Kiev, UN call for extension of Black Sea grain export agreement

Ukraine warns that Russian forces have managed to take control of Pakhmut

Ukrainian soldiers fire a howitzer at Russian positions near Bakhmut. AFP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russian forces could take control of Pakhmut, saying it would "open the way" for Russian forces to other major cities in eastern Ukraine. This comes after NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned that the city of Bakhmut could fall "in the coming days."

In an interview with CNN, Zelensky said, "This is tactical for us, and we know that if Bakhmot falls into the hands of the Russians, it enables them to go further than Bakhmout. They can go to Kramatorsk, they can go to Sloviansk, and the road will be open for Russians after Bakhmot to other cities in Ukraine, in the direction of Donetsk," according to the Ukrainian national news agency "Ukrinform".

Zelensky noted that Ukraine's motives for preserving the city are "very different" from Russia's goals.

"We are aware of what Russia wants to achieve there. Russia needs to achieve some victory — even a small one — by destroying everything in Bakhmot and killing all the civilians there."

Zelensky stressed that it is necessary to "think about our people first, no one should be besieged - this is very important." "The Ukrainian army sees that we have to remain strong there in Bakhmout, despite the fact that Russia destroyed the whole city and everything there," Zelensky said.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned yesterday that the city of Bakhmut could fall "in the coming days" after months of fierce battles.

Stoltenberg said on the sidelines of a meeting of European defense ministers in Stockholm, "We cannot rule out the possibility of the fall of Bakhmaut in the coming days."

The meeting of EU defence ministers to prepare a plan to supply Ukraine with munitions, despite stockpiles under pressure, comes with a first phase worth one billion euros.

Kiev's Western backers have warned in recent weeks that the Ukrainian military, which fires thousands of munitions a day to repel the Russians, is facing a severe shortage of 155mm shells for its guns. Ministers meeting in Stockholm will work on a three-part plan.

"Our first priority is air defense systems, as well as ammunition, ammunition and more ammunition," the Kiev representative told reporters upon arrival.

Ukrainian President and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called yesterday for the extension of an agreement with Moscow that allows Kiev to export grain from Black Sea ports during the Russian war.

Zelenskiy said after talks with Guterres in Kiev that the Black Sea Pills Initiative was essential for the world. Guterres stressed the importance of the agreement for global food security and food prices.

"I want to stress the great importance of extending the Black Sea Grain Initiative on March 18, and working to create conditions to maximize the benefit possible of the export infrastructure through the Black Sea, in line with the objectives of the initiative," Guterres told reporters.

Zelenskiy said he agreed with Guterres that the extension of the agreement on March 18 was "very necessary for the world."

On the other hand, the Kremlin rejected a US newspaper report that a "pro-Ukrainian group" blew up the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines last year, considering them "distractions", while Kiev officially denied being involved in the sabotage.

The New York Times wrote that data collected by the U.S. intelligence community indicated that the perpetrators of the sabotage of the gas pipelines were "opponents of Russian President Vladimir Putin."

The New York Times reported that a "pro-Ukrainian group" was behind the sabotage.

But Kiev officially denied the information.

Mikhailo-Podollyak, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, wrote on Twitter, "I like to collect funny conspiracy theories about the Ukrainian government, but I must say that Ukraine has nothing to do with the Baltic Sea incident, and does not have any information about any subversive pro-Ukrainian groups."