Local media reports that a controlled explosion has taken place at the Russian consulate in Marseille after first responders attended following earlier reports on an explosion at the building.
Reuters has a quick snap that France’s interior ministry has said that plastic bottles were thrown at the wall of consulate and one exploded. There are no reports of any casualties.
Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson has said the incident bears “the hallmarks of a terrorist attack”
More details soon …
As European leaders gather in Kyiv to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s aggression on Ukraine, presumed next German chancellor Friedrich Merz offered his take on the war, writing in a social media post that “Europe remains firmly on the side of Ukraine.”
“Now more than ever, we must put Ukraine in a position of strength. For a just peace, the attacked country must be part of peace negotiations,” he said.
Here are the full quotes from Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on the reports of an explosion at the Russian consulate in Marseille:
The explosions on the territory of the Russian consulate general in Marseille have all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack. We demand exhaustive and prompt measures to investigate, as well as steps to strengthen the security of Russian foreign missions.
Lavrov: military action in Ukraine will only end after a satisfactory outcome for Russia
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is in Turkey today, and has been giving a joint press conference alongside his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan.
Lavrov has said, according to Tass, that Russia is ready to negotiate with both Ukraine and Europe, but its military actions will only cease if the outcome is satisfactory to Russia.
He said that many more countries had become “realistic” in their position on Ukraine, and that the recent meeting in Riyadh raised the hope of having normal dialogue between Russia and the US.
The Anadolu news agency reports that Fidan said Ankara attaches great importance to the US initiative regarding a Russia-Ukraine peace deal.
António Guterres has called for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Speaking on the third anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion, the UN secretary-general is quoted by Reuters saying to the UN human rights council in Geneva that “we must spare no effort to bring an end to this conflict, and achieve a just and lasting peace in line with the UN charter, international law and general assembly resolutions.”
Zakharova: reported blast as Russian consulate in Marseille has 'hallmarks of terrorist attack'
Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has told Russian state-owned news agency that the incident at Russia’s consulate in Marseille has “all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack.”
Reuters reports Russia’s consul general in Marseille, Stanislav Oranskiy, said on Monday there had been an explosion inside the consulate. French media reports that firefighters were at the site. There are no reports of any casualties.
More details soon …
Reports are coming in of a blast at Russia’s consulate in Marseille. Reuters has a quick snap that the Russian consul general there has confirmed an explosion took place. No casualties have been reported.
More details soon …
Shaun Walker reports from Kharkiv on the fate of Ivan Zabavskyi, who was looking for his mother, Maryna, in September 2022 when he went missing. He appeared in a courtroom in St Petersburg last month, accused of being a Ukrainian spy. Shaun writes:
As Russia’s full-scale invasion reaches its three-year mark, Ivan and Maryna’s story of kidnapping, torture and separation is just one of hundreds of thousands of family tragedies that have afflicted Ukrainians across the country, both those who are serving in the armed forces and those who are not.
You can read the full story here: Kidnapped, tortured and jailed – one woman’s quest to bring her son home from Russia
Kaja Kallas: 'Russian narrative' is 'strongly represented' in comments being made in the US
The EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas earlier said that she would be travelling to the US tomorrow to meet with US secretary of state Marco Rubio, adding that what she called the “Russian narrative” is “strongly represented” in comments being made by the second Donald Trump administration.
She told reporters “I think it’s good that we have as many interactions with the new administration in US as possible. I’m also travelling tomorrow to the US to meet Marco Rubio and others there to discuss these issues, because it’s extremely important.”
Kallas made an appeal for a continued united front from Europe in its messaging to the US, saying “It is also important that we keep the unity, and the points that we discuss are all the same with different European leaders who have the meetings with the Americans.”
Addressing the unprecedented step of the US president calling Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator”, Kallas said “Of course, we can’t speak for president Trump, and these statements are quite interesting. I mean, dictator? First, when I heard about this, then I was sure that he’s making a mistake and mixing the two people, because [Vladimir] Putin hasn’t had [free and fair] elections, or Russia hasn’t had [free and fair] elections in 25 years, [and] Zelensky is elected leader, elected in the free and fair elections.”
She continued “And of course, during wartime, you can’t have elections. Many countries have in their constitutions points that you can’t have elections. And why? Because in the elections, you always fight between each other, not in a situation where you have actually outside enemy that you have to focus your strength on.”
She went on to say “If to look at the messages that come from the US, then it’s clear that the Russian narrative is there, very strongly represented.”
Updated
Two diplomats have informed Reuters that EU foreign ministers have approved a 16th package of sanctions against Russia, despite a suggestion from Hungary’s foreign minister Péter Szijjártó that his country would block any deal. Last week it was indicated that the package would include a ban on primary aluminium imports, the sale of gaming consoles and the listing of 73 shadow fleet vessels.
Earlier, speaking in Kyiv, president of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine will receive a new payment of €3.5bn (£2.9bn / $3.68bn) from the EU in March.
Jem Bartholomew has spoken to Yuliya Danilina, who fled to England at the start of the war, about her decision to return to Ukraine despite the risks …
The EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said she will travel to the US on Tuesday to meet with secretary of state Marco Rubio, to discuss EU-US relations and the talks between the US and Russia on ending the war in Ukraine, Reuters reports.
Hungary’s foreign minister Péter Szijjártó has chosen the third anniversary of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine to post to Facebook to announce that his country is unwilling to press ahead with the extension of sanctions on Russian individuals at the European Union’s foreign ministers meeting on Monday.
