Intense fighting continues for control of Bakhmout, a city in eastern Ukraine. Russians and Ukrainians are engaged in a “battle of attrition” aimed at inflicting as many losses as possible on the enemy. The defense of this city is “key” to maintaining “the stability of the front” in eastern Ukraine, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces said on Tuesday.
Following a meeting between Mr. Zelensky and the main leaders of his army, the Ukrainian presidency assured in a press release that “all members of the general staff” had expressed “a common position concerning the continuation of holding and defending the city of Bakhmout”.
In addition, white phosphorus incendiary ammunition was fired by the Russians on Tuesday at an uninhabited area in Chassiv Iar, near Bakhmout, AFP journalists noted.
On the diplomatic level, discussions around the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports continue. According to the official Russian news agency TASS, this agreement should be extended automatically following its expiry on March 18 if neither party objects. Russia nevertheless announced on Monday its desire to renew this agreement for 60 days, and not 120 as was the case until now. A proposal that kyiv describes as “contradictory” compared to the initial agreement.
