NEW YORK (1010 WINS/AP) -- President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that the U.S. will ban the import of Russian oil and work with European countries to reduce their dependence on Russian energy. Meanwhile, a temporary ceasefire set up to allow civilians to get out of Ukraine appeared to be holding Tuesday, even as Russian aircraft continued to bomb cities in eastern and central Ukraine, and as shelling pounded the suburbs of Kyiv. As the war entered its 13th day, more than 2 million people—half of them children—have fled Ukraine, the U.N. said.
Tuesday, March 8, 2022
8:30 p.m.: First lady of Ukraine pens open letter to media
The first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, wrote an open letter to the media on Tuesday blaming Russia for the "mass murder of Ukrainian citizens."
"When Russia says that it is 'not waging war against civilians,' I call out the names of these murdered children first," the letter said.
Zelenska names some of the war's youngest victims and details the current harrowing reality on the ground in Ukraine.
"Local communities on social media are full of despair. Many people, including the elderly, severely ill and those with disabilities, have been debilitatingly cut off, ending up far from their families and without any support. War against these innocent people is a double crime," Zelenska said.
The first lady also praised the bravery and determination of Ukrainians fighting back on the frontlines but also those continuously showing up to provide necessary aid.
President of Ukraine
"The aggressor, Putin, thought that he would unleash blitzkrieg on Ukraine. But he underestimated our country, our people, and their patriotism. Ukrainians, regardless of political views, native language, beliefs, and nationalities, stand in unparalleled unity," Zelenska said.
Zelenska added thanks to countries worldwide for the continued support being provided and to the media for continued coverage of the war.
5:05 p.m. - PepsiCo joins Ukraine blockade, suspends decades of business operations in country
Pepsi joined Coca-Cola, Starbucks and McDonald's in pausing operations in Russia.
"Our first priority continues to be the safety and security of our fellow Ukrainian associates," CEO Ramon Laguarta wrote in a letter to PepsiCo associates. "We suspended operations in Ukraine to enable our associates to seek safety for themselves and their families, and our dedicated crisis teams in the sector and region continue to closely monitor developments in real time."
The company which has been operating in Russia for over 60 years "must stay true to the humanitarian aspect of our business," Laguarta said.
He said Pepsi will also provide aid to "assist Ukrainian refugees in neighboring countries."
He added, "We are also continuing to provide aid on the ground to assist Ukrainian refugees in neighboring countries. Our business has donated food, milk and refrigerators to relief organizations, and we're ramping up production of foods and beverages in neighboring countries to meet the increased need. We are also donating a total of $4 million to the Red Cross in Poland, World Vision in Romania, the World Food Program, World Central Kitchen and Save the Children. And we continue to match up to $1 million raised from PepsiCo employees through our Gift Matching Campaign."
4:50 p.m. - Congressional leaders close to spending deal that includes millions for Ukraine: NBC News
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said members of Congress were "very very close to finalizing the agreement" to fund "more than $12 million" as part of its government funding.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said the aid is an important step that needs to be "passed quickly."
"I think it's an important step and needs to be passed. And it needs to be passed quickly," he told reporters.
Senate Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) (2nd L) speaks as Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) (L) and Senate Minority Whip Sen. John Thune (R-SD) (R) listen during a news briefing after a weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol March 8, 2022 in Washington, DCAlex Wong/Getty Images
4:25 p.m. - Thousands evacuated from eastern city of Sumy on Tuesday: Ukrainian official
Authorities evacuated thousands of people from the eastern city of Sumy on Tuesday, a senior Ukrainian official said.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said that 5,000 people, including 1,700 foreign students, were evacuated from Sumy.
Vereshchuk reaffirmed that Ukraine will not accept Moscow's offer to establish safe corridors for civilians to head toward Russia, saying it will only agree to safe exits leading westward.
Vereshchuk said that the evacuation from the southern port of Mariupol failed Tuesday because the Russian troops fired on a Ukrainian convoy carrying humanitarian cargo to Mariupol that was to carry civilians from the city on its way back. She said the city was in a "catastrophic situation" cut from water, power and communications, adding that a child in Mariupol has died of dehydration.
