Peace talks set to begin between Ukraine & Russia, Zelenskyy says – despite Putin’s chilling nuclear threat

PEACE talks are due to be held between Ukraine and Russia, Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed today – despite Vladimir Putin putting his nuclear forces on high alert. Diplomats from Kyiv and Moscow are set to meet “without preconditions” near the Prypyat River on the Belarusian border as Putin’s invasion rumbles on for the fourth day. APAn military truck burns after being abandoned following fighting in Kharkiv, Ukraine[/caption] ReutersUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has agreed to peace talks[/caption] EPAVladimir Putin has put his nuclear forces on high alert[/caption] President Zelenskyy’s office said Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko “has taken responsibility for ensuring that all planes, helicopters and missiles stationed on Belarusian territory remain on the ground during the Ukrainian delegation’s travel, talks and return.” Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said the talks were called following a conversation between Zelenskyy and Lukashenko after it was feared Belarus was preparing its troops to join Moscow’s invasion. In a televised address, he said: “Today, we were as close as ever to the entry of Belarus armed forces into the war. This is why Presiden Zelensky and President Lukashenko spoke today. “We have to defend our northern flank and we have to minimise the threats coming from there. “So we agreed to send a delegation to the location on the Ukranian-Belarus border and we go to there to listen to what Russia has to say.” He said diplomats will meet “without preliminary agreement” on what the outcome of the talks can be. Most read in The Sun MAD VLAD Putin's chilling threat with nukes on ALERT after warning West of 'consequences' 'DIFFICULT MOMENT' Sky Sports' Hayley McQueen heard 'crying' on air leaving fans concerned ALL OUT WAR Ukrainian troops destroy Russian tanks killing top general in failed siege where's Stacey? Loose Women reveals why Stacey Solomon is missing from ITV group photo 'UNFINISHED BUSINESS' Maisie Smith will RETURN to EastEnders – just 3 months after leaving barking mad Saturday Night Takeaway viewers have same complaint about Ring My Bell segment “We are going there to say what we think of this war and Russia’s actions,” Kuleba added. “I think the fact Russia wants to talk without any pre-conditions or any ultimatums, without any demands addressed to Ukraine, is already a victory for Ukraine.” Read our Russia – Ukraine live blog for the very latest updates Zelenskyy had earlier refused to negotiate in Belarus, but according to Kuleba, Belarus’s president told him there would be “no such move” as long as the planned talks go ahead. It comes after Putin put his nuclear forces on high alert just after warning the West “may face the greatest consequences in history”. The Russian tyrant is said to be “furious” he’s not been able to subdue Ukraine and lashed out at NATO for its “unfriendly measures” he says forced him into the chilling nuclear gamble The move means Putin has ordered the world’s largest stockpile of nuclear warheads prepared for launched readiness. That raises the terrifying possibility the crisis and a miscalculation could spill over into nuclear war. In an address on state TV, Putin claimed aggressive statements by NATO leaders and economic sanctions against Moscow have forced his hand. He said “not only do Western countries take unfriendly measures” such as “illegal sanctions” but “top officials of leading NATO countries allow themselves to make aggressive statements with regards to our country”. Putin said he has now ordered his military command to put Russia’s deterrence forces – a reference to units which include nuclear arms – on high alert. “I order the defence minister and the chief of the general staff of the Russian armed forces to put the deterrence forces of the Russian army into a special mode of combat service,” Putin said. Latest in Ukraine… Ukrainian troops have destroyed a convoy of Russian special forces made up of Chechen fightersFierce fighting has been taking place in Kharkiv where Ukrainian commanders say they are in “full control”A blitz from Russian forces to hold a crucial road junction five miles west of Kyiv city centre was beaten offSoldiers thought to have been killed after telling Russians to “go f**k yourselves” may still be aliveMissiles rained down on the country in the fourth night of warWestern allies agreed to boot Russian banks out of the Swift systemRoman Abramovich gave up control of Chelsea football clubFreedom fighters from around the world were invited to join Ukraine’s army today and take on Putin’s troops.A former Miss Ukraine “has taken up arms” to fight against the Russian invasion Ahead of his invasion of Ukraine, Putin chillingly warned Russia is “today one of the most powerful nuclear powers”. “To anyone who would consider interfering from outside – if you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history,” he said. In response, the US rejected Putin’s claims and its Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, called his move “unacceptable”. “It means that President Putin is continuing to escalate this war in a manner that is totally unacceptable and we have to continue to stem his actions in the strongest possible way,” she said. