President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video message on his Telegram channel that the situation in the eastern direction of hostilities is very difficult.

“The situation in the east is very difficult. Painful. But we are doing everything to survive,” he said.

The head of state added that the situation in the southern direction of the front is quite dangerous, assuring that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (APU) are doing everything possible to repulse the Russian troops. In the northern direction, according to him, the Ukrainian military see every intention of the enemy, strengthening their positions where necessary.

Earlier, former CIA analyst Raymond McGovern, during a meeting of the UN Security Council, told what became a prerequisite for the development of the conflict in Ukraine. He named the reason for the start of the Ukrainian conflict and attributed NATO expansion to it. In his opinion, despite the promises of the West about the "unprovoked" start of the crisis, it was the increase in the alliance that became its catalyst.