Reports top U.S. officials are in Ukraine for crisis talks

President Volodymyr Zelensky is reportedly meeting with senior United States officials in Kyiv

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin are the highest U.S. diplomats to visit the war-torn nation since the war broke out two months ago.

It comes as heavy fighting continues in the south and east of Ukraine.

The White House has previously declined to confirm the trip. However, it has ruled out President Biden flying to Kyiv because of security concerns.

Ukraine’s Zelensky says he is expecting “specific weapons” from world leaders who come to visit the country.

It comes as Ukrainians gather to celebrate one of the most important holidays of the year, Orthodox Easter. Victoria Spartz is the first Ukrainian-born representative in the United States Congress, who says people are trying to celebrate despite the heartache.

Meanwhile, the Red Cross says they urgently need humanitarian access to the besieged city of Mariupol.

In a statement, the organisation says it is “deeply alarmed by the situation, where the population is in dire need of assistance.”