. Zelenskyy’s aides stated the talks can be held “with out preconditions.”

“We agreed that the Ukrainian delegation would meet with the Russian delegation with out preconditions on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, close to the Pripyat River,” Zelenskyy stated in an announcement.

Belarus chief Lukashenko assured Zelensky that “all planes, helicopters and missiles stationed on Belarus territory will stay on the bottom through the journey, negotiations and return of the Ukrainian delegation,” in keeping with Kyiv.

Russian nuclear deterrence on excessive alert

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered that Russia’s nuclear deterrence forces be placed on excessive alert.

“I order the defence minister and the chief of the overall workers of the Russian armed forces to place the deterrence forces of the Russian military right into a particular mode of fight service,” Putin stated in a televised handle.

The transfer comes following a wave of sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that look set to cripple the Russian financial system.

NATO Secretary-Basic Jens Stoltenberg referred to as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s name to boost the alert degree of his nuclear forces “irresponsible.”

Stoltenberg advised CNN Sunday, “That is harmful rhetoric.”

Ben Hodges, the previous commanding basic of the US Military Europe, advised DW, “Nobody needs to be shocked he would do that.”

Ukraine says it controls Kharkiv after Russian assault

Ukrainian forces stated on Sunday afternoon that town of Kharkiv was nonetheless of their palms following an assault earlier within the day by Russian forces. 

Town and its environment, together with a fuel pipeline, had been the goal of strikes in a single day with gunfire and the presence of Russian automobiles reported over the course of the morning.

However later within the day Oleh Sinegubov, the native governor, wrote on Telegram that “Kharkiv is absolutely underneath our management,” after claiming that Ukrainian forces had expelled Russian troops throughout a “clean-up” operation.

UN says greater than 360,000 refugees have fled Ukraine

The top of the United Nations Excessive Fee for Refugees Filippo Grandi stated that the quantity of people that have fled Ukraine has now surpassed 368,000.

The quantity marks a speedy improve in refugees with the whole quantity doubling in simply someday.

In the meantime, Germany’s nationwide rail operator has stated that it’ll provide free prepare journeys for refugees coming from Ukraine.

Individuals carrying Ukrainian passports or ID can journey without cost on Deutsche Bahn trains operating from a number of Polish cities to the German metropolis of Frankfurt an der Oder on the Polish border.

The transfer is being made at the side of neighboring international locations “at brief discover,” however the firm plans to broaden its capacities within the coming days.

Germany bans Russian planes from air house

Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure has introduced that Russian planes will likely be banned from 3 p.m. (1400 UTC) in the present day.

The minister in cost, Volker Wissing, made the choice after quite a few different international locations closed their air house to Russian plane.

Germany joins most Jap European members of the EU, in addition to the UK in taking this step.

A number of different international locations additionally adopted go well with on Sunday, together with Italy, Iceland and the Netherlands.

Scholz vows to extend protection spending

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken in regards to the Russian invasion within the Bundestag, saying that the choice to permit the supply of weapons to Ukraine was the one “response doable to Putin’s aggression.”

“It was Putin who selected this struggle, not the Russian individuals, so we should see clearly that that is Putin’s struggle,” the chancellor reiterated. 

Scholz additionally introduced a plan to beef up the German navy, pledging €100 billion ($112.7 billion) for the 2022 finances for the armed forces and repeating his promise to succeed in the two% of GDP spending on protection in keeping with NATO calls for.

“In attacking Ukraine, Putin would not simply need to eradicate a rustic from the world map, he’s destroying the European safety construction now we have had in place since Helsinki,” Scholz stated in his speech to German lawmakers.

Ukraine calls Moscow’s provide of Belarus talks ‘propaganda’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has turned down a Russian provide of peace talks in Belarus on the grounds that the Russian ally has performed an integral half within the invasion of Ukraine, performing as a launchpad for Russian troops getting into the nation from the north.

The Kremlin stated on Sunday that it had despatched delegates to the Belarusian metropolis of Homel for talks.

“The Russian delegation is prepared for talks, and we are actually ready for the Ukrainians,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated.

Zelenskyy stated that his authorities was open for talks with the Russians, however that they must happen elsewhere, suggesting Warsaw, Bratislava, Istanbul, Budapest or Baku as options.

Moscow stated on Saturday that it had recommenced its navy operations in Ukraine after Putin allegedly referred to as for a suspension of hostilities to permit for peace talks. Nevertheless, Ukrainian officers stated that in that time-frame, Russian strikes continued towards Ukrainian cities.

