United States

Biden Blasts Putin in Powerful Speech; U.S. to Provide $100 Million in Assistance to Ukraine

Aleksandra Szmigiel | Reuters

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during an event at the Royal Castle, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in Warsaw, Poland, March 26, 2022.

This has been CNBC's live blog tracking developments on the war in Ukraine. Follow the latest updates here.

U.S. President Joe Biden delivered a major address in Poland on Saturday, rallying support for Ukraine and calling for unity in the face of Russian aggression.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged energy-producing countries to increase their energy output, so "everyone in Russia understands that no one can use energy as blackmail."

It comes as countries across Europe and beyond seek to reduce their energy dependency on Russia — a major oil and gas producer and exporter.

Russians may be trying to encircle Ukrainian forces in east

Russian forces appear to be trying to encircle Ukrainian troops who are facing separatist fighters in the far east of the country, according to a new intelligence assessment.

The U.K. Ministry of Defence, in its daily update, said on Sunday that Russian units are trying to advance southward from Kharkiv and northward from Mariupol. If successful, those maneuvers could cut off Ukraine's soldiers who are already engaged against separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk.

CNBC

CNBC was unable to independently confirm the ministry's report.

Kharkiv and Mariupol are both still in Ukrainian hands but have been blasted for weeks by Russian artillery, killing civilians and defenders alike. Ukraine's government this week refused a Russian demand that it surrender Mariupol.

Russia claims that it isn't using artillery against civilian targets, despite overwhelming evidence that it is.

Meanwhile, tenacious Ukrainian defensive efforts continue to block Moscow's invasion in the north of the country, which would include the long-stalled Russian drive toward Kyiv.

"The battlefield across northern Ukraine remains largely static with local Ukrainian counterattacks hampering Russian attempts to reorganise their forces," the British ministry said.

—Ted Kemp

Ukraine says more than 5,000 people were evacuated from cities today

Alexander Ermochenko | Reuters
Evacuees fleeing Ukraine-Russia conflict sit in the body of a cargo vehicle while waiting in a line to leave the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine March 17, 2022.

A total of 5,208 people were evacuated from Ukrainian cities through humanitarian corridors today, a senior official said, fewer than the 7,331 who managed to escape the previous day.

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the president's office, said in an online post that 4,331 people had left the besieged city of Mariupol.

Reuters

U.S. will provide $100 million in civilian security assistance to Ukraine

Clodagh Kilcoyne | Reuters
Egor, 5, comforts his mother Helen Yakubets who cries in a ballroom, which has been converted to a temporary shelter, at the Mandachi hotel after fleeing from Chernihiv in Ukraine to Romania, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at the border crossing in Suceava, Romania, March 20, 2022. Her 18 year old son and husband remain in Ukraine to fight.

The United States will provide $100 million to Ukraine in civilian security assistance, according to the State Department.

The aid will "enhance the capacity of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs to provide essential border security, sustain civil law enforcement functions, and safeguard critical governmental infrastructure," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

The announcement comes after Lviv, a city near the Poland border in western Ukraine, suffered rocket strikes earlier today.

Darla Mercado

Biden speaks in Poland, calls for further unity of NATO allies against Putin over Ukraine invasion

Aleksandra Szmigiel | Reuters
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during an event at the Royal Castle, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Warsaw, Poland, March 26, 2022.

President Joe Biden spoke in Warsaw, saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin "cannot remain in power" as a result of his invasion of Ukraine.

"Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia, for free people refuse to live in a world of hopelessness and darkness," Biden said.

"For God's sake, this man cannot remain in power," he said.

Later Saturday, a White House official sought to clarify Biden's remarks, saying that he was not discussing Putin's power in Russia or a regime change.

Click here for more details from CNBC's Kevin Breuninger.

Darla Mercado

Another rocket strikes Lviv, mayor says

Ronaldo Schemidt | AFP | Getty Images
Dark smoke and flames rise from a fire following an air strike in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, on March 26, 2022.

Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi tweeted from his verified Twitter account that there has been another rocket strike in the city:

In another tweet shortly after, the mayor said, "As a result of the new missile strikes on Lviv, significant damage was caused to infrastructure facilities. Residential buildings were not damaged."

Two rocket strikes hit Ukraine's western city of Lviv earlier on Saturday, wounding five people, according to regional Governor Maksym Kozotskyy.

Darla Mercado

Londoners march in solidarity with Ukraine

Londoners waved the Ukrainian national flags during a "London stands with Ukraine" march and vigil in central London.

Aaron Chown | Pa Images | Getty Images
People take part during a solidarity march in London for Ukraine, following the Russian invasion. Picture date: Saturday March 26, 2022.
Aaron Chown | Pa Images | Getty Images
People take part in a solidarity march in London for Ukraine, following the Russian invasion. Picture date: Saturday March 26, 2022. 
Aaron Chown | Pa Images | Getty Images
People pass the Yoko Ono Imagine Peace sign at Piccadilly, during a solidarity march in London for Ukraine, following the Russian invasion. Picture date: Saturday March 26, 2022. 
Justin Tallis | AFP | Getty Images
Demonstrators wave Ukrainian national flags during a 'London stands with Ukraine' protest march and vigil, in central London, on March 26, 2022 to send a unified message of support to the Ukrainian people. 

Getty Images

5 wounded after rocket strikes hit Ukraine's western city of Lviv, says governor

Adri Salido | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Smoke rises in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv following Russia's attacks on March 26, 2022.

Two rocket strikes hit Ukraine's western city of Lviv on Saturday, wounding five people, regional Governor Maksym Kozytskyy said, after local authorities told residents to seek shelter in the wake of powerful blasts on the city's outskirts.

"There have been two rocket strikes within the (city) limits of Lviv," said regional Governor Maksym Kozytskyy in an online post.

Earlier he had reported three powerful explosions in the eastern edge of Lviv.

Reuters witnesses saw heavy black smoke rising from the northeast side of the city.

Nariman El-Mofty | AP
Smoke rises in the air in Lviv, western Ukraine, Saturday, March 26, 2022.

— Reuters

President Biden meets with Ukrainian refugees in Poland, calls Putin a "butcher"

President Joe Biden met with Ukrainian refugees at the PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw, Poland.

The United Nations estimates 12 million people inside Ukraine will need relief and protection. According to the UN, more than 4 million Ukrainian refugees "may need protection and assistance in neighboring countries in the coming months."

Biden, visiting NATO ally Poland, called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "butcher." Biden said he was not sure Russia was changing its strategy in Ukraine to focus on efforts to "liberate" the breakaway eastern Donbass region, despite getting bogged down in some areas.

Brendan Smialowski | Afp | Getty Images
President Joe Biden holds a girl on his arm as he and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki meet with Ukrainian refugees at PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw on March 26, 2022.
Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
President Joe Biden, flanked by Mayor of Warsaw Rafal Trzaskowski and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, hugs a woman as he visits Ukrainian refugees at the PGE National Stadium, in Warsaw, Poland March 26, 2022.
Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
President Joe Biden, flanked by Mayor of Warsaw Rafal Trzaskowski and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, visits Ukrainian refugees at PGE National Stadium, in Warsaw, Poland March 26, 2022.
Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
President Joe Biden visits Ukrainian refugees at the PGE National Stadium, in Warsaw, Poland March 26, 2022.

Getty Images, Reuters, Adam Jeffery and Riya Bhattacharjee

Turkey refuses to rule out purchasing more missile defense systems from Russia

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu suggested it could still buy more defense systems from Russia.

"We prefer to purchase them from United States and allies," Cavusoglu said at the Doha Forum on Saturday.

But, he added, "If we cannot purchase them from allies, I need to find another source."

— Annie Nova

Biden to Poland: "Your freedom is ours"

Kacper Pempel | Reuters
Polish President Andrzej Duda and the U.S. President Joe Biden interact, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, outside the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland March 26, 2022. 

U.S. President Joe Biden has told Poland's President Andrzej Duda that "your freedom is ours," echoing of one of Poland's unofficial mottos. He assured Duda that the U.S. and other NATO allies would come to their aid if Russia should attack.

