Ukraine reportedly recaptures two towns as US says Russia ramping up Donbas attacks: LIVE UPDATES

Alina Beskrovna, a refugee who fled Ukraine and now lives in Poland, said she witnessed Ukrainian melt snow to have drinkable water.

She also said Ukrainians were forced to cook on open fires despite giving away their position to potential Russian forces, "because if you don’t, you will have nothing to eat.”

“A lot of people are just, I think, starving to death in their apartments right now with no help," she said. "It’s a mass murder that’s happening at the hands of the Russians.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned during his nightly address that Russian forces were attempting to regroup ahead of a potential next assault on Kyiv.

“We still have to fight, we have to endure,” Zelenskyy said. “We can’t express our emotions now. We can’t raise expectations, simply so that we don’t burn out.”

The nightly address came as U.S. intelligence officials believe the Ukrainian military has retaken the Irpin suburb and town of Trostyanets from Russian occupation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

President Biden's perceived regime change comments are pushing Vladimir Putin further away from the negotiation table and could prompt the Russian dictator to show a greater display of force if he feels trapped "into a corner" by the West, a former KGB agent warned Monday.

"Every time our president makes a personal attack on Vladimir Putin, I cringe because Putin is paranoid," Jack Barsky said during an interview on "The Story." "In his mind now, it makes no sense to negotiate whatsoever because come peace, then he will be hunted down."

Read more: Biden is fueling Putin's paranoia, pushing him further away from negotiating: Former KGB agent

Russia has not given up on its goal to surround and capture the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

Russia continued to deploy additional troops with the goal of encircling and eventually capturing Kyiv, according to a Sunday report from the Institute for Study of War.

Russian forces are continuing the push on Kyiv “despite statements by officials from the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of the Russian Federation regarding changes in plans and priorities," signalling Moscow has not given up on taking Ukraine's capital city.

The report notes that Russia is also continuing its effort to take other major Ukrainian cities, saying there has been no move of combat power away from what have been major Russian military objectives.

International media blasted President Biden for his unscripted remark Saturday when he declared Russian President Vladimir Putin "cannot remain in power," concluding it was a gaffe that hurt more than helped the effort to support Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion.

Biden called the invasion a "strategic failure" and pledged continued U.S. aide for Ukrainians in his address. But it was his off-the-cuff comment about Putin that made headlines.

"For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power," Biden said to conclude his speech in front of the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Poland. 

Read more: International media blast Biden's unscripted Putin comment in Poland speech for creating 'chaos'

Russia’s bloody invasion of Ukraine has forced the staff to transform Kyiv’s largest hospital, Clinical Hospital #8, into a battleground medical facility, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report.

Dermatologists and cardiologists now assist with triaging wounded patients arriving from artillery and rocket barrages as the hospital sits within 10 miles of the battleground, the paper noted. 

The staff are numb to the air raid sirens because they are so frequent to take seriously anymore, and don’t wear face masks because of the constant background noise of fighting as they try to talk to communicate, per the Journal.

"Of course we are not what we used to be, but neither is the rest of the country," said Dr. Igor Khomenko, the hospital director.

Read more: Ukraine war: Kyiv transforms surgical hospital into battleground medical facility

Roman Abramovich smiles following Chelsea's victory during the UEFA Champions League Final between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Estadio do Dragao on May 29, 2021 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich and at least two senior Ukrainian peacekeepers suffered symptoms from a suspected poisoning attack but have since recovered, according to a report published Monday. 

Following a meeting in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv earlier this month, Abramovich and the two senior members of the Ukrainian peacekeeping team, including Crimean Tatar lawmaker Rustem Umerov and a second unnamed individual, began experiencing symptoms that included red eyes, constant and painful tearing, and peeling skin on their faces and hands, The Wall Street Journal reported. 

Citing unnamed sources familiar with the incident, the newspaper said it’s not clear who was responsible for the alleged attack, but the victims pointed to hardliners in Moscow trying to sabotage talks to end the war. Abramovich, Umerov and the third officials have since improved in condition and their lives are not in danger following the suspected poisoning, the sources said. 

The sources added that Western experts said it was difficult to determine whether the symptoms were caused by a chemical or biological agent or by some sort of electromagnetic-radiation attack. 

For more on this story: Russian oligarch, Ukraine peacekeepers suffer suspected poisoning after Kyiv meeting: Report

President Biden on Monday released his $5.8 trillion budget proposal for 2023, which he said calls for "one of the largest investments in our national security in history," including funding to ensure the U.S. military "remains the best-prepared, best-trained, best-equipped military in the world," amid Russia’s multi-front war on Ukraine.

