Ukrainian Negotiator: Hard to say when next stage of direct peace talks will occur

Ukrainian Negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters on Tuesday that events in Mariupol have made the negotiation process with Russia "even more complicated" and said that it is hard to say when the next direct peace talks will be possible. Russia is "seriously betting" on the second stage of its "special operation", he continued, adding that Russia aims to strengthen its negotiation position through its offensive in eastern Ukraine.