NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said Russia is coming under heavy pressure in Ukraine, after Moscow ordered the withdrawal of its troops from the southern city of Kherson
Speaking after meeting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Mr Stoltenberg said NATO would be watching in the coming days to see if the Russians did indeed pull back from the west bank of the Dnipro River.
Ukraine's army chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said Kyiv could not yet confirm whether Russia was indeed pulling out, but that Ukrainian troops had advanced 7km in the past 24 hours and recaptured 12 settlements. Ukrainian officials have so far mostly been wary in public, warning that Russians may still be planning to sow destruction on their way out.
Mr Zelensky himself mentioned Kherson just once in his daily overnight television address. Ukrainian forces were strengthening their positions"step by step" in the south, he said."The enemy will make no gifts to us." Russian state media and pro-Kremlin war hawks defended it as a necessary move while acknowledging a heavy blow.
US President Joe Biden said the withdrawal showed there were"some real problems with the Russian military." It said civilians were moved from occupied Ukraine further into Russian-controlled areas or into Russia, with children separated from their families in violation of international humanitarian law.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Russia-Ukraine war: Kyiv wary of Moscow’s retreat from KhersonNo signs that Russia is leaving area without a fight, says Zelenskiy adviser
Read more »
Ukraine cautious as Russia orders troops out of KhersonZelenskyy has suggested that rather than experiencing a major setback, Russia could be strategically feigning.
Read more »
Irish airlines on schedule to turn a profitFragile recovery dependent on no further fallout from Ukraine war or revival of lockdowns, says Ryanair
Read more »
NI Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris to announce whether Stormont election deadline to be extendedThere is a legal responsibility on the UK Government to hold a poll by 19 January.
Read more »
NI Secretary to outline next steps for Stormont todayThere has been speculation that Chris Heaton-Harris might change the law to allow him to extend the timeframe for a new election
Read more »
NI Secretary to announce deferral of Assembly electionThe law is to be changed to defer an Assembly election in Northern Ireland, with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris-Heaton Harris expected to make the announcement in Westminster around midday.
Read more »