Ukraine: diplomacy at work. A pause of the Russian troops is assumed, as the evacuation of civilians to Mariupol has begun

After the announced truce yesterday by Moscow on the Ukrainian territories, in particular for the cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha for which the opening of humanitarian corridors was planned that instead did not actually exist, the night passed in relative calm. The opening, according to what was declared by the deputy commander of the pro-Russian militia of the self-proclaimed Donetsk (DPR), Eduard Basurin, took place this morning.

Thousands of people remain trapped in the besieged centers as diplomacy works tirelessly on the eve of the UN Security Council scheduled for tomorrow and the third round of negotiations between Moscow and Kiev.

According to American experts, Russian troops may have decided on a short operational pause to trigger new operations against Kiev, Kharkiv and possibly Odessa.

Yesterday the conversation, which lasted over half an hour, between US President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky took place: the first highlighted the increase in security, humanitarian and economic assistance to Ukraine and underlined how the his administration is trying to secure additional funds from Congress. The second, in a video link with the American senators, asked for the no-fly zone, the banning of Russian oil, sanctions on common Russians and the sending of drones, missiles and jets, recalling that the 15 nuclear power plants in the country, if attacked, they pose a potential danger to the entire continent.

Also last night, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett: "The common goal remains to end the war as soon as possible. We will work for this", said the spokesman for the Berlin government, Steffen Hebestreit.

Finally, during the night, two announcements arrived in which Visa and Mastercard announce that they have suspended operations in Russia.

(Unioneonline / ss)