Newspaper headlines: Russia accused of genocide, and 'fuel duty cut'

People hold placards as they watch Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speech broadcasted live at Habima square in Tel Aviv, IsraelEPA

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's comments comparing Vladimir Putin's invasion of Russia to the Nazis features in several papers

By BBC News
Staff

Several papers lead with Voldymyr Zelensky's comments likening Vladimir Putin's offensive in Ukraine to the actions of the Nazis, as well as reports that civilians are being forced to relocate to Russia.

"Russia accused of genocide" is the Times' headline as fighting in the besieged south-eastern city of Mariupol escalated.

A school believed to have been sheltering about 400 people was bombed by Russian forces, the paper reports. Olha Stefanishyna, a deputy prime minister, accused Russia of genocide and of forcibly abducting thousands of Mariupol's residents, the paper adds.

Ukrainian authorities allege that civilians have been transported deep inside Russia to remote cities hundreds of miles from the border, the Daily Telegraph reports.

The Kremlin on Sunday gave Ukraine a deadline to surrender Mariupol by Monday morning UK-time.

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she was shocked by Russian atrocities in the Black Sea port, "including attacks on schools sheltering civilians and the abduction and deportation of Ukrainians", the paper adds.

The Guardian carries the Ukrainian president's address to Israel's parliament in which he drew links between the Kremlin's offensive and the extermination of Jews during World War Two.

The leader challenged Israel over its failure to impose sanctions on Russia in what the paper calls an "uncompromising address" to the Knesset. Mr Zelensky, who is Jewish, said via video link that Mr Putin was waging an "all-out war, illegitimate, intended to destroy our people, our country, our cities, our culture and our children. Everything that makes Ukrainians Ukrainian".

"Crime of the centuries" is the headline dominating the front of Metro as it leads on Mr Zelensky's comments. There are also reports that troops opened fire on a care home, killing 56 pensioners in the eastern town of Kreminna, the paper adds.

The i features a full page image of an elderly woman stood in front of a destroyed building in Ukraine, accompanied by the headline echoing Zelensky: "Our neighbours want us dead".

Moscow has been accused of "horrific acts of genocide" by Ukraine as it continues its bombardment, the paper adds, while Mr Zelensky called the attack "a full scale war aimed at the destruction of our people".

The UN has said that 10 million people have fled their homes in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the Sun says Chancellor Rishi Sunak is facing pressure to cut fuel duty by at least 5p a litre as prices have risen sharply over recent weeks.

The paper says the cost of fuel has increase by about 20p a litre in the past month alone, with average prices at a record 165.9p for petrol and 177.3p for diesel. "Don't be a fuel Rishi" is the headline the paper has opted for.

The Daily Mail reports that the chancellor is "poised" to cut fuel duty. The paper notes that Mr Sunak had initially hoped to avoid big spending measures in Wednesday's spring statement.

However, he is considering a temporary cut of up to 5p per litre in fuel duty in the wake of the Ukraine invasion. But some of his Conservative colleagues are urging more action to ease the cost of living crisis, the paper adds.

PA Media

The possibility of Rishi Sunak cutting fuel duty makes it onto the front pages of some of the tabloids

Also leading on the possible cut in fuel duty, the Daily Express reports that Mr Sunak has acknowledged that pump prices are "one of the biggest bills people face" and has pledged to make a difference.

Elsewhere, the Daily Mirror reports that the government has given P&O Ferries until 17:00 GMT on Tuesday to explain its decision to sack 800 members of staff.

The paper claims ministers knew on Wednesday what P&O bosses were intending to do, but failed to act. Labour is attempting to force a vote banning "fire and rehire", the paper reports.

And finally, the Daily Star leads with comments made by Gavin Ashenden, a former chaplain to the Queen, that stores are doing the "devil's work" by filling hot cross buns with non-traditional ingredients, such as chocolate, caramel and cheese.