KYIV: The Kyiv delegation has arrived at the Belarus border for peace talks with Russia. Ukraine has demanded an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops from the country. This has been confirmed by the president’s office. A team, consisting of Ukraine Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov among others, has arrived for the peace talks.

There are demands to give immediate European Union (EU) membership to Ukraine. Russia has launched a missile strike on the residential buildings in Zhytomyr and Chernigiv, cities in the country’s northwest and north. Meantime, for the fifth day in a row, Russia has not yet been able to conquer the Ukraine capital Kyiv and another city of Kharkiv.

“We’re suffering a lot of civilian casualties. According to official information of our ministry, already 16 children were killed from bombings, shellings and so on as result of Russian peace-fighting operation”, said Dr Igor Polikha, Ukraine ambassador to India. Meanwhile, Belarusian forces have reportedly joined Russia in the war against Ukraine.

Meantime, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked the Russian soldiers to leave the country immediately and save their lives. Singapore has decided to impose sanctions on banking and money transfer to Russia. Meanwhile, Russia has threatened to take strong action against the sanctions imposed by various countries. It had warned of blocking fuel supply to the European countries. According to a UN report, as of now, 102 civilians including seven children were killed in the Russian attacks in Ukraine.