Live Updates: Western allies agree on new financial sanctions against Russia

Ukrainian officials said 198 civilians had been killed since the Russian attack.

Western allies agreed on Saturday a new volley of financial sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, including taking the crucial step of removing several Russian banks from the SWIFT interbank system.

In a joint statement, the White House said the grouping of world powers “resolve to continue to impose costs on Russia that will isolate Russia from the international financial system and our economies.”

Amid the Ukrainian military’s opposition to the Russian offensive, Western officials say there is a genuine interest in ensuring that President Vladimir Putin pays the maximum price for the invasion.

Ukrainian officials said 198 civilians, including three children, had been killed since Russia’s attack on Thursday, and warned that Russian saboteurs were active in Kiev as blasts rocked the capital, leaving residents vulnerable to safety. was forced to flee underground.

But, three days after Russia’s invasion, defiant Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed that his country would never give in to the Kremlin. Washington said the attacking force was “lacking speed”.

Here are the updates on the Russia-Ukraine crisis: