Russia calls on Mariupol to surrender

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 17 Apr 2022 by Alex Teddy

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On April 17 Moscow said that if the city surrenders today the lives of its defenders shall be spared. But prisoners of wars' lives are guaranteed anyway under the Geneva Convention. Russia claims to control almost the whole of Mariupol. It has astonished most pundits that Mariupol has held out so long. Ukraine seems to have made little effort to relieve the city. Perhaps they perceive it as a forlorn hope.If Mariupol is taken by Russia it will complete the land bridge from Russia to Crimea. It will also free up a lot of Russian forces for offensive operations elsewhere.Zelensky said that if Moscow killed prisoners of war, there would be no more negotiations. The Ukrainians have remained defiant. Zelensky called on Western countries to furnish his country with more long range weapons. There have been Russian missile strikes on Kyiv in recent days but for the past two weeks, life has been almost normal in Kyiv. There were almost missiles strikes on Kharkiv, which is Ukraine's second largest city.On April 16 Russia banned Boris Johnson and several British Cabinet ministers from entering Russia. They said this was due to their hostility and support for the "Kyiv regime".On April 16 Zelensky warned that Russia might use a tactical nuclear weapon. Former CIA Director William Burns said the same. A major Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine is anticipated. Ukraine has urged civilians to evacuate. The UN says over 5 million Ukrainians have already left the country. There are 11 million internally displaced people in Ukraine. A few Ukrainians who have left the country have even returned to Ukraine in the last few weeks!