The Russian military has denied firing on convoys and charged that the Ukrainian side was blocking the evacuation effort.
3:45 p.m. - Starbucks, Coca-Cola suspend business activity in Russia following invasion
Starbucks announced on Tuesday that it will halt all business operations in Russia, including shipments and cafe operations.
CEO Kevin Johnson said it will offer support to its 2,000 staff in Russia and condemned Russia's "horrific attacks on Ukraine."
"We condemn the unprovoked, unjust and horrific attacks on Ukraine by Russia, and our hearts go out to all those affected," he added.
Customers sit in Russia's first Starbucks Coffee Shop on opening day at the Mega shopping mall in Khimki, just north of Moscow, Russia on September 6, 2007Yonatan Pomrenze/NBC NewsWire
Coca-Cola announced Tuesday it too will suspend business in Russia.
"Our hearts are with the people who are enduring unconscionable effects from these tragic events in Ukraine," the company said in a statement. "We will continue to monitor and assess the situation as circumstances evolve."
The moves come hours after McDonald's shuttered all 850 of its Russian locations.
3:00 p.m. - Russia offers humanitarian ceasefire again
The Russian military offered again on Tuesday to provide humanitarian corridors for civilians to leave five Ukrainian cities after several previous attempts to establish safe exits have failed.
Ukrainian officials said that Russian shelling again made it impossible for civilians to use the corridors on Tuesday despite a deal reached a day earlier. The Russian military has countered the claim, alleging that Ukraine only has allowed civilians to use one corridor from the city of Sumy and blocked other routes from Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Mariupol.
Firefighters try to extinguish a fire after a chemical warehouse was hit by Russian shelling on the eastern frontline near Kalynivka village on March 08, 2022, in Kyiv, UkraineChris McGrath/Getty Images
Russian Col. Gen. Mikhail Mizintsev said Tuesday that the Russian military has announced it will stop firing at 10 a.m. Wednesday to let civilians leave safely via the corridors. He suggested setting up a hotline between Russia and Ukraine to coordinate the evacuation.
2:40 p.m. - Poland says its ready to move fighter jets to US air base to send to Ukraine
Poland's government announced Tuesday it is ready to deploy its entire fleet of used MIG-29 fighter jets to a U.S. airbase in Germany, to then be used by Ukraine's fighters.
"The Polish Government also requests other NATO Allies – owners of MIG-29 jets – to act in the same vein," Poland said in a statement.
However, it is unclear if the U.S. government plans to move forward with the deal.
Getty Images
2:15 p.m. - Zelenskyy praises Biden for decision to ban Russian oil imports
"Thankful for US and @POTUS personal leadership in striking in the heart of Putin's war machine and banning oil, gas and coal from US market," he tweeted. "Encourage other countries and leaders to follow."
1:30 p.m. - Zelenskyy tells U.K. parliament: "We will not give up"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy evoked British wartime leader Winston Churchill as he told the U.K. Parliament that his country would fight Russia's invasion to the end in Ukraine's cities, fields and riverbanks.
Zelenskyy told British lawmakers "we will not give up and we will not lose," in a speech that evoked Churchill's stirring "never surrender" speech during the darkest days of World War II.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses MPs in the House of Commons via videolink on the latest situation in Ukraine.House of Commons/PA/Sipa USA
Speaking by video from Ukraine to a packed House of Commons chamber, Zelenskyy urged Britain to increase sanctions on Russia and to recognize Russia as "a terrorist country."
Tuesday's address was the first time a foreign leader was allowed to speak in the House of Commons. Screens and simultaneous translation headsets were set up in the House of Commons so lawmakers could hear him.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses MPs in the House of Commons via videolink on the latest situation in Ukraine.House of Commons/PA/Sipa USA
1:15 p.m. - New York Times pulls news staff from Russia
The New York Times has temporarily pulled its journalists from Russia amid new repressive laws targeting the news media.
