Kyiv/Moscow - Ukrainian authorities on Sunday prepared for a second attempt to evacuate civilians from Mariupol, a southern city pounded by a week-long Russian attack. Economic pressure on Moscow has intensified and diplomats shuttled around Europe to try to end the war.
Evacuations from Mariupol were scheduled to begin at noon local time (10 a.m. GMT), on declaration of a 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. local ceasefire, Ukrainian military authorities said. A similar cease-fire planned in Mariupol and in the nearby city of Volnovakha failed on Saturday, trapping women, children and elderly with more shelling and aerial bombardment by Russian forces.
The revived announcement came after Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and a Russian-speaking member of his Cabinet travelled to Moscow and spoke with Ukraine’s president in hopes of brokering a broader deal to stop the fighting, continuing into the 11 day.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited NATO member nations in Eastern Europe this weekend. The area has welcomed 1.5 million refugees across their borders since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. The head of the U.N. refugee agency called the exodus “the fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War II.”
Zelensky addresses nation
Zelensky Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy reiterated a request for foreign protectors to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Saturday that Moscow would consider a third-party declaration to close Ukrainian airspace to be a hostile act, and the West so far has rebuffed Zelenskyy’s pleas, fearing a confrontation with Russia.
As Russian forces surrounded several Ukrainian cities, Zelenskyy appeared on television Saturday night and rallied his people to remain defiant.
He sought to rally support from U.S. lawmakers on Saturday, speaking to more than 300 members of Congress via a video link. He pleaded for additional help, specifically fighter planes to help secure the skies over Ukraine, even as he insisted Russia was being defeated.
Russian troops were advancing on a third nuclear power plant, Zelenskyy said. They have already taken control of the Zaporizhzhia plant in Ukraine, as well as Chernobyl, the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster.
Putin still defiant
Russian President Vladimir Putin continued to blame the Ukrainian leadership for the war, slamming their resistance to Russian forces.
He also hit out at Western sanctions that crippled Russia’s economy and sent the value of its currency tumbling. Meanwhile, more companies are suspending operations in Russia, including Mastercard and Visa.
WHO condemns attacks on workers
The World Health Organization on Sunday condemned attacks on healthcare workers in Ukraine, saying it verified at least six such attacks that have killed six people and injured 11 others.
Attacks on healthcare workers are a violation of international humanitarian law, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Twitter.
The strength of Ukrainian resistance continues to surprise Russian forces, and they have responded by targeting populated areas, including the cities of Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Mariupol, the U.K. Ministry of Defense said in its daily intelligence briefing.
The death toll of the conflict is difficult to measure. The U.N. human rights office said at least 351 civilians have been confirmed killed, but the true number is probably much higher. Russian and Ukrainian defense officials have not provided information on their military causalities.
Another round of talks
A third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine will take place on Monday, according to Davyd Arakhamia, a member of the Ukrainian delegation. No additional details, including the venue was not made available.
Previous meetings were held in Belarus. Those talks led to the ceasefire agreement that failed Saturday and was revived Sunday.
Ukraine is vastly backed by the west, offering aid and weapon shipments and slapping Russia with vast sanctions. But no NATO troops have been sent to Ukraine, leaving Ukrainians to fight Russian troops.
The U.N. said it would increase its humanitarian operations both inside and outside Ukraine, and the Security Council is scheduled to meet on Monday.
The U.N. World Food Program has warned of an impending hunger crisis in Ukraine, a major global wheat supplier, saying millions will need food aid “immediately.”
-AP/Reuters