As the Russian army launched special military operations in Ukraine for more than 60 days, the Ukrainian defenders in the port city of Mariupol continued to be besieged.
When the two sides were stalemate, the situation showed three noteworthy progress:
1 is the trends and goals of the Russian army, which are changing;
2 is Ukrainian President Zelensky once again expressed his hope to meet with Russian President Putin , but the Russian side expressed caution;
3 is that senior American officials personally came to Ukraine to "super cheering up".
These changes seem to point to the same conclusion that this conflict may be difficult to end in a short period of time...
Russia and Ukraine are still stalemate
The American War Institute said in a briefing that Russia has turned its attention to the attack in the east, and the troops retreating from the Kiev area are re-entering the battle there. The briefing believes that the Russian army may increase the scale of ground offensive operations in the next few days, but it is too early to talk about how fast and how large the operation is. On the 23rd, in Mariupol, Kharkov and Nikolayev , the guerrilla war between the Russian and Ukrainian troops continued to unfold. According to the U.S. New York Times , an adviser to the Ukrainian president said that the Russian army is advancing towards Zaporoze and Ijium and attempting to launch an air attack on Mariupol, restoring the bombing of the besieged Azov Steel Plant complex.

At Azov Steel Plant, there is not much reserve of ammunition, food and water, and medical equipment and medicines are scarce.
A Ukrainian defender commander said that if safe passage can be ensured, the Ukrainian army is willing to leave the steel plant. "We are ready to leave the city because there is nothing to defend," he said. "We believe that the mission has been completed."
The day before, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that the city of Mariupol had "restored normal order". Except for the Azov Steel Plant being blocked, residents in the rest of the area "can operate freely on the streets."
Ukraine put forward a proposal
23, Zelensky held a press conference attended by foreign media in Kiev subway station. Zelensky told media from various countries that Ukraine cannot break through the Russian encirclement at present and it is impossible to lift the blockade of Mariupol through military means.
He once again proposed that he would meet directly with Putin and seek to end the war.
However, Zelensky also emphasized that if the Ukrainians trapped in Mariupol are "eliminated", or if the Russian side instigates a referendum in the "occupied area", Ukraine will withdraw from the peace negotiations. Alestovic, adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office, made another proposal: Ukraine is ready to exchange all Russian prisoners of war for the Mariupol Ukrainian defenders.
What exactly does Ukraine want? At present, there are three "small goals": I want the Russian side to make concessions and save Mariupol; I want to maximize interests and replace prisoners; I want to increase the level of negotiations and realize direct negotiations between the leaders.

Data picture Russian President Putin. Xinhua News Agency issued
to negotiate, it is necessary to show sincerity. If you want to talk to Putin, Ukraine must need more sincerity. Russia is obviously not satisfied with Ukraine's current performance. Why do
say so?
Because first, Ukraine revealed the idea that negotiations are a stopgap measure. While willing to negotiate, Zelensky emphasized that it is crucial for Ukraine to obtain more weapons. "Once we have more weapons, believe me, we will be able to regain the temporarily occupied territory immediately."
According to the announcement of the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Russian side set up a humanitarian corridor entering Russia in a dangerous war zone at 10 am on Moscow time every day. However, Ukraine has hardly agreed to the relevant plan. Second, Zelensky continued to look for foreign players. He spoke with British Prime Minister on the 23rd on the phone. Johnson confirmed that the UK will provide more military aid to Ukraine, including heavy weapons.
Third, there is a hidden point. The "capital" that Ukraine wants to change is of great origin.
has a lot of hidden information in replacing prisoners
Ukraine side did not hesitate to exchange all Russian prisoners for the Ukrainian army in Mariupol. Is the "gold content" of these more than 2,500 defenders so high?
Zelensky is worried about the fate of the members of the Azov battalion because there may be people involved in the preparations for the attack on Donbass - US and British intelligence agencies, NATO country senior mercenary , revealed by Shikhagoshev, a member of the Russian State Duma Security and Anti-corruption Committee.
People from the United States, Britain and NATO will be "starved to death" by the Russian army in Ukraine? A big joke. It is conceivable how much pressure Zelensky is under to ensure that this group of people leaves the steel plant alive. In addition, according to Ukrainian intruders, at least two groups of about 20 British Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) sabotage and guerrilla warfare experts have been sent from their headquarters to an air brigade station in Lviv, Ukraine.
Russian media introduced that the British SAS was established during World War II and is famous for participating in Korean War , Northern Ireland conflict, NATO invasion Yugoslavia , Afghanistan War and other operations. Its members are seen as one of the most capable experts in organizing coups around the world, mass protests and rallies, assassinating politicians, recruiting agents (including at the highest power class) and preparing for terrorist attacks.

