Russia gives ceasefire in Mariupol
Russia’s Defense Ministry says it will save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers in the city of Mariupol if they lay down their arms by 5 a.m. Sunday morning, the Russian news agency TASS writes, according to Reuters.
According to Russian authorities, the remaining Ukrainian soldiers have fortified themselves at the Azovstal steelworks.
Tass quotes Colonel Mikhail Mizintsev in the Russian Ministry of Defense as saying that the situation at the steelworks is “catastrophic”.
Russia claims Ukrainian troops in Mariupol have asked for permission from Kyiv to surrender
This has not been confirmed by other sources.
Russia claimed earlier Saturday that the entire urban area of the besieged port city had been cleared of Ukrainian soldiers. It reported the news agency Reuters which quoted the Russian news agency RIA.
Earlier Saturday night, Ukrainian President Zelensky said the situation in Mariupol is extremely serious.
– This is what Russia has done. Intentionally. And they continue to deliberately destroy cities. Russia is trying to exterminate everyone in Mariupol, the president said.
Zelensky gave no details about the situation of Ukrainian forces in the port city.
– There are only two ways to influence this. Either our partners provide Ukraine with the necessary weapons and aircraft needed, without delay, so that we can reduce the pressure from the occupiers of Mariupol and liberate the city.
– Or we choose the negotiation path, where the role of the partners should also be decisive, Zelenskyj said.
Zelensky has previously said that peace talks will be shelved if Russia follows up on its threat to eliminate its defenders in Ukraine.
– Elimination of our troops will put an end to all negotiations. We do not negotiate either our territories or our people, Zelenskyj is said to have said, reports AFP.
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