An ammonia leak from a chemicals plant near the battered Ukrainian town of Sumy has contaminated an area with a radius of 5 kms., the authorities have said. The winds have scattered the ammonia cloud outside the city. People in Sumy are urged to breathe through gauze bandages soaked in citric acid and to seek shelter in basements and the lower levels of buildings.

Ukraine has rejected Russia’s ultimatum to surrender Mariupol. Six people have been killed during the Russian bombing of Kyiv, Reuters reports.

The negotiations with the Russian side are to be resumed on 21 March. Russia’s claim it has used hypersonic missiles in Ukraine is “a way to reclaim war momentum”, but has not proved to be a “game changer,” US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin stated, and warned Russia there would be a “significant reaction” should Russia use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine.

China’s ambassador to USA stated that Beijing will not send arms or munition to Russia, and that China would “do everything it can to deescalate” the crisis.