KYIV, 14 March: Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are set to take place today. The new round of negotiations will resume via videoconference, according to Russian officials.
Russia is expected to be firm on its demands while we are yet to see if there are any solutions for the ongoing conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the main task of his delegation at talks with their Russian counterparts was to arrange a meeting between himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Representatives of our countries are holding daily talks via video conference,” he said, describing the task of the Ukrainian delegation as a “difficult path”.
Zelenskyy also said a humanitarian convoy to Mariupol was halted by Russian forces, adding the convoy will make another attempt to move on Monday.
As of Sunday, Ukrainian forces were able to evacuate more than 5,550 people via nine humanitarian corridors as told by deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk.
Whilst the evacuation, Russian forces had attacked a large Ukrainian base in Lviv near the border of Poland. The total casualties included 35 people and another 134 wounded during the attack.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken wrote on his Twitter, “We condemn the Russian Federation’s missile attack on the International Center for Peacekeeping and Security in Yavoriv, close to Ukraine’s border with Poland. The brutality must stop.”
Out of desperation for manpower, Russia has enlisted 16,000 Syrian “volunteers” to fight in Ukraine with the latter promising payments of $3,000 a month.
Russia’s defense ministry said the deployment would be made to the breakaway Donbas region of eastern Ukraine where much of the recent fighting had been focused.
Over in Asia, Russia’s closest ally, China had denied all reports of supplying Russia with military equipment. Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for China told news outlets that the country’s priority was to prevent an escalation of the Ukraine conflict.
U.S. National Security advisor Jake Sullivan will be in Rome on Monday to meet with China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi after such rumors were brought to the attention of the United States and its allies. – TVS
