March 2, 2022

*) Russian airborne troops land in Ukraine's second city Kharkiv Russian airborne troops have landed in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, the Ukrainian army said on Wednesday, adding that there were immediate clashes. The army said that Russian troops have attacked a local hospital and there is an ongoing fight between the invaders and the Ukrainians. Earlier, the central square of Ukraine's second city was shelled by advancing Russian forces, killing at least 21 people and leaving many more injured. *) Biden: US closing airspace to Russia, going after oligarchs US President Joe Biden has said that Washington will join allies in banning Russia's aircraft from using its airspace and branded his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a "dictator" during his State of the Union address. He said that in the battle between democracy and autocracy, democracies are rising to the moment, and the world is clearly choosing the side of peace and security. The American president also took aim at Russian oligarchs whom he said have bilked billions of dollars off Putin's government, warning them "we're coming for your ill-begotten gains". *) Treat Türkiye like Ukraine for bloc's membership, Erdogan tells EU Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the European Union to treat his country like it does Ukraine, without waiting for it to be "hit by a war". "Show Türkiye the same sensitivity that we are witnessing towards Ukraine," Erdogan said at a press conference in Ankara. Several European nations had called on EU member states to immediately grant Ukraine a EU candidate country status and open membership talks after Russia’s aggression. On the other hand, Türkiye has been a candidate for EU membership since 1987 but talks have floundered in recent years. *) World bank sets more than $1B in aid for Afghanistan The World Bank has announced more than 1 billion dollars in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan. It said the aid will go to UN agencies and international NGOs and will "remain outside the control