4 posts
5 mins ago
Strong explosions shake the Ukrainian capital
By Tim Lister
A Ukrainian firefighter works in an apartment building after being hit by artillery shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 14.
(Photo: Vadim Ghirda/AP)
Several loud explosions resounded in Kyiv at 11 a.m. local time on Monday.
They appear to have been caused by Ukrainian air defense batteries targeting Russian aircraft or cruise missiles.
From the center of Kyiv, several trails of smoke could be seen heading for the sky.
Residential buildings hit: At least two people were killed and three hospitalized after a residential building in a suburb of the capital was hit by shelling on Monday morning, Ukrainian emergency services reported today.
Fifteen people were rescued and 63 evacuated after a shell hit the ninth floor of a residential building in Obolon district, a northern suburb of Kyiv.
7 mins ago
Ukraine says fourth round of talks with Russia will start soon
By Tim Lister, Julia Kesa
The fourth round of talks between Ukraine and Russia is about to start, according to Ukraine's chief negotiator.
The session will be held virtually, not in person.
The Ukrainian negotiating team is in Kyiv.
Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podoliak posted a short video on Twitter saying: "Negotiations. 4th round. On peace, ceasefire, immediate troop withdrawal and security guarantees. Tough discussion."
Podoliak added: "Although Russia realizes the senselessness of its aggressive actions, it still has the illusion that 19 days of violence against peaceful cities is the correct strategy."
8 mins ago
China denies receiving Russian request for aid in Ukraine war
By CNN
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping walk down the stairs upon arrival at the BRICS summit in Brasilia, Brazil, in 2019.
China said Russia did not ask it for military equipment or other assistance to support its war in Ukraine.
Two US officials told CNN on Sunday that
Russia has asked China
for military support, including drones, as well as economic assistance for its unprovoked invasion.
Speaking on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a news conference that the United States was "selling disinformation."
"Recently, the US side has been selling disinformation against China on the Ukraine issue with sinister intentions," Lijian said when asked about Russia's request for help.
"China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear, and we have been playing a constructive role in promoting peace talks. It is imperative that all parties exercise restraint and defuse tension, rather than add fuel to the fire; it is important to promote a diplomatic solution, instead of making the situation even worse”.
11 mins ago
The talks between Russia and Ukraine will resume today.
This is what we know
By CNN
An image of the last round of negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian representatives in Belarus, on March 7.
(Photo by MAXIM GUCHEK/BELTA/AFP via Getty Images)
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak tweeted Sunday that diplomatic talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials will take place on Monday via video.
This is what we know:
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the negotiations, telling Russia's state news agency RIA on Sunday that the talks would continue on Monday.
A tweet from Podoliak's verified Twitter page read: “Again.
The negotiations take place non-stop in the format of videoconferences.
The working groups work constantly.
A large number of issues require constant attention.
A negotiation session will be held on Monday, March 14, to summarize the preliminary results…”.
Podoliak previously tweeted that Ukraine "will not give up any of the positions" or listen to Russian "ultimatums."
Ukraine's demands, Podoliak said, are the end of the war and the withdrawal of Russian troops from the country.
Podoliak also said that he believes they will "achieve concrete results" from the talks with Russia.
In a video posted on Twitter, Podoliak said Russia has become "much more sensitive to Ukraine's position" and has "started to talk constructively."
"Our proposals are on the table. They are very tough. Among them, the withdrawal of troops, the ceasefire," said Podoliak.
"We will not give up any points, as a matter of principle."
There are hopes that the talks will open the way for the evacuation of more civilians, particularly from areas affected by Russian bombardment, such as the besieged city of Mariupol.
The city administration confirmed on Sunday that a large humanitarian aid convoy destined for the besieged city had not arrived and said the trapped residents desperately needed help.
Hundreds of thousands of people face "extreme or total shortages of basic needs such as food, water and medicine" in Mariupol with many sheltering in "unheated basements", the International Committee of the Red Cross said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Facebook video on Sunday that his team is continuing to work on diplomatic negotiations with Russia to arrange a meeting between himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Delegations of “representatives of our countries speak in video format every day.
Our delegation has a clear task: to do everything possible to guarantee a meeting of the presidents.
The reunion I'm sure people are waiting for,” he said.
war in ukraine