Ukraine’s Zelenskyy sees hope in ‘confrontational’ Russia talks
Al JazeeraTalks between Ukraine and Russia are confrontational but moving forward, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday, as authorities appealed to the Russians to allow tens of thousands of people to escape the besieged city of Mariupol amid a worsening humanitarian crisis. Russian forces and Russian-backed separatist units had taken about half of the port city, Russia’s RIA news agency said, citing a separatist leader. Ukrainian troops drove Russian forces from the suburb of Makariv after a fierce battle, according to Ukraine’s Defence Ministry said, but added that Russian forces had partially taken other northwestern suburbs, Bucha, Hostomel and Irpin. A Western official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss military assessments, said Ukrainian resistance has brought much of Russia’s advance to a halt but has not sent Moscow’s forces into retreat. “Kherson’s 300k citizens face a humanitarian catastrophe owing to the Russian army’s blockade,” foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said on Twitter.