“Elimination” of Ukrainian soldiers in Mariupol would break negotiations with Russia, says Zelensky

the ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskywarned this Saturday that “the elimination” of Ukrainian soldiers in Mariupola city besieged by Russia, “would put an end to any negotiation of peace” with Moscow.

“The elimination of our military, of our men (in Mariupol) will put an end to any negotiations” of peace between Russia and UkraineZelensky declared in an interview with the Ukraïnska Pravda website.

He has also warned that both parties would find themselves in a “dead end”.

In a matter of dead“Mariupol can be ten times Borodianka“, a small Ukrainian town near kyiv attacked and destroyed by Russian soldiers, Zelensky notes.

“The more (cases like) Borodianka are presented, the more difficult it will be” to negotiate, he stresses.

“To be honest, we don’t have any confidence in the Mariupol negotiations,” Zelensky stressed.

After the Ukrainian army announced on April 11 that it was preparing to “one last battle” in this southeastern city, the president of Ukraine admitted a “very difficult situation”.

“Our soldiers are surrounded and, despite everything, they continue to defend themselves,” he said.

“This means death for some of us and captivity for others,” the 36th Marine Brigade posted on Facebook.

The next day, the Ukrainian authorities claimed that the fighting left between 20,000 and 22,000 dead in Mariupol, a strategic city where 441,000 people lived in times of peace.

Forty days after starting, the fighting they are now concentrated in the vast industrial area of ​​Mariupol, near the Sea of ​​Azov.

“It is a humanitarian crisis, there is no food, water or medicine,” adds Zelensky, accusing Russia of “rejecting” the creation of humanitarian corridors.

Negotiations have been deadlocked for several days. Are “extremely difficult”an adviser to the Ukrainian presidency, Mykhailo Podoliak, said on Tuesday.

The Russian President, Vladimir PutinFor his part, he accused the Ukrainian negotiators of “lack of coherence.”

This Saturday, Zelensky stated that he wanted a peace treaty with Moscow consisting of “two separate documents”.

“One of them will refer to security guarantees for Ukraine, the other (will refer) directly to its relations with Russia.”

In this first document, Ukraine’s security would be guaranteed by some countries “that have shown” their interest, such as “the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy and Turkey,” he asserted in the same interview with the Ukrainian media.

“Moscow would like to have a single treaty (…) but not all states want to discuss with Russia,” added the Ukrainian president.