STORY: US President Joe Biden is not very optimistic about an imminent end to the war in Ukraine. Before leaving for a foreign visit, Biden said, “I don’t think the conflict can be resolved until Putin disappears from Ukraine.” Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops appear to be advancing in some parts of the country. 41 settlements in southern Ukraine have been retaken from Russia, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday. At the same time, he referred to the victims among the Ukrainian troops, who should never be forgotten. He did not give specific numbers. Russia announced on Wednesday that it would be withdrawing its troops from Cherson in southern Ukraine. According to estimates by the Ukrainian army, the withdrawal will take at least a week.