Russia "Ukrainian Military Driven Out of Mariupol" Zelensky "If Ukrainian Military Eliminated, Negotiations Will Stop"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] As the Russian Ministry of Defense claims to have driven out all remaining Ukrainian forces resisting in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that if his country's troops are eliminated, all negotiations with Russia will be halted.

On the 16th (local time), according to local media in Ukraine and Russia, Russia asserted that Mariupol has been virtually captured. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated, "The entire urban area of Mariupol has been completely cleared," adding, "The remaining Ukrainian groups are now fully encircled in the Azovstal steel plant area." They emphasized, "The only chance for them to save their lives is to voluntarily lay down their arms and surrender." The Russian Ministry of Defense also announced that approximately 4,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died in Mariupol to date.

On the same day, President Zelensky said in an interview with the Ukrainian media Pravda, "If our troops and people in Mariupol are eliminated, all negotiations between Ukraine and Russia will be stopped."

He further raised his voice, saying, "Because we do not negotiate over territory and people, that will create a deadlock in the negotiations." Mariupol is a strategic point connecting Crimea, which Russia forcibly annexed in 2014, and the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatist forces. The Azov Regiment and Ukrainian Marines defending this area have been fiercely resisting for over 50 days but are reportedly reaching their limits.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.