Russia accuses US of waging 'economic war'

Russia says it's not trying to "overthrow" the Ukraine government. Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Wednesday said Moscow is not working to topple the Ukrainian government as some progress has been made in the three rounds of the talks held between the two countries. In her weekly briefing, Zakharova said Moscow has documental evidence that bio-weapons are being developed in Ukraine by the United States. “The US Defence Department and the presidential administration of the United States are obliged to officially explain to the global community, officially, not through talking heads, about the programmes in Ukraine,” Maria Zakharova said."We demand details," she said. “We demand and the world awaits,” Zakharova said.Both Pentagon and Ukraine have already denied the allegations of bio-weapons.

As the conflict enters the 14th day, the spokesperson said Russian army are not targeting civilians and even the Russian army's aim is not to occupy Ukraine, or destruction of the statehood, but to "de-Nazify" the country. Zakharova said Kyiv authorities are blocking evacuation efforts. "Information about humanitarian corridors is deliberately not communicated to the population," she said, adding, "Persons wishing to leave for Russia are forced to evacuate in the Western direction." Russia claimed that during the 'special operation' in Ukraine, control was established over the Chernobyl and Zaporozhye nuclear power plants. According to Russia, this was done to prevent any attempts to stage nuclear provocations, which is a risk that obviously exists.

Meanwhile, Indian students from Sumy have reached Lviv and will go to Poland via train. This is the last group of Indians being evacuated from war-torn Ukraine. They will be flown home from Poland in the next couple of days.

Nearly 8000 Indians evacuated through Romania. The last special flight will depart from Bucharest today. We express our gratitude to government and people of Romania for their help. Long live India-Romania friendship! @NicolaeCiuca
@BogdanAurescu
@DrSJaishankar
@MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/jtIOu6zA1i

— India in Romania (@eoiromania) March 9, 2022

Russia warned the West on Wednesday that it was working on a broad response to sanctions that would be swift and felt in the West's most sensitive areas. "Russia's reaction will be swift, thoughtful and sensitive for those it addresses, President Zelenskyy has urged British MPs to designate Russia as a "terrorist state".