{"id":1401519,"date":"2022-03-26T08:15:59","date_gmt":"2022-03-26T12:15:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1401519"},"modified":"2022-03-26T08:16:01","modified_gmt":"2022-03-26T12:16:01","slug":"with-ukrainians-advancing-near-kyiv-russia-signals-scaled-back-war-aims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/with-ukrainians-advancing-near-kyiv-russia-signals-scaled-back-war-aims\/","title":{"rendered":"With Ukrainians Advancing Near Kyiv, Russia Signals Scaled-Back War Aims"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwith-ukrainians-advancing-near-kyiv-russia-signals-scaled-back-war-aims%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1401519&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><header aria-label=\"Beginning of Article\" class=\"article-header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Breadcrumb Trail Links<\/h2>\n<ol class=\"breadcrumbs__items list-unstyled\">\n<li class=\"breadcrumbs__item\"> <a class=\"breadcrumbs__item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/financialpost.com\/category\/pmn\/business-pmn\/\">PMN Business<\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"wire-published-by\">\n<p class=\"visually-hidden\">Author of the article:<\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Reuters\" aria-labelledby=\"wire-company-name\" class=\"wire-published-by__logo\" height=\"70\" src=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0e5521e933d53566787277062da28f5a?s=70&#038;d=mp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0e5521e933d53566787277062da28f5a?s=70&#038;d=mp, https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0e5521e933d53566787277062da28f5a?s=140&#038;d=mp 2x\" width=\"70\" \/> <\/p>\n<div class=\"wire-published-by__author-container\">\n<p> Reuters <\/p>\n<p> Gleb Garanich and Natalia Zinets <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>BUCHA\/LVIV \u2014 Moscow signaled on Friday it was scaling back its ambitions in Ukraine to focus on territory claimed by Russian-backed separatists as Ukrainian forces went on the offensive, recapturing towns on the outskirts of the capital Kyiv.<\/p>\n<p>In the first big sign that Western sanctions on Russia were impacting investment from China, sources told Reuters state-run Sinopec Group, Asia\u2019s biggest oil refiner, had suspended talks on a petrochemical investment and a venture to market Russian gas.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment6543772065343361965840032511843165\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment6543772065343361965840032511843165\">Advertisement 2<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-2\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[6,6],[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-interscroller=\"6x6\" data-ad-loc=\"2\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[6,6],[320,50],[300,50],[300,250],[300,600]]\" id=\"ad-2\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>In the month since they launched their invasion of Ukraine, Russian troops have failed to capture any major city. Their assault has met stiff resistance from President Volodymyr Zelenskiy\u2019s forces and been halted at the gates of Kyiv.<\/p>\n<p>The Russians instead have been bombarding and encircling cities, laying waste to residential areas and driving around a quarter of Ukraine\u2019s 44 million people from their homes.<\/p>\n<p>More than 3.7 million of them have fled abroad, half to Poland, which U.S. President Joe Biden was visiting on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>Battlelines near Kyiv have been frozen for weeks with two main Russian armored columns stuck northwest and east of the capital. A British intelligence report described a Ukrainian counter-offensive that had pushed Russians back in the east.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment2615082566893070031828613376041104\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment2615082566893070031828613376041104\">Advertisement 3<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-3\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[7,7],[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-interscroller=\"7x7\" data-ad-loc=\"3\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[7,7],[300,250],[320,50],[300,50]]\" id=\"ad-3\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cUkrainian counter-attacks, and Russian forces falling back on overextended supply lines, has allowed Ukraine to reoccupy towns and defensive positions up to 35 km east of Kyiv,\u201d the report said. Britain has provided Ukraine with weapons and military training.<\/p>\n<p>In an announcement that appeared to indicate more limited goals, the Russian Defence Ministry said a first phase of its operation was complete and it would now focus on two eastern regions claimed by Russian-backed separatists.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe main objectives of the first stage of the operation have generally been accomplished,\u201d said Sergei Rudskoi, head of the Russian General Staff\u2019s Main Operational Directorate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe combat potential of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been considerably reduced, which \u2026 makes it possible to focus our core efforts on achieving the main goal, the liberation of Donbass.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment8335930821388606152079882697521312\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment8335930821388606152079882697521312\">Advertisement 4<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-4\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"4\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" id=\"ad-4\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>FIGHTBACK<\/p>\n<p>Volodymyr Borysenko, mayor of Boryspol, an eastern suburb where Kyiv\u2019s main airport is located, said 20,000 civilians had evacuated the area, answering a call to clear out so Ukrainian troops could counter-attack. Ukrainian forces recaptured a nearby village the previous day and would have pushed on but halted to avoid putting civilians in danger, he said.<\/p>\n<p>On the other main front outside Kyiv, to the capital\u2019s northwest, Ukrainian forces have been trying to encircle Russian troops in the suburbs of Irpin, Bucha and Hostomel, reduced to ruins by heavy fighting over the past few weeks.<\/p>\n<p>In Bucha, 25 km (15 miles) northwest of Kyiv, a small group of Ukrainian troops armed with anti-tank missiles was digging foxholes. Andriy told Reuters he had enlisted to defend the town as soon as the invasion began.