Since the beginning of the Russian operation in Ukraine, hostilities have been taking place in the country, and the West has been increasing sanctions pressure on Moscow. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that Russia does not intend to occupy Ukraine and that troops will leave the country once the operation ends.

On Monday, during talks in Belarus, Russian and Ukrainian delegations agreed to hold a new round of negotiations on the Belarusian-Polish border in the next few days, after they “found several points on which you can forecast a common position”.

On 24 February, Russia launched a special operation in Ukraine responding to calls for help from the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics in countering aggression by Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defence Ministry said the special operation is only targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure and the civilian population is not in danger.