Fears grow over anticipated Russian assault in Ukraine’s east

Ukraine, April 11 Reuters-Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday thousands of Russian troops were massing for a new offensive in the east, and Russia said it would not halt its military operation in Ukraine for any further peace talks.  

Addressing South Korea’s parliament, Zelenskiy said Russia was concentrating tens of thousands of soldiers for the next offensive and requested Seoul for any military aid it could provide.  

Russian forces were also pushing to establish control over the southern port city of Mariupol, the lynchpin between Russian-held areas to the west and east and already devastated by weeks of siege and bombardment.  

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the Kremlin would not halt its operation for any new round of peace talks, accusing Kyiv of failing to reciprocate in previous sessions.  

“There would be no pause (in military action) so long as a final agreement is not reached,” Lavrov said.