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment3876759412692314946743065443126813\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment3876759412692314946743065443126813\">Advertisement 5<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-5\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"5\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" id=\"ad-5\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cI told my wife to grab the children and to hide in the basement, and I went to the drafting station and joined my unit straight away,\u201d he said. \u201cMy wife and children were under occupation for two weeks, but then they managed to escape through a humanitarian corridor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Moscow calls its actions in Ukraine a \u201cspecial military operation\u201d to demilitarize and \u201cdenazify\u201d Ukraine. Ukraine and the West say Putin launched an unprovoked war of aggression.<\/p>\n<p>Unable to capture cities, Russia has resorted to pounding them with artillery and air strikes.<\/p>\n<p>Worst hit has been the eastern port of Mariupol, a city of 400,000 under siege since the war\u2019s early days. It is the biggest Ukrainian-held city in the territory Russia demands be ceded to the separatists.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment6374915632302311332332788986403767\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment6374915632302311332332788986403767\">Advertisement 6<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-6\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"6\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" id=\"ad-6\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>Tens of thousands of people are still believed trapped inside with scant access to food, power or heat, while the city around them has been reduced to ruins.<\/p>\n<p>Waiting in line for food in a district captured by the Russians, Alexandra told Reuters her diabetic husband had slipped into a coma and died.<\/p>\n<p>He was buried in a flowerbed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are planning on leaving but it\u2019s very difficult at the moment,\u201d she said. \u201cI can\u2019t leave my husband in a flowerbed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>MASS GRAVE REPORTS<\/p>\n<p>Mariupol\u2019s city council for the first time gave an estimated death toll for the bombing of the main theater on March 16, saying witnesses now said 300 people had been killed among many hundreds sheltering in the basement. Russia denies blame.<\/p>\n<p>The United Nations said it was looking into reports of mass graves inside Mariupol, including one with at least 200 corpses.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment9755307550536248428101287078109346\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment9755307550536248428101287078109346\">Advertisement 7<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-7\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"7\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" id=\"ad-7\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>The cities of Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Sumy in the east have also endured devastating bombardments. Chernihiv was effectively surrounded by Russian forces, its governor said.<\/p>\n<p>In Kharkiv, officials said six people had been killed by the shelling of an aid distribution site at a supermarket. Video posted on the internet showed a blast striking a car park where scores of people were queuing. People fled in terror after the explosion. Reuters was able to confirm it was filmed outside a supermarket in Kharkiv.<\/p>\n<p>Western sanctions have isolated Russia from global trade to a degree never before visited on such a large economy. China is the biggest power not to have condemned the Russian invasion.<\/p>\n<p>The Reuters report that Sinopec had suspended discussions about investments potentially worth $500 million was the first concrete sign that sanctions are interfering with trade between Moscow and Beijing.<\/p>\n<p>Beijing has repeatedly voiced opposition to the sanctions, insisting it will maintain trade links. But behind the scenes, the government is pressing Chinese companies to tread carefully.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCompanies will rigidly follow Beijing\u2019s foreign policy in this crisis,\u201d said an executive at a Chinese state oil company. \u201cThere\u2019s no room whatsoever for companies to take any initiatives in terms of new investment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>(Reporting by a Reuters journalist in Mariupol, Natalia Zinets in Lviv and Reuters bureaus worldwide Writing by Peter Graff, Editing by Angus MacSwan)<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"article-content__share-group article-delimiter\" data-evt=\"beforeunload\" data-evt-typ=\"page_scroll\" data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields>\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Share this article in your social network<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"article-content__ad-group\">\n<div class=\"ad__section-border ad__section-border--category visually-hidden\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment8103471627674963038569378081720852\" class=\"ad\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\" id=\"advertisment8103471627674963038569378081720852\">Advertisement <\/h2>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__label\">\n<p> Story continues below <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-acceptable\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-acceptable=\"\" data-ad-loc=\"1\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" id=\"ad-acceptable\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p> This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"widget article-content__widget-group article-content__widget-group--slot1 article-content__widget-group--no-featured-media\">\n<section aria-labelledby=\"FinancialPostTopStories7558675619245415914157329195532410\" class=\"newsletter-widget fp-headlinenews\" data-account-id=\"b9d3df2fccd108b5eff3c44f573b2cd6\" data-newsletter=\"single\" data-newsletter-component=\"\" data-target-list=\"FP_HeadlineNews\" data-widget=\"newsletter\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Top Stories Newsletter logo\" class=\"newsletter-widget__logo newsletter-widget__logo--FP_HeadlineNews\" height=\"80\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/pmd-stage-northamerica-northeast1-dcs-static-files\/10.1.2\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/logo\/newsletter-envelope.svg\" width=\"97\" \/> <\/p>\n<div class=\"newsletter-widget__body\">\n<h2 class=\"newsletter-widget__title\" id=\"FinancialPostTopStories7558675619245415914157329195532410\">Financial Post Top Stories<\/h2>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text\">Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the Financial Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<div class=\"js-replace-main\">  <small class=\"newsletter-widget__disclaimer text-size--micro\"> By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. 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