Russian troops pressed closer to Kyiv on Monday while continuing their siege of Mariupol, where Ukrainian officials said nearly 2,200 people have been killed.
In the capital’s Obolon district, Ukraine’s emergency service reported that the body of one person was recovered from a nine-storey apartment building following a strike that also left at least a dozen people injured.
Ukrainian and Russian negotiators are scheduled to meet via videoconference in a new round of talks aimed at halting the conflict.
Russia Blocks Instagram After Meta Fallout
Instagram went offline in Russia on Monday after Moscow accused its parent company Meta of allowing calls for violence against Russians.
The app stopped refreshing and appeared on a list of restricted platforms published by media regulator Roskomnadzor. The move comes as Russia continues tightening control over online platforms amid the war.
Global Markets React to War and Sanctions
Asian stock markets slid in early trading as investors tracked diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis. The US Federal Reserve’s meeting this week on interest rate hikes is also being closely watched.
Oil prices dipped slightly after spiking to a 14-year high last week but remained elevated around $110 per barrel, fueling global inflation concerns.
Hong Kong stocks tumbled more than 5%, with tech shares leading losses as investors worried about potential new Covid lockdowns.
Russia Warns of “Artificial Default”
Russia’s finance ministry accused Western nations of attempting to push the country into an “artificial default” with sweeping sanctions.
Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said freezing foreign currency reserves of the Russian government and central bank had “no real economic grounds.”
Meanwhile, Russian prosecutors have threatened major foreign companies, including Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Procter & Gamble, IBM, and Yum Brands (KFC, Pizza Hut), with asset seizures and possible arrests of officials critical of Moscow.
Food Security Concerns in Europe and Africa
French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the war in Ukraine could severely destabilise food supplies across Europe and Africa, as the conflict disrupts grain exports and raises fears of global shortages.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is expected to meet senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi in Rome on Monday, with Ukraine high on the agenda as Washington seeks Beijing’s help in ending the war.
