President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called for the supply of heavier Western weapons in preparation for a meeting with high-ranking US officials in Kyiv. Russian forces are concentrating their attacks on the eastern part of the country, in particular trying to stop the resistance of the last Ukrainian forces in the port city of Mariupol, reports AP.
Zelensky announced the expected visit of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinkon and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at a press conference yesterday. There are no comments from the White House yet.
The President of Ukraine stressed that he was waiting for the results of the visit of the American representatives both in terms of armaments and in terms of security guarantees. “You can’t come to us today empty-handed, and we’re not just waiting for presents or sweets, we’re waiting for concrete things and concrete weapons,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky’s adviser Alexei Arestovich said that Russian troops were trying to storm the Azovstal plant in Mariupol with air strikes and artillery fire, according to Reuters. “Russian troops are trying to kill Azovstal defenders and more than 1,000 civilians hiding at the plant,” Arestovich added.
The plant is the last bastion of Ukrainian forces in the port city, which is controlled by Russian troops.