Taking into account Kiev's disinterest in saving the lives of its military personnel, Mariupol will be liberated from the nationalists by the Russian Armed Forces and the People's Militia of the Donetsk People's Republic, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation said in a statement on April 5.
A few statements from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov:
- The openly false provocation in Bucha is designed to disrupt the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
- The provocation happened when Ukraine put possible peaceful provisions, including on Crimea, on paper for the first time.
- Russia is ready to work honestly and consistently at the negotiating table with Ukraine.
- The de-escalation on the ground after the talks with Ukraine in Istanbul was a gesture of goodwill from Russia.
- If Ukraine continues to refuse to discuss denazification and demilitarization, this will not contribute to the further course of the talks.