The Russian advance on the territory of Ukraine came to a halt on Thursday (10), the day the war enters its third week, but the bombers in strategic areas of the country have not ceased. Russian troops continue to put pressure on Mikolaiv, a key city to access Odessa, an important territory on the Black Sea coast, and Mariupol, a port area where an attack on a maternity hospital was carried out on Wednesday (9).
As the Ukrainian government renews attempts to open humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians — it is estimated that more than 35,000 were evacuated the day before, even without a complete ceasefire — the first meeting between the countries’ top diplomats takes place. since the Russian invasion began.
Sergei Lavrov, Russian Chancellor, and his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmitro Kuleba, are in Antalya, Turkey, a member country of NATO (Western military alliance) that has offered to help in the negotiations. After three rounds of frustrated talks between delegations from the two countries in Belarus, the meeting between the main diplomats in the conflict, at least based on statements made the day before, does not seem to lead to important resolutions.
Kuleba, who brings to the table yet another request for a ceasefire and respect for humanitarian corridors, had said he had low expectations about the Antalya talks. The Russian delegation in the negotiations declared that it would not give in on any point, according to information from the Ria news agency.
The meeting between the diplomats comes a day after Kiev accused Moscow of bombing a maternity and children’s hospital in Mariupol – the Kremlin denies the attack and describes it as fake news. At least three people, including a child, were killed on the spot, the city’s deputy mayor told the BBC. Another 17 were injured, including pregnant women.
Although it did not take control of Mariupol, the Russian defense alleges that its troops took over several districts of the city, information that could not be independently confirmed. The folder also says that the balance of destruction left on Ukrainian territory includes more than 2,900 military infrastructure installations.
Ukraine resumed efforts to evacuate civilians on Thursday, announcing the opening of seven humanitarian corridors. Residents have already started to leave the northeastern city of Sumi, according to local officials. It was from there that most of the 35,000 Ukrainians who managed to be evacuated on Wednesday left, in addition to the capital, Kiev, and Energodar, in minority numbers.
International organizations continue to denounce the worsening humanitarian crisis. The International Committee of the Red Cross announced that it had sent more teams to Ukraine after describing the scenario as “increasingly dire and desperate”. The organization also sent a territory decontamination team to help civilians clear unexploded war artillery.
The number of refugees from the war exceeds 2.4 million, according to United Nations estimates, which projects another 4 million are expected to leave Ukraine in the next six months. The largest share is destined for Poland, where at least 1.43 million people have already entered, according to the latest count by the border guard.
Of the 2.4 million, at least 1 million are children, according to UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund). And many of the victims of the conflict are also children. At least 37 would have died so far, and another 50 would be injured. In all, the death toll exceeded 516, according to Wednesday’s admittedly underestimated estimates.
On another diplomatic front, US Vice President Kamala Harris travels to Poland on Thursday to speak with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and President Andrzej Duda. The focus of the conversation should revolve around disagreements between countries on how to arm Ukraine to fight the Russian invasion.
The day before, the US rejected an offer made by Poland to transfer its fleet of MiG-29 fighter jets to an American base in Germany and, from there, to reinforce the Ukrainian Air Force, a request that had been made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zeleneski.
Kamala is also expected to discuss with Polish officials ways for NATO members to implement coordinated economic sanctions on Moscow. She is also expected to meet with refugees who are in the country and discuss a package of humanitarian and security assistance for Ukraine and the neighbourhood.
Congressional leaders reached a bipartisan agreement on Wednesday to allocate $13.6 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine.
