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France 24
France 24
Politics

As it happened: Presidents of 8 EU states call for immediate talks on Ukrainian membership

A picture taken on February 19, 2020 shows the European Union flags fluttering outside the European Commission building in Brussels. © Kenzo Tribouillard, AFP

Presidents of eight EU states have called to immediately grant EU candidate country status to Ukraine, paving the way for accession to the 27-member bloc. It's now the fifth day of the conflict.

  • The International Criminal Court plans to open an investigation into Russia's invasion of Ukraine and alleged war crimes committed there.
  • Russia has been expelled from the 2022 World Cup and Russian athletes and teams have been banned from international sporting events.
  • The rouble plunged to an all-time low on Monday after Western nations announced fresh sanctions and Russian President Vladimir Putin put nuclear-armed forces on high alert.
  • In a call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Putin said that the West recognising Russia's sovereignty over Crimea and the demilitarisation of Ukraine were pre-requisites for putting an end to fighting. 
  • Ukrainian and Russian officials have ended a first round of talks to discuss a ceasefire
  • France has decided to move its embassy from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv to the western city of Lviv.
  • More than 500,000 Ukrainians have already fled the conflictmostly to Poland and Moldova, according to the UN refugee agency.

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(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS, AFP and AP)

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