Ukraine war: Russia unleashes artillery barrage in Donbas as resistance continues
- Ukraine’s military said the Russians were unable to capture the areas of Lyman in Donetsk and Sievierodonetsk and Popasna in Luhansk
- Moscow called on the US and its allies to stop sending weapons to Kyiv if they want to resolve the crisis
The Russians were trying to capture the areas of Lyman in Donetsk and Sievierodonetsk and Popasna in Luhansk, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said in a daily update. “Not succeeding – the fighting continues,” it said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in remarks published early on Saturday, said lifting Western sanctions on Moscow was part of the peace talks, which he said were difficult but continued daily by video link.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted since the Russian invasion began on February 24 that sanctions needed to be strengthened and could not be part of negotiations. He said on Friday there was a high risk the talks would end because of what he called Russia’s “playbook on murdering people”.
Ukraine accuses Russian troops of atrocities in areas near the capital, Kyiv, that they previously occupied. Moscow denies the claims.
Lavrov said that if the United States and other Nato countries were truly interested in resolving the Ukrainian crisis, they should stop sending weapons to Kyiv.
