Ukrainian officials have said negotiations with Russia could end over the military situation in the southeastern city of Mariupol, which has been under siege for about seven weeks.
“The destruction of all our guys in Mariupol — what they are doing now — can put an end to any format of negotiations. I think it is their big mistake to say that they really want to end the war,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday.
Russia said Saturday that it had cleared all urban areas in Mariupol, but Ukrainian soldiers are holding out at the Azovstal iron and steelworks plant. The Russian Defense Ministry said if the Ukrainian troops in Mariupol surrendered by 1 PM local time on Sunday, their lives would be spared, but the deadline was rejected by Ukraine.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned on Sunday that the situation in Mariupol could be a “red line” for the negotiations with Moscow and said there had not been any recent high-level communication between Russia and Ukraine. “We didn’t really have any contacts with Russian diplomats in recent weeks at the level of foreign ministries,” he said.
“The only level of contact is the negotiating team that consists of the representatives of various institutions and members of parliament. They continue their consultations at the expert level but no high-level talks are taking place,” Kuleba added.
Some of Russia’s key demands for a potential peace deal include Ukraine recognizing Crimea as Russian territory and recognizing the independence of the breakaway Donbas republics. In an interview that aired Sunday, Zelensky reaffirmed his position that he is not willing to cede any territory.
“Ukraine and the people of our states are absolutely clear: We don’t want anyone else’s territory and we are not going to give up our own,” Zelensky said. “We cannot give up our territory, but we must find at least some dialogue with Russia if they are capable and if we are still ready. But the chances of this are growing less by the day.”
Russia also wants Ukraine to give a guarantee that it won’t ever join NATO. In a draft peace deal put forward by Kyiv, Ukraine would drop its bid to join the Western military alliance but is asking for security guarantees from NATO countries, which is likely a non-starter for Moscow.
The US and most of its NATO allies have shown little interest in pushing for a diplomatic solution. Instead, they are pouring weapons into the country and imposing sanctions aimed at isolating the Russian economy.
I think it might be too late for that Volod. The Azhol Battalion is no more.
Time to drop the larger bombs on the steel plant.
I think you hit the nail on the head! The remaining fighters are hiding there because they know Russia doesn’t want to completely destroy the plant. Propaganda aside, Russia wants to rebuild Mariupol, and they don’t want to hand Zelensky another propaganda victory.
I assume a Russian General would be asking himself: “Is it worth it to keep my forces tied up in Mariupol, or should I just get this done and move my forces to more critical areas?”
Complicating the answer is the fact that Azov fighters there may have high value information, including the possible knowledge of covert and arms smuggling operations conducted by other countries.
They are NAZIs. Apparently, Zelensky likes them. Never mind the Ukraine nationalists that took part in the Holocaust. We like them too. Operation Paperclip, courtesy of Allen Dulles, brought NAZI war criminals to work for the new and improved OSS, the CIA. NAZI engineers too.
Yes, the NAZIS are called Wagner!
I just read from Associated Press:
“Meanwhile, in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Denys Prokopenko, commander of the Azov Regiment of the Ukrainian National Guard that was holding out against Russian forces, said in a video message that Russia had begun dropping bunker-buster bombs on the Azovstal steel plant where the regiment was holed up.”
Go bigger!
Drugs and hallucination.
WHAT negotiations???Ze pulled back on the little suggestions he accepted once his handlers got hold of him, and has refused all Russia’s demands and even pretends he cares about the Donbass. what a threat!!
Between the clown Zelensky and Dmytro Kuleba the hyperbolic amateur there is no leadership in Ukraine. They would fight to the last Ukrainian rather then negotiate in good faith and save lives.
Zelensky will end up directing imaginary armies from his bunker like Adolf Hitler in his last days.
What he means, is the Azov Battalion and members of C14 are doing battle.
It’s nice of Russia to let them decide their own fate, live or the alternative their leader seems to wish on them…!!!!!
Vladimir Putin has lost his eighth general fighting in Ukraine, in another major blow to his war effort.
Major General Vladimir Frolov, deputy commander of the 8th Combined Arms Army, was laid to rest with full military honours in St Petersburg.
It is unknown how he died, where he met his demise or if he suffered a lot.
His unit is believed to have been deployed in the area around besieged Mariupol.
Remember how Ukraine was winning this war right? US now Tells Kiev to Withdraw/Surrender before Russia Destroys its Massive ‘Eastern’ Army in Donbass. Oops….
We have a new additional republic in the Donbass, the Kherson Peoples Republic. Oops…….
Ukraine is getting smaller and smaller, Donbass is getting bigger and bigger. Oops…
“US now Tells Kiev to Withdraw/Surrender before Russia Destroys its Massive ‘Eastern’ Army in Donbass.“
Do you have any reference to that, or are you just drunk (again)?
