The United States' top diplomat and defence chief have met Ukraine's president in Kyiv, making the first high-level visit by US officials since Russia invaded its neighbour two months ago, as fierce fighting cast a shadow over Orthodox Easter:
Ukraine's president met with United States secretaries of state Antony Blinken and defence Lloyd Austin in Kyiv, as Mariupol's defences are"already on the brink of collapse" and the nation is in dire need of offensive weapons.
"They wouldn't come here, if they weren't ready to give [weapons]," Mr Arestovych said, referring to the US envoys, whose visits remained unconfirmed by Washington and details of which were kept closely under wraps. As Ukrainians marked a sombre Easter, with many braving bombardment for blessings, Russian forces showed no sign of easing their attacks.
"We invited Russians to hold a special round of talks on the spot, right next to the walls of Azovstal," the last Ukrainian stronghold in the strategic port, Mr Arestovych said. "The enemy continues air strikes, artillery from the sea ... enemy tanks continue to strike and infantry is trying to storm," said Mr Palamar.
In the western city of Lviv, 32-year-old Tetiana Kasian — who had fled Mariupol — stopped to solemnly take in a wall of flowers memorialising the dead.