April 11, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

By Matias Grez, Amy Woodyatt, Travis Caldwell, Jessie Yeung, Ivana Kottasová, Mike Hayes, Maureen Chowdhury and Jason Kurtz, CNN

Updated 8:06 a.m. ET, April 12, 2022
43 Posts
Sort byDropdown arrow
1:23 p.m. ET, April 11, 2022

Indian prime minister told Biden he suggested Putin and Zelensky hold direct talks

From CNN's Manveena Suri

On Monday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told US President Joe Biden he had suggested the leaders of Russia and Ukraine hold direct talks.

Modi's comments came during his opening remarks ahead of a virtual meeting with Biden. His remarks were streamed on both his official Twitter account and the account of the Prime Minister’s Office.

“I have spoken on the phone several times with the presidents of both Ukraine and Russia. Not only did I appeal for peace but I also suggested President Putin to hold direct talks with the President of Ukraine,” said Modi.

Modi also spoke on the killing of civilians in the Ukrainian city of Bucha, describing the incident as “very worrying.”

“We immediately condemned it and demanded a fair investigation. We hope the ongoing talks between Russia and Ukraine will pave the way for peace,” Modi continued, adding that India would continue to support Ukraine through humanitarian aid. 

“We have also placed importance on the safety of the civilian population in Ukraine and the uninterrupted supply of humanitarian aid to them. On our behalf, we have sent medicines and other relief materials to Ukraine and its neighboring countries. And on the request of Ukraine, we are sending another consignment of medicines very soon," he said.

2:09 p.m. ET, April 11, 2022

Biden was "candid" in conversation with India's Modi, but didn't make specific ask on energy, official says

From CNN's Kevin Liptak 

From left: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, US President Joe Biden, Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh, and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar listen as Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi (on screen) speaks during a virtual meeting at the White House on April 11, in Washington, DC.
From left: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, US President Joe Biden, Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh, and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar listen as Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi (on screen) speaks during a virtual meeting at the White House on April 11, in Washington, DC. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

US President Biden shared his "candid" view on India's neutral stance in the war in Ukraine during an hour-long virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, according to a senior administration official.

But he did not make a specific ask of the Indian leader to take a side, nor did he receive any firm commitment from Modi to back off energy purchases from Russia. 

Speaking afterward, the official said the two leaders were able to exchange their views in a "warm" fashion, even though India's position has caused increasing concern in Washington.

"There was no concrete ask and concrete answer, but the leaders were able to step back and have a pretty detailed and candid exchange of views," the official said.

India has not backed off purchases of Russian oil or gas, despite efforts by the United States to rally the world behind crippling economic sanctions on Moscow. The official said in their meeting, Biden did not specifically demand India halt its purchases.

"Other countries have to make their own choices," the official said. "That said, we don't think India should accelerate or increase imports of Russian energy."

Instead of making demands, Biden sought to underscore areas where India could help "mitigate the destabilizing impacts of Putin's war," the official said, citing food supplies as one place India has already shown a willingness to help.

"There was discussion about what more India might be able to do," the official said.

In the meeting, Modi expressed concerns about the close ties between Russia and China — a factor the official said could impact India's thinking in its stance on the war in Ukraine.

12:59 p.m. ET, April 11, 2022

Austria's Nehammer says he is not "particularly optimistic" from talks with Putin  

From CNN's Amy Cassidy and Jorge Engels

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said on Monday that he was not "particularly optimistic" from his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

"At the moment I'm not particularly optimistic after my talks with Putin. The offensive (in Ukraine) is being prepared with determination," Nehammer said in a briefing in Moscow following the meeting between the two leaders earlier in the day.  

Nehammer — the first European leader to have met with Putin face-to-face since the invasion of Ukraine began — said that he confronted the Russian president "with the facts."

"I made it clear to Mr. Putin, his attitude, his view is not shared by anybody. He sees it as a kind of self-defense operation of the Russian federation. He calls it special military operations. I call it the war," he said.  

Nehammer, however, noted that "it was also clear and recognizable that the Russian president still has confidence" in the ongoing negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey.  

1:08 p.m. ET, April 11, 2022

It's 8 p.m. in Kyiv. Here's what you need to know

From CNN Staff

Austria's Chancellor Karl Nehammer said he raised alleged Russian atrocities in Ukraine during a "tough" and unfriendly meeting Monday with Vladimir Putin. It was the first Western sit-down with the Russian President since he launched his invasion in February.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said the country is "ready" for a major Russian offensive in the east of the country, as he accused Moscow of lying to deflect the blame for the war.

Nine evacuation corridors were agreed for Sunday, as the death toll rose from a Russian missile strike last week on a train station packed with evacuees.