"Russia's new legislation seeks to criminalize independent, accurate news reporting about the war against Ukraine. For the safety and security of our editorial staff working in the region, we are moving them out of the country for now," Times spokeswoman Danielle Rhoades Ha said in a statement.
"We look forward to them returning as soon as possible while we monitor the application of the new law," Rhoades Ha said. "We will continue our live, robust coverage of the war and our rigorous reporting on Russia's offensive in Ukraine and these attempts to stifle independent journalism."
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill into law Friday that criminalizes the intentional spreading of what Moscow deems to be "fake" reports. Those convicted of the offense would face up 15 years in prison.
1:00 p.m. - Unilever suspends imports/exports in and out of Russia
Consumer goods giant Unilever said it has "suspended all imports and exports of our products into and out of Russia" and halted all media and advertising there.
A statement from CEO Alan Jope said the U.K.-based conglomerate continues to "condemn the war in Ukraine as a brutal and senseless act by the Russian state."
Jope said Unilever would also "not invest any further capital into the country nor will we profit from our presence in Russia."
"We will continue to supply our everyday essential food and hygiene products made in Russia to people in the country," Jope said. "We will keep this under close review."
Unilever owns over 400 brands, including Dove soap, Lipton tea and Ben & Jerry's ice cream.
12:45 p.m. - McDonald's to temporarily close all 850 of its restaurants in Russia
McDonald's said it is temporarily closing all of its 850 restaurants and pausing operations in Russia in response to the country's invasion of Ukraine.
The burger giant said it will continue paying its 62,000 employees in Russia.
But in an open letter to employees, McDonald's President and CEO Chris Kempckinski said closing those stores is the right thing to do because McDonald's can't ignore the "needless human suffering in Ukraine."
McDonald's owns 84% of its Russian restaurants. In a recent financial filing, the company said Russia and Ukraine contributed 9% of the company's revenue last year.
Russians walk into a McDonald's restaurant in Moscow.Spencer Platt/Getty Images
12:30 p.m. - Biden: Putin 'seems determined to continue on his murderous path'
President Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin "seems determined to continue on his murderous path no matter the cost."
But the Russian leader "will never" see victory in Ukraine, Biden said from the White House as he announced the U.S. was banning Russian oil imports.
"He has already turned two million Ukrainians into refugees," Biden said. "Russia may continue to grind out its advance at a horrible price, but this much is already clear: Ukraine will never be a victory for Putin. Putin may be able to take a city, but he'll never be able to hold the country. And if we do not respond to Putin's assault on global peace and stability today, the cost of freedom, and to the American people, will be even greater tomorrow."
The invasion of Ukraine is also taking its toll on Russian forces, with U.S. intelligence agencies estimating that between 2,000 and 4,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the invasion began on Feb. 24, Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, told the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday.
Berrier cautioned that the estimate is of low confidence and includes information from "open sources," NBC News reported. But it shows the price Russia is paying for the invasion nearly two weeks after it began.
At the same congressional hearing, director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said the conflict is "a shock to the geopolitical order with implications for the future that we are only beginning to understand."
Putin believes "he cannot afford to lose" the war, Haines said, and intelligence analysts expect a drawn-out conflict with a "persistent and significant insurgency" from Ukrainians.
11:30 a.m. - Biden announces ban on Russian oil imports
President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. is banning all imports of Russian oil and gas.
Speaking from the White House, Biden said, "I'm announcing the United States is targeting the main artery of Russia's economy. We're banning all imports of Russian oil and gas and energy. That means Russian oil will no longer be acceptable at U.S. ports and the American people will deal another powerful blow to Putin's war machine."
Biden said the latest sanction has "strong bipartisan support in Congress and, I believe, in the country." The announcement comes amid rising pressure from Democrats and Republicans, and it reflects a willingness to accept the political risk of rising gas prices to economically retaliate against Russia.
"Americans have rallied to support the Ukrainian people and made it clear we will not be part of subsidizing Putin's war," the president said.
The decision was made "in close consultation with allies and partners around the world, especially in Europe," Biden said.
The president said some allies, particularly in Europe, "may not be in a position to join us," given their dependency on Russian oil.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
"The U.S. produces far more oil domestically than all the European countries combined," Biden noted.
