Amid threats of Finland and Sweden joining NATO, Moscow is escalating attacks in eastern Ukraine, the General Staff announced on Thursday, acknowledging that Russian forces have recorded some territorial gains. At the same time, a new round of talks aimed at rescuing soldiers trapped in Mariupol’s Azofstal steel plant has begun.
The Russian threats were made by Russian diplomat Dmitry Polyanskiy, who told “Unherd” that Helsinki and Stockholm know that “the moment they become members of NATO, there will be some moves by the Russian side.” According to him, “if there are NATO units in these territories, these territories will become a target – or a possible target – for a strike.” He added that Russia was “ready to face the NATO threat” and even put nuclear weapons on the table.
Threats of concern to Europe over the escalation of the conflict as the war continues in Ukraine. In fact, the Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi stressed that to stop the war in Ukraine everyone should sit at the same table, starting with Russia and the United States. The technocratic prime minister added that “In this context, Joe Biden must call Putin». He added that contacts should be resumed at all levels, “without forgetting what happened – because this is impossible – but also with the prospect of looking to the future.”
Escalation of attacks in Donbas
The protection of the self-proclaimed People’s Republics in eastern Ukraine was among the reasons cited by the Kremlin when it invaded Ukraine on February 24. Russian President Vladimir Putin has recognized them as autonomous state entities, angering Kyiv.
“The enemy continues its attacks in the eastern zone of operations in order to take full control of the Danetsk, Lugansk and Kherson regions and to maintain the land corridor to the temporarily occupied Crimea,” the Ukrainian staff said.
According to the report, the Russian attacks are concentrated in the cities of Sheverodonietsk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdivka and Kurakhova, as well as in Rubizne, most of which are now occupied by Russian troops.
The Ukrainian General Staff assured that its forces destroyed floating bridges built by Russian forces to reach the port along the Siversky Donetsk River.
At the same time, Russian forces are being reinforced on the front around the city of Slovyansk. About 300 Russian military vehicles were deployed there, according to Ukrainian officials, according to the German Agency and the Athenian News Agency.
Talks on removing besieged Ukrainian military from Azovstal steel
At the same time, the Ukrainian government announced that it had launched a new round of talks aimed at rescuing soldiers trapped in its Azovstal steel plant. Mariupol.
“We have started a new round of negotiations,” Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Verestsuk was quoted as saying by the Ukrainian newspaper Prada.
According to her, the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross have been instructed to negotiate with the Russian side, while Turkey has taken on a mediating role.
“We would like an agreement to be signed on how to proceed with their removal from Azofstal – we are ready to sign it,” she said.
The purpose is to evacuate in stages, he explained. The first priority is to rescue 38 soldiers who have been seriously injured, he added.
“Once that happens, we will make further moves,” he promised, adding that Kyiv was prepared to exchange Russian prisoners of war with the wounded.
So far, Russia has refused to allow the removal of any troops at the giant Mariupol plant, demanding that Ukrainians and foreign mercenaries surrender.
Source: News Beast
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