Zelensky accuses Russian forces of obstructing evacuation of civilians

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday blamed the Russian military for failing to evacuate civilians through so-called humanitarian corridors set up following talks between Kiev and Moscow.

“We agreed on the humanitarian corridors. Did they work? Did the Russian tanks, the Grands, the mines work, did they work?” Telegram.

He also accused Russian forces of “mining the road agreed to be used to transport food and medicine” to besieged Mariupol in southern Ukraine, and of “destroying buses” to evacuate civilians from war zones.

He accused Russia of “cynicism”, claiming that it had opened “a very small corridor to the occupied territories for a few dozen people”, for “propaganda” purposes, to be shown “by the cameras”.

He noted, however, that negotiations with Moscow would continue. “We are realistic. That is what we will talk about. We will insist on negotiations until we find a way to tell our people: this is how we came to peace.”

Moscow announced yesterday morning a ceasefire in various locations and the opening of corridors to allow civilians to leave Ukrainian cities under siege, as the humanitarian crisis worsens with each passing day and food is now in short supply.

But Kyiv refused to evacuate civilians to Russia, where four of Moscow’s six corridors were headed, or to Belarus. After new negotiations, Russia announced that today a new ceasefire will take effect locally from 09:00 to leave the civilians. The routes to be followed remain to be approved by the Ukrainian side, he added.

Mr. Zelensky assured in the video that he will not leave the capital, despite the fact that the siege of the Russian forces is tightening and fighting is taking place. “I live here, I live in Kyiv,” he said, “I’m not afraid.” “It is the twelfth night of our match (…). We are all here, everyone is working. I am in Kyiv, my team is with me,” he insisted. “Every day that Ukraine is at war creates ‘better conditions,'” he said.

According to the services of the Ukrainian president, all Ukrainian soldiers deployed in missions abroad (Kosovo, DR Congo, Cλεte d’Ivoire, according to Ukrainian media) were recalled to Ukraine to take part in the war.

SOURCE: AMPE

Source: Capital

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