Russia-Ukraine war highlights: Plans to 'radically' reduce military activity near Kyiv, Chernihiv, says Russia

India remains deeply concerned at the ongoing situation, which continues to deteriorate since the beginning of the hostilities. We reiterate our call for unimpeded humanitarian access to areas of armed conflict in Ukraine: India's Permanent Rep to UN, TS Tirumurti at UNSC meeting

A series of explosions were heard on Tuesday night outside the Russian city of Belgorod, close to the border with Ukraine, the local governor said, adding there were no casualties.

Vyacheslav Gladkov said in an online post that the blasts occurred near the village of Krasny Oktyabr, about 30 km (19 miles) southwest of Belgorod. He did not give a reason for the blasts and promised an update later.

The conditions for carrying out a humanitarian operation sought by France to help citizens in the besieged Ukrainian port of Mariupol are not met "at this stage," President Emmanuel Macron's office said after the French leader spoke by telephone with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Macron outlined the mission sought alongside Turkey and Greece to Putin, who responded that "he was going to think about it" before responding, an Elysee Palace official said.

US military commander in Europe Tod Wolters on Tuesday claimed that Russia has repeatedly fired hypersonic missiles at Ukrainian military targets. "Most of those strikes have been designated at specific military targets," Wolters said. On March 19, Russia announced that it used hypersonic Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles to destroy a large weapons depot in Ukraine's western Ivano-Frankivsk region. Read More

Russian lead negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said on Tuesday that Kyiv's proposals to Moscow at talks in Istanbul included one that Russia would not oppose Ukraine joining the European Union. He made the comment in footage broadcast on state television after talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul.

Ruble surges 10% on Ukraine-Russia talks progressed on Tuesday.

Ukraine negotiator says Putin, Zelensky meeting possible after Istanbul talks, news agency AFP has reported.

Plans to 'radically' reduce military activity near Kyiv, Chernihiv, says Russia after 'meaningful' talks with Ukraine, reports AFP

A ceasefire to end the humanitarian crisis and security guarantees to protect Ukraine from Russia were among the issues discussed at peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv delegations in Turkey on Tuesday, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy's political advisor said. Read More

Russia announced on Tuesday the expulsion of 10 diplomats from the three Baltic states in a tit-for-tat response, including three diplomats each from Estonia and Latvia, and four from Lithuania.

Negotiators from Kyiv and Moscow are holding fresh talks in Turkey on Tuesday, in a bid to clinch a cease-fire and at least temporarily halt the 34-day war in Ukraine.

Heading into the talks, both sides differed vastly on disputed positions including the state of territories occupied by Russian troops and security guarantees.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the delegations in Istanbul that concrete results were expected. “An immediate cease-fire and peace is in everyone’s interest,” he said.

Russia’s defense minister says that “liberating" the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine is the main goal of Moscow’s military operation, underlining a possible shift in strategy announced last week by another Russian military official.

Ukrainian forces are continuing counter attacks to the northwest of Kyiv, and Russia has kept up heavy shelling of Mariupol, British military intelligence said.

Kremlin says Abramovich is not an official member of Russian delegation at talks with Ukraine but he is present.

Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky told Russian state television on Tuesday that he hoped there would be a statement in several hours following talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul.

Ukrainian presidential adviser says main issue for Ukraine at talks is security guarantees, second is humanitarian issues.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded the "demilitarisation" and "denazification" of Ukraine, that it become a neutral country and that Kyiv recognize the breakaway Donbas region and Russian-annexed Crimea peninsula as no longer part of Ukraine.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says the talks will focus on easing the humanitarian situation. He says there is little room for agreement on Putin's territorial demands, saying "We do not trade people, land and sovereignty."

Ukraine Prosecutor General's Office has informed that Russia's war on Ukraine has killed at least 144 children, wounded more than 220 so far, reported Ukrainian media ‘The Kyiv Independent’.

As Russia, Ukraine begin talks in Istanbul, governor says Russian strike has hit regional administrative building in Mykolaiv, reported AFP. 

Ukrainian authorities have eliminated five Russian bot farms since start of invasion, reported Ukrainian media ‘The Kyiv Independent’.

Russian Oligarch Abramovich who has been sanctioned by West is attending Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul, reports Reuters.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Russian and Ukrainian delegations to "put an end to this tragedy" as he hosted talks in Istanbul on Tuesday.

Ukraine says restarting evacuations after pause over Russian 'provocations', reports AFP.

UK military intelligence said that elsewhere, the Russian forces are maintaining blocking positions while attempting to reorganise and reset their forces.