Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a Security Council meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. Putin has convened top officials to consider recognizing the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine. Such a move would ratchet up tensions with the West amid fears that the Kremlin could launch an invasion of Ukraine imminently. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

US orders Putin to cease bloodshed

Last updated Mar 4, 2022

The US State Department has called on Russian president Vladimir Putin to “immediately cease this bloodshed” and to withdraw troops from Ukraine’s territory, reports said.

In its statement, the US also accused Russia of launching a “full assault on media freedom and the truth” by blocking access to independent news outlets by preventing their ability to broadcast information about the invasion.

The US also pointed to Russia’s “throttling” of social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, which it said allowed millions of Russians to access independent information and to connect with each other around the world.

The statement comes as Russia intensifies its attack on key Ukrainian cities, resulting in mounting numbers of civilian deaths and more than one million people fleeing the country to seek refuge elsewhere.

BBC