Russia-Ukraine live updates: Ukraine says Russia foiled second civilian evacuation attempt, will bomb Odessa

Visa and Mastercard, two of the world’s largest payment networks, announced Saturday that they will suspend transactions in Russia — the latest American companies to upend their operations in the country in response to its invasion of Ukraine.

“We are compelled to act following Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and the unacceptable events that we have witnessed,” Visa CEO Al Kelly said in a statement. “We regret the impact this will have on our valued colleagues, and on the clients, partners, merchants and cardholders we serve in Russia. This war and the ongoing threat to peace and stability demand we respond in line with our values.”

Visa and Mastercard cards issued outside Russia will no longer work in the country, according to the companies. Cards issued by Russian banks will be cut from the networks run by the companies but may continue to operate through a state-owned processing system disconnected from Visa and Mastercard.

The financial services firms join a long list of global businesses that have implemented some forms of boycotts against Russia since its invasion of Ukraine.

JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who surprised observers by popping up in Moscow this weekend for an unannounced meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Sunday he remains in touch with both Russia and Ukraine and will press ahead with attempts to broker an end to the fighting.

Bennett, whose blitz of diplomacy follows days of criticism by Ukraine for not denouncing Russia and Putin by name for the invasion, spoke with its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, their third conversation in the last 24 hours, according to the prime minister’s office. Bennett had a three-hour dinner meeting at the Kremlin on Saturday, and then made a stop to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on his flight back to Israel.

The prime minister gave no details of his talks with any of the leaders but said he would keep working as a go-between. “As you all know, the situation on the ground is not good. The human suffering is great and is liable to be much greater,” Bennett said Sunday at the start of a weekly cabinet meeting. “Even if the chance is not great — as soon as there is even a small opening, and we have access to all sides and the capability — I see this as our moral obligation to make every effort.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a news conference on Sunday that the number of foreigners who have signed up to fight for Ukraine in its war against Russia is “approaching 20,000,” and that the volunteers are from 52 countries.

On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had said in an emotional video posted to his Telegram channel that 16,000 foreigners had volunteered to join an “international legion” and fight alongside Ukraine.

Zelensky created the International Legion of Territorial Defense last weekend, calling on volunteers to “join the defense of Ukraine, Europe and the world,” and temporarily lifting visa requirements for foreign fighters.

In his speech on Sunday, Kuleba criticized the countries and companies he said were undermining the Western-led response to Ukraine’s invasion by helping Moscow avoid sanctions — what he called “trying to sit on two chairs at the same time” — and promised to name and shame them.

Kuleba called for fresh sanctions against Russia from the European Union and its allies. If new sanctions are not put in place, he argued, “Russia will catch its breath and gather new strength and strike even harder,” with “tragic” consequences for Ukrainians.

TALLINN, Estonia — The United States is exploring how it might facilitate supplying Ukraine with fighter jets from NATO nations, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday, suggesting a step-up in western military aid to Kyiv as it faces Russia’s deepening invasion.

“We are looking actively now at the question of airplanes that Poland may provide to Ukraine and looking at how we might be able to backfill should Poland choose to supply those planes,” he told reporters during a visit to Chisinau, Moldova.

“I can’t speak to the timeline but I can just tell you that we’re looking at it very, very actively,” Blinken said.

Blinken’s remarks will be welcomed in Kyiv, where Ukrainian leaders have appealed to the West for additional military aid as they face a punishing assault by Russian forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged U.S. lawmakers in a video call on Saturday to help ensure his country gets additional air power to bolster its meager air force and stave off Russia’s attempt to capture major cities.

Zelensky pleads with U.S. lawmakers for help with air war against Russia

Ukrainian officials have also called for NATO establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine, a move the Western alliance has rejected because, NATO officials say, it could trigger war with Russia.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday that Russia would push on with its war unless Ukraine stopped fighting.

He said it was time for Ukraine to “show a more constructive approach that fully takes into account the emerging realities,” according to the Kremlin, an apparent reference to Ukraine’s military and territorial losses since Russia’s invasion.

