Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that negotiations with Russia will be halted if the Russian-held southern port city of Mariupol eliminates resistance in the city of Mariupol.
According to the AFP news agency, President Zelensky said in an interview with Ukrainian media Pravda on the 16th local time that "if we get rid of our troops and our people in Mariupol, any negotiations with Russia will be stopped."
President Zelensky added, "This will make the negotiations deadlock because we are not negotiating over territory and people."
Mariupol is a key point connecting the Crimean Peninsula of Ukraine, which was annexed by Russia in 2014 by force, with the eastern Donbas region.
As a result, Russia continues to siege Mariupol as its top target.
On the other hand, the Azov Regiment and Ukrainian Marines defending the area have been fighting for more than 50 days, but it is known that they have reached their limit.