Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov has asserted that Russia may seize large Ukrainian cities. As of 14 March, Russian troops have seized only one Ukrainian regional capital—Kherson—but they are also trying to enter Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv and Mariupol, reported Ukrainian media outlets.
Over 2,500 Mariupol residents have been killed since Russia invaded Ukraine, said Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday. “More than 2,500 people have been killed, according to official reports from the city authorities. And this is a catastrophe to which the world has not given a proper assessment,” CNN quoted Arestovych as saying. On February 24, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine after the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics requested help in defending themselves.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the special operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only and the civilian population is not in danger. The West however denies these claims by the Russians and in response, Western nations have imposed comprehensive sanctions on Moscow. In addition, they introduced sanctions on Belarus for supporting Russia’s operation in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the fourth round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia has been paused until Tuesday, Zelenskyy’s aide Mykhailo Podolyak said on Monday. “A technical pause has been taken in the negotiations until tomorrow. For additional work in the working subgroups and clarification of individual definitions. Negotiations continue…,” tweeted Podolyak. This comes as the fourth session of talks was being held virtually with the Ukrainian negotiating team present in Kyiv. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy on Monday termed the negotiations as “difficult talks”.
“Difficult talks continue. Everybody is waiting for news. This evening we will report on the outcome,” he said in a video message, according to CNN. Notably, the first round of talks between the two sides was held in the Gomel region of Belarus on 28 February. The second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine over the crisis in Ukraine was held in Belarus on 3 March. The third round of negotiations between the delegations of Ukraine and Russia were held in Belarus on 7 March.
Also, Zelenskyy held talks with the Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis where he discussed the integration of the war-torn country within the European Union bloc. He also expressed his gratitude towards the leadership for providing humanitarian support to Ukraine in this hour of need. Taking to Twitter, Zelenskyy wrote, “Held talks with PM @kmitsotakis. Reported on the course of countering Russian aggression. We appreciate the defence, humanitarian support of Greece. Stressed the need to ensure the work of humanitarian corridors, especially in Mariupol. Also discussed movement towards EU membership.” Notably, while discussing the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU leaders, last Thursday, ruled out fulfilling Ukraine’s call for a fast-track integration with the bloc during a meeting in Versailles Palace near the French capital, Paris, reported DW. EU leaders discussed the bloc’s relationship with Ukraine but stopped short of offering immediate membership. They condemned Russia’s war in Ukraine calling it a breach of international law.
“Two weeks ago Russia brought war back to Europe. Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine grossly violates international law and the principles of the UN Charter and undermines European and global security and stability,” the statement from EU leaders said.
Meanwhile, Russian troops have damaged the power line of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant on Monday (Local Time), a day after the electricity supply was restored at the facility. Ukraine’s national grid operator Ukrenergo said that a high-voltage power line was damaged a day after electricity supplies were restored to the nuclear power plant. The critical cooling system at the plant needs the power to operate normally, reported The Kyiv Independent. Earlier, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that Ukraine has restored the power at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) four days after the electricity was cut off at the Russian-controlled site.
The IAEA Director-General, Rafael Mariano Grossi received the news from the head of Ukraine’s nuclear power company Energoatom, Petro Kotin, who told him that the specialists had fixed one of two damaged lines and would now be able to deliver all required off-site power to the NPP, where various radioactive waste management facilities are located following the 1986 accident.
However, as per the latest update by Ukraine’s media outlet, the power line to the Chernobyl NPP is now again damaged. The agency also said that Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia NPP, which is also under the control of Russia, is not in a position to deliver the necessary spare parts, equipment, and specialized personnel to carry out planned repairs.