Moscow [Russia], February 26 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the suspension of advancement of its military forces in Ukraine on Friday (local time) but the operation was resumed Saturday afternoon after the Ukrainian leadership refused to talk, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
“Yesterday afternoon, in connection with the expected negotiations with the Ukrainian leadership, the Russian president and supreme commander ordered the suspension of the advance of the main forces,” Peskov said, speaking to reporters on Saturday.
“Since the Ukrainian side essentially refused to negotiate, the advance of the main Russian forces resumed this afternoon in accordance with the operational plan,” he added, reported Sputnik.
Earlier, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested to Putin that they sit down at the negotiation table amid escalating tensions over Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. “I would like to address the president of Russia once again … let us sit down at the negotiation table to stop people dying,” Zelenskyy said in a video address, Sputnik News Agency reported.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had also said that Moscow is ready for negotiations on Kyiv at any moment. “We are ready for negotiations. At any moment, as soon as the armed forces of Ukraine respond to the call of our president (Vladimir Putin), stop resisting and lay down their arms. No one is going to attack them, no one is going to oppress them, let them return to their families,” Lavrov said.
Zelenskyy on Friday discussed the sanctions, defense assistance and an anti-war coalition with US President Joe Biden.
The conversation comes after Zelensky, who is still in Kyiv, delivered a speech saying Ukraine was “alone in defending our country”.(ANI)
Zelenskyy thanks Turkish President for banning passage of Russian warships to Black Sea, military support to Ukraine
Kyiv [Ukraine], February 26 (ANI): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for banning the passage of Russian warships to the Black Sea and for extending military support to Kyiv as Moscow continues with its military operation. “I thank my friend President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the people of Turkey for their strong support. The ban on the passage of Russian warships to the Black Sea and significant military and humanitarian support for Ukraine are extremely important today. The people of Ukraine will never forget that!” Zelensky tweeted.
Zelensky has also urged Germany and Hungary to back Russia’s expulsion from the SWIFT banking system as Moscow continues its military operation in Ukraine. “We have almost full support from EU countries about disconnecting Russia from SWIFT. I hope Germany and Hungary will have the courage to support this decision,” Zelenskyy said in a video address that was posted on his Telegram channel, Sputnik News Agency reported today.
Zelensky also said that Ukraine has a right to EU membership, and achieving this would be a key sign of support for the country. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraine’s breakaway regions – Donetsk and Luhansk – as independent entities. Later, Putin ordered special military operations “to protect” the people in the Donbas region.
Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia’s military operations and imposed sanctions on Moscow. (ANI)
