LIVE Russia-Ukraine crisis: Kyiv, Moscow agree on humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians

The Russian military assault on Ukraine is on its eighth day.

The number of people sent fleeing Ukraine by Russia’s attacks topped 1 million on Wednesday, the swiftest refugee exodus this century, the United Nations said, as Russian forces kept up their bombardment of the country’s second-biggest city, Kharkiv, and laid siege to two strategic seaports.

In a videotaped address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Ukrainians to keep up the resistance. He vowed that the attackers would have “not one quiet moment” and described Russian soldiers as “confused children who have been used.”

Moscow’s isolation deepened, meanwhile, when most of the world lined up against it at the United Nations to demand it withdraw from Ukraine. And the prosecutor for the International Criminal Court opened an investigation into possible war crimes.

Russia reported its military casualties for the first time since the attacks began last week, saying nearly 500 of its troops have been killed and almost 1,600 wounded. Ukraine did not disclose its own military losses but said more than 2,000 civilians have died, a claim that could not be independently verified.

Here's a round-up of all top developments on March 3

11.02pm: Putin says Russian operation in Ukraine is going to plan

10.12pm: EU backs move to give Ukraine refugees temporary residency

European Union interior ministers gave unanimous backing on Thursday to a plan to grant temporary residency to Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, which should come into force within days.

The protective measures will apply to Ukrainians and those who had long-term residency or refugee status in Ukraine, sparing them from going through lengthy asylum procedures.

10.07pm: Queen Elizabeth makes “generous donation” to Ukraine charity appeal

Queen Elizabeth has given a “generous donation” to support people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, according to a coalition of British aid charities that have launched an appeal for funds.

“Many thanks to Her Majesty The Queen for continuing to support the Disasters Emergency Committee and for making a generous donation to the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal,” it said on Twitter.

Buckingham Palace said it was a private matter and declined to provide further details.

9.56pm: Kyiv, Moscow agree on humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians

Ukraine and Russia agreed to create humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians on Thursday in a second round of talks since Moscow invaded last week, a top Ukrainian official said.

“The second round of talks is over. Unfortunately, Ukraine does not have the results it needs yet. There are decisions only on the organisation of humanitarian corridors,” Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on Twitter.

8.16pm: Ukraine's crisis should not be allowed in Indo-Pacific: Quad leaders say

7.58pm: At least 22 killed in air strikes in Ukraine’s Chernihiv region

At least 22 bodies have been recovered from rubble in the wake of Russian air strikes in Ukraine’s Chernihiv region, the Ukrainian emergency services said in an online post.

It said rescue work was ongoing, without specifying where exactly the attack took place. Earlier the regional governor said at least nine people had been killed by an air strike on two schools and private houses.

7.16pm: Ukraine presidential adviser says talks with Russia have started

Talks between Ukraine and Russia have started and the Ukrainian delegation’s agenda is to agree an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to leave front line communities, a Ukrainian presidential adviser said on Thursday.

“We have started talking to Russia’s representatives,” said adviser Mykhailo Podolyak on Twitter.

7.06pm: Civilian casualties rise in Ukraine; 249 dead, 553 injured

The UN human rights office said on Thursday that it had confirmed 249 civilians have been killed and 553 injured in Ukraine during the first week of the conflict following Russia’s invasion.

“Most of civilian casualties recorded from 4am on 24 February 2022 until 12 midnight on 2 March 2022 were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multi-launch rocket systems, and missile and air strikes,” it said in a statement.

6.29pm: Putin tells Macron Russia will achieve its goals in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin told French leader Emmanuel Macron on Thursday that Russia would achieve the goals of its military intervention in Ukraine whatever happens, the Kremlin said.

In a statement issued after the French and Russian presidents spoke by phone, the Kremlin made clear its goals included the demilitarisation and neutrality of Ukraine.

Any attempts by Kyiv to delay negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian officials would result in Moscow adding more items to a list of demands it has already set out, it said.

5.02pm: Cargo ship sinks off Odessa after explosion

The Estonian-owned cargo ship Helt sunk on Thursday off the Ukrainian port of Odessa after an explosion, the vessel’s manager said.

Two crew members were in a life raft at sea while four others were unaccounted for, Igor Ilves, managing director of Tallinn-based manager Vista Shipping Agency, told Reuters.

Ilves said the vessel might have struck a mine.

4.10pm: Ukraine-Russia talks to start in a couple of hours

A Ukrainian delegation is on its way to talks with Russia by helicopter and negotiations will kick off in a couple of hours, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said in an online post on Thursday.

Earlier, Belarusian state news agency Belta quoted chief Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky as saying the second round of talks would start in Belarus at 12pm GMT.

3.51pm: 20,000 Ukrainian tourists in Egypt await return to Europe

Arrangements are being made to help as many as 20,000 Ukrainian tourists stranded at Egyptian resorts to fly to Europe, Ukrainian embassy officials in Cairo said on Thursday, adding that many were ready to head to Ukraine to fight Russian forces.

The tourists, estimated at between 17,500 and 20,000, are mostly in the Egyptian Red Sea resorts of Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada, with some further south in Marsa Allam.

3.42pm: Biden, Quad leaders to discuss Ukraine on Thursday

US President Joe Biden will speak with the leaders of Australia, India and Japan later on Thursday to discuss the war in Ukraine, the White House said in a statement.

The so-called Quad leaders, which includes Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, will speak at 9am “to discuss the war against Ukraine and its implications for the Indo-Pacific,” it said.

3.06pm: EU top diplomat calls for immediate ceasefire

3.01pm: Germany to send more weapons

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmyro Kuleba on Thursday said Germany had told Ukraine it would send more weapons to support the fight against invading Russian forces.

Kuleba did not say what kind of weapons Germany planned to send or when they would be delivered.

2.28pm: Bangladesh cargo ship hit by missile, crew member killed

A missile hit a Bangladeshi owned cargo ship at the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Olvia killing one of its crew members, a Bangladesh foreign ministry official said on Thursday.

The Bangladesh-flagged Banglar Samriddhi had 29 crew members on board, all Bangladeshi nationals, and was stuck at the port of Olvia after Russian attacks on Ukraine began on Feb. 24, the official said.

It was not clear if any other crew members were injured or the status of the ship.

2.05pm: Russia’s Lavrov accuses West of considering ‘nuclear war’

1.42pm: ICC prosecutor launches Ukraine war crimes investigation

The International Criminal Court prosecutor has launched an investigation that could target senior officials believed responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide amid a rising civilian death toll and widespread destruction of property during Russia's attacks on Ukraine.

ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan announced the probe late Wednesday night after dozens of the court's member states asked him to take action.

1.25pm: Ukraine’s Zelensky says defence lines holding against Russian attacks

Ukraine’s defence lines were holding against the Russian attack, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his latest video on Thursday, adding there had been no respite in Moscow’s shelling of Ukraine since midnight.

“We have nothing to lose but our own freedom,” Zelensky said, adding Ukraine was receiving daily arms supplies from its international allies.

12.51pm: Hungary evacuates 32 people from embassy in Kyiv

Hungary has evacuated 32 people from its embassy in Kyiv, including the Hungarian ambassador, two journalists, 10 South African and 10 Nigerian nationals, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Thursday.

He said the evacuated embassy staff and foreign nationals crossed over into Hungary overnight.

12.45pm: Ukraine says 34 civilians killed in Kharkiv region, no water or power in Mariupol city

Russian shelling and attacks on civilian populations killed 34 civilians in Ukraine’s eastern Kharkiv region in the past 24 hours between March 2-3, the emergency services said on Thursday.