Russian forces storm Mariupol steel plant
PUTIN TELLS MACRON WEST MUST STOP SENDING ARMS
Russian forces yesterday began storming the steel plant that represented the last pocket of resistance in Mariupol just as a convoy carrying civilians evacuated from the plant over the weekend reached the safety of a Ukrainian-controlled city.
In a Telegram video, Captain Sviatoslav Palamar of Ukraine’s Azov Regiment said that Russia pounded the Azovstal plant with artillery and dropped heavy bombs. Russia’s defence ministry said Ukrainian forces had used the ceasefire to establish new firing positions, and that Russia-backed forces were now “beginning to destroy” those positions.
More than 200 civilians remain in the Azovstal steel plant, with a total of 100,000 civilians still in the city.
High-precision missiles also struck an airfield near the port of Odesa where advanced drones and ammunition supplied to Ukraine by the US and EU allies were stored.
First evacuees reach safety
This came as the first convoy of evacuees from the plant arrived in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia, some 230km northwest of Mariupol. Osnat Lubrani, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, said that thanks to the evacuation effort, “101 women, men, children and older persons could finally leave the bunkers below the Azovstal steelworks and see the daylight after two months”.
‘Ukraine’s finest hour’
The European Commission was expected to finalise a ban on buying Russian oil yesterday. The US Congress is considering a $33 billion military aid package, and the UK this week vowed an additional $375 million in defence assistance.
“This is Ukraine’s finest hour, [one] that will be remembered and recounted for generations to come,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in an address to Ukraine’s parliament via videolink.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin told French counterpart Emmanuel Macron during a twohour call yesterday that the West must stop supplying weapons to Ukraine and accused Kyiv of not taking talks to end the conflict seriously.
Accusing Ukrainian forces of committing war crimes, Putin told Macron “the West could help stop these atrocities by putting relevant pressure on the Kyiv authorities”.
Ambassadors from EU countries will discuss the proposed sanctions today. Putin responded with a decree yesterday to allow retaliatory economic sanctions against “unfriendly” foreign states.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has told French President Emmanuel Macron that Moscow is ready for talks with Ukraine.
The Kremlin said in its readout of yesterday’s call that “despite Kyiv’s inconsistency and its lack of readiness for serious work, the Russian side is still ready for dialogue”.
The Kremlin added that Putin also informed Macron about the course of Russia’s “special military operation”. It added that the two leaders also discussed the global food security and Putin underlined that Western sanctions have exacerbated the situation.
Meanwhile, Russia launched an attack on the encircled Azovstal steel works in Mariupol, Ukraine’s last redoubt in the port city, after a ceasefire broke down yesterday with some 200 civilians trapped underground despite a UN-brokered evacuation.
In a Telegram video, Captain Sviatoslav Palamar of Ukraine’s Azov Regiment said that Russia pounded the steel works with naval and barrel artillery through the night and dropped heavy bombs from planes.
He said that two civilians were killed and 10 injured, without providing evidence.
EU set to shun Russian oil
Yesterday, the European Commission was expected to finalise a ban on buying Russian oil in an effort to squeeze Moscow’s war chest. The US Congress is considering a $33 billion military aid package, and the United Kingdom this week vowed an additional $375 million in defence assistance.
In Brussels, the European Commission was expected to approve a proposed sixth package of sanctions, including a possible embargo on Russian oil. In a major shift, Germany said it was prepared to back an immediate oil embargo.
Kyiv says Russia’s energy exports to Europe, so far largely exempt from international sanctions, are funding the Kremlin war effort.
“This package should include clear steps to block Russia’s revenues from energy resources,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
EU countries have paid more than €47 billion ($47.43 billion) to Russia for gas and oil since it invaded Ukraine, according to research organisation the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
Putin decree
Envoys from EU countries will discuss the proposed sanctions when they meet today. Putin responded with a decree yesterday to allow retaliatory economic sanctions against “unfriendly” foreign states.
“This is Ukraine’s finest hour, [one] that will be remembered and recounted for generations to come,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in an address to Ukraine’s parliament via video link.
Pope Francis said in an interview published yesterday that he had asked for a meeting in Moscow with Putin to try to stop the war but had not received a response.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Putin’s policies were imperialistic, and that he would support Finland and Sweden if they decided to join Nato, as each is now considering.