KIEV: Ukraine forces are launching an offensive near the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, Russian news agencies reported.
Ukraine’s Azov Batallion forces also confirmed the launch of the offensive near Mariupol on their Facebook page.
The announcement comes as the US mulls whether to begin supplying deadly weapons to Ukraine and ahead of planned peace talks in Minsk, Belarus, this week. Officials there from Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France are looking to sign a new cease-fire agreement alongside the rebel leaders.
