Russian authorities said on Monday that they are in the process of liquidating Ukrainian subversive groups that entered its territory, and while Kiev confirmed that fighting is still continuing in Pakhmut, Denmark revealed that it plans to organize a peace summit between the two sides in July.
Russian authorities announced on Monday that a Ukrainian "sabotage" group entered the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, noting that work is underway to eliminate it, in light of a series of attacks on Russian territory.
The governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said that "a sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Ukrainian army entered the Grigoron region. The Russian Armed Forces, along with border guards, in Rossegvardia (National Guard) and the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) are taking all necessary measures to eliminate the enemy."
Inform Putin
For his part, the Kremlin spokesman noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin was informed of the ongoing incursion into Russian territory by "saboteurs" from Ukraine.
Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies: "I have informed the Ministry of Defense, the Federal Security Service and the border guards, and work is underway to expel this subversive group from Russian territory and eliminate it."
"We fully understand that the aim of this act of sabotage is to divert attention from Pakhmut and minimize the impact of the loss of the Ukrainian side," he said.
Kiev on Monday denied it had "any connection" to the incursion of fighters into Russian territory into an area bordering Ukraine.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak announced on Twitter: "Ukraine is following with interest the events in the Belgorod region of Russia and studying the situation, but it has nothing to do with it."
Suburbs and highlands
In Pakhmut, Ukraine on Monday confirmed the continuation of fighting in the city, asserting control of part of it, two days after Russia announced full control of it.
Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Ghana Maliar said: "The fighting continues." This is the day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Pakhmut had not been "occupied" by Russia.
Maliar said Kiev forces still controlled the "aircraft" zone in Pakhmut. "The battle for the heights on the northern and southern suburbs continues."
She said – in televised remarks – "Through our action on both sides - in the north and south - we succeed in destroying the enemy. By moving along the two sides and controlling certain heights there, our armed forces have made it very difficult for the enemy to stay in the city itself."
The founder of the Wagner armed group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose forces are leading the attack on Pakhmut, announced on Saturday that his fighters had taken control of the city.
He announced on Monday that his forces would leave Bakhamout by the first of next June and hand over control to regular Russian forces.
Prigozhin said his forces had set up "defensive lines" on the western outskirts of the city before transferring control to the Russian military.
Global Commitment
Politically, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Monday that his country would like to host a summit in July to discuss how to reach peace between Ukraine and Russia.
Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, the minister added: "First of all, we need to make some efforts to reach a global commitment to organize such a summit."
He noted that a peace summit should not be attended only by Ukraine's allies. "It is necessary to build interest and participation from countries such as India, Brazil and China," he said, but added that "it is difficult for me" for Russia to participate in such a summit.
"If Ukraine concludes that the time has come for such a meeting, that would be great; then of course Denmark would like to host this meeting."