Kyiv offers Moscow special talks because Azovstal is being attacked and preparations are underway for the assault

OLENA ROSCHINA - SUNDAY, 24 APRIL, 2022, 11:07

Mykhailo Podoliak, an Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, says that Russian troops are continually attacking the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol, where Ukrainian defenders and civilians are sheltering underground. He is proposing special talks with Russia.

Source: Mykhailo Podoliak on Telegram

Quote: "Easter 2022. But right now the Russian Federation is attacking Azovstal in Mariupol non-stop. The place where our civilians and soldiers are sheltering is being peppered with heavy bombs and artillery shelling; and [Russian forces] are intensively concentrating their forces and equipment for the assault.

Who gave the order ‘not to storm’?

I suggest the Russian Federation think about the remnants of their reputation."

Details: According to Podoliak, three "Mariupol steps" are needed to save Russia’s reputation:

1. Announce a genuine Easter truce over Mariupol.
2. Immediately provide a humanitarian corridor for civilians.
3. Agree on a "special round of talks" for the Ukrainian side to withdraw or exchange troops.

Previously: On 20 April Davyd Arakhamia and Mykhailo Podoliak, members of the Ukrainian negotiating delegation, said they were prepared to meet the Russian negotiating delegation in Mariupol to discuss the evacuation of the military garrison remaining in the city. The Russian Federation has still not responded to this proposal.

Background:

• On 21 April President Vladimir Putin of Russia publicly asked Russian Minister of Defence Sergey Shoigu to stop the assault on the Azovstal plant in order to save the lives of Russian soldiers. Putin explained: "We don’t need to try and get into the dungeons, we just need to blockade the industrial zone of Azovstal so that not even a fly can get in."
• UK intelligence suggests that Putin might want to redeploy some of the Russian forces in Mariupol on another front, since Russian troops would incur significant losses by continuing the assault on the Azovstal plant.
• Ukrainian intelligence believes that Putin might deploy Russian Guards and Federal Security Service officers to continue the assault on Azovstal.
• On the morning of 24 April, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced that the Russian army was continuing to shell and blockade Ukrainian units in the Azovstal area. It is carrying out air strikes using long-range aircraft.