Russia on Tuesday warned of forcing Ukraine to “lay down arms” after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the fighting in the Donbas had begun.
An aide of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said today that Russia’s new offensive in eastern Ukraine is being pursued “very carefully” and will fail, as the Russian military does not have the strength to breach Ukrainian defenses. Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said Russian forces were trying to find “sensitive places” in Ukraine’s defence, but added, “Their offensive will fail – I guarantee you 99% – they don’t have enough strength.” “The fight for the Donbass, which was announced and apparently started yesterday, is going on very carefully now. The fight will not go in Russia’s favour,” he said on national television. Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday that Russian forces were attempting to advance Ukrainian defenses in eastern Ukraine along a nearly complete frontline.
After being pushed back by Ukrainian forces from an attack on Kyiv, Russia has regrouped to focus a new offensive in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine’s foreign minister arrives in Bulgaria
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is in Bulgaria and has been tasked by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to “take steps for peace in Ukraine”.
“Assigned by President Zelensky to take steps to win peace in Ukraine, I arrived in Sofia to meet with the Bulgarian leadership. Bulgaria is our friend and partner within the EU and bilaterally. We also feel the support of the people of Bulgaria in this hour of crisis,” Dmytro Kuleba posted on Twitter.