Talks between Russia and the Ukraine delegates have begun at the border of Belarus. As the fierce battle continues across Ukraine, Kyiv said it will call for a ceasefire in the meeting with the Moscow officials.
The meeting at the Belarus border comes in the wake of Vladimir Putin’s order of his nuclear deterrent force to get ready and be on high alert. Putin made this call when realising that Western powers have been arming Ukraine with lethal weapons and hitting Russia with heavy sanctions.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukraine president, called on all able-bodied citizens to take up arms and defend themselves against the Russian invaders. On Sunday the European Union took a decision to arm Ukraine with lethal weapons in their fight against Russia.
The fight which began last week Thursday has reached day five. The fighting is still intense with Ukraine soldiers managing to push the Russian army back as they are putting on a very stiff resistance. Even when the talks begin, the fight continues.
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Fighting has claimed the lives of dozens of civilians and has displaced thousands of Ukrainians, who are estimated to be around seven million. Russia has been hit with sanctions which it has felt on Monday as the value of the ruble plunged. Moscow’s central bank raised its interest rate to 20%.
Russians have been seen standing in line trying to salvage any amount of money they could amidst fears of the hard-hitting sanctions affecting the ordinary Russian citizens and leaving them with no money to survive on. The Russian central bank had appealed for calm saying it has “the necessary resources and tools to maintain financial stability.”
Source: NDTV, NBC News, BBC News, image from NDTV
