Russia announces that it has taken Mariupol after Putin ordered to stop the assault on the Azovstal steel mill as "inappropriate"

• Direct War Ukraine - Russia, live breaking news

The Russian Defense Ministry

reported that

has already fallen into the hands of Russian forces.

In fact, President

has congratulated

for the "successful" operation in the besieged city since practically the beginning of the

.

Putin

has also assured that

will guarantee the lives of the Ukrainian forces at the

steel mill and that they will be treated with respect.

President

has ordered the Russian military to cancel plans to storm the

plant in the Ukrainian port city of

, saying instead he wanted it to remain securely locked down.

"I consider the proposed assault on the industrial zone inappropriate. I order to cancel it," the president told the Defense Minister in a meeting broadcast on public television Rossía 24, reports Efe.

Putin gave the order to

who had previously told Putin that more than 2,000 Ukrainian fighters were still holed up in the vast plant, which has a large underground component.

Ukrainian negotiators ready to start talks with Russia

The head of the

negotiating delegation ,

, announced that he and adviser to the Office of the President and also a negotiator

are ready to travel to

and start talks with

as soon as

confirms the meeting.

Arahamiya made this announcement last night on his Telegram account, the local agency Ukrinform reported on Thursday.

"

and I are ready to go to

for talks with the Russian side on the evacuation of our military garrison and civilians," he said.

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