Russia steps up attack in Ukraine ahead of 5th round of peace talks
Russia continued its offensive in Ukraine for a third straight week despite both the countries holding a fresh round of peace talks.
On Monday, the Russian forces launched a barrage of airstrikes in several cities of Ukraine. According to the United Nations, almost 2.8 million people have left the war-torn country and over 600 have died but the actual toll is expected to be much higher.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has renewed calls for the NATO to impose a “no-fly zone” over the country. However, neither the NATO nor United States President Joe Biden have agreed to the demand, arguing it will place them in a direct conflict with Russia.
Zelensky will also brief the US Congress virtually on Tuesday.
As Ukraine continues to be ravaged with no visible prospects of the war concluding, here are the latest updates:
With the fourth round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine failing to deliver a breakthrough, both countries will again meet for a parley on Tuesday.
Ukrainian President Zelensky has called on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to meet with him directly, a request that has not been met by the Kremlin till now.
In the capital city of Kyiv, the latest airstrike by the Russian forces at an aeroplane factory killed at least two people.
On the other hand, the Russian foreign ministry said that 20 people were killed and 28 were injured after Ukrainian troops launched a missile in a residential neighbourhood in Donetsk.
US President Joe Biden is expected to meet NATO leaders in Brussels next week to discuss the Ukraine war, news agency Reuters reported citing sources. However, the sources said that the plan could change due to the rapidly changing situation in Ukraine.
Biden announced that his government will provide Ukraine with weapons along with allowing refugees from the war-torn country to enter the US and send money, food, and other humanitarian aid to Kyiv.
“The American people are united, the world is united, and we stand with the people of Ukraine. We will not let autocrats and would-be emperors dictate the direction of the world,” he said in a tweet.
Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall was injured on Monday while newsgathering outside of Kyiv. Hall, a Briton who covers the State Department for the network, has been hospitalised and not many details are available.
Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine, which began on February 20, has ented the Day 20.
Kyiv has alleged war crimes in the country amid reports that the Kremlin has sought weapons from China.