Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zhelensky on Saturday warned that the “destruction” of the last Ukrainian troops in the besieged port city of Mariupol would “put an end to any peace talks” with Moscow.
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“The removal of our soldiers (in Mariupol)) for peace between Russia and Ukraine will put an end to any negotiations,” he said. Zhelensky made the announcement during an interview with several Ukrainian media outlets. In “A Stalemate”.
In terms of the number of people, “Mariupol, it could be ten times Borodianka”, blamed Mr Zelensky, a small Ukrainian town near Kyiv, which was destroyed after a scene of alleged abuses by shells and Russian soldiers during its occupation.
“And the more Porodianka there are, the harder it will be,” he stressed. “To be honest, we do not trust Mariupol’s negotiations.”
After the Ukrainian military announced on April 11 that it was preparing for a “final war” in this southeastern city, Mr. Zhelensky acknowledged the “very difficult situation.”
“Our players are surrounded,” he said. “After all, guys are constantly defending themselves.”
Forty days after its inception, the fighting is now concentrated in the vast industrial zone of Mariupol near the Sea of Azov. “Contact” with Ukrainian forces is maintained on the spot, Mr. Zhelensky said.
“This is not a humanitarian crisis, food, water or medicine,” he added, accusing Russia of “refusing” to establish humanitarian corridors.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian authorities estimated that between 20,000 and 22,000 people had died in the strategic city of Mariupol, with a population of 441,000 during the peacetime.
Negotiations between the protesters have been stalled for several days. Mykhaïlo Podoliak, an adviser to the Ukrainian president, said on Tuesday that they were “very difficult”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday accused Ukrainian negotiators of “instability.”
On Saturday, Mr. Zhelensky said he wanted a “two separate documents” peace agreement with Moscow. “One of them will handle security guarantees for Ukraine, and the other will directly address its relations with Russia.”
In this first document, he told the Ukrainian media in a similar interview that Ukraine’s security would be guaranteed “if some countries, such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy and Turkey,” showed their interest.
“Moscow wants to have a deal (…), but they do not really see all of them negotiating with Russia,” the Ukrainian president added.