Reuters reports he added that Hungary would also not consent to the EU committing tens of billions of euros for more arms supplies to Ukraine.
Russia-US talks held in Riyadh last week did not offer greater clarity about US president Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine, a senior Russian diplomat told the RIA news agency in remarks published on Monday, as published by Reuters.
“As of today, we have no further understanding … We need to find a long-term solution, which, in turn, must necessarily include an element of overcoming the root causes of what happened in and around Ukraine,” RIA cited Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying.
Marking the third anniversary of the war - in pictures
In Lviv, people gathered to honour the memory of fallen soldiers on the eve of the third anniversary of the war.
In Vilinus, Lithiania, a demonstration against the war.
An anti-war protest in Lisbon, Portugal.
More from the ceremony in Lviv.
Updated
Zelenskyy proud of the 'absolute heroism of Ukrainians'
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told his country’s people on Monday that he was proud of their ‘absolute heroism’ in fighting and living in the war that Russia started with its full-scale invasion exactly three years ago.
“Three years of resistance. Three years of gratitude. Three years of absolute heroism of Ukrainians. I am proud of Ukraine!” Zelenskiy said in a post with a video showing the life of ordinary Ukrainians on the frontlines and in daily activities during the war.
“Thank you to everyone who protects and helps it.”
Updated
Foreign leaders arrive in Ukraine's capital to mark anniversary
A dozen leaders from Europe and Canada arrived in Ukraine’s capital by train Monday morning to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, the Associated Press reports.
The visitors were greeted at the station by Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha and the president’s chief of staff Andrii Yermak. Among them were European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
In a post on X, von der Leyen wrote that Europe was in Kyiv “because Ukraine is in Europe.”
“In this fight for survival, it is not only the destiny of Ukraine that is at stake. It’s Europe’s destiny,” she wrote.
The guests, also including European Council President Antonio Costa as well as the prime ministers of Northern European countries and Spain, were set to attend events dedicated to the anniversary and discuss supporting Ukraine amid a recent US policy shift under President Donald Trump.
Updated
Opening summary
Welcome to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine, on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hailed “Three years of resistance” and the “absolute heroism” of Ukranians this morning. In a post on X he wrote:
“Three years of gratitude. Three years of absolute heroism of Ukrainians. I am proud of Ukraine! I thank everyone who defends and supports it. Everyone who works for Ukraine. And may the memory of all those who gave their lives for our state and people be eternal.”
His post came as EU leaders, including president of the EU commission Ursula von der Leyen, arrived in Kyiv in a show of support. Posting on X she wrote: “On the 3rd anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion, Europe is in Kyiv. We are in Kyiv today, because Ukraine is Europe. In this fight for survival, it is not only the destiny of Ukraine that is at stake. It’s Europe’s destiny.”
António Costa, president of the European Council, wrote: “In Ukraine, about Ukraine, with Ukraine,” as he arrived in the capital.
The meeting comes at a time of fragile and fragmenting transatlantic relations, with the UN set to vote on rival resolutions from Ukraine and the US urging an end to the war. In a diplomatic note sent on Sunday and reviewed by Reuters, the US described its brief resolution as “a forward-looking resolution focused on one simple idea: ending the war” and asks countries to “vote no on any other resolution or amendments presented” during Monday’s meeting of the security council.
The US resolution was “simple [and] historic,” US secretary of state Marco Rubio said on Friday, however, a draft text made no reference to Ukraine’s territorial integrity, Agence France-Press reported.
In contrast, Ukraine and more than 50 other states are planning to introduce a text before the wider General Assembly saying it is “urgent” to end the war this year and repeating the assembly’s previous demands: an immediate cessation of Russian hostilities and an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops.
In other developments:
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he would be willing to resign in exchange for peace or Nato membership, telling reporters he doesn’t plan to stay in power for decades. “But we won’t let Putin stay in power over Ukrainian territories either,” he said Sunday.
He made his remarks just hours after Russia launched its biggest ever aerial attack on Ukraine, using 267 drones, killing at least four people across the country. Kyiv echoed with the booms of anti-aircraft fire as crews spent the night trying to shoot the drones down.
Zelenskyy also said he would not bow to pressure from Washington to hand over $500bn worth of Ukraine’s minerals, adding: “I’m not signing something that 10 generations of Ukrainians are going to pay later.” Around $350bn worth of Ukraine’s critical resources are in areas captured by Russia, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, told reporters.
Zelenskyy also revealed the Trump administration was asking Ukraine to pay back $2 for every $1 of military aid the US provides Ukraine going forward – an interest rate of 100%.
The British prime minister, Keir Starmer, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, will separately meet Trump early this week and have agreed to show “united leadership in support of Ukraine”.
EU leaders will meet on 6 March for a special summit “to take decisions” on Ukraine and European defence, Costa said, as pressure mounts on European nations to boost defence spending.
Meanwhile, US and Russian officials are planning to meet again at some point in the next two weeks, Russian state news agency RIA reported over the weekend, citing the deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov.
Russian government spokesperson Dmitry Peskov supported comments made by Trump about Zelenskyy – such as calling the Ukrainian leader a dictator – as “understandable” after Zelenskyy made “inappropriate remarks” about Trump. Zelenskyy had accused Trump of being “trapped” in a Russian “disinformation bubble.”
Despite Zelenskyy’s growing frustration with the Trump administration, he repeated his hopes in keeping the US allied with Ukraine, and to be included in any peace talks. “We would really like it as a priority for the US to first talk to us, then to Russia.” He added, “it is not possible to decide anything about Ukraine without us.”
