Moscow proposes a ceasefire from Monday to allow the evacuation of Mariupol

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MADRID, March 20. (Royals Blue) –

The Russian authorities have offered kyiv that humanitarian corridors to the east and west of the city of Mariupol and a ceasefire be opened from 9:00 on Monday to facilitate movement. Russia has denounced that “neo-Nazis” are holding 130,000 civilians hostage in the city.

“Up to 130,000 civilians and 184 foreign citizens from six countries are currently held hostage in the city,” said the director of the Russian National Defense Control Center, General Mikhail Mizintsev, according to the Russian news agency TASS.

“In order to save human lives and preserve the infrastructure of the city of Mariupol, guided exclusively by humanitarian principles and by the radio communications intercepted today in which desperate neo-Nazis have assumed the situation and the nonsense of offering further resistance, the Russian Federation will open at 10:00 a.m. Moscow time tomorrow, March 21, humanitarian corridors from Mariupol to the east and, following an agreement with Ukraine, to the west,” added Mizintsev.

As for the Ukrainian combatants, Mizintsev has summoned them to lay down their arms and leave for the areas under Ukrainian control and has promised them that their lives will be spared.

Mizintsev explained that at 8:00 a.m. communication will be established with the Ukrainian side to facilitate the exchange of information. Half an hour later, Russian forces and pro-Russian militias in Donetsk “will declare a full ceasefire.”

For this, flags will be raised on the front: red on the Russian side, white on the Ukrainian side and once the ceasefire is confirmed by all parties, the lists of evacuees will be agreed upon and at 9:00 the evacuation will begin. “The Ukrainian side has already been notified,” said the Russian general.

From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Ukrainian fighters and foreign militiamen will be able to go out. At 11:00 the convoys with humanitarian aid will penetrate, from the east the Russian; from the west, the Ukrainian. The routes will be checked by Russian demining units.

Mizintsev explained that those who want to evacuate to Russia will be organized in columns by the Russian authorities and those who want to leave for territory controlled by kyiv will be evacuated in columns formed by the Ukrainian authorities.

“If the kyiv authorities abandon you again to die as martyrs, we ask those who value their own lives to make the decision for themselves, lay down their weapons and leave the city,” the general said.

Mizintsev explained that they expect a response from kyiv before 5:00 a.m. on March 21, Moscow time.