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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to entertain the international audience with loud statements as his government sabotages any possible negotiations with Russia and thus fuels the further development of the conflict.
On March 3, Zelensky declared that Russia should ‘learn’ the words ‘reparations’ and ‘contributions’. According to him, the Ukrainian military has been successfully repelling all the attacks and Russian forces have suffered significant losses.
He also repeated claims about the ‘wide international support’ and said that Ukraine is accepting ‘foreign volunteers’ that will fight the Russians. According to him, 16,000 of them have already arrived.
Earlier, Ukrainian authorities claimed that Kiev forces are right now receiving additional weapons and supplies from their ‘international partners’. Media reports claim that these deliveries allegedly include MANPADs and anti-tank weapons.
Taking into account the posture of the Ukrainian leadership, it seems that it prefers to believe that ‘powerful international support’ will help them to win in the conflict. At least, the diplomatic wing of Kiev acts like this is reality.
The second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine was planned for March 2. However, the Ukrainian delegation ignored them. Now, it is expected that the second round of talks could be held on March 3.
Nonetheless, in the light of Zelensky’s declarations that the only terms that his government is ready to discuss is the ‘ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian forces’, it is likely that no real breakthrough will be achieved. On top of this, Ukraine already repeatedly demonstrated that it does not want (and often not able) to respect any signed agreements. The Minsk deals are a clear demonstration of this situation.
Russian troops provide humanitarian assistance to people in Kharkov Region:
Meanwhile, the Russian military operations continue all over the eastern, northern and southern parts of Ukraine.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced that as of March 3 the Russian military struck 1,612 military objects, including: 62 command posts and communication centers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 39 S-300, Buk M-1 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, 52 radar stations.
Also, Russian forces destroyed 49 aircraft on the ground and 13 aircraft in the air, 606 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 67 multiple launch rocket systems, 227 field artillery pieces and mortars, 405 units of special military vehicles, as well as 53 unmanned aerial vehicles.
“The grouping of troops of the Lugansk People’s Republic, with fire support from the Russian Armed Forces, continued offensive operations and reached the line of the RED LIMAN – PRIVOLIE – the northern outskirts of SEVERODONETSK.
The advance was 4 kilometers.
The units of the armed forces of the Donetsk People’s Republic narrowed the encirclement of the city of MARIUPOL, and also took control of the settlements of GRAPE, SARTAKA and VODYANOE.
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, continuing successful offensive operations, took control of CHISTOPOLIA, NOVOPOLTAVKA, ZHOVTNEVOE and aligned the front line with units of the Donetsk People’s Republic.
The city of BALAKLEYA was liberated from the nationalist battalions,” the statement reads.
Soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces evacuate civilians:
A Ukrainian military column slammed into a civilian car in the Kiev-controlled town of Slovyansk:
Weapons captured by forces of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics:
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