Russian forces are constantly shelling steel mills in the port of Mariupol, which is the last bastion of hundreds of Ukrainian defenders in a city almost completely controlled by the Russians after more than two months of siege. Ukraine claims that the stalemate has no military solution, proposing to evacuate the 38 most seriously injured defenders. If Moscow allows it, Kyiv promises to release a number of Russian prisoners of war.
“At the moment, very difficult negotiations are underway for the next phase of the evacuation mission – the removal of the seriously wounded, paramedics. We are talking about a large number of people, “said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday evening. “Of course we are doing everything we can to evacuate everyone else, each of our defenders. We have already involved everyone around the world who could be the most influential intermediaries, “he added, without giving details.
