KIEV: President Volodymyr Zelensky's bill to extend martial law in Ukraine for another 90 days from May 25 was passed by the Ukrainian parliament on Sunday, according to member Yaroslav Zheleznyak. The law extending the country's general mobilisation until August 23 was also adopted by parliament.

In the wake of the confrontation with Russia, Ukraine declared martial law on February 24. The martial law has been extended twice for another 30 days. On February 24, Ukraine implemented a three-month general mobilisation of the population.

The Ukrainian side initiated the pause in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, Russian presidential assistant Vladimir Medinsky stated on the Belarusian ONT TV channel on Sunday.

Russian negotiators delivered a draught for future conversations a month ago, Medinsky added, containing already agreed-upon views. Ukraine halted the negotiations after that, and the document has yet to be confirmed. 

According to the government-run Ukrinform news agency, Mykhailo Podolyak, a member of the Ukrainian delegation to the peace negotiations with Russia, Kiev will not agree to any arrangement that includes territorial concessions to Russia.

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