"So we can take this step when others cannot," he said. "But we're working closely with Europe and our partners to develop a long-term strategy to reduce their dependence on Russian energy as well."
As the average price of a gallon of gas in the U.S. hit a record high of $4.17 on Tuesday, the president warned "there will be costs as well here in the United States."
"With this action it's going to go up further," Biden said of gas prices, adding that Americans are "hurting at the gas pump" because of "Putin's war."
"I'm going to do everything I can to minimize Putin's price hike here at home," the president said.
Biden told pool reporters Tuesday blamed rising gas prices on Russia go up saying, he "can't do much right now ... Russia is responsible."
Notably, he said prices are "going to go up."
Around the same time as Biden's announcement, Britain said it would join the U.S. in banning imports of Russian oil.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said oil and oil products from Russia will be phased out by the end of the year. He said the transition period "will give the market, businesses and supply chains more than enough time to replace Russian imports," which account for 8% of U.K. demand.
Kwarteng said the U.K. would work with its other oil suppliers, including the U.S., the Netherlands and the Gulf states, to secure extra supplies.
11:00 a.m. - US believes Russia underestimated Ukrainian resistance
President Joe Biden's top intelligence official said Tuesday the U.S. believes Russia underestimated the strength of Ukraine's resistance before launching an invasion that has likely caused thousands of Russian casualties.
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told a congressional panel that U.S. officials believe Russian President Vladimir Putin feels "aggrieved" by Russia's failure to subdue Ukraine and that he perceives that he cannot afford to lose the war. But what Putin might consider a victory could change given the escalating costs of the conflict to Russia, Haines said.
Despite Putin's announcement that he would raise Russia's alert level for nuclear weapons, Haines said the U.S. has not observed unusual changes in Russia's nuclear force posture.
Haines said it is "unclear at this stage" whether Russia will try to conquer all of Ukraine, something that would require more resources than Putin has committed.
Ukrainian serviceman walks past the vertical tail fin of a Russian Su-34 bomber lying in a damaged building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 8, 2022.AP Photo/Andrew Marienko
10:30 a.m. - Average price for gallon of gas hits record $4.17 in US
The average price for a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. hit an all-time record of $4.17 as the country prepares to ban Russian oil imports.
The average price rose by 10 cents per gallon in one day, and it's up 55 cents since last week, according to AAA data.
Gasoline stocks in the U.S. fell last week even as demand is on the rise with summer approaching.
The increase in gas demand and a reduction in total supply is contributing to rising prices at the pump, but skyrocketing oil prices are playing an increasingly large role.
The price of benchmark U.S. crude jumped 8% Tuesday to more than $129 per barrel.
Americans can expect the current trend at the pump to continue as long as crude prices climb, the AAA said.
A Ukrainian police officer helps people as artillery echoes nearby while fleeing Irpin in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, March 7, 2022.AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti
8:45 a.m. - Biden expected to ban Russia oil imports
President Joe Biden has decided to ban Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia's economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, a source told the Associated Press.
The move follows pleas by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to U.S. and Western officials to cut off the imports, which had been a glaring omission the massive sanctions put in place on Russia over the invasion. Energy exports have kept a steady influx of cash flowing to Russia despite otherwise severe restrictions on its financial sector.
Biden was set to announce the move as soon as Tuesday, the source said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. The White House said Biden would speak at 10:45 a.m. to announce, "actions to continue to hold Russia accountable for its unprovoked and unjustified war on Ukraine."
The U.S. will be acting alone, but in close consultation with European allies, who are more dependent on Russian energy supplies. European nations have said they plan to reduce their reliance on Russia for their energy needs, but filling the void without crippling their economies will likely take some time. Natural gas from Russia accounts for one-third of Europe's consumption of the fossil fuel. The U.S. does not import Russian natural gas.
Ukrainians crowd under a destroyed bridge as they try to flee crossing the Irpin river in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 8, 2022.AP Photo/Felipe Dana
8:30 a.m. - Temporary ceasefire appears to hold in Ukraine
Civilians in one eastern Ukrainian city were leaving on buses Tuesday amid a 12-hour-long cease-fire in that area after Russia and Ukraine agreed on establishing five safe corridors for people to escape the fighting.
