Ukraine is prepared to declare its neutrality and consider a compromise on contested areas in the country’s east, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said ahead of another round of talks set for Tuesday on stopping the fighting.
But he said only a face-to-face meeting with Russia’s leader can end the war and any agreement would have to go to a referendum and be guaranteed by third parties
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday that the two presidents could meet, but only after the key elements of a potential deal are negotiated.
The City of Irpin has been declared liberated from Russian forces.
According to Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn, civilians aren’t yet allowed to return to the city, which is located just northwest of Kyiv as there is a high risk of Russia’s further attacks.
Mariupol authorities estimate that Russian shelling and airstrikes have already killed nearly 5,000 residents, including 210 children.
The southeastern port city has been under siege since March 1.
The mayor of Mariupol has said the besieged port city is on the verge of catastrophe and must be completely evacuated
Mariupol authorities estimate that about 160,000 people are left in besieged Mariupol, out of the pre-war population of over 400,000.
A third of Kharkiv residents have fled city.
Over 30% of Kharkiv resident have now left the city, according to Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov.
The city has been shelled over 200 times within 24 hours.
Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Synegubov said that Russia had used artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, and mortars to shell the city.
