Russian forces bombarded the outskirts of Kyiv and a besieged city in northern Ukraine on Wednesday, just hours after promising to scale down operations there in what the West dismissed as a ploy to regroup by invaders taking heavy losses.

Russia announced plans Tuesday to de-escalate near the capital and the northern city of Chernihiv to “increase mutual trust” for peace talks.

Russia’s military did not spell out what it planned to do as intensified bombardment could be heard in Kyiv on Wednesday morning from the direction of frontline suburbs, a regained territory by Ukrainian forces in recent days. The capital itself was not hit, but relentless artillery could be heard from its outskirts.

Chernihiv's Mayor Vladyslav Astroshenko said Russian bombardment of that city had intensified over the past 24 hours, with more than 100,000 people trapped inside with just enough food and medical supplies to last about another week.

"This is yet another confirmation that Russia always lies," he told CNN. "They actually have increased the intensity of strikes," with "a colossal mortar attack in the centre of Chernihiv" on Wednesday wounding 25 civilians.

Russian forces also hit industrial facilities in western Ukraine in three strikes overnight, a regional governor said.

Istanbul talks
Russia and Ukraine held their first face-to-face peace talks in nearly three weeks at a palace in Istanbul on Tuesday.

Ukraine presented a peace proposal under which it would accept neutral status with international guarantees to protect it from future attack. The proposal calls for a ceasefire and would postpone discussion of Russia's territorial demands.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday it was good to have the Ukrainian proposal in writing but there was no indication of a breakthrough.

Western sanctions have isolated Russia from world trade to a degree never before visited on such a large economy. But Russia is still the biggest supplier of oil and gas to Europe. It has told Western buyers they will have to pay with roubles.

On Wednesday, Germany, Russia's biggest gas customer, declared an "early warning" of a possible emergency if Russia were to cut off supplies.
-AP/Reuters