Ukraine has submitted routes to evacuate the capital and communities north of Kyiv, as well as several eastern cities. While Russia hadn't confirmed the routes, the shelling had quieted enough that the Ukrainians were trying to move people onto buses out and to get trucks of aid in.
"We think this is obviously a welcome step, that the ceasefire seems to be being observed by the Russians," Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said. "They don't exactly have a good track record in that regard. So it's welcome to see that people are able to get out."
Meanwhile, Russian aircraft continued to bomb cities in eastern and central Ukraine overnight. Shelling pounded suburbs of the capital, Kyiv.
Ukrainian servicemen guard a checkpoint on a main road in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, March 7, 2022.AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda
8:00 a.m. - 'Creditable reports' that Russian forces are 'targeting civilians': NATO official
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says Russia's armed forces may be deliberately targeting civilians as they try to flee the military assault on Ukraine.
Stoltenberg said Tuesday "there are very creditable reports of civilians coming under fire as they try to evacuate. Targeting civilians is a war crime, and it's totally unacceptable."
He told reporters in Latvia that the humanitarian impact of the almost two-week long war "is devastating."
"We need real humanitarian corridors that are fully respected," he said.
Asked what NATO can do to help, Stoltenberg said: "We have a responsibility to ensure the conflict does not spread beyond Ukraine."
Ukrainian soldiers walk on a destroyed bridge in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 8, 2022.AP Photo/Felipe Dana
7:30 a.m. - Dozens of kids reportedly among 474 civilians killed
The U.N. human rights office says it has confirmed 474 civilian deaths in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on Feb. 24.
The office said Tuesday that the number of confirmed civilian injuries now stands at 861.
The U.N. office uses strict methodology and only reports casualties it has been able to verify. It acknowledges that the real figures are much higher.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov released new estimates of casualties and damage from the Russian war, saying Russian military actions have killed 38 children and wounded more than 70.
Overall at least 400 civilian deaths have been recorded and 800 wounded, though "these data are definitely incomplete," Reznikov said in a video address.
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the nation in Kyiv, Ukraine, late Monday, March 7, 2022.Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP
7:00 a.m. - Zelenskyy wants humanitarian corridors expanded
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for the expansion of humanitarian corridors for Ukrainian civilians fleeing war, and more support from the Red Cross.
In a video address Tuesday from an undisclosed location, he said a child died of dehydration in the blockaded southern seaport of Mariupol, in a sign of how desperate the city's population has become.
He pleaded again with Western countries to provide air support.
He said evacuation buses have been sent to Mariupol but that there was no firm agreement on the route, so "Russian troops can simply shoot on this transport on the way."
People walk next to an apartment building hit by shelling in Mariupol, Ukraine, Monday, March 7, 2022.AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka
6:30 a.m. - Shell to stop buying Russian oil, natural gas
Energy giant Shell said it will stop buying Russian oil and natural gas as well as shut down its service stations and other operations in the country amid international pressure for companies to sever ties over the invasion of Ukraine.
Shell said in a statement Tuesday that it would withdraw from all Russian hydrocarbons, including crude oil, petroleum products, natural gas and liquefied natural gas, "in a phased manner."
The decision comes just days after Ukraine's foreign minister criticized Shell for continuing to buy Russian oil.
A man stands atop a destroyed bridge in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 8, 2022.AP Photo/Felipe Dana
6:00 a.m. - 2 million people have fled Ukraine since invasion began: UN
The number of refugees fleeing Ukraine reached 2 million on Tuesday, according to the United Nations, the fastest exodus Europe has seen since World War II.
"Today the outflow of refugees from Ukraine reaches two million people. Two million," Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, wrote on Twitter.
The update came as a new effort to evacuate civilians along safe corridors finally got underway Tuesday. The route out of the eastern city of Sumy was one of five promised by the Russians to offer civilians a way to escape the Russian onslaught.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
