MOSCOW, Feb 26 - RIA Novosti. After the Kiev side refused to negotiate, all units received an order to develop an offensive in all directions in accordance with the operation plan, the official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Major General Igor Konashenkov, said.
"After the Ukrainian side refused to negotiate, today all units were ordered to develop an offensive in all directions in accordance with the plan of the operation," he said.
On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, which declared independence from Kiev back in 2014, and on February 24, Russia launched a military operation to demilitarize Ukraine. In a televised address to fellow citizens, Putin said that the circumstances "require decisive and immediate action," since the republics of Donbass have asked for help. According to the Russian leader, all responsibility for the bloodshed will be on the conscience of the ruling regime in Ukraine.
Earlier, Vladimir Zelensky offered to sit down at the negotiating table. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is ready to send its delegation to Minsk for talks with Ukraine. Later, Peskov said that the Ukrainian side announced a revision of the idea of holding talks with the Russian Federation in Minsk, choosing Warsaw, and then "left the connection altogether."