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After a three-way cellphone name with the Russian chief and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron’s workplace has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of “lies” for alleging that Ukrainian forces had dedicated human rights abuses.
France and Germany urged Putin Saturday to finish a lethal days-long siege of the Ukrainian port metropolis of Mariupol, the French presidency stated.
Putin spoke about “points associated to agreements below dialogue to implement the Russian calls for” for ending the battle, the Kremlin stated with out offering particulars.
The Kremlin stated Putin additionally advised Macron and Scholz about video calls between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators over the previous few days.
The Russian chief additionally repeated his allegation that Ukrainian forces utilizing civilians as shields had thwarted efforts to evacuate civilians from fight zones.
Ukraine’s navy stated Saturday that Russian forces captured Mariupol’s japanese outskirts, tightening the armed squeeze on the strategic port.
Taking Mariupol and different ports on the Azov Sea might permit Russia to determine a land hall to Crimea, which it seized from Ukraine in 2014.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky inspired his individuals to maintain up their resistance, which many analysts stated has prevented the speedy offensive and navy victory the Kremlin probably anticipated whereas planning to invade Russia’s ex-Soviet neighbor.
“The truth that the entire Ukrainian individuals resist these invaders has already gone down in historical past, however we shouldn’t have the correct to let up our protection, irrespective of how tough it could be for us,” he stated.
Zelensky additionally accused Russia of using “a brand new stage of terror” with the alleged kidnapping the mayor of Melitopol, a metropolis 192 kilometers (119 miles) west of Mariupol. After residents of the occupied metropolis demonstrated for the mayor’s launch Saturday, the Ukrainian chief known as on Russian forces to heed the calls.
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“Please hear in Moscow!” Zelensky stated Saturday. “One other protest in opposition to Russian troops, in opposition to makes an attempt to carry town to its knees.”
He stated 500-600 Russian troops had surrendered on Friday alone and that about 1,300 Ukrainian troops had been killed for the reason that battle started.
Greater than 2,000 residents of the southern metropolis, which is now below Russian management, protested outdoors town administration constructing to demand the discharge of the mayor, Ivan Fedorov, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the president’s workplace, stated.
In a number of areas across the capital, artillery barrages despatched residents scurrying for shelter and air raid sirens wailed.
Putin launched the invasion on Feb. 24 in an operation that has been virtually universally condemned all over the world and that has drawn robust Western sanctions on Russia.
The bombardment has trapped 1000’s of individuals in besieged cities and despatched 2.5 million Ukrainians fleeing to neighbouring international locations.
(With inputs from companies)
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