Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov publicly rejected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent offer to host a negotiation platform for Russia and Ukraine. Lavrov attended the Antalya Diplomatic Forum in Turkey on March 1 and responded to a question about Erdogan’s offer by stating that there are no current dialogue initiatives that consider Russian interests.
Turkey hopes talks for a ceasefire in Ukraine will start soon, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Sunday (3 March), at the end of a diplomatic forum in the southern city of Antalya.
Fidan met his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, on Friday on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. He told reporters he had discussed a number of issues with Lavrov, including Ukraine.
“On the issue of Ukraine, our view is that both sides have reached the limits of what they can get by war. We think that it is time to start a dialogue for a ceasefire,” Fidan said.
“That doesn’t mean recognising the occupation (by Russia), but issues of sovereignty and ceasefire should be discussed separately.”
In other news, it looks like the USA will vote on Ukraine aid by the end of this month.
UPDATE ON THE RUSSIAN ATTACK ON ODESA:
UPD: Under the rubble, rescuers found the bodies of two more dead children - 10-year-old Serhiy and 8-year-old Zlata. The number of dead is 12 people😞
— Viktoriia 🌻 (@home_fella) March 3, 2024
Kharkiv is not yet safe enough for residents to return to the city, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on March 1.
“As for the return of Kharkiv residents: you see, I don’t think Kharkiv is so protected at the moment that I can advise people to return,” Zelensky stated. “This is the choice of Kharkiv residents.”
In other news, the death toll of last night’s strike on Odesa has risen to 7. UPDATE: The death toll is now at nine.
BLOOMBERG: UKRAINE SEES RISK OF RUSSIAN BREAKTHROUGH BY SUMMER.
RUSSIAN ARMY SHELLS CENTER OF KUPIANSK WITH AERIAL BOMBS, DEATHS REPORTED.
UPDATE: A forced evacuation may be announced for the Kupiansk area.
Kupiansk and Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi are the priority targets for the Russian troops in the Kupiansk direction, Illia Yevlash, spokesman for the Khortytsia operational-strategic group, said during a telethon.
According to him, the Russians probably consider it necessary to attack now with all available forces. The Ukrainian military is working on defense.
Yevlash emphasized that despite the advantages of the Russians, Ukrainian troops can fight back. In his opinion, only by joining Ukrainian efforts, it is possible to repel the Russian offensive in this direction.
On February 25, at about 11:00 p.m., the Russian military launched two S-300 missile strikes on the village of Pisochyn in the suburbs of Kharkiv, said the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov.
According to him, the Russian missile attack damaged two hangars with grain. Russians also damaged tractors and trucks. No casualties were reported.
BUSINESS INSIDER: Warren Buffeet’s son gives 500 million to Ukraine, says Congress should step up.