The two gathered Saturday on Biden's final day in Europe to speak about their shared effort to end the war in neighboring Ukraine.

Biden called the "collective defense" agreement of the Western military alliance a "sacred commitment," and said that the unity of NATO was of the utmost importance. He also acknowledged that Poland was bearing the brunt of the humanitarian crisis, with more than 2 million of the 3.5 million people fleeing Ukraine entering the country. He said the other NATO allies must do more. The U.S. has pledged to accept up to 100,000 refugees.

Duda said that the relations between the two nations are flourishing, despite the difficult times.

Associated Press

Biden says Putin was counting on being able to divide NATO, calls on more countries to accept Ukrainian refugees

Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, Polish President Andrzej Duda and Polish Foreign Affairs Minister Zbigniew Rau speak with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. President Joe BidenU.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and U.S. Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski during a bilateral meeting, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in the Column Hall at the Presidential Palace, in Warsaw, Poland March 26, 2022. 

President Biden in a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda stressed the importance of unity among NATO nations during the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

"I'm confident that Vladimir Putin was counting on being able to divide NATO," Biden said, and "to be able to separate the eastern flank from the west, to be able to separate nations based on past histories. But he hasn't been able to do it."

Biden went on to say that NATO countries should follow Poland's lead in accepting Ukrainian refugees, including the U.S. He compared the refugee crisis to the situation at the southern border in the U.S.

"And also we do acknowledge that Poland is taking on a significant responsibility, that I don't think should just be Poland's; it should be all of NATO's responsibility. The fact that so many, so many Ukrainians seeking refuge in the country of Poland. We understand that because we have at our southern border thousands of people a day, literally not figuratively, trying to get into the United States. But we believe, that we, the United States, should do our part relative to Ukraine as well by opening our borders to another 100,000 people," Biden said.

Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
President Joe Biden visits Ukrainian refugees at the PGE National Stadium, in Warsaw, Poland March 26, 2022.

— Annie Nova

TotalEnergies will not do more business with Putin, but will maintain Russian assets

Patrick Pouyanne, chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, says the company will never do business with President Vladimir Putin again.

Still, Pouyanne said TotalEnergies won't write off its oil and gas assets in Russia. Instead it will no longer provide capital for new projects in the country and not renew its Russian gasoil and crude supply contracts.

Speaking to CNBC's Hadley Gamble, Patrick Pouyanne, chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, said he was not prepared to write off the company's assets in Russia as it would effectively mean giving them to Putin "for free."

"What do we do with the existing assets? ... I am not ready to give them for zero to Russian people, to Russian oligarchs … because by the way, it would be contrary of the sanctions," he said on a CNBC-moderated panel at the Doha Forum in Qatar.

"These assets are there, I will not give them for free to Mr. Putin. Because this is what it means, leaving today."

— Annie Nova

Russian forces have taken control of Chernobyl workers' town, local officials say

Maxar Technologies | Reuters
A satellite image shows a closer view of a sarcophagus at Chornobyl nuclear power plant, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine, March 10, 2022.

Russian forces have taken control of the town of Slavutych in Ukraine, where workers at the Chornobyl nuclear plant live, Reuters reported, citing the governor of Kyiv region.

Governor Oleksandr Pavlyuk said some residents had unfurled a large Ukrainian flag in protest, shouting "Glory to Ukraine!" Russian troops fired into the air and threw stun grenades into the crowd to try and disperse the protest.

"The inhabitants are carrying out heroic civil resistance to the invader," presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said in a televised address, Reuters reported.

Officials from Russia did not immediately reply to Reuters for comment about Slavutych.

Terri Cullen

Ukraine war is pushing countries toward a 'parallel system' of pricing oil, Qatar says

Qatar's Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani tells CNBC that the economic effects of the Ukraine-Russia crisis are being felt around the world — and could lead some countries to move away from pricing oil in dollars.

"Honestly speaking, look at what happens and the dynamics around us right now. I'm sure there are a lot of other countries who are unhappy with what's happened and the consequences of the Ukrainian-Russian crisis, especially the economic consequences," he told CNBC's Hadley Gamble at the Doha Forum.

