Feb 28, 2022: Talks between Ukraine and Russia are due to begin on Monday morning near the Belarus border, according to reports by TASS news agency.

Ukrainian and Russian officials are due to meet for talks at a venue on the Belarus border with Ukraine, Zelenskyy’s office said earlier.

Ahead of the talks, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tells British Prime Minister Boris Johnson the next 24 hours are “crucial”.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military said Sunday was a “difficult time” for its troops and that Russian forces “continue shelling in almost all directions” and Ukraine’s health ministry says 352 civilians, including 14 children, have been killed since the beginning of Russia’s invasion.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin had put Russia’s nuclear forces on high alert and Kharkiv vity governor said Ukrainian troops have full control of the city after street fighting with Russian forces.

Joining the EU and the West, Singapore has announced it intends to impose “appropriate sanctions and restrictions” on Russia, foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan has told parliament, the Straits Times newspaper reported. Balakrishan said Singapore, a major financial and shipping hub, would impose export controls on items that could be used as weapons to harm or subjugate people in Ukraine, the report said.

Along with Singapore, South Korea has decided to tighten export controls against Russia by banning exports of strategic items, and join Western countries’ moves to block some Russian banks from the SWIFT international payments system, Seoul’s foreign ministry announced.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno says Japan was asked to join in measures blocking Russia from SWIFT by Western nations and was working with them to make the measures effective.

Australia on the other hand said it will provide lethal military equipment to Ukraine to help it resist the Russian invasion but gave no details on what material it may be sending.

Meanwhile, Russia’s biggest ally in the region, Belarus has also started preparing to send soldiers into Ukraine to support Russia’s invasion in a deployment that could begin “within hours”, the Kyiv Independent reported, quoting unnamed sources. A U.S administration official speaking on condition of anonymity, also corroborated the report.

As the result of the invasion that began last week, the Russian rouble has plummeted to a record low against the dollar amid an accelerating Western-led campaign to punish Moscow as investors flocked to safe-haven currencies, including the dollar and yen, amid the growing international isolation of Russia.

Amid the mounting tension, U.S President Joe Biden will host a call with allies and partners on Monday morning at 16:15 GMT to discuss the latest developments in Russia’s attack on Ukraine and to coordinate a united response, according to the White House.

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