Peace Talks to Resume April 1; Putin's Approval Rating Rises to 83%

LOCAL NEWS (1/2}

• Ukrainian negotiator says peace talks will resume in April 1st. Overnight Zelenksy said that we had reached a turning point in the war wit Russian troops shifting their focus to consolidating gains in the southeast, instead of Kyiv.
  • He also downplayed progress in peace talks, saying there were no concrete agreements and that he did not trust Russian calls for a withdrawal around the capital, and noted the renewed inertia in the Donbas. “we will not give up anything, we will fight for every inch of our land.” – Sky, RTRS
• Putin’s approval rating at home soars to 83% vs 71% in Feb according to Russia’s only independent pollster. 44% also now trust Putin vs 10% prior. Experts say this is due to the closely controlled nature of state media
• Ukrainian negotiators have renewed calls for a Putin-Zelensky meeting, but in Istanbul Russian negotiators specified that agreements need to be more defined and signed off by FMs before reaching the stage for a leader meeting - bbg
• Russia announces ceasefire in the Key city of Mariupol to allow for civilians to escape. A civilian corridor will be open from 10am local time. Mariupol remains central to Russian plans for a well-established land bridge and strong bargaining positions for Donbas/Crimea and will continue to face military pressure.
  • Russian Defense ministry said its military goals had been achieved in Kyiv & Chernihiv and forces are being reorganised to focus on the liberation of Donbas. US says 20% of Russian troops have repositioned back to Belarus, but none have gone back to Russia - RTRS