Ukraine’s Zelensky defies Russia’s ultimatum to lay down weapons

As Russian forces plunder through the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky says the situation there is “inhuman”. Russian troops first encircled Mariupol last month. Yesterday (Saturday), Russia gave Ukrainian forces an ultimatum to lay down their weapons by 6am Moscow time (10am Bangkok time) today.

In response, Zelensky hit back by warning Russia… “the elimination of our troops, of our men in Mariupol, will put an end to any negotiations”.

Zelensky insisted that Ukraine would not negotiate its territories or its people. Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov said Mariupol was on “the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe”. Earlier this week, Mariupol’s mayor said 90% of infrustructure was “razed by the Russian Federation”.

The mayor said hospitals were bombed, and Russia’s shelling and bombing has killed…