France will be at the head of a “exceptional humanitarian operation” alongside Turkey and Greece to evacuate the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, besieged by Russian forces for three weeks, Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday March 25, as reported Politico Europe.
“We are going to link with Turkey and Greece to launch a humanitarian operation to evacuate all those who wish to leave Mariupol”, the French president said at a press conference following a two-day European Council summit in Brussels, Belgium. France, Turkey and Greece are all three members of NATO, notes Business Insider.
The port city, in the south-east of Ukraine, is one of the most devastated areas since the invasion of the country by Russia, recalls for its part the Washington Post.
Emmanuel Macron gave “few details” on the operation, observe Politicobut he specified that it would be conducted “in coordination” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian authorities, and considered that “the sooner[it] the best”. He also said he was in contact with the mayor of Mariupol.
The French leader also said he would discuss the Mariupol operation with Russian President Vladimir Putin “within forty-eight to seventy-two hours”. “I hope to be able to involve as many stakeholders as possible in this operation”he said.
“Dramatic Situations”
“I have a very special thought for the inhabitants of Mariupol who are living one of the greatest dramascontinued Emmanuel Macron. This city of more than 400,000 inhabitants today only has 150,000 who live there in dramatic situations.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis confirmed on Friday that the humanitarian operation announced by Emmanuel Macron was under discussion, says Politico. Mariupol, home to a large Greek community, “is being tested by an unprecedented Russian attack which, unfortunately, makes no distinction between Ukrainian troops and civilians”added the head of government.
Ukrainian mayors and other local officials have repeatedly said that Russian forces are preventing the establishment of humanitarian corridors, notes the Washington Post. However, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said in a video message on Friday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to operate two humanitarian corridors that day, including one that would allow residents from Mariupol to leave in private vehicles.
Russian army to focus on eastern Ukraine
On Friday, authorities in Mariupol announced that at least 300 people had been killed in the Russian bombardment of a theater that served as a shelter last week. This digit, “based on witness accounts”constitutes a first assessment “in the deadliest attack since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine more than a month ago”highlighted The Guardian. Separately, the UN human rights team in Ukraine said it had received reports of mass graves in the city, including one that may contain 200 bodies.
This toll came to light as the Russian military hinted on Friday that it “could lower its ambitions”writes the British daily, saying that it would now focus its offensive on eastern Ukraine.
“The combat potential of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been significantly reduced, which (…) allows us to focus our essential efforts on achieving the main goal, the liberation of Donbass”said Sergei Rudskoy, head of the main operational directorate of the Russian General Staff.