Russia Adopts Defensive Positions as Kyiv Mounts Disruptive Counteroffensives

LOCAL NEWS

• Russian & Ukrainian delegations set to resume online talks today according to Russian state media after little progress on dialogue was noted over the weekend. UK military expert says Russians appear to have note only stalled, but gone into defensive positions near Kyiv due to the Ukrainian counteroffensive.
  • Ukraine’s presidential advisor said this was due to a lack of combat strength to push further towards Kyiv, while Zelenksy was reported as calling for direct negotiations with Putin on Saturday. – Tass, Sky, RTRS, IFX
• US officials say Russia’s inability to take Kyiv early has forced a shift to a strategy of securing key territorial objectives, while seeking leverage and conducting extensive long-range missile strikes to compel Kyiv to accept neutrality and Russian claims to Crimea & the separatist republics. Should Kyiv reject Russia’s demands, Putin may try to hold all of its taken ground and fight on. - WSJ
• On Sunday Turkish FM Cavusoglu said Russia & Ukraine were nearing agreement on critical issues – adding that he was hopeful for a ceasefire if the two sides don’t backtrack on this progress.
• Russia’s aerial assault on key cities resumed over the weekend, with Russia using hypersonic missiles to target key military infrastructure and continued shelling to increase pressure on Kyiv, Mariupol, Kharkiv & Sumy.
  • Overnight, Russia called for the surrender of Mariupol, but Ukraine said there was no way the city would be surrendered - RTRS