NATO Secretary General comments on Bakhmut, British intelligence says Russia is having trouble in Eastern Ukraine

Speaking on the sidelines of a summit with defense ministers of European Union (EU) member states in Stockholm, Sweden, Mr. Stoltenberg said what the West has witnessed recently in Bakhmut is that Russia "continues to mobilize more soldiers and resources here."

Ukrainian artillery in action near the city of Bakhmut. Photo: AP

Mr Stoltenberg insisted that Kiev's loss of control of Bakhmut did not mean it would be a turning point in the conflict.

“This only underscores that we should not underestimate Russia. We must continue to provide support to Ukraine. Over the past year, NATO allies have provided Kiev with 150 billion euros in military, financial and economic assistance,” the NATO Secretary General stressed.

The Guardian commented that Mr. Stoltenberg's comments and warnings came in the context of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently declaring that Kiev's loss of control of Bakhmut city would "open the way for Moscow to launch more attacks on areas deep inside the country."

British intelligence says Russia is having trouble in the Donbass region

According to an intelligence report posted on Twitter by the British Ministry of Defense on March 8, Russian strategic planners are struggling to choose between launching another attack on the city of Vuhledar, or continuing to intensify attacks in the northern area near Bakhmut and Kremina.

“Russia appears to have recently viewed progress in the city of Vuhledar as key to achieving a major breakthrough in Ukraine's defenses,” the report said.

The Russian military has not yet commented on the contents of the report.

UN Secretary-General holds talks with Ukrainian President

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Kiev on March 8 and held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on extending the agreement allowing the Kiev government to export grain through the Black Sea.

UN Secretary-General Guterres (left) and Ukrainian President Zelensky. Photo: President.gov.ua

“We are interested in ensuring that there is no hunger in the world, and our common policy is to expand the grain corridor. In addition, Secretary-General Guterres and I discussed the issue of restoring international peace and security and the full implementation of the UN Charter,” President.gov.ua quoted Mr. Zelensky as saying at a press conference held after the talks.

For his part, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also stressed the importance of the Black Sea food export agreement, saying that it has “improved food assistance for many developing countries.”