Iryna Vereshchuk asks commentators not to exaggerate world leaders’ influence on talks concerning Azovstal

Alyona Mazurenko - Friday, 13 May 2022, 22:36

Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, has asked commentators not to exaggerate the influence of world leaders on the negotiations concerning the evacuation of military personnel from the Azovstal steelworks.

Source: Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, Iryna Vereshchuk on Telegram

Quote: "Azovstal is the heart of the country right now. Our Armed Forces, the National Guard, border patrol, SBU fighters, police and territorial defence representatives are staying there alongside Azov Regiment fighters…"

"We should not exaggerate the influence of world leaders. If this influence had been appropriate, there would not have been a war."

"There is an order issued by the President - to do everything possible and impossible to get our people out of there. The team is working. "

Details: According to the Minister, negotiations with the aggressors are very difficult: "The result may not satisfy everyone, but our task is to get our men out. Everyone. Alive."

Iryna Vereshchuk insisted that she shares the anxiety and concern of Azovstal defenders’ friends and relatives 

According to her, "there are no miracles at war", and thus "a sober and pragmatic approach" is what works.

Background: 

Iryna Vereshchuk said that negotiations have been underway, with Turkey, the UN and the ICRC serving as mediators, on the evacuation of military personnel from Azovstal. Critically injured personnel would be the first priority for evacuation.

According to her, Ukraine wants a document to be signed elaborating how exactly the evacuation from Azovstal will be handled. Preparations for signing such a document are underway.

Vereshchuk said that the Ukrainian side is currently negotiating with regard to only 38 seriously wounded (incapacitated) fighters. If it succeeds in exchanging these 38, "we will take the next step."

In addition, Russia has stated that it is ready to open corridors for civilian evacuation to territory controlled by the Ukrainian authorities and to foreign countries.

More background: 

On 11 May, the Deputy Prime Minister announced that the Ukrainian side had offered to exchange the severely wounded Ukrainian servicemen who remained at Azovstal for captured Russian servicemen.

Vereshchuk also explained that, as of now, it is impossible to lift the blockade of Azovstal by military means.

Russian aggressors have ruled out the possibility of extracting Ukrainian servicemen from Mariupol by sea to a neutral state. They have also said that they now have free rein, since all civilians have left the territory of Mariupol’s Azovstal plant.

Turkey made an offer to Russia that it would relocate Ukrainian troops from Mariupol and guarantee that they would not return to the frontline again until the end of the war, but would remain in Turkey.