From the Liveblog of
Monday, February 28, 2022
Zelensky says Russians have stepped up artillery attacks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russian troops have intensified shelling of Ukraine, calling it an effort to force his government into making concessions during talks held Monday.
In a video address late Monday, Zelenskyy says that “the talks were taking place against the backdrop of bombing and shelling of our territory, our cities. Synchronizing of the shelling with the negotiating process was obvious. I believe Russia is trying to put pressure [on Ukraine] with this simple method.”
The president gave no details about the hours-long talks themselves. But he says Ukraine is not prepared to make concessions “when one side is hitting each other with rocket artillery.”
Zelenskyy says that Kyiv, the capital, remains “a key goal” for the Russians and that Russian forces have also shelled the city of Kharkiv with rocket artillery.
Verified videos show heavy shelling and damage to Ukraine’s second city, Kharkiv.
We verified videos posted to Telegram on Monday that show heavy rocket attacks taking place in the northeast of Kharkiv, Ukraine. @heytherehaley pic.twitter.com/eU6Gd34cpB
— Ainara Tiefenthäler (@tiefenthaeler) February 28, 2022
Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, accuses Russia of using a thermobaric weapon, which is prohibited by international law.
The Times of Israel Community.