British Special Air Service Regiment: A unit known for its secret surveillance and melee fighting skills has been deployed in most wars that Britain participates in. Image source: Official website of the National Military Museum of the United Kingdom.
Russian powerful department staff said: "They are not ordinary special forces , but intellectuals, theorists, and experts in various fields." It is very likely that the purpose of these people is to improve the skills and efficiency of the Ukrainian intelligence agency and coordinate the activities of the sabotage group in the Russian military-controlled area in Ukraine.
Russia is not a vegetarian, and this information cannot escape the eyes. Therefore, on the 22nd, the Kremlin News Bureau criticized Ukraine: "Ukraine is inconsistent in the negotiations and is unwilling to seek solutions that both sides can accept."
Putin also lobbying for the summit of Russia and Ukraine. Chairman of the European Council Michel pointed out that whether he has direct contact with Zelensky depends on the specific results of the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine delegation.
Alas, in short, there is still a long way to go to negotiate between the two sides.
American senior officials cheered up
There is another thing, the "secret visit" that the United States hides is now known to the whole world.

US media reported that US Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary of Defense Austin visited Ukraine and met with Zelensky. Image source: Screenshot of CNN report.
On the 24th local time, US Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary of Defense Austin arrived in Kiev, becoming the first high-level U.S. officials to visit Ukraine since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukraine conflict to show unity. The two held about 90 minutes of talks with Ukrainian President Zelensky, Foreign Minister Kureba and others to concentrate on discussing weapons supply and responding to Russia's joint policy. Blinken and Austin promised that the United States continue to provide more than $700 million in direct and indirect military aid to Ukraine, including about $300 million to purchase "necessary weapons."
They also announced that US diplomats will gradually return to Ukraine starting this week. US President Biden also announced the nomination of current ambassador to Slovakia as the next US ambassador to Ukraine. In addition, Austin will travel to Germany to meet with more than 20 defense ministers and NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg at the U.S. Air Force Base in Ramstein to discuss Ukraine's defense needs.
The United States does not seem to want to publicize this trip to the whole world. The New York Times reported that before Blinken and Austin "securly leave Ukraine", the US government tried to keep it secret and even refused to admit the trip.
The United States, which has long been "wet with its shoes", still refuses to admit that it is "walking by the river". According to US defense officials, the US military will not directly participate in the "war". This visit by senior US officials does not mean that the US military "will really intervene."
Russia doesn't take this trick. It has recently sent a note to the US again, warning the United States: stop providing weapons to Ukraine! Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Konashenkov reported that on the 23rd, the Russian Aerospace Forces used high-precision air-based missiles to destroy an weapon collection station at an military airport in Odessa area in southern Ukraine. There are a large number of weapons provided by the United States and Europe to Ukraine.
Whoever wants to exterminate will "attack" whoever he wants. This is Putin's current attitude. In Russia's eyes, the United States and NATO have long been "in-the-scenes people".
(Original title: Ukrainian side has put forward a bold proposal. Has Putin seen through it?)
Source: China News Network
Process Editor: TF063