French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to once again allow Ukrainian civilians to leave the Azovstal industrial complex in Mariupol where Russian forces launched a powerful attack on Tuesday morning. .
According to Élysée, the two men talked on the phone for more than two hours in the morning. This is the first time they have spoken since March 29 when the Boutcha massacre was discovered.
At their meeting, President Macron asked Vladimir Putin to allow humanitarian organizations to participate in the evacuation of civilians and give them the option – in accordance with international humanitarian law – to go where they want when they leave the industry. enclosure besieged for several weeks by the Russian forces.
On Monday, at least 101 civilians trapped underground in the Azovstal metallurgical complex were evacuated to the city of Zaporizhia where they arrived on Tuesday, according toUN.
These civilians found refuge in the Ukrainian soldiers who took refuge in the factory where they are still resisting the relentless attacks and bombing of Russian forces trying to overtake the last Ukrainian bastion in the port city of Mariupol.
Still according to Élysée, Emmanuel Macron repeated his willingness to work in terms of a negotiated solution to allow peace and full respect for the sovereignty and integrity of the territory of Ukrainewhile repeating his ceasefire request.
The French Head of State also said he was ready to do so cooperate with relevant international organizations to help remove Russia’s blockade of food exports to Ukraine via the Black Sea.
In their interview, Emmanuel Macron again expressed intense concern about Mariupol and the situation in Donbass where Moscow is now focusing its military offensive to consolidate its conquests of eastern Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose military forces on Tuesday launched a powerful attack on the Azovstal complex, responded with his vis-à-vis the West can help prevent these atrocities by giving appropriate influence to the kyiv authorities, as well as by stopping the supply of arms to Ukrainereported Russia’s official newspaper, citing the Kremlin.
Offensive against the Azovstal complex
Russia’s offensive launched on Tuesday morning against the Azovstal plant was also confirmed by a spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense, Vadim Astafiev, who accused Ukrainian fighters of still holding installations that took advantage of the weekend ceasefire. to set up new firing positions. .
According to the deputy commander of the Azov regiment Svyatoslav Palamar, artillery fire at night gave way to an attack by ground troops supported by armored vehicles, tanks and boats.
Meanwhile, the last Ukrainian defender of Mariupol lacked heavy weapons and a supply of weapons and ammunition to repel the attack.
In an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday, Emmanuel Macron announced that France is to strengthen the shipment of military equipment to Ukraine as well as its humanitarian aid, which until now extends to more than 615 tons of equipment were carried in the country.
Earlier on Tuesday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to send 300 million pounds (484 million Canadian dollars) as additional military aid to Ukrainian forces.
Source: Radio-Canada
