The General Staff of Ukraine's military is claiming that Russian troops have been forced to withdraw from the capital city of Kyiv after enduring heavy losses. In an update on the conflict, the General Staff said that two of the Russian army's battalion tactical groups had withdrawn into Belarus.
The update went on to reason that such a movement is typical of units that have suffered "significant losses". It was also noted that there is a "significant decrease in the intensity" of units moving from Russia into Ukraine.
Ukraine wants 'peace without delay' and is ready for a Donbass compromise
Ukraine is 'looking for peace.... without delay', the country's leader has said. It comes after President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country could adopt a neutral status as part of a peace deal with Russia - and is willing to "compromise" over the Donbass region.
He said the compromise was needed because to try to force Russian forces completely from Ukraine would lead to World War III, according to Reuters. Mr Zelensky also told Russian media - who were reportedly forbidden from reporting the interview in their home land - that the pact would have to be guaranteed by third parties and put to a referendum. Peace talks are set to resume on Monday, with the two sides agreeing to meet in person in Turkey.
But President Zelensky told Russian journalists from 'Zygar' that the "most important issues in the negotiations with Russia are security guarantees, neutrality and Ukraine’s nuclear-free status. But denazification and demilitarization are not to be discussed at all, said Mr Zelensky.
"I said that we will not sit at the negotiating table at all if we talk about some kind of demilitarization, some kind of 'denazification'. For me, these are completely incomprehensible things," the President said.
Johnson helping Ukraine more thanks to British public pressure, says Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Boris Johnson is “helping more” than other leaders in the resistance against Russia – thanks to pressure from the British people.
In an interview in Kyiv where he is resisting Vladimir Putin’s invasion, Mr Zelensky said France was being more hesitant in sending weapons “because they are afraid of Russia”. He told the Economist magazine that Germany “are making a mistake today” as it tries to take a balanced approach due to their deeper economic ties with Moscow.
The president said “Britain is definitely on our side” and is “not performing a balancing act”, but he declined to say whether the UK wants to end the war quickly at any cost. Told the Prime Minister had been keener than France’s President Emmanuel Macron in sending weapons, Mr Zelensky responded: “Yes. To be honest, Johnson is a leader who is helping more.
“The leaders of countries react according to how their constituents act. In this case, Johnson is an example.”
Ukraine war has caused £47.8bn worth of damage
A new estimate from the Kyiv School of Economics suggests that war in Ukraine has caused more than $63 billion (£47.8bn) in damage to infrastructure. The calculation is based on at least 4,431 residential buildings having been damaged, destroyed, or seized, along with 92 factories and warehouses and 378 schools.
Twelve airports have also been destroyed, damaged, or captured, as well as seven thermal or hydroelectric powerplants.
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