Zelensky goes to the front line, Russian negotiator speaks out

On March 22, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited frontline soldiers in Donetsk, amid upcoming separate talks on a ceasefire between the US, Russia and Ukraine.

Mr. Zelensky (center) visited soldiers in Donetsk on March 22.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 22 posted a video showing him visiting soldiers at the administrative border of Donetsk province in the east, as the country's forces deal with a difficult situation on the front line.

"I thank all our defenders. Honoring every fallen hero," he wrote on social media, with footage showing him meeting soldiers and visiting a makeshift memorial there.

“I thank all those who helped Ukraine and supported us,” he wrote.

According to Reuters, Mr. Zelensky visited the Donetsk region on March 22 and met with commanders of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) units near the strategic city of Pokrovsk.

“I visited the headquarters of the Pokrovsk Operational Group and met with the commanders of the Drone Line, which brings together the best unmanned systems units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” he said.

"I received reports on the defense of the Pokrovsk direction, the operational situation and the progress of the tasks. I honored the fighters with state awards," according to the President of Ukraine.

Kyiv and many other places were attacked.

Regarding the war, the Ukrainian Air Force said on March 22 that its air defense forces had destroyed 100 of the 179 Russian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that attacked overnight. In addition, 63 UAVs were lost. Damage was recorded in the provinces of Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Sumy and Kyiv.

According to Reuters, citing Governor Ivan Fedorov in Zaporizhzhia, the Russian raid killed a family of three on March 21 in the city of Zaporizhzhia.

He said the city was attacked more than 10 times, killing a 14-year-old girl and her parents, and injuring 12 people.

Prosecutors in Sumy province said Russian forces dropped at least six guided bombs on the village of Krasnopillia, killing two people and wounding at least two.

In Donetsk Oblast, two people were killed and nine injured in Russian attacks on March 21, according to Oblast Governor Vadym Filashkin.

According to Ukrainska Pravda , citing information from the Kyiv Provincial Military Department, debris from Russian UAVs shot down by Ukrainian air defense forces was found in three districts of Kyiv on the evening of March 21.

A fire broke out in grassland and forest areas in Vyshhorod district due to falling debris. No casualties or damage to critical infrastructure were reported.

Russia did not immediately comment on the information. Russia and Ukraine have always denied accusations of targeting civilians in the conflict.

In recent days, both sides have accused each other of sabotaging peace efforts promoted by US President Donald Trump, which included a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine that was limited to not attacking energy and other infrastructure.

Russia's expectations in dialogue

AFP news agency on March 22 quoted a Russian negotiator as saying that the country hopes to make progress during dialogue in Saudi Arabia on March 24, when US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg will have separate meetings with Russian and Ukrainian officials in the city of Jeddah.

Mr Kellogg is expected to attempt “shuttle diplomacy” between the meeting rooms here. “We hope to make at least some progress,” said Russian Senator Grigory Karasin, who will lead the Russian delegation.

Speaking to Zvezda Radio, he did not elaborate on specific developments, but said that he and Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Advisor Sergey Beseda would be ready to debate but also demonstrate a constructive spirit in dialogue.

Earlier, a senior Ukrainian official said Kyiv hoped to reach an agreement on "at least" a partial ceasefire involving attacks on energy, infrastructure and at sea.

Mr. Karasin said he left for Saudi Arabia on March 22 and would return home on March 25.

US officials comment on Ukraine election

According to The Kyiv Independent on March 22, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said that Ukrainian leaders have agreed to hold presidential elections.

The information was given when he answered a question from American journalist Tucker Carlson about information from Russia that President Zelensky "was not elected" and so "cannot sign any treaties".

“Do you think there will be elections in Ukraine?” Mr. Carlson asked. “Yes. There will be. They agreed to that. There will be elections in Ukraine,” Mr. Witkoff replied, without elaborating.

On February 18, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin was ready to negotiate with Mr. Zelensky but stressed that "legal aspects related to his legitimacy" must be considered.

Ukraine has not held elections during its conflict with Russia because this is prohibited under martial law introduced on 24 February 2022.

Mr Witkoff also insisted he was absolutely certain that Russia would not attack Europe, dismissing concerns about a possible Russian advance across the continent as unfounded.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chien-su-ukraine-ngay-1123-ong-zelensky-ra-tien-tuyen-nha-dam-phan-nga-len-tieng-185250322230648662.htm