Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered his troops to seal off Mariupol’s Azovstal steel plant.
This is a crucial point in the war where the last group of Ukrainian fighters is still holding out.
Ukrainian Deputy PM on the other hand demanded Russia to allow an immediate humanitarian corridor from the steelworks.
This will help evacuate those 1,000 civilians and 500 wounded soldiers who are stuck there.
Earlier this week, the Russian President even congratulated his defence minister Sergei Shoigu for taking control of Mariupol.
Issuing a new ultimatum for the defenders of Mariupol, it asked them to give up their resistance.
The warning comes from the Russian defence ministry after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the start of a new offensive by Russia, focused on the east of the former Soviet state.
“We once again call on the Kyiv authorities to show reason and give the corresponding orders to fighters to cease their senseless resistance,” the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.
“But, understanding that they will not get such instructions and orders from the Kyiv authorities, we call on (the fighters) to voluntarily take this decision and to lay down their arms.”
The ultimatum without making any direct mention of a new ground offensive, asks Ukrainian forces to lay down arms.
The United Nations, Pope, world leaders have been leading the calls for peace from both the side. But the war is still raging on.
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