Russia claims liberation of Mariupol

Russia has claimed the liberation of the flattened city of Mariupol after nearly two months of fighting. President Vladimir Putin on Thursday hailed the liberation of Mariupol after Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told him Moscow controlled the Ukrainian port city apart from the giant Azovstal Steel Plant.

Taking full control of Mariupol on the Azov Sea would be a major strategic victory for Russia, helping it to connect annexed Crimea to the territories of pro-Russian separatists in eastern



Ukraine.

On the other hand, the West staged another show of support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with a visit to Kyiv by the Spanish and Danish Prime Ministers and vowed the EU would do everything possible to help Ukraine win the war.

Mr. Zelensky said, Ukraine still did not have enough weapons, despite billions in Western military aid that has forced Russia to re-focus its offensive away from Kyiv and towards the east of the country.