Putin denies martial law is coming, warns against no-fly zone; Zelenskyy talks with Biden
The U.S. State Department is urging Americans to leave Russia immediately, warning of potential harassment by Russian security officials and of possible issues with accessing money within the country.
Also on Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that he would consider any third parties that declare a no-fly zone over Ukraine to be participants in the conflict.
Earlier in the day, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister said Russia violated a cease-fire agreement and that attacks are ongoing in the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha. Russia and Ukraine had agreed to the temporary cease-fire in the two cities to enable civilians to leave safely.
Russian and Ukrainian officials are expected to hold a third round of talks on Monday, according to Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia. The Kremlin has not yet confirmed such a meeting.
Putin ‘forced to deny’ reports that martial law is coming to Russia
President Vladimir Putin was “forced to deny reports” that his government will impose martial law in order to stamp out Russian dissent against the war in Ukraine, according to the U.K. Defence Ministry.
Putin made the denial at an event in Moscow on Saturday local time. Rumors of impending martial law have swirled in Russia for days as the Kremlin tries to control opposition to the war in Ukraine.
Putin on Friday approved changes to Russian law that impose prison sentences of up to 15 years for “fake” news about the war in Ukraine.
“These steps likely reveal the extent of Russia’s concern over how the conflict in Ukraine has unfolded and its desire to hide this from the Russian population,” the U.K. ministry said in a Saturday intelligence update.
Russia has seen civilian demonstrations against the war despite threat of arrest or worse.
British newspaper the Guardian reported late last week that a bill was introduced in Russia’s legislature, the State Duma, that would forcibly conscript opposition protesters to fight in eastern Ukraine.
—Ted Kemp
Zelenskyy and Biden discuss security, financial support
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine spoke by phone with U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday evening Washington time, the White House said.
On Twitter, Zelenskyy referred to the conversation as part of a “constant dialogue.”
“The agenda included the issues of security, financial support for Ukraine and the continuation of sanctions against Russia,” the Ukrainian president said.
Biden initiated the call, the White House said.
Also on Saturday local time, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, briefly met at the Ukraine-Poland border to discuss Western efforts to support Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion of the country.
The pair of top diplomats discussed supplying additional weapons to Ukraine and efforts to impose sanctions on Russia to further isolate the country and damage its economy.
—Ted Kemp and Annie Palmer
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