Ukraine has slowed some of Russia’s advances, but several cities are being hit by missiles, a presidential aide said. Russian forces continued rocket attacks across Ukraine including the cities of Lutsk, Kharkiv, Zhytomyr and Rivne on Sunday night, an aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, while shelling was reported from around Kyiv.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said he was ready to accept neutral, non-nuclear status as part of a peace deal with Russia.
Here are the latest developments:
Russian forces are trying to reach a “corridor” around Kyiv, officials say: Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister said Monday that Russian forces were attempting to establish a “corridor” around the Ukrainian capital to block supply routes while fighting continued in the Kyiv suburbs.
Russian strikes continue: Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mikhail Podoliak said the cities of Lutsk, Kharkiv, Zhytomyr and Rivne were hit by Russian missiles on Sunday. “More and more rockets every day. Mariupol bombed under the ‘carpet’,” he said. “Russia has no more language, no humanism, no civilization. Just rockets, bombs and attempts to wipe Ukraine off the face of the earth.” A loud explosion followed by sirens was also heard in Kyiv early Monday, according to CNN teams on the ground.
Most of the Russian gains in the Mariupol region are in the south: Most of Russia’s military achievements near the port city of Mariupol are in the southern territories, according to the latest British intelligence update. Following its report, the British Ministry of Defense said there had been “no significant changes in the disposition of Russian forces in occupied Ukraine”.
Kremlin worried about Biden’s remarks: The Kremlin is concerned about US President Joe Biden’s remarks about Russian President Vladimir Putin, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday, adding that Biden’s remarks would continue to be monitored. Biden said Saturday Putin “cannot stay in power.” Biden and White House officials later tried to go back and clarify the president’s comments, adding that he was not calling for regime change in Russia.
Peace talks resume on Tuesday: Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are set to resume in Istanbul, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday. Zelenskyy said in a video posted on social media that peace and the restoration of normal life are Ukraine’s “obvious” goals. “Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are beyond doubt. Effective security guarantees for our state are imperative,” he said. Zelenskyy also told journalists on Sunday that a neutral, non-nuclear status for Ukraine in the form of a “serious treaty” is acceptable as part of a deal with Russia, but any agreement would have to be put to a referendum.
Ukraine promises “immediate investigation” after video emergence: A nearly six-minute video shows Ukrainian soldiers shooting suspected Russian prisoners in the knees during an operation in the Kharkiv region. When asked about the video, a senior adviser to the President, Oleksiy Arestovych, said: “The government takes this very seriously and there will be an immediate investigation. We are a European army and we do not mock our prisoners. If this comes out, to be honest, that’s totally unacceptable behavior.” CNN won’t show the video.
Putin Eyes “Korean Scenario”: The head of Ukraine’s military intelligence has said Putin may try to split Ukraine in two – like North and South Korea. Brig. General Kyrylo Budanov said Russia’s operations around Kyiv had failed and it was now impossible for the Russian army to overthrow the Ukrainian government. Putin’s war is now focused on the south and east of the country, he said. “[Russian forces] will try to draw a dividing line between the unoccupied and the occupied regions of our country. In fact, it is an attempt to create North and South Korea in Ukraine,” he said.