Russia has stepped up its attacks against Ukraine during the two-day ceasefire that ended yesterday conference in Switzerland, reported DPA, quoted by BTA, referring to a statement of the Ukrainian General Staff.
"Throughout the day, the enemy is intensifying its offensive and assault operations, looking for ways to break through our defenses and trying to push Ukrainian units out of their positions," the Ukrainian General Staff said in its situation report last night. According to published data, the number of battles has risen to 88. The largest number of them, a total of 36, took place in the Donetsk region. 25 of the attacks have been repelled, but 11 continue as the Russian military tries to advance further, particularly near the city of Pokrovsk.
It is also claimed that the Russian military made 10 attempts to storm Ukrainian positions on the front immediately to the north and south - in the Liman region and around Kurakhovo.
Moscow's air force dropped heavy bombs on the defensive positions, the announcement said. DPA emphasizes that the information cannot be verified by independent sources.
Since the fall of last year, Ukraine has been on the defensive due to the delayed delivery of weapons and ammunition from the West.
However, recent supplies have helped stabilize the front, limiting Russian territorial gains.
At the conference, a total of 78 countries called for "territorial integrity" of Ukraine to be the basis of any peace agreement to end the two-year war with Russia, although some key developing countries did not sign on to the document, the Associated Press noted. The path to diplomatic progress remains unclear.
About 100 delegations, mostly from Western countries, participated in the conference, which was announced as a first step towards peace. Among them were presidents and prime ministers from France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Poland, Argentina, Ecuador, Kenya and Somalia. The Holy See was also represented, and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke on behalf of the United States.
India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand and the UAE, represented by foreign ministers or lower-level envoys, were among the countries that did not sign the final document.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described last night's peace summit as a "great success for Ukraine and for all partners,", stressing that the communique, adopted by almost all participants, supports efforts to end Russia's war in Ukraine soon basis of the UN Charter, notes Kyodo.
At a joint press conference with some leaders, including those of Canada, Ghana and Switzerland, Zelensky said the signatories had agreed to start working on various ideas and proposals to help restore security in Ukraine. "We are at war and have no time for prolonged work. "Moving to peace means moving fast," he said, adding that a second summit on the issue would be organized once the necessary plans for action to achieve peace were ready.