Russia-Ukraine crisis LIVE: Russia declares ceasefire to open humanitarian corridor

Russia Ukraine LIVE: The United Nations Security Council will meet Monday to discuss the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. The French and Mexican missions to the UN are seeking the Council’s approval of a resolution calling for unhindered humanitarian access in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy blasted NATO as “weak” for refusing to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine as Russia steps up its attacks. In Brussels, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. and allies are providing “extensive” support for Ukraine

Russian news agency Sputnik News claimed that the Russian government has declared a ceasefire from
06:00 GMT to allow opening of humanitarian corridors for evacuating civilians.

“Today, on 5 March at 10 a.m. Moscow time, the Russian side declares a ceasefire and opens humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha,” the news agency quoted the Russian defence ministry as saying.

News agency Reuters reported that the corridor will remain open for five hours.

The Russian defence ministry also said that humanitarian corridors and exit routes were discussed with the Ukrainian counterparts earlier during the second round of discussions in Belarus’ Brest.

The Ukrainian side urged that the Russians should declare an immediate ceasefire and called for building
humanitarian corridors for evacuating civilians. Ukraine’s presidential adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak earlier on Thursday tweeted that both sides agreed regarding the proposal of humanitarian corridors.
Sputnik News quoted Mykhailo Podolyak as saying that at least 20,000 people want to leave the city of
Volnovakha which is situated in the Donetsk region.

Russia Ukraine LIVE:

Though air raids continue to sound across Ukrainian cities and Russian ‘military operation’ continues, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is ready for a diplomatic solution if Ukraine is ready to accept its demands.

Due to the war in Ukraine, the UN refugee agency, at least 160,000 people are displaced within the country following the military operation declared by Russian president Vladimir Putin. Refugees have fled to Poland, Hungary, Moldova and other neighbouring nations seeking refuge from the constant Russian attacks which have also targeted civilian settlements in Ukraine’s cities. The cities Kharkiv, Kyiv, Sumy and Mariupol have all suffered casualties due to increased hostilities.

Currently, the forces of the so-called people’s republics of Donetsk and Luhansk have blockaded the coastal city of Mariupol. The local administration of Mariupol, according to Sputnik News, said that the ceasefire will also be used to restore critical infrastructure of the city and provide essential items to the civilian population in the city.

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