Ukrainian foreign minister says situation in Mariupol may be ‘red line’ in talks

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Ukrainian Overseas Minister Dmytro Kuleba mentioned there had not been any current diplomatic communications between Russia and Ukraine on the stage of their international ministries and that the scenario within the port of Mariupol, which he described as “dire”, could also be a “purple line” within the path of negotiations.

“Mariupol could also be a purple line”, he informed CBS Information in an interview on Sunday.

Ukrainian troopers resisted a Russian ultimatum to put down arms on Sunday within the pulverized port of Mariupol, which Moscow mentioned its forces had virtually fully seized in what could be its largest prize of the almost two-month struggle.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal mentioned troops in Mariupol have been nonetheless combating regardless of a Russian demand to give up by daybreak.

“We did not actually have any contacts with Russian diplomats in current weeks on the stage of international ministries”, Kuleba mentioned within the interview.

“The one stage of contact is the negotiating workforce that consists of the representatives of assorted establishments and members of parliament. They proceed their consultations on the professional stage however no excessive stage talks are happening,” he added.

The international minister mentioned he was anticipating “intensification of heavy combating in japanese Ukraine” within the coming weeks.

When requested about prospects of U.S. President Joe Biden visiting Ukraine, the international minister mentioned Ukraine could be completely satisfied to welcome him and {that a} go to from him will ship “an message of help.”

The White Home, nonetheless, mentioned earlier this week there have been no plans for Biden to go to the nation that Russia invaded in late February.

“We aren’t sending the president to Ukraine,” White Home spokesperson Jen Psaki mentioned on Friday.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Modifying by Toby Chopra and Grant McCool)