Russia-Ukraine war highlights: On eve of talks, Russian forces close in on Kyiv

 Russia’s offensive in Ukraine has entered the 14th day with the Kremlin saying that humanitarian corridors will be allowed for the movement of civilians. However, Moscow has been accused of violating its own ceasefire agreement over the last few days.

Three rounds of ceasefire negotiations have been held so far – the two sides, however, are yet to reach a breakthrough. While Russia’s Vladimir Putin calls it a “special operation”, Kyiv has lashed out at Moscow over “mass murder of civilians”. In the latest developments, the US has announced a ban on import of Russian oil with an aim to further isolate Moscow.

Russian forces on Wednesday closed in on Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv as both countries prepared for their first high-level talks since the invasion last month.

A Russian attack severely damaged a maternity hospital in the besieged port city of Mariupol, Ukraine said Wednesday, and citizens trying to escape shelling on the outskirts of Kyiv streamed toward the capital amid warnings from the West that Moscow’s invasion is about to take a more brutal and indiscriminate turn.