Here are more of the latest headlines from the Russia-Ukraine conflict:

  • Rescue mission drivers detained: Nine drivers working for "Help People," a Ukrainian volunteer group that provides food and medicine for those in need and assists in evacuations, were detained by the Russian military and remain missing, a group official told CNN. A total of 10 minibus drivers had driven into the Donbas region to help evacuate civilians from the besieged city of Mariupol, operating private vehicles in a low-profile rescue mission. Russian soldiers stopped them and tried to get them to drive the buses into Russia. When the drivers refused, they were taken prisoner, said Alex Voronin, the head of the non-government organization.
  • Kramatorsk evacuations: Kramatorsk's railway terminal remained closed and civilian evacuations were continuing from nearby Slovyansk as cleanup and repairs continue following a Russian missile strike Friday, according to the city's mayor, Oleksandr Honcharenko." Compared to Friday, the city is quite calm today," Honcharenko said in remarks at a news conference Monday. "Yesterday we were allowed to go to the train station to start cleaning up after the terrible tragedy. Unfortunately, the evacuation from the Kramatorsk railway station is not happening today. There is no agreement on whether the railway station will be opened, as Ukrzaliznytsia [the Ukrainian state railway company] has to carry out some repair work."
  • Austrian chancellor and Putin meet: A face-to-face meeting between Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow was ''not a friendly visit," Nehammer said in a statement issued by an Austrian official after the meeting. "This is not a friendly visit. I have just come from Ukraine and have seen with my own eyes the immeasurable suffering caused by the Russian war of aggression,” he said in the statement.
  • Russia to resupply forces in Donbas: Russia is attempting to resupply and reinforce its forces in the Donbas, according to a senior US defense official, as evidenced by a convoy of vehicles approaching the Ukrainian city of Izyum from the north. The vehicle line includes a “command and control element, a support battalion, basically enablers, perhaps rotary-wing aviation support, and other infantry support,” according to the official.
  • UN warns of rape and violence against Ukrainian women and children: Increased reports of rape and sexual violence against Ukrainian women and children must be thoroughly and independently investigated to ensure accountability, Sima Bahous, executive director of UN Women, said Monday morning. “The combination of mass displacement with the large presence of conscripts and mercenaries, and the brutality displayed against Ukrainian civilians, has raised all red flags,” Bahous said.
12:33 p.m. ET, April 11, 2022

UN Women warns of rape and sexual violence against Ukrainian women and children

From CNN's Laura Ly

Increased reports of rape and sexual violence against Ukrainian women and children must be thoroughly and independently investigated to ensure accountability, Sima Bahous, executive director of UN Women, said Monday morning. 

“The combination of mass displacement with the large presence of conscripts and mercenaries, and the brutality displayed against Ukrainian civilians, has raised all red flags,” Bahous said.

She later added that there is also an increased risk of human trafficking at border crossings, with young women and unaccompanied teenagers at particular risk. 

Bahous was addressing the UN Security Council in New York City upon her return from Moldova, where she observed the humanitarian response at temporary shelters erected for people fleeing Ukraine. There are an estimated 95,000 Ukrainians being hosted in Moldova to date, Bahous said.

UN Women, a United Nations entity dedicated to advancing gender equity and the empowerment of women, is working with refugee response teams and civil society teams on the ground in Moldova “to ensure that the gendered nature of this crisis is addressed with a gender sensitive response.”

Bahous stressed the imperative need to have a “gender-sensitive” humanitarian response, including “services to provide with a focus on protection and to address the increased trauma and psycho-social support needs.”

“Gender-sensitive and survivor-centered response must be at the heart of all humanitarian action,” Bahous said. She added that despite all of the violence, “women continue to serve and lead their communities and support the internally displaced.”

“Women make up 80% of all health and social care workers in Ukraine, and many of them chose not to evacuate,” Bahous said. “I heard from women in the shelters that they too, are taking on leadership roles, and supporting the refugee response in the host countries.”

Despite this, Bahous said women remain largely absent from any current negotiation efforts. She called for the UN Security Council and all UN member states to "to ensure the meaningful participation of women and girls, including from marginalized groups, in all decision-making processes, peace, diplomacy, and humanitarian. Without this, we will not have peace, development, or human security.”

12:24 p.m. ET, April 11, 2022

Nearly two-thirds of all Ukrainian children have been displaced, UNICEF says

From CNN's Laura Ly

Children play outside of a railway station in Przemysl, eastern Poland, on April 7, which has become a hub for refugees from Ukraine fleeing their country due to the conflict with Russia.
Children play outside of a railway station in Przemysl, eastern Poland, on April 7, which has become a hub for refugees from Ukraine fleeing their country due to the conflict with Russia. (Wojtek Radwanski/AFP/Getty Images)

Nearly two-thirds of Ukraine’s children have been displaced in just six weeks and nearly half of the children who remain in Ukraine may face food insecurity, Manuel Fontaine, director of emergencies for UNICEF, said Monday.

