Russia-Ukraine live updates: Putin threatens Ukraine’s ‘statehood,’ likens sanctions to a ‘declaration of war’ against Russia

Republican Sens. Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Steve Daines (Mont.) are facing blowback on Saturday after they shared photos of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s video address to Congress.

In a call over Zoom attended by more than 280 members of the U.S. Senate and House, Zelensky pleaded for help in fending off the Russian invasion of his country, urging them to support the politically fraught step of a no-fly zone over Ukraine, help secure more fighter jets and ban the purchase of Russian oil.

Ukraine’s ambassador asked the U.S. lawmakers not to share details of the meeting on social media until it was over, according to an after-meeting post from Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.). But that did not stop Rubio and Daines from tweeting out photos of the meeting while it was still going on.

At 9:45 a.m., Rubio tweeted out a photo of Zelensky with a caption reading, “On zoom call now with President Zelensky of #Ukraine.” Eight minutes later, Daines followed suit with a photo and similar tweet of his own: “Currently on a zoom call with President Zelenskyy #StandWithUkraine️.”

The reaction to the Zelensky meeting photos from Rubio and Daines quickly spread on social media Saturday. Phillips tweeted that he was shocked the GOP senators would tweet out photos while the meeting was still going on when they were told it was prohibited.

“The Ukrainian Ambassador very intentionally asked each of us on the zoom to NOT share anything on social media during the meeting to protect the security of President Zelenskyy,” Phillips wrote. “Appalling and reckless ignorance by two US Senators.”

Representatives for Rubio and Daines did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday.

Other lawmakers did share photos of Zelensky from the meeting, but not until the meeting was over. Among those who shared photos afterward was Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.).

“He is standing strong, but pleaded for more help,” he tweeted. “We stand with him #Ukraine️.”

The State Department said it approved a flight from Russia to the United States so the Russian government could pick up United Nations mission personnel whom the American government has expelled, accusing them of spying.

“This special exception was done in accordance with federal regulations to ensure Russian mission personnel and their families departed by the date we had instructed,” the department said in a statement.

On Monday, the U.S. mission to the United Nations said a dozen Russian diplomats had “abused their privileges of residency in the United States by engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security.”

Early Saturday, air traffic data showed a Russian Ilyushin Il-96 jet operating as part of the Rossiya Special Flight Squadron heading from St. Petersburg to Washington Dulles International Airport. It drew attention because American airspace was closed to Russian aircraft last week. The flight is scheduled to arrive Saturday afternoon after having looped around European and Canadian airspace, which also is closed to Russian aircraft.

The U.S. airspace ban allows for exceptions for diplomatic missions.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova sought to dispel rumors that the flight was to initiate contact with the American government, the Interfax news agency reported.

“I will disappoint you,” she wrote on messaging service Telegram. “This plane will bring back home the Russian diplomats whom the Government of the United States has declared personae non grata.”

The airspace bans have hampered the Russian aviation industry. Aeroflot, its national carrier, announced it would suspend all international flights as of Tuesday, as the Russian government warned about the owners of leased planes trying to impound them.

Protests against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continued to unfurl around the globe Saturday as citizens gathered to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin and plea for peace in a conflict that has already killed hundreds of Ukrainian civilians.

Protesters draped in Ukraine’s blue and yellow flag held signs as some called on NATO to declare a no-fly zone over Ukraine to protect civilians from Russian airstrikes.

The Russian invasion that began Feb. 24 has reverberated not only in the form of protests and sanctions against Russia but also has switched up 75 years of relations among some of the world’s most powerful and wealthy countries.

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Britain

WNBA star Brittney Griner has been arrested in Russia on suspicion of illegally bringing drugs into the country after being searched at the airport and found with hash oil in her luggage, according to Russian news agency Tass.

The report states that Griner was stopped by customs control at Sheremetyevo International Airport in February upon arrival in Moscow from New York when a service dog indicated the presence of drugs. The two-time Olympic gold medalist’s luggage was searched and run through X-ray equipment, and vape cartridges of liquid cannabis oil were found.

“We are aware of and are closely monitoring the situation with Brittney Griner in Russia,” the Phoenix Mercury said in a statement. “We remain in constant contact with her family, her representation, the WNBA and NBA. We love and support Brittney and at this time our main concern is her safety, physical and mental health, and her safe return home.”

The timing of the arrest was unclear, beyond that it happened last month. But the news of the incident coincides with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The United States and other Western and NATO nations have enacted sanctions against Russia and have supported Ukraine with military equipment.

The International Monetary Fund said Saturday that Ukraine will suffer “devastating” economic damage if Russia’s invasion of the country continues to escalate.

U.N. agencies have reported that nearly 1.3 million people have fled the fighting in Ukraine and that at least 351 civilians have been killed since the start of the invasion. The IMF noted in a news release that Russian bombardment is also inflicting a “substantial” economic toll because numerous airports, sea ports, roads and bridges have been closed, damaged or destroyed.

“While the situation remains highly fluid and the outlook is subject to extraordinary uncertainty, the economic consequences are already very serious,” the agency wrote. “While it is very difficult to assess financing needs precisely at this stage, it is already clear that Ukraine will face significant recovery and reconstruction costs.”

The agency expects that the financial impact will only worsen if the conflict escalates further.

“Price shocks will have an impact worldwide, especially on poor households for whom food and fuel are a higher proportion of expenses,” the agency wrote. “Should the conflict escalate, the economic damage would be all the more devastating.”

The IMF says Ukraine has requested more than $1.4 billion of emergency financing under the fund’s Rapid Financing Instrument, which gives economic help to member countries facing urgent costs.

The agency acknowledged that the war and sanctions on Russia from the international community will “have a severe impact on the global economy.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged U.S. lawmakers on Saturday to help fend off the Russian invasion by supporting a no-fly zone over his country and securing more fighter jets, as well banning the purchase of Russian oil.

In a call over Zoom attended by more than 280 members of the U.S. Senate and House, Zelensky described “the urgent need” for more military support and humanitarian aid. The call came after the Biden administration this week requested $10 billion in aid for Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president’s message was “close the skies or gives us planes,” Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) said in a statement after the call, which lasted just under an hour.

A no-fly zone in Ukraine enforced by NATO warplanes is widely regarded as a risky escalation, and Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Saturday that such a step would be regarded as an act of war. Zelensky also asked U.S. lawmakers for help with another way to limit the damage from Russia’s devastating aerial bombing raids: more planes for Ukraine.

“His main ask was for the U.S. to allow Poland and Romania to transfer Soviet era jets to #Ukraine, and for the U.S. to compensate by giving more advanced planes to those two NATO allies,” Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) said in a post.

Zelensky, wearing a green military T-shirt, spoke to the lawmakers from a desk and chair in a well-lit room, with the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag behind him — a change from some recent interviews where the president appeared to be in a dark underground bunker.

The Washington Post’s Sudarsan Raghavan reports from Markhalivka, Ukraine, where at least six people died, including two children, from a suspected Russian airstrike on Friday. At least five houses were destroyed.