People flee horrifying Marupol conditions along escape route

 

bbc.co.uk

When it’s come to peace talks in this war, expectations haven’t exactly been lofty. In fact, they’ve been near rock-bottom.

There’s been no movement on Russia’s demand that Ukraine effectively surrenders its weapons and becomes neutral, and Ukraine’s that Russia agrees to a ceasefire and pulls

back its troops.

The exact opposite has, of course, happened.

The highest-level meeting so far has been with both countries’ foreign ministers last Thursday in Turkey, where there was no breakthrough to put it mildly.

There’ve also been four rounds of negotiations between respective representatives, with the latest being today.

After a slow start, the language has turned more positive. We’ve seen temporary ceasefires finally agreed and used, and today hints of progress.

Kyiv claims Moscow has “stopped using ultimatums”, and there could “be results in the coming days”.

Not that many Ukrainians will be getting excited. 19 days of this brutal war has done nothing for optimism.

Russian troops 'blow up ammo' at Zaporizhzhya power plant

Reports on the Telegram messaging service are claiming Russian troops have blown up ammunition in front of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant.

A subsequent message from Ukraine’s nuclear energy company, Energoatom, say it is not yet clear whether radiation levels have been affected since the explosion.

Russia took control of Europe's largest nuclear power station on 4 March, after it was hit by shelling.

The plant, located around 550km (342 miles) south-east of the capital Kyiv, on the banks of the river Dnieper, generates around 20% of all electricity in Ukraine.

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-60717902