Mariupol remains topic number one for president and Ukrainian diplomacy – Arestovych
The situation around Mariupol remains a priority for the Ukrainian military-political leadership and diplomats, Adviser to the head of the President's Office Oleksiy Arestovych has said.
"The most difficult situation is now in Mariupol, near Mariupol. There, the Russians are simply demolishing the city from the face of the earth. Our military there have success, yesterday they made another attempt to break through the armored Mariupol, recruited prisoners. But the question is that for this the Russians simply demolish the city from the face of the earth. Over 2,500 killed, this is according to official reports from the local authorities, as far as I understand. And this is a disaster that the world has not properly appreciated. Now the President of Ukraine has designated Mariupol as topic number one for himself, for the third day already. Both the head of the office, and the president, and all our diplomacy are making great efforts: they raised everyone, both churches, and international organizations, and other leaders of the leading countries of the world," Arestovych said on the air of the telethon on Monday.
He also said the humanitarian convoy for Mariupol scheduled for Sunday could not be delivered.
However, about 50 units of Russian equipment, which were part of a convoy of 200 units, were destroyed in Melitopol area.
"According to preliminary data, verified, more than 50 pieces of equipment were destroyed. Not 200, as they first reported the column itself was 200. And when they looked at how many were destroyed, about a quarter, some 50. But this is actually a lot," Arestovych said.
He also said that next round of talks, scheduled for Monday, will be held in video format.