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Topics: Russia, Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, World News
Shola Lee
Topics: Russia, Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, World News
A second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine are reportedly planned for tomorrow, March 2.
Talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials took place on the Belarusian border yesterday. Now, Russian news agency TASS has claimed a second round of talks is due to take place tomorrow, aiming at establishing a ceasefire between the countries and a withdrawal of Russia's troops.
The first round of peace talks held yesterday, February 28, were said to have lasted nearly five hours, as per Al Jazeera.
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Vladimir Medinsky, who led the Russian side of the delegation said they 'found certain points on which common positions could be foreseen' and that another round of talks was agreed.
While further peace talks are planned, Vladimir's Putin's invasion of Ukraine continues. At least 500,000 people are said to have fled Ukraine so far, with today, March 1, marking the sixth day of war.
Civilians were urged to take shelter and evacuate their homes as major cities, residential buildings and government property continue to be targeted.
Today the UN confirmed that since the invasion started there have been 536 civilian casualties. According to the report, 136 civilians have been killed, including 13 children.
The news comes after dozens of civilians were said to have been killed following the shelling of the residential area of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, yesterday, February 28.
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Anton Herashchenko, a Ukrainian interior ministry adviser confirmed the attack, saying 'Kharkiv has just been massively fired upon by grads [rockets]. Dozens of dead and hundreds of wounded'.
Following the attacks, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave an emotional address to the European Parliament, saying that his country was 'giving away its best people' in defence of Europe.
The president noted: 'These last few days I don’t know any more how to greet people. I cannot say have a good day or have a good night, because for some this is their last day'.
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He continued: 'We are giving away our best people. Our strongest ones. The most value-based ones. Ukrainians are incredible'.
Zelenskyy - who signed a formal letter asking the EU to declare Ukraine a candidate country to join the EU yesterday - urged Western countries to show their support for Ukraine.
'Prove that you will not let us go. Prove that you indeed are Europeans and that life will win over death, and light will win over darkness', he added.
Following his address President Zelenskyy was given a standing ovation.
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If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information