The White House released the president’s FY 2023 budget Monday morning, which "sends a clear message that we value fiscal responsibility, safety and security at home and around the world," the president said.

"I’m calling for one of the largest investments in our national security in history, with the funds needed to ensure that our military remains the best-prepared, best-trained, best-equipped military in the world," the president said.

Biden said he is also calling for "continued investment to forcefully respond" to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s "aggression against Ukraine, with U.S. support for Ukraine’s economic, humanitarian and security needs." 

For more on this story: Biden's $5.8T budget proposes one of the 'largest' investments in US national security amid war in Ukraine

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby announced Monday that the U.S. is sending six Navy EA-18 Growler aircraft to Spangdahlem Airbase in Germany "to bolster readiness, enhance NATO's collective defense posture and further increase air integration capabilities with our allied and partner nations."

"These growlers, as those of you who are familiar with the platform know, are equipped for a variety of missions," Kirby said. "But they do specialize in flying electronic warfare missions, using a suite of jamming sensors to confuse enemy radars, greatly aiding in the ability to conduct suppression of enemy air defense operations."

About 240 Navy personnel will accompany the aircraft from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington state.

Fox News' Liz Friden contributed to this report.

Where Ukrainian refugees are heading after fleeing the country. (Fox News)

A senior U.S. defense official said Monday that Ukraine's military has recaptured the town of Trostyanets in the eastern part of the country and are "slugging it out" in Mariupol.

The development comes about an hour after Fox News' Trey Yingst reported that Ukraine's military reclaimed the town of Irpin outside of Kyiv.

The official also said Russian's military pilots are "still showing risk averse behavior" and if they have to go into Ukrainian airspace, they are "only doing it for a short amount of time before they leave."

"Most of the cruise missile strikes that they're launching are coming from inside Russian or below Russian airspace," the official continued. "I mean, it's remarkable what the Ukrainians have been able to do with the air defense systems that they have available to them. And that's why we're going to have to try to replenish them as best we can. "

The official added that the U.S. is seeing more Russian military activity in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region.

"One of the things that we think they want to do is cut off the Donbas for the sake of cutting off the Ukrainian armed forces that are there, pinning them down so they can't come to the defense of other places," the official said.

Fox News' Liz Friden contributed to this report.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks Friday in Moscow, Russia. (AP/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday praised Serbia for refusing to impose sanctions on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.

“We deeply respect the Serbian people, Serbian culture, Serbian history and commitment to traditional friends,” Lavrov told a group of Serbian journalists in a video conference, according to the Associated Press. “We are sure that they will continue to make smart choices in this situation.”

Although Serbia voted in favor of a UN resolution condemning Russia's invasion, Belgrade has refused to join the United States and the European Union in imposing wide ranging sanctions against Moscow.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he has spoken Monday with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi about future security guarantees as Russia's invasion continues.

"Discussed the course of countering Russian aggression. Thanked for the important defense and humanitarian support," Zelenskyy tweeted. "Ukrainian people will remember this. We appreciate Italy's willingness to join the creation of a system of security guarantees for Ukraine."

In a statement released by Draghi’s office, Zelenskyy during the phone conversation also “lamented the blocking of humanitarian corridors” by the Russian military, the Associated Press added.

President Joe Biden delivers a speech Saturday about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, at the Royal Castle, in Warsaw, Poland. (AP/Evan Vucci)

Diplomatic talks between Ukraine and Russia are set to resume this week, even after a series of gaffes by President Biden raised concerns about potential escalation in Ukraine and decay in U.S.-Russia relations. 

Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia said Sunday that Russia and Ukraine agreed on a video call to hold in-person negotiations this week in Turkey, starting either Monday or Tuesday. Russia said the talks are most likely to begin Tuesday, according to Reuters, with Monday most likely serving just as a travel day. 

This is not the first time Russia and Ukraine met for potential cease-fire negotiations during the war – which has now dragged on for more than a month. But it's notable after the White House was forced to walk back three comments from Biden – on three consecutive days – that many feared had the potential to inflame international relations in the region.

For more on this story: Russia, Ukraine to resume in-person talks after Biden's overseas gaffes on troops in Ukraine, Putin's 'power'

Irpin Mayor Alexander Markushin said Monday that Ukraine's military has fully retaken the town outside of Kyiv, according to Fox News' Trey Yingst.

Destroyed cars are seen in front of a damaged apartment building in Mariupol on Sunday. (Reuters)

Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko wrote on Telegram Monday that around 160,000 people remain in the besieged Ukrainian port city.

Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne quoted him as saying that Russian forces were preventing civilians from evacuating Mariupol and had been turning back some who tried to make it out.

The city, which had a pre-war population of more than 400,000, has seen some of the worst conditions since Russian forces invaded Ukraine on Feb.24. 

Russian forces have pounded Mariupol and scores of civilians have been unable to escape, with no access to essentials and cut off from communication with the shelling of cell, radio and TV towers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A Ukranian soldier stands on top of a Russian tank captured after fighting with Russian troops in the village of Lukyanivka, outside Kyiv, on Sunday. (Reuters/Marko Djurica)

NATO member Slovenia has reopened its embassy in Kyiv on Monday after reinstating a diplomat there, according to the Associated Press.

Slovenia’s move comes after Prime Minister Janez Jansa urged European Union countries to restore their presence in Kyiv in support for Ukraine. Jansa visited Kyiv this month along with the prime ministers of Poland and the Czech Republic.

He said on Twitter on Monday that “we are back," adding that “the Slovenian and European flags flutter again in front of the Slovenian Embassy in Kyiv.”

Slovenia’s Foreign Ministry quoted interim charge d’affaires Bostjan Lesjak as saying upon arrival that the city was deserted, and that alarms and detonations could be heard in the distance.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Damaged buildings are seen as civilians evacuate Saturday along humanitarian corridors from the Ukrainian city of Mariupol under the control of the Russian military and pro-Russian separatists. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Russia’s defense ministry last week boasted of providing aid to Ukrainian cities it has spent weeks bombarding with missiles. 

The U.S. government, in coordination with its European allies, declared Wednesday that Russian forces have committed war crimes in Ukraine by purposefully targeting buildings known to be sheltering civilians.

Russia has pummeled the southeastern city of Mariupol, hitting not only military targets but apartment buildings, children’s and maternity hospitals and a theater marked with the word "children" in large white letters that could be read from the sky.

But on Thursday Russia's defense ministry took to Telegram to tout the humanitarian support that its troops were purportedly supplying civilians in the southeastern city.

"Servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces delivered a batch of humanitarian aid to Mariupol," the Russian Ministry of Defense said. "In a central district of Mariupol, local residents received around 1,000 food kits. Russian and DPR servicemen ensured the safety of the residents who came to the humanitarian aid distribution point."

For more on this story: Russia touts aid for Ukrainian cities after weeks of bombing citizens

Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych says his country is investigating graphic videos posted to social media purportedly showing Ukrainian soldiers shooting Russian prisoners in the legs.

"The government is taking this very seriously, and there will be an immediate investigation," Arestovych said Sunday, according to reports. "We are a European army, and we do not mock our prisoners. If this turns out to be real, this is absolutely unacceptable behavior."

"I would like to remind all our military, civilian and defense forces once again that the abuse of prisoners is a war crime that has no amnesty under military law and has no statute of limitations," Arestovych reportedly added.

However, Ukraine's military commander in chief is accusing Russia of "staging" the videos, according to the Washington Examiner.

An exiled Russian journalist is speaking out on the dangers of Vladimir Putin, warning there is no real strategy for his assault on Ukraine as millions flee to evade Russian attacks. 

Exiled Russian journalist Regina Revazova joined "Fox & Friends First" to discuss how Putin has laid the groundwork for the war in Ukraine for years. 

"Vladimir Putin is, right now, in a trap," Revazova told co-hosts Carley Shimkus and Todd Piro. "He is in a trap that he's been carefully building to stay in power since early 2000s when he first went after media, when he… went after business people, business world of Russia; and then the last part was his opposition within the country."

"I don't think that, now, there is any real strategy there; [they are] just destroying as much as they can," she continued. 

For more on this story: Exiled Russian journalist details dangers of Putin's assault on Ukraine: There is no 'real strategy'

'Fox & Friends First' reports on an uptick in private bunker sales amid Vladimir Putin's threats of nuclear warfare.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that a remark made by President Joe Biden over the weekend about Vladimir Putin, in which Biden said "for God's sake, this man cannot remain in power," is a "statement that is certainly alarming," Reuters reports.

"We will continue to track the statements of the U.S. president in the most attentive way," Peskov said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Monday that international sanctions placed on Russia for its ongoing invasion of Ukraine have been negatively impacting trade between Beijing and Moscow.

“The current issue is not any country wanting to help Russia circumvent the sanctions, but rather there has been unnecessary damage to the normal trade exchange with Russia, including between China and Russia," Wang said, according to Bloomberg.