On Sunday, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko confirmed to state-run media Belta that two Russian rockets had certainly been fired from positions in Belarus. He claimed this was as a result of Ukraine had stationed “two to 3 rocket divisions on the border” with Belarus.

He rejected claims that Belarusian troopers had taken half within the invasion. The shut ally of Putin additionally referred to as on Ukraine to sit down down for talks with Russia, Russia’s RIA information company reported.

Russian troops enter Kharkiv

After an evening of bombing, Russian troops have entered Ukraine’s second-biggest metropolis, Kharkiv, near the northeastern border with Russia, native authorities officers reported. 

Anton Herashchenko, a Ukrainian Inside Ministry advisor, wrote on Telegram that Russian troopers had been noticed on town’s streets.

Regional governor Oleh Sinegubov advised residents to remain inside, saying Ukrainian forces have been battling Russian troops within the metropolis. 

“The Russian enemy’s gentle automobiles have damaged into Kharkiv, together with town middle,” Sinegubov stated. “We ask civilians to not exit.”

Russian forces additionally stated on Sunday morning that that they had surrounded the southern metropolis of Kherson and southeastern metropolis of Berdyansk.

“Over the previous 24 hours, the cities of Kherson and Berdyansk have been fully blocked by the Russian armed forces,” Russian Protection Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov stated in an announcement.

Civilian infrastructure focused throughout ‘brutal’ evening of assaults

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Russian strikes in a single day focused civilian infrastructure.

“The previous evening in Ukraine was brutal, once more taking pictures, once more bombardments of residential areas, civilian infrastructure,” Zelenskyy stated in a submit shared on-line.

“At the moment, there may be not a single factor within the nation that the occupiers don’t contemplate a suitable goal. They combat towards everybody. They combat towards all residing issues; towards kindergartens, towards residential buildings and even towards ambulances,” Zelenskyy stated. 

Fuel pipelines and depots have been additionally hit in a single day, resulting in dramatic, fiery scenes. Russian fuel big Gazprom stated deliveries of fuel from Russia to Europe have been persevering with.

Sunday morning introduced reviews of air raid sirens and explosions within the capital Kyiv, with unverified movies being shared on social media displaying what look like residential buildings on hearth.

Oil and fuel services attacked

Ukraine’s nuclear authority stated a radioactive waste website outdoors Kyiv was hit by Russian missiles in a single day.

There was no speedy proof of a radioactive leak, the Ukraine State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate stated on Fb.

“The hit was on the fence. The constructing and containers are intact,” the service advised Interfax.

The service stated that when it was secure, inspectors would correctly assess the injury.

 

Russian forces pounded a number of cities in a single day. Within the city of Vasylkiv, on the outskirts of Kyiv, the bombardment set an oil depot ablaze.

“The enemy needs to destroy all the pieces,” the city’s mayor, Natalia Balasinovich, stated in a social media submit.

Authorities have warned residents to shut their home windows as a result of the burning depot is emitting smoke and poisonous fumes.

The State Service of Particular Communications stated a pure fuel pipeline was additionally blown up in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest metropolis.

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service stated a nine-story residential constructing within the jap metropolis was additionally hit by “enemy artillery.”

One particular person died, and 80 others needed to be rescued. Many of the constructing’s residents had been sheltering within the basement.

Macron tells Lukashenko to kick Russia out

French President Emmanuel Macron urged Belarusian chief Alexander Lukashenko to order Russian troops to go away his nation. 

In a cellphone name, Macron advised Lukashenko that fraternity between the individuals of Belarus and Ukraine ought to lead Belarus to “refuse to be a vassal and an confederate to Russia within the struggle towards Ukraine,” his workplace stated in an announcement. 

Russia used Belarus as a springboard for a part of its assault on Ukraine.

In the meantime, Belarusian opposition chief in exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya expressed solidarity with Ukraine, telling DW that most individuals in her dwelling nation “do not help this struggle.”

Trump condemns Russia’s invasion

In an about-face, former US President Donald Trump has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Talking on the CPAC conservative gathering in Florida, he referred to as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “a courageous man” and praised him for “hanging in.”

“The Russian assault on Ukraine is appalling, it is an outrage and an atrocity that ought to by no means have been allowed to happen,” Trump stated, including that it could by no means have occurred had he been president.

