Moscow/Kyiv: On the 12th day of the ongoing war, Russia on Monday announced a ceasefire in four Ukrainian cities including the capital Kyiv to allow the evacuations of civilians from the war-hit country, media reports said.
The ceasefire has been called in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol and Sumy from 12:30 IST.
Russia’s defence ministry said, as reports claimed, the humanitarian corridors to facilitate the civilians to get evacuated have been set up at the personal request of French President Emmanuel Macron.
This development comes as Russia and Ukraine are set to hold the third round of negotiations on Monday. Russia declared a war against Ukraine on February 24 after weeks of military build-up.
Also read: Russia announces temporary ceasefire in two Ukrainian cities
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced on Sunday that a second attempt to evacuate about 200,000 people from Mariupol was unsuccessful.
“Amid devastating scenes of human suffering in Mariupol, a second attempt today to start evacuating an estimated 200,000 people out of the city came to a halt. The failed attempts yesterday and today underscore the absence of a detailed and functioning agreement between the parties to the conflict,” the ICRC said in a statement.
Also read: Human Rights Council to establish Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine
“The ICRC needs satisfactory security guarantees in order to operate. Today, our teams began opening up the evacuation route from Mariupol before hostilities resumed. Our teams remain in Mariupol and are ready to help facilitate further attempts if the parties reach a detailed agreement, which is for the parties alone to implement and respect,” the statement read.
Also read: IAEA expresses concern over Russia’s seizing of Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Plant
On Saturday, Russia announced a temporary ceasefire in two Ukrainian cities — Mariupol and Volnovakha — to allow humanitarian corridors for civilians. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed to his people to keep resisting, while appealing to the West to strengthen sanctions against Moscow. “The audacity of the aggressor is a clear signal to the West that the sanctions imposed on Russia are not sufficient,” said Zelenskyy in a televised address on Sunday.
India Blooms News Service
