Mariupol defiance ‘changed the course of Ukraine war’
Ukrainian presidential adviser says talks on evacuating more people from the city’s Azovstal steel works are continuing
17 May 2022 - 14:22
by Agency Staff
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Local residents walk past a destroyed building during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine May 12 2022. Picture: REUTERS/ALEXANDER ERMOCHENKO
Kyiv — The defenders of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol changed the course of the war with Russia by holding out for 82 days, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak says.
Podolyak said in televised comments on Tuesday that the defence of the port city had interrupted Russia’s operation to seize swathes of territory in eastern and southern Ukraine.
He added that talks on evacuating more people from Mariupol’s Azovstal steel works, the last bastion of defence in the city after weeks of Russian siege and bombardment, were difficult but that there was hope they would be successful.
Some Azovstal defenders have started to surrender, heralding the end of Europe’s bloodiest battle in decades. Ukraine believes tens of thousands of people were killed in the battle for Mariupol.
“Because Mariupol drew in the Russian Federation’s forces for 82 days, the operation to seize the east and south [of Ukraine] was held up. It changed the course of the war,” Podolyak said.
Though Mariupol’s complete capture would represent Russia’s biggest victory of the war, its campaign has faltered elsewhere.
Russian troops around Ukraine’s second-largest city of Kharkiv in the northeast lately retreated at the fastest pace since they were driven out of the north and the area around the capital Kyiv at the end of March.
Podolyak, Ukraine’s lead negotiator, reiterated that Ukraine was not prepared to give away territory in negotiations so that Russian President Vladimir Putin could save face.
He said peace talks with Russia were effectively frozen but that they could restart if there were concrete issues to discuss.
“Objectively speaking, the negotiation process is indeed in a pause ... but I underline that any war will all the same end at the negotiating table,” he said.
Ukraine and Russia have not held face-to-face peace talks since March 29. Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky was quoted by Interfax news agency last week as saying peace talks were being held remotely.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Mariupol defiance ‘changed the course of Ukraine war’
Ukrainian presidential adviser says talks on evacuating more people from the city’s Azovstal steel works are continuing
Kyiv — The defenders of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol changed the course of the war with Russia by holding out for 82 days, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak says.
Podolyak said in televised comments on Tuesday that the defence of the port city had interrupted Russia’s operation to seize swathes of territory in eastern and southern Ukraine.
He added that talks on evacuating more people from Mariupol’s Azovstal steel works, the last bastion of defence in the city after weeks of Russian siege and bombardment, were difficult but that there was hope they would be successful.
Some Azovstal defenders have started to surrender, heralding the end of Europe’s bloodiest battle in decades. Ukraine believes tens of thousands of people were killed in the battle for Mariupol.
“Because Mariupol drew in the Russian Federation’s forces for 82 days, the operation to seize the east and south [of Ukraine] was held up. It changed the course of the war,” Podolyak said.
Though Mariupol’s complete capture would represent Russia’s biggest victory of the war, its campaign has faltered elsewhere.
Russian troops around Ukraine’s second-largest city of Kharkiv in the northeast lately retreated at the fastest pace since they were driven out of the north and the area around the capital Kyiv at the end of March.
Podolyak, Ukraine’s lead negotiator, reiterated that Ukraine was not prepared to give away territory in negotiations so that Russian President Vladimir Putin could save face.
He said peace talks with Russia were effectively frozen but that they could restart if there were concrete issues to discuss.
“Objectively speaking, the negotiation process is indeed in a pause ... but I underline that any war will all the same end at the negotiating table,” he said.
Ukraine and Russia have not held face-to-face peace talks since March 29. Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky was quoted by Interfax news agency last week as saying peace talks were being held remotely.
Reuters
Front lines shift in Donbas as Ukraine mounts counteroffensive
Ukraine evacuates last troops from Mariupol
Ukraine claims successes in the northeast as it pushes Russian forces back
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.