Russian troops mass for new offensive in east Ukraine- Zelenskiy

(Provides Zelenskiy to South Koreans, German minister, Russian declare)

By Maria Starkova

LVIV, Ukraine (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Monday 1000’s of Russian troops have been massing for a brand new offensive within the east, and Russia stated it might not halt its army operation in Ukraine for any additional peace talks.

British intelligence stated Ukrainian forces had already repulsed a number of Russian assaults in japanese areas.

Russian forces have been additionally pushing to determine management over the southern port metropolis of Mariupol, the lynchpin between Russian-held areas to the west and east and already devastated by weeks of siege and bombardment.

“There are tens of 1000’s of lifeless, however even regardless of this, the Russians will not be stopping their offensive,” Zelenskiy informed South Korea’s parliament by videolink. Reuters couldn’t confirm the accuracy of his estimate.

Zelenskiy additionally appealed to Seoul to supply his nation with army help to bolster its combat in opposition to the Russian onslaught.

The invasion – which Russia calls a “particular army operation” – has left a path of demise of destruction that has drawn condemnation from Western international locations and triggered concern about Putin’s broader ambitions.

A couple of quarter of Ukraine’s 44 million inhabitants have been pressured from their houses, cities became rubble, and 1000’s of individuals have been killed or injured – lots of them civilians.

Russian International Minister Sergei Lavrov stated the Kremlin wouldn’t halt its operation for any new spherical of peace talks, accusing Kyiv of failing to reciprocate in earlier classes.

Lavrov informed state tv he noticed no purpose to not proceed with talks. However though Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered a suspension of army motion throughout a primary spherical in February, Moscow’s place had modified, he stated.

“A call was made that in the course of the subsequent rounds of talks, there can be no pause (in army motion) as long as a ultimate settlement isn’t reached,” Lavrov stated.

Austrian chief Karl Nehammer was because of meet Putin in Moscow on Monday and was anticipated to name for an finish to the battle. It could be Putin’s first face-to-face assembly with a European Union chief since Russia’s invasion began on Feb. 24.

“It should cease!” Nehammer wrote on Twitter https://twitter.com/karlnehammer/standing/1513193093784297476.

For now a minimum of, Russian forces have deserted their try and seize the capital Kyiv however they’re redoubling their efforts within the east.

Britain’s defence ministry stated Russian shelling continued within the Donetsk and Luhansk areas. However Ukrainian forces had overwhelmed again a number of assaults and destroyed Russian tanks, automobiles and artillery tools, it stated in its common intelligence bulletin.

“WE WILL ANSWER”

Zelenskiy stored up his marketing campaign to generate worldwide assist and rally his countrymen.

Addressing South Korea’s parliament, he stated Russia was concentrating tens of 1000’s of troopers for the subsequent offensive. He requested Seoul for any army help it might present.

Since Russia invaded, Zelenskiy has appealed to Western powers to supply extra defence assist, and to punish Moscow with harder sanctions, together with embargoes on its power exports.

Zelenskiy additionally stated Mariupol had been destroyed. Reuters journalists on Sunday noticed a number of Russian tanks heading down a freeway within the path of town.

Russia’s defence ministry stated Russian sea-launched missiles had on Sunday destroyed S-300 anti-aircraft missile programs which had been equipped to Ukraine by a European nation. The programs have been hid in a hangar on the outskirts of Dnipro in central Ukraine, it stated. Reuters couldn’t affirm this.

CIVILIANS URGED TO FLEE

Mounting civilian casualties have triggered widespread worldwide condemnation and new sanctions.

Luhansk Governor Serhiy Gaidai, chatting with Ukrainian tv on Monday, stated shelling within the area was growing daily.

“Essentially the most tough scenario is in (the cities of) Rubizhne and Popasna. They’re being shelled always, around the clock,” Gaidai stated.

He urged all civilians to evacuate. “Those who wished to go away have already left, whereas now many are left in bomb shelters who’re maybe frightened to come back out of the shelters, or scared to lose their possessions.”

Moscow has rejected accusations of battle crimes by Ukraine and Western international locations. It has repeatedly denied focusing on civilians and says its purpose is to demilitarise and root out harmful nationalists in its southern neighbour. Ukraine and Western nations have dismissed this as a baseless pretext for battle.

German International Minister Annalena Baerbock, talking earlier than a gathering of European ministers in Luxembourg, stated Berlin noticed “large indications” of battle crimes in Ukraine.

ECONOMIC COST

French financial institution Societe Generale turned the newest firm to retreat from Russia, agreeing to promote its stake in Rosbank and the Russian lender’s insurance coverage subsidiaries to Interros Capital, a agency linked to billionaire Vladimir Potanin.

The Russian invasion has triggered a barrage of economic sanctions from the US, Europe and Britain, prompting Western corporations to promote their Russian property.

A number of EU ministers stated on Monday the bloc’s govt was drafting proposals for an oil embargo on Russia, though there was nonetheless no settlement to ban Russian crude.

The World Financial institution forecast the battle would trigger Ukraine’s financial output to break down by 45% this yr, with half of its companies shuttered, grain exports largely lower off by Russia’s naval blockade and destruction rendering financial exercise inconceivable in lots of areas.

The financial institution forecast Russia’s GDP would contract by 11.2% this yr because of the Western sanctions.

(Reporting by Reuters bureaus and Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Writing by Lincoln Feast and Angus MacSwan, Enhancing by Stephen Coates and Nick Macfie)