The remarks are in sharp distinction to his phrases earlier within the week when he referred to as Russian President Vladimir Putin “genius” and advised donors at his Mar-a-Lago Membership that Putin’s strikes have been “fairly good.”

On Saturday, Trump once more lauded Putin as “good”

Ukraine envoy praises German resolution to ship arms

The Ukrainian ambassador to Berlin has welcomed Germany’s resolution to provide weapons to Ukraine.

“We’re glad that Germany has lastly made this 180-degree flip,” Ambassador Andrij Melnyk advised Germany’s DPA information company, calling it a historic step.

The German authorities stated Saturday it could present Ukrainian forces with 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 “Stinger” surface-to-air missiles. Berlin had lengthy held again on sending such weapons attributable to its long-standing coverage of not exporting arms to battle zones. 

“I’ve all the time stated to my German pals and to the German authorities that they won’t be able to bear the horrible photographs of the struggle in Ukraine for lengthy with out reacting,” Melnyk stated.

“The duty now could be to get the German weapons programs to the Ukrainian defenders as quickly as doable.”

He additionally referred to as for Germany to play a number one position in placing collectively “a complete financial rescue plan” for Ukraine.

Russia restricts social media entry

Moscow has restricted entry to sure social media platforms to attempt to hold data of the scenario in Ukraine from the Russian public, the newest British protection intelligence replace suggests.

The replace from the Ministry of Protection additionally stated Russian forces have been “not making the progress that they had deliberate.”

In accordance with web monitoring group NetBlock, Twitter was closely restricted and, in some cases, even blocked in Russia on Saturday.

SpaceX Starlink energetic in Ukraine

Billionaire Elon Musk says SpaceX has activated its Starlink satellite tv for pc broadband service in Ukraine.

Web connectivity within the nation has been affected by the Russian invasion.

Starlink beams indicators for high-speed web from house however is not but obtainable worldwide.

Musk wrote on Twitter that his firm was sending web terminals to Ukraine to make use of the service, although it was unclear what number of.

He was responding to Ukraine’s vice prime minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, who tweeted, “@elonmusk, whilst you attempt to colonize Mars Russia attempt to occupy Ukraine! Whereas your rockets efficiently land from house. Russian rockets assault Ukrainian civil individuals!”

Combat for Kyiv intensifies 

Air raid sirens could possibly be heard as evening fell in Kyiv.

A curfew is in place within the metropolis till Monday. Residents have been in search of shelter in subway stations.

Small numbers of Russian troops have been reportedly inside Kyiv, however Britain and the US stated the majority of Russian forces have been nonetheless 30 kilometers (19 miles) from town’s middle as of Saturday afternoon.

The Reuters information company cited witnesses inside Kyiv as reporting occasional blasts and gunfire within the metropolis.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s workplace stated an explosion hit an oil depot south of the capital early on Sunday. 

Some Russian banks to be minimize off from SWIFT

The EU, US, UK and Canada have pledged to minimize off plenty of Russian banks from the SWIFT interbank funds system.

The allies additionally agreed to position restrictions on the Russian Central Financial institution’s worldwide reserves.

“All of those measures will considerably hurt Putin’s potential to finance his struggle and they’re going to have a severely eroding influence on his financial system,” European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen stated.

She stated Western leaders would proceed imposing prices on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

“Putin launched into a path aiming to destroy Ukraine however what he’s additionally doing the truth is is destroying the way forward for his personal,” she added. 

Abstract of occasions in Ukraine-Russia disaster on Saturday

EU overseas ministers stated they deliberate to convene a digital gathering on Sunday to debate additional help for Ukraine and punitive measures in direction of Russia.

In a transfer that marks a significant change in fact for Germany, the Bundeswehr will ship 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger-class surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine amid the continuing Russian invasion, the federal government introduced.

Kyiv is underneath curfew till Monday. The mayor, Vitali Klitschko, ordered residents to remain indoors, warning that individuals outdoors can be thought-about “members of sabotage and reconnaissance teams.”

Filippo Grandi, the UN’s excessive commissioner for refugees, stated on Twitter that the variety of Ukrainians who’ve already fled to neighboring international locations was now greater than 150,000.

Demonstrators in cities throughout the globe have expressed solidarity with Ukraine, with many expressing anger at Russia’s resolution to invade its neighbor.

The Russian proprietor of Chelsea FC, Roman Abramovich, stated he’s handing over the membership to the trustees of its charitable basis.

ab,lo/wmr (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)