Ukraine makes an exasperated plea for Western weapons, and Russia now says its main focus is on taking control of the eastern Donbas region, raising fears of a divided Ukraine as fighting enters its 33rd day.
The International Atomic Energy Agency says "the situation remained unchanged" in relation to safeguards at Chernobyl nuclear plant. (AFP)
Monday, March 28, 2022
New fires reported in the Chernobyl exclusion zone
New fires have broken out in the exclusion zone around the defunct Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which is occupied by Russian forces, according to Ukrainian authorities.
“Significant fires have started in the exclusion zone, which can have very serious consequences,” Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk has said.
“However, today it is impossible to control and extinguish fires in full due to the capture of the exclusion zone by the Russian occupation forces.” The International Atomic Energy Agency has said “the situation remained unchanged” in relation to safeguards at Chernobyl and other nuclear plants in Ukraine.
At least 1,100 Ukrainians evacuated in the last 24 hours
At least 1,100 civilians have been evacuated in Ukraine in the last 24 hours, the country’s deputy prime minister has said.
Iryna Vereshchuk, who is also minister for the reintegration of the temporarily occupied territories, said in her daily briefing published on Instagram that civilians have been evacuated to safe areas through two humanitarian corridors.
Noting that they will continue to evacuate civilians from the besieged city of Mariupol, Vereshchuk said evacuations from the northeastern Sumy region will start on Monday.
Zelenskyy outlines an agenda of fresh talks with Russia
Ukraine’s priorities at the Ukrainian-Russian talks in Türkiye this week will be “sovereignty and territorial integrity,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told his nation in his nightly address.
“We are looking for peace, really, without delay,” he said. “There is an opportunity and a need for a face-to-face meeting in Türkiye. This is not bad. Let’s see the outcome.”
Ukraine is prepared to consider declaring neutrality and offering security guarantees to Russia including nuclear-free status, he said, adding Russian President Vladimir Putin must meet with him to seek an end to the fighting.
Biden says he wasn’t calling for regime change in Russia
US President Joe Biden has said that he was not calling for regime change in Russia when he said on Saturday that President Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power.”
“No,” Biden said as he left a church service in Washington when asked by a reporter whether he was calling for regime change in the country.
