Thế Giới

The 53rd day of hostilities: Ukraine is determined to defend Mariupol to the end

On April 17, Ukraine announced that it would fight to the last moment in Mariupol, after ignoring the ultimatum given by Russia.

The 53rd day of war: Ukraine is determined to protect Mariupol to the end - photo 1

Ukrainian flag in the middle of Mariupol’s bombed-out building

reuters

“The city hasn’t fallen yet,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said, hours after the end of Russia’s ultimatum to the last Ukrainian units defending Mariupol. .

Decisive moment

The Russian Defense Ministry said there were 400 foreign mercenaries entrenched inside the Azovstal metallurgical plant along with Ukrainian soldiers. Kyiv has not yet commented on the mercenary information. Moscow called on this army to lay down its weapons and surrender if it wanted to save its life. The deadline given by Russia is 5:00 p.m. on April 17 (Vietnam time).

Quick view: Day 53 of the campaign, Russia continues to fire on Kyiv, about to take control of Mariupol

“Our armed forces are still there, the soldiers are still there. They will fight until their last breath,” Prime Minister of Ukraine Shmyhal said after the deadline expired.

According to Sputnik News, Moscow said that Kyiv ordered the fighters of the Azov battalion to “shoot down on the spot” anyone who wanted to surrender. Kyiv has not yet commented on this information.

Shmyhal acknowledged that Ukraine wanted to find a diplomatic solution to end the fighting. However, “if the Russians do not like to negotiate, we will fight to the last minute. We will not surrender,” he stressed.

While some cities are still under siege by Russian forces, the British believe that except for Kherson in the south, the Russians have not really defeated anywhere else. Ukrainian forces have liberated more than 900 cities and towns, according to British information.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said the country’s armed forces destroyed an ammunition factory near Kyiv, while Russian missiles also destroyed infrastructure in the city of Brovary, near the capital.

According to Russia, its forces shot down a transport plane military Western arms supply Odessa. Ukraine has not commented.

The 53rd day of war: Ukraine is determined to protect Mariupol to the end - photo 2

President Biden is considering sending senior officials to Kyiv

afp

American weapons to Ukraine

As Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine entered its 53rd day, the White House also confirmed that military aid shipments had begun to Ukraine. The US will first provide heavy weapons such as helicopters, howitzers, armored vehicles.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged his American counterpart Joe Biden to Kyiv, while stressing that he would not “cede the east” to end hostilities with Russia.

Another Russian general died in a military operation in Ukraine

Reuters cited sources familiar with the matter said that President Biden is considering sending Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin or Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Ukraine.

And Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dymtro Kuleba said that recently there has not been any diplomatic contact between Ukraine and Russia, after President Vladimir Putin said that the negotiation effort had reached a dead end.

Mr. Kuleba said that the foreign ministers of the two countries have not really had a formal dialogue, and the critical situation in Mariupol may be an obstacle to negotiations.

According to Bloomberg News, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has arrived in Kyiv in an effort to revive peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. The outcome of this new effort is unclear, and neither Russia nor Ukraine has commented.

The 53rd day of war: Ukraine is determined to protect Mariupol to the end - photo 3

Estonian Port of Tallinn

ts.ee

The embargo is in effect

From April 17, Estonia officially banned ships flying the Russian flag from entering its ports. Sputnik News quoted the announcement of the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure as saying that this is one of the general sanctions of the European Union (EU) to punish Russia for its military campaign in Ukraine.

EU ports also do not welcome warships that change from Russian flags to other countries’ flags after February 24, when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the operation to be carried out.

For its part, Bulgaria confirmed that the ban on Russian ships officially took effect from April 17.

British commandos again come to Ukraine to train in the use of weapons

On the same day, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asked member countries to quickly supply weapons and equipment to Ukraine. She suggested that the next round of EU sanctions should target Sberbank, Russia’s largest banking system, and take new measures on Russian oil and gas.

You are reading the article The 53rd day of hostilities: Ukraine is determined to defend Mariupol to the end

at Blogtuan.info – Source: thanhnien.vn – Read the original article here

Back to top button