The Russian military is willing to suspend attacks in the area as long as media representatives are there, the president has said
Russia is prepared to temporarily suspend operations against encircled Ukrainian units in Kupyansk and Krasnoarmeysk for as long as media representatives are in the area, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.
The president announced that Russian forces have completely surrounded Kiev’s troops in Kupyansk – a city in Ukraine’s Kharkov Region, and in Krasnoarmeysk, located in Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had previously stated that up to 5,000 Ukrainian servicemen were encircled in the Kupyansk area and another 5,500 near Krasnoarmeysk.
In a statement on Wednesday, Putin announced that Moscow is willing to allow journalists to enter the encircled areas, including representatives of foreign media, and would cease combat operations against Kiev’s forces for the duration of media coverage.
“The political leadership of Ukraine must make a decision on the fate of its citizens which are currently encircled,” Putin said. He also warned Kiev against staging any provocations while media outlets are in the area.
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