President Volodymyr Zelensky visits soldiers at front-line positions near Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast on March 22, 2023. (Photo: President's Office)
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President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Ukrainian soldiers at front-line positions near Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast on March 22, according to the President's Office.
During his visit, Zelensky received updates regarding the situation on the front line.
Additionally, Zelensky presented awards to soldiers for their military service and held a moment of silence for those killed in action.
"I am honored to be here today, in the east of our country, in Donbas, to award our heroes, to thank you, and to shake hands. Thank you for protecting the state, its sovereignty, and the east of Ukraine," Zelensky said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky meets Ukrainian soldiers during his visit to Ukraine's military positions in the Bakhmut area on March 22, 2023. (President's Office)
President Volodymyr Zelensky meets Ukrainian soldiers during his visit to Ukraine's military positions in the Bakhmut area on March 22, 2023. (President's Office)
President Volodymyr Zelensky meets Ukrainian soldiers during his visit to Ukraine's military positions in the Bakhmut area on March 22, 2023. (President's Office)
President Volodymyr Zelensky meets Ukrainian soldiers during his visit to Ukraine's military positions in the Bakhmut area on March 22, 2023. (President's Office)
Ukrainian soldiers meet President Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit to Ukraine's military positions in the Bakhmut area on March 22, 2023. (President's Office)
President Volodymyr Zelensky meets Ukrainian soldiers during his visit to Ukraine's military positions in the Bakhmut area on March 22, 2023. (President's Office)
President Volodymyr Zelensky visits a hospital where injured Ukrainian soldiers are treated during his trip to the east of Ukraine on March 22, 2023. (President's Office)
President Volodymyr Zelensky presents an award to an injured Ukrainian solider at a hospital during his trip to the east of Ukraine on March 22, 2023. (President's Office)
Injured Ukrainian soldiers being treated at a hospital during President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit as part of his trip to the east of Ukraine on March 22, 2023. (President's Office)
President Volodymyr Zelensky presents an award to a Ukrainian solider at a hospital during his trip to the east of Ukraine on March 22, 2023. (President's Office)
The battle of Bakhmut has been raging in Donetsk Oblast for the past eight months, with heavy losses suffered on both sides. However, Ukrainian forces continue to hold the city.
Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar said on March 20 that the Ukrainian military has been successful "in certain areas" and is "destroying Russia's most professional units," namely the state-backed Wagner Group.
On April 1, the Kremlin showed footage of Russian President Vladimir Putin shaking hands with Pro-Russian Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, saying he was "very happy" to see him in the Russian capital.
"The list of violations cited by [Defense Minister] Andrei Belousov at the Security Council meeting, we handed over to U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
"So, in purpose to cut this trend, in purpose to stop this scenario, we have to show and introduce the hard measures sooner than later," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said.
Despite the slowdown, Russian forces continue offensive operations, particularly in Donetsk Oblast's Pokrovsk sector, where fighting intensified at the end of March.
The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell sat down with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys during his visit to Kyiv on April 1 to discuss the future of Europe during U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, whether European sanctions remain an effective instrument to stop Russia’s war against Ukraine, and Lithuania's contribution to the "coalition of the willing."
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the funds would support Ukraine's macroeconomic stability, adding that total financial assistance under the Ukraine Facility has now reached 19.6 billion euros ($21.1 billion).
Donald Trump previously threatened to impose additional tariffs against Russia, threatening a "25% tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil."
Russia takes U.S. proposals for a ceasefire in Ukraine "seriously" but cannot accept them "as they are now," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with Russian outlet International Affairs Journal published on April 1.
The cybercriminals used malware developed considering the specifics of the Ukrainian Railways' infrastructure, a Ukrainian cybersecurity official said.
The state-owned Russian railway operator described the incident as a "massive DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attack," saying that efforts to restore operations are underway.
"Ukraine was ready to sign the previously developed framework agreement. Now we have received a proposal for development and a new text of the agreement," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on April 1.
"There was an idea from Russia about a temporary administration that was not appreciated by the president," State Department Spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters during a press briefing on March 31. "Ukraine is... a constitutional democracy. Governance in Ukraine is determined by its constitution and the Ukrainian people."
"In Brussels, Secretary Rubio will attend the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting to discuss security priorities for the Alliance, including increased Allied defense investment and securing lasting peace in Ukraine," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.
The soldiers and their tracked vehicle disappeared on March 25 during an exercise at a training ground near the Lithuanian city of Pabrade, located about 10 kilometers (six miles) from the border with Belarus. Pabrade hosts Camp Herkus, a U.S. military facility.
The Docville Film Festival in Leuven canceled the screening of the controversial "Russians at War" documentary after an intervention of the Ukrainian Embassy, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry reported on March 31.
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