Ukraine War on Day 58: Struggle in Donbass, Mariupol situation is not over yet

Pro-Russian forces in Mariupol, Ukraine on April 21 reuters

Negotiations stalled

According to Reuters, the negotiators Russia and Ukraine held talks on April 22. Russia’s chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky confirmed that “several long conversations” had been held, but he gave no details. Earlier this week, Kremlin said Russia had submitted a new proposal in writing, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had neither seen nor heard of the proposal.

On the same day, April 22, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remained stalled.

“Negotiations have now stalled. Our latest proposal was presented to the Ukrainian negotiators five days ago. The proposal took into account the comments we received from them, but we still unanswered,” Lavrov said at a meeting.

Fierce fighting in the East

The British Ministry of Defense on April 22 assessed that shelling and fierce fighting continued in the region Donbass in eastern Ukraine. Earlier, aide Olena Symonenko to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that on April 21, Russia had taken control of 42 villages in the Donetsk region of the Donbass region, and announced that Ukraine would take them back.

Meanwhile, the situation in the city Mariupol in the Donbass region is still unclear. Russian President Vladimir Putin On April 21, it was confirmed that Mariupol had been “liberated”, except for the Azovstal steel factory, Ukraine’s last fortress in the city. Putin also said that Russia does not need to attack Azovstal, but only needs to tightly blockade it.

However, the US State Department on April 21 said Ukrainian troops were still resisting in Mariupol and what Russia showed was intended to distract the enemy, according to Reuters. The Ukrainian side believes that President Putin wants to avoid a final clash with Ukrainian forces in Mariupol because Russia lacks troops to defeat Ukrainian troops.

He also identified an attack on a steel mill AzovstalUkraine’s last fortress in the city of Mariupol, would likely inflict significant casualties on the Russian side, further reducing their overall operational effectiveness.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on April 22 denied that the US said Ukraine was still entrenched in Mariupol.

See more: President Putin claims victory in the biggest battle in Ukraine

France sends heavy weapons to Ukraine

AFP reported French President Emmanuel Macron On April 22, it was reported that the country was sending some heavy artillery to Ukraine.

“We are supplying important assets, from Milan (anti-tank missiles) to Caesar (self-propelled artillery). I think we have to continue down this path, but always make sure we have a red line that we are. will not become a party to the conflict,” Macron told a local newspaper.

French Defense Minister Florence Parly confirmed on Twitter that the country would send “several Caesar cannons and thousands of shells”. However, the Elysee Palace declined to provide details on how many weapons were shipped.

Critical stage in conflict

Reuters on April 22 quoted a senior official of European Union Russia is likely to increase pressure in eastern Ukraine and along the coast. This person also said that the following weeks are likely to determine the outcome of the conflict.

On the same day, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also said there is a “real possibility” that fighting in Ukraine could last until the end of next year as Ukraine fiercely resists the Russian advance.

Russia declares readiness for ceasefire in Mariupol

Russia’s Defense Ministry said on April 22 that it was ready for a humanitarian ceasefire at the Azovstal steel plant if Ukrainian soldiers raised a white flag.

“We once again declare that Russia is ready to cease fire at any time and suspend fighting for humanitarian reasons in order to evacuate civilians,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The agency added that the ceasefire would begin with Ukrainian forces “raising a white flag around or in certain areas of Azovstal”.

Ukraine says hundreds of soldiers and civilians are still entrenched inside the Azovstal steel plant and has repeatedly called for a ceasefire to allow women, children and the elderly to get out of the city safely.

See more: Russia says ready to cease fire in Mariupol if Ukrainian soldiers raise white flags

Russia announced the new goal of the campaign?

According to the TASS news agency, Major General Rustam Minnekayev, deputy commander of Russia’s Central Military District, said on April 22 that Russia plans to completely control the Donbass region and southern Ukraine in the second phase of the military operation.

Minnekayev also announced that Russia plans to create a land belt between the Crimean peninsula and the Donbass region. At a press conference afterward, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Minnekayev’s remarks.

See more: The Russian army announced the goals of the new advance in Ukraine