(Reuters) – Ukraine is preparing to hold the first peace talks face to face in over two weeks. However, a top U.S. official stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t appear to be ready for compromises to end their war.

FIGHTING

* The mayor of Irpin, near Kyiv, said Ukrainian forces had seized back control of the town. According to a senior U.S. official, the Trostyanets eastern city, located south of Sumy was now in Ukrainian control. Reuters was unable to confirm the claims.

* Russia said its troops had destroyed large ammunition depots in Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region and hit 41 Ukrainian military sites in the last 24 hours.

* There are no signs on the ground that Russia has given up a plan to surround Kyiv, Ukraine’s defence ministry said.

* Russian soldiers who seized the Chernobyl site drove armoured vehicles without radiation protection through a highly toxic zone called the “Red Forest”, workers there said.

TABLES AND DIPLOMY

* Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and Ukrainian peace negotiators suffered symptoms of suspected poisoning after a meeting, the Wall Street Journal reported. A U.S. official stated that the symptoms could have been caused by an environment factor and not poisoning.

* The Kremlin said Joe Biden’s remark that Putin “cannot remain in power” was a cause for alarm, in a guarded response to a public call from the U.S. president for an end to the Russian leader’s 22-year rule.

CIVILIANS

* The U.N. human rights office said 1,119 civilians had been killed and 1,790 wounded since Russia began its attack on Ukraine.

* Nearly 5,000 people, including about 210 children, have been killed in besieged Mariupol, a spokesman for its mayor said. However, it was not clear exactly how these figures were calculated.

ECONOMY

* Russia is working out methods for accepting payments for its gas exports in roubles and it will take decisions in due course should European countries refuse to pay in the Russian currency, the Kremlin said.

* U.S. lawmakers are probing Credit Suisse (SIX 🙂 Group AG is being compliant with the sanctions related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We asked the Swiss bank to supply all pertinent documentation.

* Brewing giants Carlsberg (OTC:) and Heineken (OTC:) said they would quit Russia, joining an exodus of Western companies.

* Russia’s invasion has so far cost Ukraine $564.9 billion in terms of damage to infrastructure, lost economic growth and other factors, Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said.

QOTATIONS

* “We have destroyed the myth of the invincible Russian army,” Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said of Ukraine’s resistance.