beginning that the islamists, those of the former regime, have been involved in this war since the beginning, the ones who triggered the fighting between the two parties. this is an extremely worrying development, because it might be seeing a new escalation of war. ., ., ., war. you are saying a new escalation, war. you are saying a new escalation, and war. you are saying a new escalation, and we - war. you are saying a new escalation, and we have l war. you are saying a new| escalation, and we have at war. you are saying a new. escalation, and we have at in the meantime seen this shaky ceasefire holding, the army says they are willing to extend perhaps this ceasefire and sent a convoy to south sudan the talks. how optimistic are you that this diplomatic effort could work? that this diplomatic effort could work? ~ ., , , ., could work? well, i only, you know, believe could work? well, i only, you know, believe it could work? well, i only, you know, believe it when - could work
international community to shore them up and ensure they do not run out of supplies. ammunition as well. you heard details of ukrainians lacking ammunition. we need to continue to step up and provide that ammunition for them as well. europe mentioned russian defences and we saw recent satellite images from crimea showing russia building up large defensive positions and trenches there. we know that the ukrainian president has vowed to win back crimea saying that we cannot win the war without taking back crimea. how do you see this playing out was to mark what i will say, i think the ukrainians have to do what they have been successful in doing. we what they have been successful in doina.~ what they have been successful indoin-.~ h. ,, in doing. we saw success in care, in doing. we saw success in care. most in doing. we saw success in care. most of in doing. we saw success in care, most of it in doing. we saw success in care, most of it was - in doing. we saw success in care, most o
earlier this month, xi told european commission chief ursula von der leyen he would speak to zelensky when conditions and time are right. james waterhouse reports from kyiv. well, kyiv will see this as a bit of diplomatic progress. why? we are told it was a long and meaningful phone call. so, while ukraine will see this as serious progress, there are still huge ideological differences on how to end this war, because what beijing wants, and what we are told after this phone call, it sees negotiations and talks as the only way out of this conflict. ukraine sees a military victory as the way out, to avoid just that any kind of political compromise. in the call, beijing reiterated its i2 point peace plan, which was met with broad criticism from western countries. some of the key points of the plan includes working toward a ceasefire and resuming peace talks, protecting civilians and prisoners of war,
and we will see it in bakhmut. that is what they are good at and what i think we will see going forward is that they will continue to use those tactics, to not try and attack across the 800 mile zone but to take a bite out of the apple, if i could say that, and, there for, continue to make gains by steadily taking bites of that apple and gaining terrain, consolidating their gains, making sure their logistics are tied in so they can sustain those gains and move onto the next location. so i do not see an overwhelming war or counteroffensive given that it is 800 miles, you also have crimea, i see it as a slow grind, taking a piece of terrain, consolidate gains and move onto the next. interesting insiuhts. move onto the next. interesting insights. thank move onto the next. interesting insights. thank you move onto the next. interesting insights. thank you very - move onto the next. interesting insights. thank you very much l insights. thank you very much forjoining us on bbc news. the
sure they will see that as a calculated risk and make the decision to do so. calculated risk and make the decision to do so. both sides are exoected decision to do so. both sides are expected to decision to do so. both sides are expected to be decision to do so. both sides are expected to be on - decision to do so. both sides are expected to be on the i are expected to be on the offensive in the coming weeks. how do you assess the state of operations for both sides? what operations for both sides? what i will tell you operations for both sides? what i will tell you is operations for both sides? what i will tell you is the operations for both sides? what i will tell you is the focus i operations for both sides? what i will tell you is the focus of i i will tell you is the focus of late at least for the past eight months has been on bakhmut and that war continues to grind with no victory. but in the background you have russians digging in defensive positions and putting mine