Russia-Ukraine War  Updates: Mariupol theater sheltering hundreds bombed; Ukraine, Russia continue talks over video

NEW DELHI, MARCH 17: Russian forces destroyed a theater in Mariupol where hundreds of people were sheltering Wednesday and rained fire on other cities, Ukrainian authorities said, even as the two sides projected optimism over efforts to negotiate an end to the fighting.

On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy invoked 9/11 during an urgent appeal to the US Congress for more weapons to stem the Russian assault. US President Joe Biden announced an additional $800 million for Ukraine’s military and said Russian President Vladimir Putin is a “war criminal.”

Meanwhile, the United States remains in touch with Indian leaders and continues to encourage them to work closely with it to stand up against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the White House said Wednesday. Observing that India walks a difficult middle ground on the Ukraine crisis, two Democratic lawmakers urged India to condemn Russian military operations against Ukraine which they said have no place in the 21st century.

-Indian Express