Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday he could not say when Mariupol would be unlocked, while saying Ukraine was ready for any exchange.
He announced this at a joint press briefing in Kiev with European Council President Charles Michel.
“The situation in Mariupol is deteriorating. Unfortunately, we cannot achieve a positive result there. So I do not know when we will be able to unlock Mariupol,” Zelensky said.
There are two ways to unlock Mariupol, he pointed out.
“The first is serious help with the heavy armaments we are hoping for. We do not have enough such equipment yet. The second way is diplomatic. Russia does not agree with that yet,” Zelensky said.
Ukraine is ready for various exchange formats, including with Russian soldiers, the president said.
“They (Russian troops) left both scattered corpses and wounded, whom they left. We are ready for any exchange format for the sake of our people, both soldiers and civilians.”
Ukrainian soldiers who remain in Mariupol want victory and no one is going to give up, Zelensky said.
I would like to say that tomorrow we will help the soldiers and the peaceful people in Mariupol, Zelensky said. “But I can’t say that,” he admitted.
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