The last defensive Mariupol fighters still occupy sections of the city and will “fight to the end” against Russian troops, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said in an interview broadcast on Sunday on the US television network ABC.
“The city hasn't fallen. Our military forces, our soldiers are still there. They will fight to the end,” Shmygal assured in the program “This Week” hours after the Russian ultimatum to leave the city.
Ukrainian soldiers besieged in Mariupol on Sunday seemed to have ignored Russia's ultimatum to lay down their arms and evacuate this strategic port in southeastern Ukraine, whose occupation would be a great victory for Moscow.
The Ukrainian Prime Minister also rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent claims that Moscow troops were winning the war.
“Not a single big city has fallen. Only Kherson is under the control of Russian forces, but all other cities are under the control of Ukraine,” Chmygal insisted, specifying that more than 900 municipalities, including the capital, Kiev, remained free from Russian occupation.
“We are currently fighting in the Donbas region and we do not intend to give up,” the Prime Minister added, speaking in English.
For his part, in statements to the CBS network, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba confirmed these claims and denounced the attitude of the Russians.
“What remains of the Ukrainian army and a large group of civilians are surrounded by Russian forces. They continue their struggle, but it seems, for the behavior of the Russian army in Mariupol, that they have decided to raze the city at all costs,” he said.
In an interview also broadcast on Sunday by another US television station, CNN, Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky dismissed the idea of letting Moscow take over the Donbas region and part of eastern Ukraine to stop the bloodbath.
“Ukraine and its people are clear about this. We don't have the right to anyone else's territories, but we're not going to give up ours,” he said.
(With information from AFP)
Keep reading:
Últimas Noticias
Debanhi Escobar: they secured the motel where she was found lifeless in a cistern
The oldest person in the world died at the age of 119
Macabre find in CDMX: they left a body bagged and tied in a taxi
The eagles of America will face Manchester City in a duel of legends. Here are the details
Why is it good to bring dogs out to know the world when they are puppies
