Russian Army also plans to reach an early agreement on offensive negotiations in eastern Ukraine

The Russian army, which continues to invade Ukraine, has further strengthened its offensive by narrowing the siege of eastern Mariupol on the 18th and announcing that it is continuing to fight in the center.

On the other hand, the Russian side has begun to express its desire to aim for an early agreement on ceasefire negotiations, as it has been pointed out that the advancement will be significantly delayed from the original plan due to the resistance of the Ukrainian army.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced on the 18th that pro-Russian militants, with the support of Russian troops, have narrowed the siege in Mariupol in the east and are fighting in the center.

In Mariupol, there are concerns about further sacrifices, including the destruction of the theater where many citizens, including children, were evacuated.

Also, according to the mayor of the major western city of Lviv, on the 18th, aviation-related facilities near the local international airport were attacked by multiple missiles, and Russian troops took control of Ukraine's largest port city, Odessa. It is believed that they are also preparing a strategy for this.

On the other hand, Russia has been negotiating with Ukraine over the ceasefire online since the 14th, and it seems that it is continuing discussions with the Ukrainian side, which strongly demands the suspension of the battle.

"Russian delegations are always ready, but the Ukrainian side doesn't feel enthusiasm," said Peskoff, a spokesman for the Russian Presidential Administration over the negotiations. Also said in a telephone meeting with the US side on the 16th that it called on the Ukrainian side to exert influence toward the progress of negotiations.

A senior U.S. Department of Defense official revealed on the 17th that some units of the Russian army were demoralized, and the Russian army advanced from the original plan due to fierce resistance of the Ukrainian army. It has been pointed out that there is a significant delay in.

As the U.S. media reports that the damage situation of the Russian army is expanding, Russia has begun to show its desire to aim for an early agreement on ceasefire negotiations while further strengthening the offensive, and the focus is on how to approach the negotiations in the future. ..