Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected the Russian offer for talks in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. He said that since Minsk is involved in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Belarus is not acceptable, but the door is open for negotiations in any other location that have not shown aggression towards Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin spokesperson said that the Russian delegation has arrived in Belarus for talks with Ukrainians. Earlier today, the Ukrainian authorities said that the Russian troops have entered Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city and fighting is underway on the streets.
Oleh Sinehubov, the head of the Kharkiv regional administration, has said that the Ukrainian forces were fighting the Russian troops in the city and has asked the civilians not to step out of their homes. Earlier today, Russia unleashed a wave of attacks on Ukraine targeting the airfields and fuel facilities, which looks like the next phase of the invasion.
The Russian defence ministry spokesperson said that yesterday, 302nd anti-aircraft missile regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, equipped with Buk M-1 air defence systems, put down their arms and surrendered in the Kharkiv region and a total of 471 Ukrainian servicemen were detained.
Russian Space Agency
In the meantime, responding to the increased sanctions imposed on Russia, the space agency of Russia has announced the suspension of Soyuz rocket launches. The Russian Federal Space Agency, ‘Roskosmos’ chief Dimitry Rogozin, said that the agency is suspending all association with the European partners on space programmes. The Russian Soyuz rockets are utilized by the European launch provider ‘Arianespace’, to launch satellites from the Guiana Space Center near Kourou, French Guiana in South America.
Hitting back on the sanctions imposed on Russia for invading Ukraine, he said in a series of tweets, that If western powers block their cooperation with Russia, who will save the International Space Station (ISS) from the uncontrolled deorbiting and falling into the United States or Europe? There are also the chances of the 500-ton structure falling in India and China, he added. He asked if the western countries, imposing sanctions, want to threaten India and China with such possibilities. The ISS does not fly over Russia, so all the risks are yours. Are you ready for them, he said.
