Ukraine, Russia resume talks, address US Congress on Wednesday

Monday's peace talks were held as a senior US defence official said Russia's “anananancial financing continues to be stalled” on Ukrainian territory. He also confirmed that the United States has no longer provided training for the Ukrainian Army since the Florida National Guard members left with the start of the war. The official added that the base that was hit by Russian forces was not used to send security assistance to the Ukrainian Army, and therefore the attack did not affect American assistance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the talks began around noon Monday. President Mikhailo Podolyak's adviser said the Ukrainian delegation would repeat its demands during talks to be held through videoconference.

Our “positions have not changed”, said Mr. Podolyak. “These are peace, immediate ceasefire, withdrawal of all Russian forces. Only then will we be able to talk about neighbourly relations and a political solution”.

Washington has rejected Kiev's demands for a no-fly zone over Ukraine, and also refused a Poland proposal to send Russian-made aircraft to an American base in Germany to be sent to Ukraine. On Saturday, President Joe Biden authorised up to $200 million American assistance to be provided in the form of military preparation and training for the Ukrainian Army.

Four American senators visited Poland over the weekend to talk to Ukrainian refugees. Democrat Senator Amy Klobuchar said Congress is considering further ways to strengthen Ukraine's defence.

“won't give Vladimir Putin the details of how this will be achieved”, she told the Voice of America in Warsaw. “There are many ways, whether through the drones or weapons, that we can help and we are clearly committed to doing so. We have to do more”, Senator Klobuchar said.

Members of the delegation also told the Voice of America they are concerned about the humanitarian crisis that has caused the attack in Ukraine.

It breaks your heart when you see what's happening”, Republican Senator Rob Poortman said. We had the opportunity to visit refugees at the border. We heard their stories about the bombings, destroyed homes, and divided families. Most were children and mothers, sometimes also grandmothers with grandchildren. What they told us was just help protect our heavens. One of the things we're working on, and I've had the chance to talk to the administration about this, is that we have to do everything that's accessible and practical, as soon as possible, to give the Ukrainian people the ability to defend themselves”.

Republican Senator Roger Wuecker told the Voice of America he was angry at Russia's demands to keep the territory occupied.

“really rejects words about reaching a solution under which Ukraine would retain a portion of its territory, and Russia would hold part of the occupied” areas, he said.

Meanwhile, it was announced that the Ukrainian president will give American lawmakers a virtual speech in Congress on Wednesday. The talk will also be delivered directly to the general public. During an event in New York, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that “is a privilege to have the leader of this country, this people struggling for their democracy and our democracy”.

Mr. Zelensky said during a night-night speech that Sunday was a “black day for the country, due to the deadly attack on military base. He said he had clearly warned Western leaders of the likelihood that NATO units were being trained together with Ukrainian forces could be attacked.

This does not come as a surprise to US intelligence services and to the national security community”, said US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan during a CNN channel show. “This shows Vladimir Putin is frustrated by the fact that his forces are failing to achieve the progress he had thought would reach”.

In an interview with the CBS channel's “Face show, Mr. Sullivan warned that if Russia attacks, hits, or strikes on NATO territory, the NATO alliance will react to this”.

Mr. Zelensky said Sunday he has made an effort to meet with Mr. Putin, but that there was no success, although Ukrainian and Russian delegations speak every day to create humanitarian corridors and draft ceasefire agreements.

A senior Israeli official said Prime Minister Naphtali Bennett had another call Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The conversation has lasted about 90 minutes and focused on ceasefire and humanitarian issues talks, the Israeli official said he spoke on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, Mr Sullivan and officials of the National Security Council and the State Department are meeting in Rome with members of the Chinese Communist Party Political Bureau and director of the Commission's Foreign Relations Office, Yang Jiechi.

The discussion will be a “part of our ongoing efforts to preserve lines of communication between the United States and the People's Republic of China. The two sides will discuss efforts to manage competition between our two countries and discuss the impact of Russia's war on Ukraine on regional and global security”, National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said.

Media reported Sunday that Moscow has sought military and economic assistance from China for the war Russia is waging in Ukraine. Earlier, the White House warned China of serious consequences if it helps Russia avoid sanctions.

Mr Sullivan also responded to the growing concern that Russia will use chemical weapons in Ukraine.

“We cannot predict the time and place”, he said in the CBS channel, noting an escalation of Moscow's rhetoric accusing the United States and Ukraine of producing chemical or biological weapons to be used against Russian forces.

There is an indication that the Russians are preparing to do this” and to pass the blame on to others, said Mr. Sullivan.

On the show “Meet the Press” of the NBC channel, Mr Sullivan said that we have consulted with our allies and partners about this, and we are prepared for any development”.

He reiterated the warning made by President Joe Biden last week that Russia would face serious consequences if such weapons were used.

The ombudsman in Ukraine said Russian forces used phosphorus ammunition in a night-night attack in the eastern Ukrainian town of Poppasna, in the Luhansk region. The Voice of America failed to verify this charge immediately. Although phosphorus is not considered chemical weapons, its use of humans is prohibited by international law.

In a video circulated Monday, Mr. Zelensky reiterated the call for NATO to establish a no-fly zone over his country, predicting that if this does not happen “it is only a matter of time before Russian missiles fall on your territory, over NATO's” territory.

In recent days, satellite images and media reports have signalled that Russian armoured units are prepared to resume a major offensive in an effort to regain Kiev, Ukraine's capital, after taking a pause.

An estimated director and American journalist is among the latest victims of the conflict near the capital.

According to officials, Brent Renaud died in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kiev.

“is another example of Vladimir Putin's brutality and his forces, while they attack schools, mosques, hospitals and journalists”, Mr. Sullivan said on the “show. State of the Union” of the CNN Channel.

Mr. Renaud, who had worked earlier for The New York Times, the NBC and HBO networks, “paid for his life while trying to expose the humiliation, cruelty and indivisibility of aggressors”, Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to Ukraine's interior minister, said in a statement.

During the last few days, the focus of the attack has shifted towards Ukraine's besieged port city southeast, Marioupol.

“We have evacuated nearly 125 thousand people in safe darkness through humanitarian corridors”, President Zelensky said in a speech circulated Sunday. “We are doing everything to counteract invaders who are also blocking Orthodox priests who accompany such aid, food, and medicine. There are about 100 tons of the most necessary supplies Ukraine has sent to its citizens”. / VOA/

* A portion of the data for this article was received by Associated Press news agencies Agent France-Presse and Reuters.