Large explosions rocked Kyiv early on Tuesday even as Ukraine and Russia inched closer to a diplomatic truce for the ongoing war.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the talks between Ukraine and Russia’s delegations will continue today as well, a day after he signalled minor success in the peace talks.
The negotiators, Mr Zelensky said, have taken a technical pause.
Meanwhile, attacks battering Ukrainian city Mariupol continued but a convoy of 160 civilian cars was able to escape the port city via a humanitarian route. Mariupol is facing a grave crisis with multiple attacks paralysing the access of civilians to food, medicines and essential supplies.
Russia has reportedly asked China for help with food packets of “ready-to-eat” for its troops currently in Ukraine.
Beijing, however, has denied the call for assistance and called it a “malicious disinformation” being spread by Washington.
Marking its 20th day in Ukraine, the Russian military invading the country has “stalled”, a senior US defence official has said.
