Day 48 of the Invasion of Ukraine: EU disputes over Energy Embargo on Russia while thousands Die in Mariupol

Decisive battle for Mariupol, EU disputes over energy embargo on Russia, thousands of victims in Mariupol. Here is a summary of the most important highlights of the past day:

"Decisive battle" for Mariupol

Ukrainian forces say they are preparing for a "final decisive battle" for the besieged southern city of Mariupol as their ammunition runs out.

"This is death for some of us and captivity for others," the head of the 36th Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces wrote on Facebook. The Ukrainians were "repulsed" and "surrounded" by the Russian army. Pro-Russian rebels say they already control the port of Mariupol.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said "tens of thousands" of people in the city were probably killed.

Austrian leader "not optimistic" after meeting with Putin

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has admitted that he is "quite pessimistic" about the diplomatic prospects for ending the conflict in Ukraine after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Nehamme is the first European leader to meet with Putin face to face since the Russian invasion began. Nehamme explained to Putin about the serious "war crimes" ... and stressed that all those guilty must be brought to justice. The Chancellor called on Putin to consider the "urgent" need for humanitarian corridors.

French police to arrive in Ukraine

French police and forensic doctors have arrived in Ukraine to help investigate the deaths of dozens of bodies in civilian clothes found in Bucha and other cities around Kyiv following Russia's...