Tensions in Sievierodonetsk, Russia raised the conditions for the summit with Ukraine

“Our forces once again control the outskirts of Sievierodonetsk. However, fighting is still going on. Our forces are defending Sievierodonetsk. It cannot be said that Russia has complete control of the city.” The governor of Luhansk province Serhiy Gaidai confirmed to the radio station BBC.

The Russian army in recent weeks has concentrated its troops and firepower in Sievierodonetsk. According to Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, Russian forces are 10 times better equipped than Ukrainian troops in some areas of Sievierodonetsk.

Many international news agencies such as Reuters It is not possible to verify the situation in Sieverodonetsk at this time.

Photo of a Ukrainian tank in the Donetsk region – Ukraine on June 8. Photo: Reuters

The government established by Russia in part of the territory of the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, has planned to hold a referendum later this year on the annexation of Russia, Russian news agencies reported. Officials in Kherson province have also announced similar plans.

Ukraine and its Western allies consider any referendum in the territories over which Ukraine has been seized as illegal.

Meanwhile, the news agency TASS On June 8, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the conditions for holding the Russia-Ukraine summit.

Ukrainian soldiers at a site hit by shelling near the town of Soledar, Donetsk – Ukraine on June 8. Photo: Reuters

According to Lavrov, the face-to-face meeting between President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelensky will only take place when all negotiations are restored.

Confirming that the resumption of dialogue depends on Ukraine’s viewpoint, Minister Lavrov emphasized that President Zelensky is not serious about his intention to meet President Putin, because the Ukrainian leader only wants to meet President Putin for the sake of the meeting. met and he “changed his mind every day”.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Photo: Reuters