“We urge the U.S. to seriously treat China’s concerns while handing the Ukraine issue and relations with Russia and refrain from harming China’s legitimate rights and interests," he reportedly added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during an interview with independent Russian news media from Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Monday that talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Turkey may start tomorrow.

Ukraine and Turkish officials initially said the talks could begin Monday, but Peskov said the officials are just arriving in Turkey today, according to Reuters.

"While we cannot and will not speak about progress at the talks, the fact that they continuing to take place in person is important, of course," he reportedly added.

Separately, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested that now is not the time for Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy to have an in-person meeting.

"A meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy is needed as soon as we will be close to resolving all key issues," Lavrov said, according to Reuters.

Current Russian military activity in Ukraine. (Fox News)

Russian troops in Ukraine on Monday are grappling with a "continued lack of momentum and morale" as they try to push back against aggressive fighting by the Ukrainians," the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence says.

"In the last 24 hours there has been no significant change to Russian Forces dispositions in occupied Ukraine," the agency said in a tweet.

However, "Russia has gained most ground in the south in the vicinity of Mariupol where heavy fighting continues as Russia attempts to capture the port," it added.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he could declare neutrality and offer security guarantees to Russia to secure peace "without delay,” the Associated Press reported.

He added, though, only a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin could end the war.

Tatyana Zhuravliova, an 83-year-old Ukrainian Jew, said when bombs fell around her in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, she said she felt the same panic she as when Nazis bombed her hometown of Odesa.

“My whole body was shaking, and those fears crept up again through my entire body — fears which I didn't even know were still hidden inside me,” Zhuravliova told the Associated Press.

“Now I'm too old to run to the bunker. So I just stayed inside my apartment and prayed that the bombs would not kill me,” she added.

Workers at a welding shop in Ukraine's western city of Lviv are adding steel plates to a donated pickup truck to be used in the war.

“Our victory depends on us,” said Ostap Datsenko, a welder who joined the resistance, the Associated Press reported.

“I’m doing what I can," he added.

The U.S. can best support Ukraine by providing it with weapons, planes and parts to defend its airspace rather than establish a no-fly zone, a U.S. Air Force expert told Fox News Digital.

"[The Ukrainians] are fighting with basically two very large feathers in their cap: one is the munitions we’re providing them and the other is the morale that they can sustain on their own," said John (JV) Venable, a veteran Air Force commander and senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation. 

Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, described the country’s strategy as luring Russian planes into air defense traps.

"Ukraine has been effective in the sky because we operate on our own land," he said. "The enemy flying into our airspace is flying into the zone of our air defense systems."

Read more here: Outgunned Ukrainians lure Russian aircraft into defense traps, need planes to defend airspace: Expert

In this image from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during an interview with independent Russian news media from Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, March 27, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed some of his country's ground rules for a peace agreement with Russia on Sunday, but Russian authorities moved to censor the interview, perhaps because Zelenskyy also said that while Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed the invasion aims to "denazify" Ukraine, peace talks with Russia have not involved any discussion on Ukraine's supposed "Nazism."

Zelenskyy spoke with Russian media outlets, saying that his country is open to guaranteeing Ukraine's neutrality and its nuclear-free status, but its representatives will not sign any agreement until Russian troops withdraw from the country.

The Ukrainian president also said that the entire process hinges on him personally meeting with Putin and the Ukrainian people agreeing to a referendum to change the Constitution – a referendum that cannot take place while Russian troops remain in Ukraine.

For more on this story: Zelenskyy sets ground rules for peace agreement, Russia censors him

Zelenskyy laid out his plans for peace in an interview with Russian news outlets Sunday, saying that he would agree to keeping Ukraine neutral toward Russia (out of NATO) and to secure its non-nuclear status. Yet a Russian regulator censored the interview, preventing news outlets from publishing it.

Read more here.

Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, accused Russia of seeking to split Ukraine in two, making the comparison to North and South Korea, which split during the Korean War.

“The occupiers will try to pull the occupied territories into a single quasi-state structure and pit it against independent Ukraine,” Budanov said in a statement released by the Defense Ministry. He predicted that guerrilla warfare by Ukrainians would derail such plans.

After U.S. President Joe Biden in Poland Saturday said that Russian President Putin "cannot remain in power," the White House clarified that the U.S. is not seeking regime change in Russia.

"Mr. President, were you calling for regime change?" a reporter asked in a shouted question, with Biden flatly responding "no."

Click here for Sunday's live coverage.