Ukrainian forces held out in the eastern city of Bakhmut against Russian attackers on Thursday, while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for the first time since the invasion.
US officials said Mr Blinken and Mr Lavrov chatted for roughly 10 minutes on the sidelines of the G20 conference in New Delhi.
A senior US official who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss the private conversation, said Blinken had “disabused” Lavrov of any idea they might have that US support for Ukraine is wavering.
Russia had no immediate comment on the substance of the conversation.
Meanwhile, fierce fighting continued in Bakhmut as Russian troops, bolstered by mercenaries of the Wagner private army, have been advancing north and south of the city to cut it off.
Ukraine says the city has limited strategic value but it is exhausting Russia’s invasion force.
“Sooner or later, we will probably have to leave Bakhmut. There is no sense in holding it at any cost,” Ukrainian lawmaker Serhiy Rakhmanin said late on Wednesday. The aim was to “inflict as many Russian losses as possible”.
