‘Unacceptable’: Ukraine rejects offer to let civilians flee — to Russia

To ensure delivery to your inbox add email@mail.nbcnews.com to your contacts Today's Top Stories from NBC News MONDAY, MARCH 7, 2022 Good morning, NBC News readers.     Hopes for a cease-fire so that Ukrainian civilians could flee Russia's assault on key cities were quashed for a third day when it became clear the escape routes on offer led straight into ... Russia.     Here's the latest on the conflict and everything else we're watching this Monday morning.     Ukraine decries Russian claim it will let civilians flee — to Russia and Belarus A woman is assisted by Ukrainian servicemen in crossing a destroyed bridge the city of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv on Saturday. (Aris Messinis / AFP via Getty Images)   Ukraine dismissed Russian promises to let civilians flee its forces' assault on major cities Monday after Moscow offered humanitarian corridors that led to Russia itself or its close ally Belarus.    Rejecting the offer to have civilians escape straight into the territory of countries behind the assault on their cities and towns, Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk called the proposal "unacceptable" and an effort to manipulate world leaders.   The news comes after another night of Russian bombardment, days of aborted efforts to evacuate besieged civilians under unceasing Russian shelling and nearly two weeks of an invasion that has brought death and destruction to areas across Ukraine but little progress in the Russian military offensive.   Follow all the latest developments in our live blog and on NBC News Now.    Read more of our in-depth coverage:  Analysis: Experts see signs of a 'new Cold War' as the U.S. braces for a long-term confrontation with Putin U.S. crude hits 13-year high as West considers ban of Russian oil China to provide Ukraine humanitarian aid, says Russian relations are 'rock solid' How Black and African students in Ukraine are leading their own rescue efforts Monday's Top Stories More than 200,000 U.S. children have lost a parent or caregiver to Covid. Why hasn't the U.S. done more to help them? "If a child has lost a parent, someone needs to show up at that doorstep right away — and I mean right away," one professor of pediatrics said. READ MORE New satellite photos show first construction in years at North Korea nuclear test site, analysts say Experts say it's a worrying sign the country could be planning to resume testing atomic bombs after claiming to have destroyed the site in 2018. READ MORE Environmental clash: Solar advocates vs. conservationists On one side, fans of solar energy are pushing a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels. On the other, conservationists are fighting large-scale solar farms they fear are damaging ecologically sensitive areas. READ MORE OPINION How are Americans doing? Not well — with one big exception. A new Gallup poll offers what may be a better predictor of life satisfaction than educational attainment or even wealth, Brendan Case and Tyler J. VanderWeele write in an opinion piece.  READ MORE Also in the News Armed suspect apprehended at Joint Base Andrews after vehicle skipped checkpoint 'Trucker convoy' drives laps around D.C. Beltway Brittney Griner's wife posts on Instagram about WNBA star's detainment in Russia Former AG Barr says he wouldn't have prosecuted Trump for Jan. 6 or taking classified documents Cuomo rips 'cancel culture,' hints at political comeback in first public appearance since resignation 'The Batman' soars to $128.5 million at the North American box office Editor's Pick As locals are priced out, Colorado mountain towns fight to keep workers Communities are turning to innovations, like lease limits and new taxes, to confront a housing shortage worsened by the pandemic and the uptick of remote workers and second-home owners. READ MORE Select These manual toothbrushes can be as effective as electric toothbrushes — if used correctly. One Last Thing  Hope from the keys of a piano As thousands of weary refugees pass through the train station in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv hoping to board trains to Poland, some have heard the tune of a familiar song.    One woman has been spreading hope by playing Louis Armstrong's famous song "What A Wonderful World" outside the Lviv train station.   Watch a report from NBC's Nightly News anchor Lester Holt on how music is helping to lift spirits in a dark time.  Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown.    If you have any comments — likes, dislikes — send me an email at: petra@nbcuni.com   If you're a fan, please forward it to your family and friends. They can sign-up here.    Thanks, Petra Cahill     FOLLOW US     Want to receive NBC Breaking News and Special Alerts in your inbox? SIGN UP HERE Check out all of NBC Newsletters here.     Get the NBC News Mobile App   30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 View in browser | Unsubscribe | Manage Subscription | Contact | Privacy