The talks between Russia and Ukraine have started at the Belarusian border; Ukrainian President’s advisor Mykhailo Podolyak disclosed the information via text message on Monday. Earlier the Ukrainian President’s office said Ukraine’s goal for the talks was an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine.
Meanwhile, United Nations rights boss Bachelet has said that at least 102 civilians, including seven children, have died in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began. Moreover, 304 have been wounded. She, however, added that the real figure might be considerably high.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council Monday is set to hold a rare special emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly on the ongoing crisis and then vote on a resolution later this week to “hold Russia accountable” for the violations of the UN charter. During a procedural vote to hold the meeting, 11 nations voted in favour; India, China and the UAE abstained from voting, and Russia voted against the resolution. Additionally, the UNSC will also be meeting on Monday to discuss the humanitarian impact of the invasion.
At the same time, Russian forces have seized two small cities in southeastern Ukraine and the area around a nuclear power plant, the Interfax news agency said on Monday, but ran into stiff resistance elsewhere as Moscow’s diplomatic and economic isolation deepened.
After four days of fighting and a Russian advance that has gone more slowly than some expected, a Ukrainian delegation arrived at the border with Russian ally Belarus for ceasefire talks with Russian representatives, the Ukrainian presidency said. It was not clear whether any progress could be achieved.
President Vladimir Putin on Thursday has launched the biggest assault on a European state since World War Two and put Russia’s nuclear deterrent on high alert on Sunday in the face of a barrage of Western-led reprisals.