# Ukraine and Russia: What you need to know right now Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-03-10 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Ukraine pleads for humanitarian access amid Russian Meta Description: Get the latest updates on the Ukraine crisis, including the humanitarian toll, diplomatic efforts, and economic fallout. Stay informed on the ongoing conflict. URL: https://financedigest.com/ukraine-and-russia-what-you-need-to-know-right-now-2html ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-03-10t150446z7lynxmpei29031rtroptp4ukrainre-crisis-mariupol-1737287388556-compressed.jpg) (Reuters) – Ukraine said Moscow had snubbed its plea for humanitarian access to rescue hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped under bombardment, as the opposing sides made no concessions at the highest level talks since the Russian invasion began. HOSPITAL HIT \\* After international condemnation of a Russian strike on a hospital in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol and Moscow’s claims the building no longer served as a healthcare facility, the Kremlin said it would investigate the matter further. DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS \\* Foreign ministers from Russia and [Ukraine made no progress in talks](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-ukraine-agree-to-launch-talks-to-upgrade-2008-trade-accord.html "U.S., Ukraine agree to launch talks to upgrade 2008 trade accord") in Turkey, with Moscow rejecting Kyiv’s call for a ceasefire and reiterating its conditions for ending the fighting. \\* The German government said it had no involvement in former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s meeting with Vladimir Putin, responding to a Politico report that Schroeder was in Moscow to discuss ending the [Ukraine war](https://www.financedigest.com/euro-zone-economy-sentiment-rises-in-dec-first-time-since-start-of-ukraine-war.html "Euro zone economy sentiment rises in Dec, first time since start of Ukraine war"). ECONOMIC FALLOUT \\* Moscow said it was taking steps to soften the blow dealt to [Russia’s economy by what it described as an “absolutely unprecedented” economic war](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-action-wanes-at-u-n-to-isolate-russia-almost-six-months-into-ukraine-war.html "Analysis: Action wanes at U.N. to isolate Russia almost six months into Ukraine war") being waged against it. \\* Rio Tinto became the first major miner to announce it was cutting all ties with Russia, joining a raft of leading [Western companies leaving](https://www.financedigest.com/russias-ochakovo-ups-soft-drink-bottling-capacity-as-western-rivals-leave.html "Russia’s Ochakovo ups soft drink bottling capacity as Western rivals leave") the country. \\* European Union leaders [agreed to phase out buying](https://www.financedigest.com/iag-agrees-to-buy-80-stake-in-air-europa-for-400-million-euros.html "IAG agrees to buy 80% stake in Air Europa for 400 million euros") Russian oil, gas and coal, a draft declaration showed, but are unlikely to offer Ukraine rapid EU membership. [NUCLEAR POWER](https://www.financedigest.com/shelling-damages-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plants-backup-power-line-iaea.html "Shelling damages Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant’s backup power line -IAEA"), GAS SUPPLY CONCERNS \\* The head of Ukraine’s gas transit operator warned gas flows to Europe were at [risk because of Russian troops’ presence on sites](https://www.financedigest.com/france-seeks-strategy-as-nuclear-waste-site-risks-saturation-point.html "France seeks strategy as nuclear waste site risks saturation point") of its compressor stations. \\* Ukraine’s nuclear power [plant](https://www.financedigest.com/edpr-brings-iberias-first-wind-solar-power-plant-on-stream.html "EDPR brings Iberia’s first wind-solar power plant on-stream") operator warned about a potential radiation leak after power outage in Chernobyl, mothballed site of the 1986 nuclear disaster, though the U.N. [nuclear watchdog](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-competition-watchdog-to-examine-edf-buying-ges-nuclear-turbine-unit.html "UK’s competition watchdog to examine EDF buying GE’s nuclear turbine unit") saw no critical impact on safety. \\* Separately, the watchdog said it had lost touch with remote monitoring systems at the Zaporizhzhia [nuclear plant](https://www.financedigest.com/e-on-casts-doubt-on-german-plan-to-keep-nuclear-plants-on-standby.html "E.ON casts doubt on German plan to keep nuclear plants on standby"). Both plants are being held by [Russian forces](https://www.financedigest.com/russians-bombard-cities-as-losses-force-them-back.html "Russians bombard cities as losses force them back"). HUMANITARIAN TOLL \\* Over 2.3 [million people have fled Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/close-to-3-million-have-fled-fighting-in-ukraine.html "Close to 3 million have fled fighting in Ukraine") so far, according to the latest U.N. tally. \\* Ukraine [says its forces](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-says-it-is-committed-to-leading-a-nato-task-force-in-2024.html "Britain says it is committed to leading a NATO task force in 2024") have killed more than 11,000 Russian troops. [Russia has confirmed about 500 losses](https://www.financedigest.com/russias-putin-extends-condolences-to-britain-for-irreparable-loss-of-queen.html "Russia’s Putin extends condolences to Britain for ‘irreparable loss’ of Queen"). Reuters was unable to verify either figure. Neither side has disclosed Ukrainian casualties. AID \\* The U.S. Congress agreed to allocate $13.6 [billion in emergency aid for Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/g7-offers-9-5-billion-new-aid-for-ukraine-ready-with-more.html "G7 offers .5 billion new aid for Ukraine, ready with more"). \\* The International Monetary Fund [approved $1.4 billion](https://www.financedigest.com/australian-court-approves-bhps-6-4-billion-oz-minerals-takeover.html "Australian court approves BHP’s .4 billion OZ Minerals takeover") in emergency funding for Ukraine. (Compiled by Michael Perry and Tomasz Janowski; editing by Kim Coghill and Jason Neely) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---