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Putin’s response was familiar and “we’ve seen him do this time and time again”. “At no point has Russia been under threat from Nato, has Russia been under threat from Ukraine,” she said. “This is all a pattern from President Putin and we’re going to stand up to it.” NATO Secretary General condemned what he said was Putin’s “dangerous rhetoric” adding his behaviour was “irresponsible”. A top EU official has said the bloc will close its airspace to Russian airlines, fund arms supplies to Ukraine and ban pro-Kremlin media. The move has left the world scrambling to decipher what Putin’s move signifies. Both Russia and the United States typically have land and submarine-based nuclear forces on alert and prepared for combat at all times. But nuclear capable bombers and other aircraft are not. Russia’s nuclear doctrine was updated in 2020 allows for first-strike attacks if it has “reliable information” about the launch of ballistic missiles targeting its territory. SWNSA burning Russian tank after it was hit by Ukrainian forces[/caption] Pavel Podvig, a Geneva-based analyst and head of the Russian Nuclear Forces project, told The Guardian it was “hard to tell” what the order meant but could be “preliminary command.” While it “makes a retaliatory strike possible but it “does not mean preparation for a first strike”. He added that doesn’t appear to include bombers being loaded with weapons and taking off. VLAD’S GAMBLE The former chief of the Royal Navy, Lord West told The Sun one “miscalculation” could spark a war in Europe – which could spiral into a world war involving the use of nuclear weapons. The battle for Ukraine is continuing to rage but Russian forces faltering, worrying new evidence has emerged about how much blood Putin is willing to shed. Intelligence chiefs have said he is willing for 50,000 of his troops to be sacrificed in the war, the Mirror reports. The grim prediction comes as the Russian Ministry of Health is preparing for a massive medical emergency. Officials are looking for doctors with a number of specialisms from across Russia to come forward, according to ITN. Medical organisations should be be ready “to be promptly involved in activities aimed at saving lives and preserving the health of people in Russia”, the ministry has urged. On more optimistic note, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has agreed to peace talks with Russia. Delegations from the two countries will meet on the border with Belarus, he said. The sky above Kyiv glowed orange as loud bangs were heard GettySmoke rises over Kyiv on Sunday morning[/caption] On the fourth day of the invasion, hero Ukranian troops and civilians scramble to beat off the Russian invaders. It comes after a day of fighting during which Russian troops failed to capture the capital. Shells rained down across Ukraine following the invasion- as the battle for the capital, Kyiv, stretched into a fourth day. The city awoke to more air raid sirens after missile attacks that turned the sky orange during what Zelenskyy said was a “brutal” night. And Ukrainian forces are battling the Russian invaders on the streets of Kharkiv and remain in “full control”, local commanders say. The Ukrainian government says it has killed 3500 Russian soldiers have been killed while there have been 240 civilian deaths on its side. As his forces encounter stiff resistance from Ukrainians defending their homeland, the Kremlin strongman must be “furious” about the lack of progress, a former Nato defence chief has said. “Putin is furious, he thought that the whole war would be easy and everything would be done in 1-4 days,” tweeted Riho Terras, who is also the former commander of the Estonian armed forces. He said Ukrainian intelligence believes the Russians don’t have a “tactical plan” to deal with an enemy that is fighting back. “The Russians are in shock of the fierce resistance they have encountered,” Terras said. Earlier terrified civilians were urged to take cover in subways and basements as darkness fell on Saturday night. Residents were warned the burning depot was emitting smoke and poisonous fumes and were told to keep their windows shut and to take cover. Russian missiles also hit a nuclear waste disposal site on the outskirts of Kyiv, the Ukrainian State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine has confirmed. There were widespread fears that the Russian army would step up its efforts to seize Kyiv this weekend, targeting commercial businesses in a bid to destroy Ukrainians’ morale. A city-wide curfew is being enforced in the capital while authorities hunt down “sabotage and reconnaissance groups,” Kyiv’s mayor said. EPAA Ukrainian soldier stands in the charred remains of a battlefield[/caption] AFPUkrainian soldiers inspecting a burnt out Russian military vehicle in Kharkiv[/caption]