"And they are going to look and explore a parallel system [of pricing oil] … going to hedge, at least, for them economically," he added. "So as we are living through a transition, this transition will not be only a political transition but it is an economic transition as well."

He added that Qatar was "stepping up" and holding talks with European countries about boosting gas supplies.

It comes as European countries seek to diversify their energy supply away from Russia – particularly gas. The EU imported 45% of its gas from Russia last year, according to the International Energy Agency.

"We are stepping up and helping some European partners who are starting to suffer from some gas shortages … with the limited amount that we have," he said, stressing that the majority of its gas contracts are long-term.

Katrina Bishop

Blinken and Austin meet with Ukrainian counterparts in Poland

Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
U.S. President Joe Biden joins a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at the Marriott Hotel, in Warsaw, Poland March 26, 2022.

Ukraine's minister of defense and minister of foreign affairs have met with their U.S. counterparts in Warsaw, Poland.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Ukraine's Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba.

Kuleba said on Twitter that the "special 2+2 format allows us to seek practical decisions in both political and defense spheres in order to fortify Ukraine's ability to fight back Russian aggression."

— Katrina Bishop

Over 100,000 people still need to be evacuated from Mariupol, Ukraine says

Alexander Ermochenko | Reuters
Local residents walk near a fallen electricity pylon and an apartment building destroyed in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine March 25, 2022.

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on national television that 100,000 people still need to be evacuated from the besieged city of Mariupol.

It comes after Mayor Vadym Boichenko said street fighting continued in the city center.

In a television interview earlier in the day, Boichenko said that he'd spoken to the French ambassador about options for evacuating civilians from the city.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that he hoped to get Russia on board with a humanitarian operation, alongside Greece and Turkey, to help evacuate civilians from Mariupol. 

— Katrina Bishop

Biden set to make major address in Poland

Kacper Pempel | Reuters
U.S. President Joe Biden reviews the Guard of Honor ahead of his meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, outside the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland March 26, 2022. 

As the conflict enters its second month, U.S. President Joe Biden is set to make a major address from Poland, which borders Ukraine.

"He will speak to the stakes of this moment, the urgency of the challenge that lies ahead, what the conflict in Ukraine means for the world, and why it is so important that the free world sustain unity and resolve in the face of Russian aggression," said Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, told NBC.

Biden is expected to meet with refugees in Poland ahead of the speech; he country has welcomed over 2 million people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.

— Katrina Bishop

Ukraine's Zelenskyy to energy producers: I ask you to increase output

Ibraheem Al Omari | Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addresses the Doha Forum by video link, in Doha, Qatar March 26, 2022. 

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken at the Doha Forum conference's opening ceremony, urging energy producing countries such as Qatar to hike their output.

Speaking via video link, he said: "I ask you to increase output of energy so everyone in Russia understands that no one can use energy as blackmail," according to a translation.

It comes as countries around the world seek to reduce their energy dependence on Russia — a leading producer and global exporter of oil and gas.

Posting on his verified Telegram channel after the address, Zelenskyy said it was only a matter of time before European countries stopped purchasing Russian oil and gas.

"The responsible states, in particular the State of Qatar, are reliable and reputable suppliers of energy resources. And they can contribute to stabilizing the situation in Europe. There is much that can be done to restore justice," he said, according to a translation.

On Friday, the U.S. said it will look to provide at least 15 billion cubic meters more of liquified natural gas to Europe this year, with the volumes expected to increase going forward.

U.S. President Joe Biden described the agreement as a "groundbreaking" new initiative designed to "increase energy security, economic security and national security."

U.K. Ministry of Defence says Russians likely to concentrate firepower on urban areas

Sergei Supinsky | AFP | Getty Images
Local residents retrieve what is left in their destroyed apartments, located in a five-storey residential building that partially collapsed after shelling the day before by Russian troops trying to encircle the Ukrainian capital as part of their slow-moving offensives, in Kyiv on March 20, 2022.

