Russian soldiers walks along a street in Mariupol on April 12, 2022, as Russian troops intensify a campaign to take the strategic port city, part of an anticipated massive onslaught across eastern Ukraine, while Russia s President makes a defiant case for the war on Russia s neighbour. AFP
Dmytro Kuleba tells CBS' ``Face the Nation'' that the remaining Ukrainian military personnel and civilians in the port city are basically encircled by Russian forces.
He says the Ukrainians ``continue their struggle'' but that the city effectively doesn't exist anymore because of massive destruction.
Kuleba says his country has been keeping up ``expert level'' talks with Russia in recent weeks in hopes of reaching a political solution for peace. But citing the significance of Mariupol, he echoed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in saying the elimination of Ukrainian forces there could be a ``red line'' that stops peace efforts.
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