Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, on Saturday
said that Ukrainian forces are inflicting the “biggest blow to Russia’s army in
decades.”

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Speaking in a Facebook video, Zelensky said 31 Russian
tactical battalion groups have lost capability, and more than 360 Russian tanks
have been lost.

He also claimed that Russian troops were surrendering to
Ukrainian forces, but that Russia is now recruiting fighters, reservists,
conscripts, and mercenaries to “outnumber” Ukrainian forces.

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“They are using terror to break us, to break our faith in
Ukraine’s victory, I am confident they will not succeed,” Zelensky added.

Talking about the besieged city of Mariupol, Zelensky
said that Ukrainian forces will guarantee a ceasefire along the evacuation
corridor out of the city to allow supplies into the city, and to facilitate
civilian evacuations.

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Zelensky’s remarks came after a Russian airstrike on
Mariupol’s maternity and children’s hospital on Wednesday left 17 people
injured, including children, women and doctors, according to Mariupol city
officials. Three people died, the city council said Thursday, among them, a
child.

A pregnant woman, Mariana Vishegirskaya, whose rescue
from the Mariupol maternity hospital this week was captured in a viral AP
photo, has since given birth to a baby girl, her family confirmed to CNN.

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Immediate release of Ivan Fedorov

Meanwhile, Zelensky called for the immediate release of
Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of Melitopol who was arrested by Russian armed forces
on Friday.

“Yesterday the occupiers abducted the mayor of Melitopol,
the public demands his release. Our demand is simple, his immediate release,”
said Zelensky.

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Shortly after Fedorov’s detention, the Russian-backed
Luhansk regional prosecutor claimed that the mayor had committed terrorism
offences and was under investigation.

Zelensky said he had spoken to the leaders of France,
Germany, Israel about securing mayor Fedorov’s release.

Earlier on Saturday, hundreds of people protested outside
Melitopol’s city hall, demanding his release, according to the Ukrainian state
TV video.

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Russia ready to dialogue with US

Russia said Saturday it was ready to work again with the
United States on security issues and the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty
(START).

“If the Americans are ready for this, we will, of
course, be able to resume dialogue and are determined to do so, as well as to
work on the START, where there is also a certain pause,” Deputy Foreign
Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Channel One, state media RIA Novosti reported.

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“It all depends on Washington,” he added.

According to Ryabkov, Russia did not stop dialogue with
the US. “We have not withdrawn from the US strategic stability dialogue.
It has been suspended by Washington, apparently under the illusion that we need
this dialogue more than Washington. Absolutely not,” Ryabkov said.