The U.K. Ministry of Defence said Russia seems likely to focus its artillery on urban areas.

"Russian forces are proving reluctant to engage in large scale urban infantry operations, rather preferring to rely on the indiscriminate use of air and artillery bombardments in an attempt to demoralise defending forces," the ministry said in its daily intelligence update.

It said, however, this strategy will likely come "at the cost of further civilian casualties" as Moscow looks to "limit its own already considerable losses."

The ministry said Russia's onslaught continues in a number of Ukrainian cities, including Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Mariupol.

— Christine Wang

Pentagon official says Russian forces focusing more on Donbas, less on Kyiv

Alexander Ermochenko | Reuters
Service members of pro-Russian troops are seen atop of armoured vehicles in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in Dokuchaievsk in the Donetsk region, Ukraine March 25, 2022.

Russian forces appear to be prioritizing efforts in Donbas in eastern Ukraine, a U.S. Department of Defense official said Friday.

"That's where still there remains a lot of heavy fighting and we think they are trying to not only secure some sort of more substantial gains there as a potential negotiating tactic at the table, but also to cut off Ukrainian forces in the eastern part of the country," the official said.

While airstrikes on Kyiv continue, the Pentagon official said Russian forces currently do not appear to be pursuing a ground offensive in Ukraine's capital city.

The official also said the Pentagon has seen Russian troop movements in Georgia, which they said could indicate reinforcements may be sent into Ukraine.

Reports of military movements in Ukraine continue to be difficult to confirm as the situation across the country remains fluid and changes rapidly.

The official also confirmed Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian ship in Berdyansk earlier in the week, but declined to say what weapons were used, in order to protect operational security. The official also said the department does not know how many Russians were onboard when the ship was hit or how many casualties there were.

— Christine Wang

We're in a fight between democracy and oligarchs, Biden tells U.S. troops in Poland

Omar Marques | Getty Images
US. President Joe Biden disembarks Air Force One at Rzeszow Airport on March 25, 2022 in Rzeszow, Poland.

U.S. President Joe Biden stopped near Rzeszow, Poland to thank the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division ahead of his meeting with the country's President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw.

"We're in the midst of a fight between democracy and oligarchs," Biden said.

Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
U.S. President Joe Biden meets with U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at the G2 Arena in Jasionka, near Rzeszow, Poland, March 25, 2022.

"What's at stake here is not just what we're doing in Ukraine to try to help the Ukrainian people and try to keep the massacre from continuing," Biden said. "Beyond that is what are your kids and grandkids going to look like in terms of their freedom."

Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
U.S. President Joe Biden meets with U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at the G2 Arena in Jasionka, near Rzeszow, Poland, March 25, 2022. 

"What you're engaging in is much bigger than whether or not you can alleviate the pain and suffering of the people of Ukraine. We're in a new phase, we're at an inflection point," he said. Biden added that the world will not be the same in 10 or 15 years and the question is: "Who's going to prevail," democracy or autocracy.

Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
U.S. President Joe Biden takes a selfie with U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at the G2 Arena in Jasionka, near Rzeszow, Poland, March 25, 2022. 

"You are the finest fighting force in the history of the world," Biden said.

Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
U.S. President Joe Biden eats pizza as he meets with U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at the G2 Arena in Jasionka, near Rzeszow, Poland, March 25, 2022. 

In addressing the troops, Biden invoked his son Beau Biden, a lawyer and officer in the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps who served in Iraq and Kosovo.

"There are hundreds of thousands of people like my son, like all of you. So thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you," Biden said.

Brendan Smialowski | AFP | Getty Images
US President Joe Biden (L) takes a selfie photo as he meets service members from the 82nd Airborne Division, who are contributing alongside Polish Allies to deterrence on the Alliances Eastern Flank, in the city of Rzeszow in southeastern Poland, around 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the border with Ukraine, on March 25, 2022.

— Dawn Kopecki, Getty Images/Reuters

Read CNBC’s previous live coverage

Read Friday's live blog here:

Biden tells U.S. troops in Poland they are fighting for democracy; 300 people feared dead in Mariupol theater bombing

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