Ukraine retains control over major cities, including capital Kiev
Strongly opposed to the Russian invasion, Ukraine remains in control of its major cities and has begun talks with Russia about finding a way forward. The move comes as protests against Russia grow, both within its borders and beyond.
Ukraine agreed to the talks around the same time that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered defense chiefs to put nuclear “deterrence forces” on high alert. The US has criticized him for “manufacturing threats that do not exist” because his invasion of Ukraine “has been halted”.
Ukraine agreed to meet with Russia at its border with Belarus — near the Chernobyl exclusion zone — after a phone call between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Ukraine had previously refused to talk in Belarus, where Russian troops were stationed before the invasion.
The Russian invasion force has lost momentum and faces logistical and supply problems after dealing with fierce Ukrainian resistance, the White House claims. US officials say Russian forces have failed to gain air superiority, as Moscow admits killed and wounded soldiers.
Ukraine claims to have expelled Russian troops from the second city of Kharkiv in the east of the country after Russian armored vehicles passed through the defenses. The country says it is holding the line around the capital Kiev but has been fighting against Russian ‘sabotage groups’ that had infiltrated the city.
The UN refugee agency has said tens of thousands are fleeing the fighting, most of them entering Poland as the total number reaches 400,000. Others seek shelter in Hungary, Romania, Moldova and Slovakia. Pope Francis has called for corridors for civilians to escape the fighting.
Protests against the invasion arise. Hundreds of thousands of people take part in solidarity marches from Berlin to Baghdad to Quito. Within Russia, more than 5,000 people have been arrested for demonstrating against the attack.
Members of the European Union have announced new sanctions and assured Ukraine more military support in the coming days. The countries will even send fighter jets to help Ukraine repel the Russian attack, Josep Borrell, the bloc’s foreign policy chief, said Sunday.
Germany has broken a long tradition of sending 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 “Stinger” surface-to-air missiles to aid Ukraine. Sweden has also sent weapons to a war zone for the first time since Hitler and Stalin invaded Finland in 1939.
As the chorus against the invasion grows, Google has followed Facebook to prevent Russian state media from making money on its platforms. Elon Musk has ordered his SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service to provide broadband to Ukraine after Russia tries to block internet coverage.
Russia is also facing consequences in the field of sports. World Cup champions France says Russia should be banned from the tournament in November after the Czech Republic, Sweden and Poland boycott play-off games against them. England have also refused to play them.
