Russian and Ukraine are holding a crucial round of talks as war has entered the fifth day with several casualties on both the sides.
Ukrainian officials have arrived for talks with Russia at the Ukraine-Belarus border, Zelenskyy’s office said in a statement.
The delegation from Kyiv includes Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov and presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak among others, the statement said.
“The key issue of the talks is an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of troops from Ukraine,” it added. The negotiations are expected to get under way imminently.
Bulgarian defence minister set to be sacked over Ukraine rhetoric
Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov has said he will move to sack the country’s defence minister after his reluctance to describe the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a war prompted calls for his removal.
Petkov said his centrist coalition government will hold talks later on Monday to decide on Stefan Yanev’s dismissal and line up a potential replacement.
hina urges calm after Putin puts nuclear forces on high alert
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin has called for all sides to remain calm and avoid further escalation after Russian President Vladimir Putin put his country’s nuclear deterrent on high alert
Wang, speaking at a regular daily media briefing, also reiterated China’s view that all countries’ legitimate security concerns should be taken seriously.
Beijing has previously called for Russia’s concerns over the eastward expansion of the United States-led NATO military alliance to be addressed.
