*US President Joe Biden plans to deliver remarks Thursday, April 28 on support for Ukraine as his administration plans to send to the Congress a proposal for weapons and humanitarian assistance for Kyiv

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

United States (US) President Joe Biden plans to deliver remarks Thursday, April 28 on support for Ukraine as his administration looks to soon send to the Congress a proposal for weapons and humanitarian assistance for Kyiv that would last through September 2022.

It was learnt the European Union (EU) members pushed the bloc to deliver clearer guidance over Russia鈥檚 demand for natural gas payments to be made in Rubles (Russian currency), after flows to Poland and Bulgaria were cut off.

Germany signalled it is open to a phased-in ban on Russian oil imports, agency report said.

Report also indicates United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy Thursday, after holding talks earlier this week with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Moscow.

The UN is also mobilising an international team to help with the evacuation of civilians trapped along with Ukrainian fighters in a steel plant in the southern port of Mariupol, which has largely been captured by Russian forces.

Some European companies are making preparations to comply with a new payment system sought by Russia to pay for its gas in rubles, the Financial Times reported, citing unidentified people familiar with plans.

Energy companies in Germany, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia are preparing to open ruble accounts at Gazprombank in Switzerland, it said.