“We have a new additional republic in the Donbass, the Kherson Peoples Republic. “
We now have 20,000 dead and 50,000 wounded young Russians. Can only imagine how it is to live in Russia with only one arm or one leg.
Oops…..
“Ukraine is getting smaller and smaller, Donbass is getting bigger and bigger.”
Russia is getting weaker and weaker, NATO is getting bigger and bigger (welcome Sweden and Finland).
Oops…..
They’ve already ended. Personally I think the important thing to do is bomb the steel plant until all above ground structures are collapsed, sealing the defenders in their bunkers to die of starvation and suicide. Some people think they should be rooted out so valuable intelligence can be gained. I don’t think whatever intelligence is in there is worth any more Russian lives taken by Nazis or slowing the Donbass operation.
What an idiot!
When his troups ask fir lermission to surrender — bis reoly is, yoyu surrender and will.be shot as desertersx.
And ifRussians kill them — threatens to cut off non-existant negotiations. He fires generals as traitoirs — wonder what was thejr fate?
His leadership strategy? If Russians do not kill you — I will. Good for morale.
Bianca, you can’t write comments when you have been drinking several bottles.
I can see on your spelling that you are struggling to just sit up in front of your computer.
If I’m not mistaken, she’s previously said she posts mostly from her phone. Which is a real pain in the ass to correct typos on.
If you don’t like what she posts, use the “block” button. That might give you the extra time you need to learn some fvcking manners.
You are actually mistaken, it’s obvious that “Bianca” is not only drunk as a skunk but also batsh!t crazy.
Maybe it’s a Russian made phone though, that could explain the spelling mess but not the idiotic content.
Please use the “block” button on me because when I see something as stupid as that again, my response will be the same. Also, given her previous comments, her alcoholism seems to be chronic.
Unfortunately, I’m the one person here who can’t use the “block” button, since I have to moderate all comments, including those by boring and predictable trolls like yourself.
Why do you call me a troll?
I hope you are aware that this site is full of orc trolls?
Russia’s central bank conceded it’s found no clear alternatives to the world’s major reserve currencies after sanctions over the war with Ukraine left it in possession of only yuan and gold.
Before the invasion, the Bank of Russia spent years reducing exposure to the dollar, bringing its share to just under 11% at the end of last year. But more than a third of the total was in euros — on top of additional investments into currencies such as the British pound and yen — making it possible for international governments to freeze about half of the stockpile in retaliation for President Vladimir Putin’s attack.
More than a month into the war, the central bank has yet to identify other options, according to Governor Elvira Nabiullina. Speaking Monday in front of a parliamentary committee in Moscow, she said it was too early to draw lessons for what Russia should do differently.
Oops…
Yes, the Russian central bank (and the policymakers above it) apparently erroneously assumed that the EU wouldn’t cut them off.
But the sanctions cut both ways. Europe imports a lot of Russian stuff. In addition to oil and coal, Russia is the world’s biggest exporter of wheat, non-fillet frozen fish, and pig and semi-finished iron as well as nickel. European consumers are going to be paying more for those things — and exporting fewer vehicle parts, medicines, and computers (two of their top suppliers are Germany and Italy).
Meanwhile, China and India are going to be benefiting from both ends of those sanctions — new export opportunities, cheaper energy, etc.
Russia is probably going to get by more easily, and with less popular complaint, than the EU countries.
There are intense battles in the north (near Izyum). The AFU is throwing everything they have into the battle. Multiple reports of planes shot down which means they’re desperately using the last of their aviation, but entire units have been completely wiped out and captured.
Many of the captures are from cities in the far West which means these are mobilized reserves sent to stop the Russian advances. There is a realisation amongst many Ukrainian soldiers that they are being used as cannon fodder to pursue Anglo Saxon and Neo-Nazi ambitions of Russian elimination, hence the increase in laying down arms.
And after that you woke up and realised it was just.., a dream of yours, haha.
man, nice kabuki Zelenski darling!
Is the world going to be shamed for not saving them with airpower?
It worked before.
He is playing chess with his people and he is a terrible strategist to get more military backing.
Those Conscripted steel workers expect a ground offensive inside their plant to hold their ground?
so here is the rub : does Russia want Ukraine infrastructure to occupy and preserve the steel plant for themselves? huh?
Our experts think they want it as a spoil of war.
Do they? Does Zelenski think he has a chance without foriegn intervention?
Is the whirld going to rescue Azov Battalion rednecks for Zelenski? Or let them die with no permission to surrender?
The humanity issue is these guys run that plant and he is not going to save them for later Reconstruction. They are his cannon fodder.