"Of the 3.2 million children estimated to have remained in their homes, nearly half may be at risk of not having enough food. Attacks on water system infrastructure and power outages have left an estimated 1.4 million people without access to water in Ukraine. Another 4.6 million people have only limited access,” Fontaine said in remarks to the UN Security Council. "In just six weeks, nearly two-thirds of all Ukrainian children have been displaced. They have been forced to leave everything behind: Their homes, their schools, and often, their family members.”

Fontaine added that the situation for children in Ukraine is even worse in Mariupol and Kherson, “where children and their families have now gone weeks without running water and sanitation services, a regular supply of food, and medical care. They are sheltering in their homes and underground, waiting for the bombs and violence to stop.”

The UNICEF emergencies director also expressed his concerns about the presence of “explosive remnants of war” which can expose children to death and injury, as well as the disruption of education for children across the country. 

“Nationwide school closures are impacting the learning — and the futures — of 5.7 million school-age children and 1.5 million students in higher education. In the Donbas region, a whole generation of children have already seen their lives and education upended during the past eight years of conflict,” Fontaine said.

 

11:29 a.m. ET, April 11, 2022

More companies are leaving Russia 

From CNN’s Sharon Browne-Peter and Chris Liakos

More Western firms are quitting their business in Russia.

Swedish telecoms company Ericsson said it is suspending its business in Russia indefinitely.

“In late February, Ericsson suspended all deliveries to customers in Russia. In the light of recent events and of European Union sanctions, the company will now suspend its affected business with customers in Russia indefinitely. Ericsson is engaging with customers and partners regarding the indefinite suspension of the affected business,” the company said in a statement.

It added that its employees in Russia will be placed on paid leave.

Ericsson said it would record a 900 million Swedish krona ($95 million) provision in first quarter 2022 for impairment of assets and other exceptional costs.

French banking giant, Societe Generale, has ceased its banking and insurance activities in Russia and has announced the sale of its entire stake in Rosbank and its Russian insurance subsidiaries to Interros Capital, Rosbank’s former shareholder.

The group stated in a news release that it would exit “in an effective and orderly manner from Russia, ensuring continuity for its employees and clients.”

The transaction remains subject to the approval by the relevant regulatory and anti-trust authorities, according to the news release. “The closing of this operation should occur within the coming weeks,” Societe Generale said adding that it would lead to a write-off of about 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion).

11:46 a.m. ET, April 11, 2022

European countries pledge over $2.7 million for war crimes investigation in Ukraine

From CNN’s James Frater in Brussels

The Netherlands, Sweden and Germany have pledged $2.7 million to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to support its investigation of possible war crimes committed in Ukraine.

EU Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg met via videoconference with ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan at a meeting convened by Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Wopke Hoekstra on Monday.

Following the meeting, Hoekstra said, “The deployment of the Criminal Court is one of the most important tracks towards justice for Ukrainians.” The Netherlands wants “justice to follow for the victims of the Russian invasion.”

Hoekstra pledged over $1 million on behalf of the Netherlands to the ICC to support its investigation. 

Germany said in a news release the country was also pledged an additional $1 million to the court.

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde announced in a statement that Sweden would also provide an extra half a million euros, saying, “the ICC needs the full support of the international community.”

Last week, the European Union set aside a dedicated $8 million to support and train Ukrainian prosecutors in investigating possible war crimes.

The ICC formally opened an investigation into the situation in Ukraine on March 2. 

11:37 a.m. ET, April 11, 2022

Russia moving to resupply and reinforce forces in Donbas, senior US defense official says

From CNN's Michael Conte

Russia is attempting to resupply and reinforce its forces in the Donbas, according to a senior US defense official, as evidenced by a convoy of vehicles approaching the Ukrainian city of Izyum from the north.

The vehicle line includes a “command and control element, a support battalion, basically enablers, perhaps rotary wing aviation support and other infantry support,” according to the official.

The official also said there is evidence that Russia is attempting to reinforce its position southwest of the city of Donetsk primarily with artillery units.

The US does not assess that this is “a new offensive” in the Donbas, according to the official, rather that the Russian forces are “working to reinforce their capabilities and to add to it.”

Meanwhile, the US Defense Department is considering options for training more Ukrainians on the Switchblade drone system, according to the senior US defense official.

But the official said no decisions have been made about “what that would look like, how long would it take, where would it be, who would train.”

There were previously a small number of Ukrainians in the US going through military education who the US trained on the system before they returned to Ukraine.