A soldier walks the amid the destruction caused after shelling of a shopping center last March 21 in Kyiv, Ukraine, March 30, 2022. (RODRIGO ABD / AP)
KYIV/WASHINGTON/ROME/CAIRO – Russia is redeploying its troops from Kiev and Chernihiv directions, in the central and northern Ukraine, to Ukraine's eastern regions, Ukraine’s security chief said on Wednesday.
Some personnel, who were in Chernihiv and Kiev directions, are being redeployed. Some of them appear in the Kharkiv and Donetsk directions," the Ukrinform news agency quoted Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov was quoted as saying.
Russia's new offensive on Ukrainian forces is also possible in the eastern Lugansk area, he warned.
READ MORE: Russian military to reduce hostilities near Kyiv, Chernihiv
Earlier in the day, Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Olexandr Motuzyanyk confirmed to the media that Russia has been withdrawing some troops from Kiev and Chernihiv directions, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.
President Joe Biden told Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky that the US will provide Ukraine with $500 million in "direct budgetary aid”
"The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine notes a certain partial relocation of individual units from the Kiev direction, as well as from the Chernihiv direction.”
However, there was no mass withdrawal of Russian troops from those areas, he added.
Motuzyanyk suggested that Russian forces may renew their offensive against Kiev and Chernihiv after replenishing the units that suffered the biggest losses in the battles.
On Tuesday, Russia's Defense Ministry announced that Russia has decided to significantly reduce military activity in the Kiev and Chernihiv directions.
US to give Ukraine $500m
US President Joe Biden told his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, on Wednesday that Washington will provide Ukraine with $500 million in "direct budgetary aid," the White House said in a readout of the pair's telephone conversation.
The call lasted about an hour to end at 12:03 pm ET, according to a pool reporter covering the White House.
In this image from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks from Kyiv, Ukraine, March 30, 2022. (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE VIA AP)
"The leaders discussed how the United States is working around the clock to fulfill the main security assistance requests by Ukraine, the critical effects those weapons have had on the conflict, and continued efforts by the United States with allies and partners to identify additional capabilities to help the Ukrainian military defend its country," the readout said.
ALSO READ: Ukraine's Zelensky says signals from peace talks 'positive'
Following the call, Zelensky said on Twitter that he and Biden "shared assessment of the situation on the battlefield and at the negotiating table. Talked about specific defensive support, a new package of enhanced sanctions, macro-financial and humanitarian aid."
Italian PM urges ceasefire
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said in a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine should be established "as soon as possible," according to a statement from Draghi's office.
The conversation "centered on the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and the latest developments," said the statement.
Draghi "stressed the importance of establishing a ceasefire as soon and possible," and that Italy remained willing to "contribute to the peace process" if there were "clear signs" Russia would de-escalate the conflict, it said, adding the leaders agreed to remain in close contact.
Italy's statement said that Putin explained his country's plan to require Italy and other countries critical of Russia in the crisis to pay for Russian natural gas exports in rubles, the Russian currency. Traditionally, such payments are made in U.S. dollars or euros.
Egypt, Ukraine leaders discuss peace talks
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday received a phone call from his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, the second in one week, during which they discussed "the developments of the Ukrainian crisis," said the Egyptian presidency.
Zelensky briefed Sisi on the latest developments of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations in a bid to end the current conflict, said Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Rady in a statement.
The Egyptian president "emphasized the importance of addressing all means leading to calm and a peaceful solution to the conflict". He also stressed Egypt's keenness to make all efforts, whether at the bilateral, regional or international levels, to achieve a peaceful settlement to the crisis, according to the Egyptian presidency.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict started on Feb 24 when Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a "special military operation" against Ukraine. The two sides have recently been engaged in Turkey-sponsored peace negotiations, but no breakthrough has been reached yet.
