The Ukrainian "Interfax" agency quoted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as saying that there is a great possibility that negotiations with Moscow will stop due to what he called "public anger" over the atrocities committed by Russian forces, while the battles are concentrated in the eastern and southeastern regions, as the Russian army seeks to tighten control. On more areas of Lugansk and Donetsk regions.
In turn, Mikhailo Podolyak, adviser to the Ukrainian President's office, said in radio statements that the meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not happen soon, as Turkey says, but rather wait.
On the other hand, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced that Russia is not obligated to cooperate with the International Criminal Court on the investigation in Ukraine.
On the ground, Al-Jazeera correspondent in Ukraine reported that the battles between Russian and Ukrainian forces continued to focus during the past 24 hours in the eastern and southeastern regions, in light of the Russian army's continuous attempts to control more areas in Lugansk and Donetsk provinces.
Donetsk separatist leader Denis Pushilin said his forces are in contact with the Ukrainian military inside the Azovstal industrial complex in the city of Mariupol, adding that the separatist authorities have information about the presence of about 400 foreign mercenaries among the forces trapped inside the complex.
Here are the latest developments on the 66th day of this war:
5 minutes ago
Ukraine's Lugansk Administration: Russian forces destroyed two schools and 20 homes in several towns of Lugansk in the past 24 hours.
25 minutes ago
Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Ukraine: Russia seized 1.5 million tons of grain in the places it controls in Ukraine.
one hour ago
Ukrainian Ministry of Defense:
Destruction of 11 tanks, 7 artillery systems, 27 armored vehicles and 14 enemy vehicles.
Air defense units shot down 7 drones in the Donbass sky.
one hour ago
China's Xinhua News Agency, citing Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov:
Attempts by the West to solve its problems at the expense of others are doomed to failure.
Washington and its allies forget that the modern world has become multipolar.
The Russian military operation in Ukraine contributes to the liberation of the world from neo-colonial oppression.
Washington and its allies are pursuing a long-term destructive path, one of which is the reckless expansion of NATO towards the east.
The United States and NATO must stop supplying Kyiv with weapons if they really want to solve the Ukraine crisis.