Russia continues its offensive in Ukraine ahead of 5th round of peace talks: Key updates

Russia goes on with its act of aggression in Ukraine for a third successive week regardless of both the nations convening a fresh round of peace talks. Earlier this week, the Russian forces launched a barrage of airstrikes in several Ukrainian cities.

As maintained by the United Nations, almost 2.8 million people have left the war-ravaged nation and over 600 have lost their lives, however the actual number is expected to be much more.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reaffirmed calls for the NATO to enforce a "no-fly zone" over Ukraine. However, neither the NATO nor US President Joe Biden have agreed to the call, holding it will put them in a direct conflict with Russia.

Here are the latest updates:

1) With the 4th round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine failing to deliver a breakthrough, both the nations will again meet for a dialogue on Tuesday.

2) Zelensky has called on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to meet with him directly, a request that has not been met by the Kremlin thus far.

3) In the Ukrainian city of Kyiv, the recent airstrike by Russia at an aeroplane factory took the lives of at least two people.

4) On the contrary, Russia’s foreign ministry said that 20 people were killed and 28 were injured after Ukrainian troops launched a missile in a residential area in Donetsk.

5) US President Joe Biden is expected to meet NATO leaders in Brussels next week to talk about the Ukraine war, news agency Reuters reported. However, the sources said that the plan could change because of the rapidly changing situation in Ukraine.

6) Joe Biden announced that his government will provide Ukraine with weapons along with allowing refugees from the country to enter the US and send money, food, and other humanitarian aid to Kyiv.

7) "The American people are united, the world is united, and we stand with the people of Ukraine. We will not let autocrats and would-be emperors dictate the direction of the world," Biden said in a tweet.

8) Russia's offensive in Ukraine, which started on February 20, has entered the Day 20.

9) Ukraine has alleged war crimes in the country in the midst of reports that the Kremlin has sought weapons from China.

Also Read: Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Russia imposes sanctions on Joe Biden, other top US officials