Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia is concentrating tens of hundreds of troops for its new assault.
Ukraine has mentioned it expects Russia to launch an enormous new offensive quickly within the east of the nation, as Austria’s chief mentioned he was “pessimistic” in regards to the conflict ending after his assembly with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
After withdrawing forces from northern Ukraine, together with suburbs of Kyiv lain to waste underneath its occupation, Russia has mentioned its primary goal is japanese Ukraine.
It's demanding that Kyiv cede management of swathes of territory there, often called the Donbas area, to pro-Russian separatist fighters. Kyiv says it's girding for a brand new battle.
“We forecast that lively fight will start in these areas within the nearest time,” Ukraine’s Defence Ministry Spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk mentioned.
A United States official mentioned Washington believed Russia was attempting to strengthen and resupply its troops within the Donbas area.
The largest prize Russia goals to seize within the Donbas is Mariupol, the primary japanese port metropolis, the place hundreds of individuals are believed to have died underneath a near-seven week siege.
If Russia lastly captures Mariupol, it may higher hyperlink troops advancing from the east with these from the annexed Crimea peninsula, and shift their focus to a brand new try to encircle the primary Ukrainian drive within the east.
In his newest plea for worldwide help, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed South Korea’s parliament that tens of hundreds of individuals had been killed in Mariupol, a determine that has not been confirmed independently. “However even regardless of this, the Russians will not be stopping their offensive”, he mentioned.
Russia was concentrating tens of hundreds of troops for its new assault, Zelenskyy mentioned.
British intelligence mentioned Ukrainian forces had already pushed again a number of Russian assaults in japanese areas.
Russia wouldn't pause for talks
In the meantime, Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov mentioned his nation wouldn't pause the preventing for any new spherical of negotiations.
“A call was made that in the course of the subsequent rounds of talks, there could be no pause [in military action] as long as a remaining settlement just isn't reached,” Lavrov mentioned.
Britain’s defence ministry mentioned Russian shelling continued within the Donetsk and Luhansk areas, which collectively kind the Donbas.
However Ukrainian forces had overwhelmed again a number of assaults and destroyed Russian tanks, autos and artillery tools, it mentioned in its common intelligence bulletin.
Luhansk Governor Serhiy Gaidai, chatting with Ukrainian tv on Monday, mentioned shelling within the area was growing daily.
“Probably the most tough state of affairs is in Rubizhne and Popasna. They're being shelled continuously, around the clock,” Gaidai mentioned, referring to cities within the area.
He urged all civilians to evacuate.
“Those who wished to depart have already left, whereas now many are left in bomb shelters who're maybe frightened to come back out of the shelters, or scared to lose their possessions.”
Simply exterior the Donbas area, the primary japanese metropolis Kharkiv got here underneath heavy shelling on Monday, inflicting a number of casualties together with one little one who was killed, Mayor Ihor Terekhov mentioned in a televised interview.
Terekhov mentioned that Ukrainian forces had been targeted and able to defend the town if it comes underneath a brand new assault: “There isn't any panic within the metropolis,” he mentioned.
German Overseas Minister Annalena Baerbock, talking earlier than a gathering of European ministers in Luxembourg, mentioned Berlin noticed “huge indications” of conflict crimes in Ukraine.
A number of European Union ministers mentioned on Monday that the bloc’s government was drafting proposals for an oil embargo on Russia, though there was nonetheless no settlement to ban Russian crude.
Austria chancellor meets Putin
In different developments, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer says he's “slightly pessimistic” in regards to the prospects for diplomacy ending the Ukraine battle after his assembly with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Describing Putin as having “massively entered right into a logic of conflict”, Nehammer tells reporters “peace talks are at all times very time-intensive whereas navy logic says: ‘Don’t spend an excessive amount of time and go immediately into battle'”.
The primary European chief to fulfill Putin because the begin of the Russian invasion, Nehammer says he “talked about the intense conflict crimes … and pressured that every one these accountable must be delivered to justice,” additionally telling Putin of the “pressing” want for humanitarian corridors.
“The offensive [in eastern Ukraine] is evidently being ready on a large scale,” he added.
Austria is a member of the EU and has backed the 27-nation bloc’s sanctions in opposition to Russia, although it to date has opposed reducing off deliveries of Russian fuel.
The nation is militarily impartial and isn't a member of NATO.
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