Ukrainian war, Russia rejected the proposal for a ceasefire during Orthodox Easter. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “This shows how much the leaders of this State – he added – take into consideration the Christian faith and one of the most important and joyful holidays. But we still keep our hope. The hope for peace and that life overcomes death”. Read also Zelensky also contradicted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claims that the strategically vital Ukrainian port city of Mariupol finally fell to the Russian military on Thursday. Putin appeared on Russian state television with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to announce that he was canceling the order to storm the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, where the remaining Ukrainian forces in the city are surrounded, adding that he planned to seal the plant “so that not even a fly can enter or leave”. Putin also reiterated his demand that the Ukrainian fighters surrounded in the city lay down their weapons and surrender if they want to save their lives. The city continues to resist the Russians, Zelensky said in his night video message. “Despite what the occupiers say about them.” “The situation is difficult, the situation is bad,” Zelensky previously told reporters in Kiev on Thursday, adding that there were still several ways to liberate the city. A military one, for which “the help of the West is needed”. “Another solution would be the diplomatic and humanitarian one,” he said again, listing several proposals made by Kiev to Moscow, including an exchange of wounded. Mariupol was surrounded by Russian troops shortly after the invasion of Ukraine by Ukraine. Moscow started nearly two months ago, and in addition to Ukrainian fighters, there are believed to be around 1,000 civilians trapped inside Azovstal steel mills. Some have stated that they will not give up and surrender to the Russian army, but it is not known how large their supplies of food and ammunition are. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has called on Putin to allow the evacuation of the city. “The situation is not only highly dramatic, it is hardly bearable,” he said after a meeting with his Estonian counterpart Eva-Maria Liimets in the capital Tallinn. US President Joe Biden called the battle for Kiev “a historic victory for the Ukrainians. It was a victory for freedom won by the Ukrainian people with unprecedented assistance from the United States and our allies and partners. “