Russia Broadens Ukraine Advance From 'All Directions' After Short Halt As Negotiation Attempt Fails

"Since the Ukrainian side essentially refused to negotiate, the advance of the main Russian forces resumed this afternoon in accordance with the operational plan," said Dmitry Peskov.

A man looks at damage from a residential apartment building that was hit by a missile on February 26, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine | Getty

New Delhi: Russian President Vladmir Putin had ordered suspension of military advancement in Ukraine on Friday (local time) but resumed the operation on Saturday after Ukrainian leadership refused to talk, said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

"Yesterday afternoon, in connection with the expected negotiations with the Ukrainian leadership, the Russian president and supreme commander ordered the suspension of the advance of the main forces," Peskov said on Friday, reports Russian news agency Sputnik. 

"Since the Ukrainian side essentially refused to negotiate, the advance of the main Russian forces resumed this afternoon in accordance with the operational plan," he added. 

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a video message suggested Putin that they both sit down at the negotiation table amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine."I would like to address the president of Russia once again ... let us sit down at the negotiation table to stop people dying," Zelensky had said. 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had also said that Moscow was ready for negotiations with Kyiv if they “lay down their arms.”

"We are ready for negotiations. At any moment, as soon as the armed forces of Ukraine respond to the call of our president (Vladimir Putin), stop resisting and lay down their arms. No one is going to attack them, no one is going to oppress them, let them return to their families," Lavrov said.

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On Friday, Zelensky discussed sanctions, defence assistance and an anti-war coalition with US President Joe Biden. The conversation came after Zelensky delivered a speech where he said that Ukraine was “alone is defending our country.”