Speaking by phone to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Putin said the war was “going according to plan” and on time. He denied Russia was responsible for the civilian casualty toll.

Pultin blamed Ukraine for civilian deaths, claiming that “neo-Nazi formations” were “taking hostage” civilians in cities and towns, using them as “human shields.” Russia has offered no evidence for this claim, which has emerged as one of the key parts of the Kremlin’s messaging about the war.

Russia has also accused Ukraine of “dragging out” negotiations, by refusing to swiftly accept Russia’s terms to stop attacks, which include giving up its territorial claims to Crimea and the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, accepting neutrality and total demilitarization.

“The suspension of the special operation is possible only if Kiev ceases hostilities and fulfills the well-known requirements of Russia,” according to the Kremlin.

Putin warned Sunday of “the futility of any attempts to drag out the negotiation process,” claiming Ukraine’s military was using the negotiations to “regroup their forces,” according to the Kremlin readout of the call — even though Russia did not halt attacks during cease-fire negotiations.

Ukraine has demanded Russia cease its attacks and withdraw its forces. Hopes for a breakthrough at new talks that could be held Monday appear dim, given the gulf between the two sides. Putin on Saturday warned that if Ukraine kept on fighting it could lose its statehood.

Actor-director Sean Penn, who was filming a documentary on the crisis in Ukraine at the time Russia invaded, has hailed Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky for this handling of the fast-moving and precarious situation.

“I don’t know if he knew that he was born for this,” Penn told Anderson Cooper on CNN Friday, crediting Zelensky with “unifying” the country during what he called an “extraordinary moment.”

Penn recalled his meetings with 44-year-old Zelensky on the day before — and the day of — Russia’s invasion and said he was “endlessly impressed and moved” by the president, who was elected as Ukraine’s leader in 2019 after a career in acting and comedy.

While Penn said he was inspired by Zelensky’s ability to bring Ukrainians together amid days of bombardment by Russian forces, he added that he was also “terrified” for the president and the country.

Zelensky, who says he has become the Kremlin’s most wanted target and that there are plans to assassinate him, has earned the respect of many amid the escalating war by refusing to flee and advocating for his country with world leaders.

Penn denounced Putin’s actions in late February, calling his decision to invade “a most horrible mistake for all of humankind.”

Global companies including McDonald’s and Pepsi are facing political pressure and calls on social media to suspend operations in Russia as a slew of other brands cut ties there in a show of support for Ukraine.

On Friday, Thomas DiNapoli, the New York state comptroller, sent letters to several companies urging them to halt or pause operations in Russia. DiNapoli cited “significant and growing legal, compliance, operational, human rights and personnel, and reputational risks.”

Estee Lauder, Pepsi and snack company Mondelez International — which produces Cadbury chocolate, Oreo cookies and Philadelphia cream cheese — were among those DiNapoli contacted, Reuters reported. DiNapoli oversees New York’s pension fund, which has shares in the companies, according to Reuters.

Halting operations across Russia “would address various investment risks associated with the Russian market and play an important role in condemning Russia’s role in fundamentally undermining the international order that is vital to a strong and healthy global economy,” the letter said, according to Reuters.

Other companies, including Apple and Nike, have suspended operations in Russia.

On Sunday, #BoycottMcDonalds trended on Twitter in the United Kingdom as thousands called for the fast-food giant to review operations in Russia, where it has more than 800 restaurants. The country’s first McDonald’s opened in Moscow’s Pushkin Square in 1990.

More than 1.5 million refugees from Ukraine have fled to neighboring countries over the last 10 days, the U.N. high commissioner for refugees, Filippo Grandi, said Sunday. He tweeted that the mass exodus is “the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.”

Grandi recently predicted that more than four million people could be displayed by the conflict in the days to come.

The majority of those fleeing have entered Poland, while others have sought safety in Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia and Romania, according to U.N. data.

In recent days, Grandi has led calls for support and hailed locals and officials in other countries for welcoming Ukrainian refugees in recent days, the thousands experiencing “separation, anguish, and loss.”