Russia Declares Ceasefire In 4 Ukraine Cities Including Kyiv For Evacuations

Mumbai: Russia has declared a ceasefire in four Ukrainian cities including the capital Kyiv, Mariupol, Kharkiv, and Sumy from 10 am Moscow time (12:30 pm IST) for evacuations. Moscow agreed to open corridors on the humanitarian grounds after President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron held extensive talks on Sunday.

According to the latest reports, Russia is heavily bombing Ukrainian cities to take control of Kyiv. Since the start of the Russian offensive on 24 February, more than 1.5 million people have crossed Ukraine’s borders as refugees.

Notably, Moscow agreed to a ceasefire on a day when Russian-Ukrainian officials are set to hold the third round of ‘peace talks’ on Monday.

Despite severe economic sanctions, Putin has expressed confidence in “neutralizing” Ukraine to succeed “through dialogue or war”.

During his telephonic talks with the French president, Putin raised his demand for the recognition of Crimea’s Ukrainian peninsula as part of Russian territory, as well as recognition as independent of two Ukrainian eastern breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk already recognised by Russia.

The European Union and several other countries are urging Russia and Ukraine to discuss ending the war.

The call for a temporary ceasefire has come as a relief to millions trying to flee Ukraine.

A fierce battle is being procured between the Ukrainian army and the Russian army on the borders of the southern city of Mykolaiv.

The Russian military claims it has destroyed all Ukrainian fighter jets. Putin has issued a stern warning to his neighbours, including NATO member Romania, not to host Kyiv’s military planes.

“We know for sure that Ukrainian combat aircraft have flown to Romania and other neighbouring countries. The use of the airfield network of these countries for basing Ukrainian military aviation with the subsequent use of force against Russia’s army can be regarded as the involvement of these states in an armed conflict,” Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.

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