⚡️ Lavrov: US nuclear weapons in Europe are unacceptable for Russia, time to return them home

UPDATE | Kiev started dangerous games related to plans to acquire own nuclear weapons - Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the situation in Ukraine:

🔸 US nuclear weapons in Europe are unacceptable for Russia, time to return them home

🔸 Russia is taking all measures to prevent Ukraine from obtaining nuclear weapons

🔸 Russia is ready to work with the United States on issues of strategic stability

🔸The US and its allies need to join the moratorium on the deployment of Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

🔸 Instead of dialogue with Russia, the EU chose the path of illegitimate sanctions

🔸 The situation in Ukraine is the result of the connivance of Western countries to support the criminal regime which formed after 2013

⚡️ NATO Stoltenber says NATO does not seek conflict with Russia, calls on Russia to stop its Op in Ukraine

⚡️ Russian banks under blocking sanctions will not be able to issue new Visa and Mastercard cards; those already issued will continue to work within Russia

⚡️Claims of Russian use of cluster and vacuum munitions in Ukraine false: Putin's spokesman

🔸 Lavrov hopes that Ukraine will realise the seriousness of the situation and the need to show independence during negotiations with Russia.

🔸 Lavrov says that the Neo-Nazi government in Ukraine does not represent all the people in the country.

❗️ SWIFT payment system says that it will always follow sanctions laws

Russia continues to consider Vladimyr Zelensky to be the legitimate president of Ukraine, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov

"Yes, we continue, this is the president of Ukraine" said the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation.

❗️SWIFT will shut down restricted organizations as soon as it is legally directed to do so

❗️ UK cannot ensure a no-fly zone over Ukraine, that would lead to direct confrontation with Russia - Johnson

⚡️ Second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine may take place on 2 March - reports say

UK adopts the law providing for complete ban on ships with any connection to Russia from entering UK ports - ministry of transport

⚡️ Medvedev tells Le Maire to 'watch his words' after vow to wage ‘economic & financial war’ on Russia

Footage from Donetsk shows where Ukrainian shells fell near the children's hospital and private homes, Sputnik correspondent reports from the scene.

❗️ Swiss-based owner of Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline mulls filing for insolvency, say sources

❗️ OSCE SMM team evacuated from DPR to Russia

❗️ Kremlin says no plans to hold conversation between Putin and Zelenskyy yet

❗️A school in Donetsk has come under fire by Ukrainian troops. A direct hit to the residential building was also recorded, according to authorities.

❗️ UK to provide Ukraine with further military support, says PM Johnson

❗️ UK's Queen Elizabeth conducts two virtual audiences via video link from Windsor Castle - Buckingham Palace