Russia-Ukraine War: Amid accusations of 'war crimes' by Russian forces, second round of Ukraine-Russia talks begin

Moscow/Kiev, March 3

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office has said the second round of talks with the Russians has begun over the war in Ukraine.

Earlier, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Western politicians of considering nuclear war, one week after Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine.

“I would like to point out that it’s in the heads of Western politicians that the idea of a nuclear war is spinning constantly, and not in the heads of Russians,” Lavrov said in an interview with Russian and foreign media.

The statement comes at a time when Russian forces continued to target Ukraine. 

At least four explosions were reported in Kiev on Thursday as Russia continued its assault on Ukraine for the eighth day.

Air raid sirens were heard in the capital city following the explosions — two reportedly went off in the city centre, and the two others near a metro station, the BBC reported.

Besides Kiev, intense shelling was also reported in Kharkiv, the second largest city in Ukraine.

Also on Thursday morning, Mayor Igor Kolykhaev of Kherson, a key port city in southern Ukraine, claimed that Russian troops have seized control, making it the first major city to be taken by Moscow since it began its invasion on February 24.

with agencies