Minsk (AFP) – The Belarusian army demonstrates combat training of its Military Academy cadets at a training ground in Zhodino in central Belarus, amid fears of Minsk entering Russia’s conflict with Ukraine. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has said his country would only join Russia’s offensive in Ukraine if Belarus were attacked first by Kyiv.
Antakya (Turkey) (AFP) – Images from Antakya, southern Turkey, show journalists and military responding to a new 6.4-magnitude earthquake that hit the region on Monday evening. The quake hit the town of Defne at 20:04pm local time (17:04 GMT) and was strongly felt by AFP teams in Antakya and Adana, 200 kilometres (300 miles) to the north.
Antakya (Turkey) (AFP) – Images show emergency responders and vehicles in Antakya immediately after a new, 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey on Monday evening. The quake hit the town of Defne at 20:04pm local time (17:04 GMT) and was strongly felt by AFP teams in Antakya and Adana, 200 kilometres (300 miles) to the north.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky unveils a plaque dedicated to US President Joe Biden as the American leader prepares to wrap up his surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv ahead of the first anniversary of the Russian invasion. “See you soon”, Biden tells his Ukrainian counterpart.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – On a surprise visit to Kyiv, US President Joe Biden says he is visiting to ensure “there not be any doubt, none whatsoever, about US support for Ukraine and their war against the brutal attack by Russia”.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – US President Joe Biden promises increased arms deliveries for Ukraine during a surprise visit to Kyiv in which he also vowed Washington’s “unflagging commitment” in defending Ukraine’s territorial integrity. “Together we’ve committed nearly 700 tanks and thousands of armoured vehicles, 1,000 artillery systems… and that doesn’t count the other half a billion dollars we’re announcing with you today and tomorrow that’s going to be coming your way,” Biden tells his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – US President Joe Biden says he is in Kyiv on a surprise visit to show the US’ ‘unwavering support for the nation’s independence, their sovereignty, and territorial integrity’.
Warsaw (AFP) – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is greeted by her Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki as she arrives in Warsaw. Meloni is stopping in the Polish capital as she heads to Kyiv ahead of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Images show Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the United States Joe Biden as the latter pays a surprise visit to Kyiv ahead of the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion. The two leaders, with air raid sirens sounding in the background, visit the St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery in the Ukrainian capital, where they honour the memory of fallen Ukrainian defenders.
Brussels (AFP) – Thousands of protesters in Brussels demonstrate in support of the Iranian resistance movement, calling for action against Tehran’s leaders as European Union foreign ministers meet.
Various (Japan) (Japan) (AFP) – Atsushi Monbetsu belongs to the Ainu Indigenous group that traditionally lived in what is now northern Japan, as well as territory now in Russia. But now, like a growing number of younger people from Indigenous communities in Japan, he has reclaimed his identity and some of the traditional practices he considers his birthright.
Airspace in the Sea of Japan (Japan) (AFP) – Japan and South Korea each held joint air drills with the United States in airspace over the Sea of Japan on February 19. The exercises were in response to North Korea firing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that landed in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone a day earlier, on February 18.
