The mayor of Mariupol announced the blockading of the port by Russian forces as Moscow and Kyiv gear up for talks this weekend
The strategic port city of Mariupol has now been under siege by Russian forces for days. Russian forces have cut electricity supplies, food, water, heating and transportation services in the middle of winter which reminds one of the blockading of Leningrad by the Nazi army during the Second World War.
Mayor Vadim Boychenko said,
“For now, we are looking for solutions to humanitarian problems and all possible ways to get Mariupol out of the blockade.”
The mayor has appealed for a ceasefire and for a corridor to allow humanitarian aid like food and medicine to reach Mariupol.
The siege of Mariupol comes days before talks between Ukraine and Russia
Two cities of Ukraine called Berdiansk and Kherson on the southern Black Sea coast are already under siege by Russian forces.
The siege of Mariupol, an important port city on the Azov Sea and populated by 450,000 people would be a strategic victory for Russian forces as Ukraine’s maritime access will be heavily affected by this capture.
It would also provide Russia access to bring troops from the annexed regions of Crimea and Donbas.
Spokesperson of the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov has announced that Russia is preparing for the third round of talks with Ukraine. These talks are scheduled to be held in Belarus this weekend. Mykhailo Podolyak, the advisor to the Ukrainian president said,
“The third leg could take place tomorrow or the day after, we are in constant contact.”
Having bombed several cities of Ukraine, military forces of Ukraine have announced on Facebook that Moscow’s priority target right now is to encircle Kyiv.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is expecting to appeal to President Joe Biden to provide Ukraine with further assistance this Saturday. Zelensky will be addressing the US Senate. Lawmakers are urging Biden to adopt stronger measures against Russia in this time of crisis which includes a ban on oil imports.
Since February 24, Russia has started what it calls “a special military operation” in Ukraine. Multiple Ukrainian cities have been bombed, hundreds of civilians have lost their lives. Europe’s largest power plant has also been set on fire by Russian forces.
Edited By- Subbuthai Padma
Published By- Satheesh Kumar
