Ukraine Asks for Ceasefire as Talks with Russia Begin

Ukrainian authorities have called for an immediate ceasefire as talks are taking place with Russia at the Ukraine-Belarus border.

The delegation, including Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov and presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak, arrived on Monday morning, as pictured above. The Russian foreign ministry said at 11am (UK time) the talks had begun.

Hopes are not high for the talks – in his address on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he didn’t expect a breakthrough, but said the next 24 hours would be crucial.

Shells fell in the northern city of Chernihiv overnight, according to the Ukrainian State Emergency Service, while blasts were also reported in the capital Kyiv and the second city Kharkiv.

The Russian Rouble plunged 28 per cent in early trading on Monday – a new record low – after the West imposed ever tougher sanctions on Moscow.