Russian troops that continue to invade Ukraine are intensifying their offensive, including announcing that they are fighting in the center of eastern Mariupol on the 18th, and there are concerns about further civilian casualties.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin argued for legitimacy by addressing that "the purpose of the military operation is to free people from genocide," and called for support from the Russian people.
The Russian army, which continues to invade Ukraine, is intensifying its offensive by announcing on the 18th that troops have narrowed the siege and are continuing to fight in the center of the city toward the seizure of eastern Mariupol.
Ukrainian President Zelensky said that "hundreds of people are still under the debris" about the destruction of the shelter theater in Mariupol, and rescue operations are struggling as the bombardment continues. I made it clear.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has announced that at least 816 civilians, including 59 children, have been confirmed dead by the 17th, and the number of casualties continues to grow.
Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have continued online since the 14th, and over the "neutralization" of Ukraine that Russia has sought, another security alternative to NATO's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It seems that discussions about the framework are continuing.
On the 18th, Russia's delegation leader, Vladimir Medinsky, said, "Ukraine's neutral status and non-membership with NATO are the closest issues between the two sides." Many issues have a gap in position.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian delegation's adviser to the Presidential Office of Podryak posted on Twitter, "Our position remains the same. It is a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Russian troops, and a concrete and strong security framework," and attacked the Russian troops. I asked you to stop.
Under these circumstances, President Putin made a speech at the venue of a commemorative event held in the capital Moscow on the 18th, eight years after Russia unilaterally annexed Crimean in southern Ukraine. It is the purpose of military operations, "he reiterated the legitimacy of the military invasion.
It has been pointed out that the Russian military invasion has been delayed significantly from the original plan due to the fierce resistance of the Ukrainian army, and the Russian economy has been severely damaged by severe sanctions from Europe and the United States. It is a form that calls for support.
Meanwhile, President Zelensky said in a video message, "We have the pure goal of protecting the people and the nation, but we lack weapons and fighters," and state-of-the-art weapons for Western countries. I asked for the donation of.
President Putin “Aiming to free people from genocide”
At the venue of the commemorative event in the capital Moscow, Putin addressed about 100,000 participants, saying, "The purpose of the military operation is to free people from suffering and genocide." He reiterated the legitimacy of the military invasion and called on the people to support it.
Putin also argued that the annexation of Crimean in 2014 "needed to save Crimean from a humiliating position."
On the other hand, this situation was broadcast on Russian state television, but in the middle of President Putin's speech, the screen suddenly changed and the state of the music concert was played.
After that, all the speeches were broadcast again, and a spokesman for the Russian Presidential Administration, Peskov, explained that it was "caused by a technical failure on the server."
The interruption of President Putin's speech on national television broadcasts is unusual, and the troubles at events that raise the patriotism of the people and call for unity are spreading on the Internet, such as "what happened?"
President of Ukraine “Russia pays for the war”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video message posted on social media on the 18th, "Russian military invasion will destroy everything that Russian society has built over the last 25 years. Not only will you lose your freedom, but that's the price of this war, "he reiterated that the military invasion was unjustified.
"We have a pure goal of protecting the people and the nation, but we lack weapons and fighters," he said, calling on Western countries to provide state-of-the-art weapons, and Russia. He argued that measures such as the suspension of the entry of ships into the port and the withdrawal of private companies from Russia should be taken.
Also, regarding the destruction of the theater that was a refuge in eastern Mariupol, where the Russian army continued to attack violently, "I heard that more than 130 people were rescued, but hundreds are still under the debris." He said that rescue operations were in trouble as the bombardment continued.
Telephone talks with German and French leaders Putin “Prompt ceasefire”
As civilian casualties from the military invasion increased, German and French leaders held a series of telephone talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the 18th, calling for a swift ceasefire.
According to the French presidential office, President Macron called for an immediate ceasefire over the eastern Mariupol, where Russian troops are intensifying, to lift the siege by the military to provide humanitarian assistance such as the rescue of civilians. ..
According to the German government, Prime Minister Olaf Scholz also called on President Putin to stop the fighting promptly and settle it by diplomacy.
On the other hand, according to the Presidential Administration of Russia, Putin insisted that "Russia is making every effort to save the lives of civilians" in response to these demands, and that "Ukraine is unrealistic" regarding the ceasefire negotiations. I'm trying to make a good proposal and use all means to delay the negotiation process. "