WORLD

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has come up with a six-point plan to counter Russia's invasion of Ukraine. According to Nexta TV, the UK PM suggested supporting Ukraine's self-defence and increasing economic pressure on Russia.

The other four suggestions include forming an international coalition to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine, preventing "creeping normalisation" of Russian activities in Ukraine. Strengthening security and stability throughout the Euro-Atlantic region, pursuing diplomatic ways toward de-escalation with Kyiv's full participation, Nexta TV.

In another unprecedented action, this time on social media giants, Russia on Friday blocked Facebook and introduced Twitter restrictions amid moves to limit access to what the Vladimir Putin administration defines as "fake news" as the Kremlin wages war on Ukraine. Putin has signed into a law a bill that threatens jail term of up to 15 years over "fake news" against Russia's army. Moscow has repeatedly objected to the Ukraine conflict being referred to as "war", and instead wants it to be called as a "special military operation".

"Soon millions of ordinary Russians will find themselves cut off from reliable information... deprived of their everyday ways of connecting with family and friends and silenced from speaking out. We will continue to do everything we can to restore our services so they remain available to people to safely and securely express themselves and organise for action," read a tweet by Nick Clegg, President, Global Affairs, Meta, Facebook's parent firm.

India, along with China and Pakistan, was among 35 countries which abstained from voting on a resolution deploring in the strongest terms Russia’s actions in Ukraine and demanding that Russia “immediately, completely, and unconditionally” withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. There was emphatic support for the resolution, which is not legally binding but is said to convey the “popular will’’ of the 193-member body; it was adopted with 141 votes in favour, well over two-thirds majority.

The United Kingdom has announced fresh sanctions on Russia, including banning Russian ships from entering British ports. "We are inflicting economic pain on Putin and those closest to him. We will not rest until Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity is restored," said UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

Britain also announced a first wave of punitive measures against Belarus for its role in the invasion of Ukraine and sanctioned four senior defence officials and two military enterprises with immediate effect under the UK's Russia sanctions regime.

"The Lukashenko regime actively aids and abets Russia's illegal invasion and will be made to feel the economic consequences for its support for Putin. There will be nowhere to hide. Nothing – and no one – is off the table," she said, with reference to Kremlin-supporting Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.

Dozens of diplomats on Tuesday staged a walkout as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Lavrov was giving a virtual speech at the forum in Geneva when diplomats from the European Union, United States, and Britain walked out, Reuters reported.

The US State Department on Monday accused Russia of "widespread" human rights abuses in Ukraine as its troops fired missiles at civilian areas.