KYIV, Ukraine, November 7 ------ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was "not ready" for talks with Russia unless its invading troops withdraw, as Kyiv investigated a deadly strike on its soldiers.
The sprawling frontline between the warring sides has remained mostly static for almost a year despite a much-touted Ukrainian counter-offensive, with Russian forces entrenched in southern and eastern Ukraine. Officials from the United States and Europe Kyiv's key allies are reported to have suggested holding negotiations to end the grinding 20-month-old conflict, which Zelensky denied on Sunday. The United States "know I am not ready to speak with the terrorists, because their word is nothing", he told NBC television, referring to Russia. "They have to go out from our territory, only after that, the world can switch on diplomacy," Zelensky added. The Ukrainian leader conceded the war was in a "difficult situation" and reiterated his need for more air defenses to end Russia's control of the sky.
Ukraine probes 'tragedy'
A Russian missile strike killed multiple Ukrainian soldiers at what media described as an "award ceremony" this week, leading Kyiv to open a criminal investigation. Local media said the attack, which is reported to have killed at least 20 troops, took place on Friday as a brigade gathered to receive awards in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region. "This is a tragedy that could have been avoided," Zelensky said in an address on Sunday. "A criminal investigation has been registered into the tragedy," he added. "The main thing is to establish the full truth about what happened and to prevent this from happening again." AFP was unable to immediately verify the circumstances of the strike or the number of people killed.
The Ukrainian army confirmed on Saturday that a number of soldiers from its 128th Mountain Assault Brigade had been killed in a missile strike the day before, without providing figures. Russia said in a defense ministry briefing on Saturday that it had inflicted a "fire defeat" on a Ukrainian assault unit in Zaporizhzhia and that up to 30 people had been killed. One Ukrainian soldier said on social media that 22 people from the brigade had been killed, criticizing commanders for having held the ceremony. The dead troops "became victims of military rudimentary traditionalism in its worst form", Ivan Savytskyy said.
Source: mb.com.ph
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