Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared that if the people in Mariupol city are killed, Ukraine will withdraw from any form of negotiation with Russia.

Zelenskyy made the declaration on Saturday during an unusual press conference held at a crowded metro or train station in Kyiv.

According to Zelenskyy, Saturday, April 23, 2022 was one of the toughest days for Mariupol defenders who he said are facing fire from Russian ships, tanks, planes and artillery.

“If our people in Mariupol are killed, if pseudo-referendums are announced in the new pseudo-republics, Ukraine will withdraw from any negotiation process,” Zelenskyy said as translated by the Kyiv Independent News media.

The city of Mariupol located in the Donetsk Oblast in Ukraine had been under attack since the war began on February 24,2022.

Russian forces largely besieged the city on March 2nd.

Ukrainian authorities claimed over 21,000 civilians have been killed.

Russia government few days ago had claimed complete control of Mariupol, a claim, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed as false, adding, Ukraine would take back parts of the city under Russia siege once the country gets quick delivery of weapons from Western countries.

Russia President, Vladimir Putin had called off a planned Russian assault on the Azovstal Plant steelworks. Azovstal plant has alot of tunnels and workshops.

Putin ordered his troops to seal it off instead.

“Block off this industrial area so that a fly cannot pass through”, Putin said.

Russian troops have been facing resistance from remaining defending Ukrainian soldiers in the Azov Regiment securing thousands of civilians in the Azovstal plant, the last part of Mariupol not under Russia control according to BBC.

BBC quoting one of Ukrainian defenders in the Azovstal plant, Svyatoslav Palamar from the controversial Azov regiment said defenders had repelled waves of Russian attacks.

“I always say that as long as we are here, Mariupol remains under control of Ukraine,” he said.

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