Tanks, armoured vehicles and thousands of soldiers are set to march on the Ukrainian capital.
A Russian army convoy stretching for approximately 40 miles (67 kilometres) is making its way to Kyiv in an attempt to take the Ukrainian capital following days of fighting.
Satellite images from Maxar Technologies confirmed the scale of the convoy on Tuesday morning (1 March).
Despite Russia’s best efforts, several key cities in Ukraine have yet to be taken, including the capital Kyiv.
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, has been bombarded over the past few days, with civilian casualties confirmed.
The size of the convoy, however, suggests that Russian forces may be set to take the capital if they push forward.
Peace talks between the two countries began in a secret location in Belarus on Monday (28 February).
Despite no resolution being reached, both parties have agreed to meet a second time to further discuss potential solutions.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has detailed what he deems “legitimate security interests” that must be recognised and solved if his country is to consider backing down over the ongoing invasion.
Following a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian officials on the Belarusian border on Monday afternoon, Putin reportedly held a 90-minute phone call with French president Emmanuel Macron.
Putin is unlikely to “back down” in the immediate future after outlining an effective list of demands to Macron, including:
– Recognition of Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea.
– The demilitarisation and “de-nazification” of the Ukrainian state.
– Ensuring its neutral status.
A second meeting is scheduled to be held at the Polish-Belarusian border.
More than 500,000 refugees have fled Ukraine since the start of the conflict according to the UN Refugee Agency.
At home, Simon Coveney has said that it would “not be wise” to expel Yury Anatoliyevich Filatov, the Russian ambassador to Ireland.
“Even if you fundamentally disagree with someone, as we do with Russia right now, and you’re trying to hold them to account as we are trying right now, you still need to keep lines of communication open,” the Minister for Foreign Affairs said.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
