BEIJING, May 23: The following are the latest developments in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine:
The Ukrainian parliament on Sunday approved a bill submitted by President Volodymyr Zelensky to extend the martial law in the country for another 90 days from May 25, lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak said.
The parliament has also approved the law on the prolongation of general mobilization in the country till Aug. 23.
Ukraine imposed martial law on Feb. 24 in the wake of the conflict with Russia. The martial law has been extended for 30 days twice.
The general mobilization of the population was introduced in Ukraine on Feb. 24 for three months.
- - - -
Pausing peace talks between Russia and Ukraine is an initiative of the Ukrainian side, Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky said on the Belarusian ONT TV channel on Sunday.
One month ago, Russian negotiators sent a draft for further negotiations with positions that had been previously agreed upon, Medinsky said. After that, Ukraine paused the negotiation process, and the draft has not yet been confirmed.
- - - -
Mykhailo Podolyak, a member of the Ukrainian delegation to the peace talks with Russia, said that Kiev will not agree on any deal that includes territorial concessions to Russia, the government-run Ukrinform news agency reported Sunday.
"The war will not stop (after any concessions). It will just be put on pause for some time," Podolyak said in an interview with Reuters.
He emphasized that Ukraine will not agree on a ceasefire with Russia without the withdrawal of the Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.