Zelenskyy explains what is being done and what is needed to save Mariupol

SEVHIL MUSAIEVA, OLENA ROSHCHINA —  SATURDAY, 16 APRIL 2022, 16:41

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that negotiations were underway to help Ukrainian defenders in Mariupol, but that the Russians are demanding that they surrender.

Source: Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with Ukrainian online media

Quote: "Mariupol. The situation is very difficult. Our military is blocked, the wounded are blocked. There is a humanitarian crisis - no food, no water, no medicine. Nevertheless, the guys are defending the city. And gratitude is not enough, so the negotiations are continuing. To be honest, there is no trust in the negotiators on Mariupol.

We agreed that there would be humanitarian corridors. We wanted to get the wounded people out, and our women and children, but Russia refused."

Details: Zelenskyy said that the authorities "keep in touch with the defenders at the blocked plant", and that the talks are taking place "at different levels".

"They know that they are carrying out the most powerful mission today. The enemy is so afraid of them that there are six times more enemy troops [than Ukrainian defenders]. There are several circles blocking Mariupol", the president said.

According to him, the Azov Regiment fighters are already heroes, and "no one would forbid them from taking certain steps."

Zelenskyy added that there is a big problem with missing people in Mariupol because the Russians are taking people out: "Many people have disappeared, we do not know how many people have disappeared."

Quote: "What can save Mariupol? A powerful weapon that must be provided as soon as possible. The second thing is the issue of negotiations.

A ceasefire is vitally needed to evacuate the wounded. But it depends on Russia being willing. They are suggesting to our people that they should surrender.

They treat our military differently there. And you know that perfectly well. And there are soldiers they hate and they are unlikely to save their lives. Yes, it could be another Ilovaisk." [The Battle of Ilovaisk took place on 29 August 2014. According to official Ukrainian data, 366-400 Ukrainian soldiers were trapped "in a bloody corridor" and killed by Russian-backed separatists.]